Saved Account Join
A gravel road curving into a high mountain valley at first light, the peaks catching the sun.

Forest Service campground

Savenac East Cottage

Forest Service campground in Lolo National Forest, Mineral County, Montana. 3,135 feet. 15 miles from Thompson Falls.

Managed by
Forest Service Lolo National Forest
Elevation
3,135 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Reservations
First come, first served Claim a site when you arrive. Recreation.gov lists it for Scan and Pay, so the fee can be paid from its app at the campground
County
Mineral County

Overview

Savenac East Cottage provides a well-equipped kitchen and sleeping quarters for a family or small group of four people at the Savenac Historic Tree Nursery in the Lolo National Forest of Montana. The area is filled with history and was once the site of the U.S. Forest Service's largest and most beautiful nursery in the West. The cottage offers somewhat modern facilities, as well as access to a variety of recreational opportunities.

Recreation

A variety of historic sites and memorials, as well as interpretive trails, are located around the cottage. A self-guided tour of the nursery is available to provide visitors with historical perspective.

The world-class Route of the Hiawatha Trail is located just 14 miles to the west at Taft Exit # 5, offering pristine mountain biking. Numerous mountain streams and the St. Regis River are available for fishing, wading and non-motorized boating within just a few minutes of Savenac. The beautiful Savenac Creek runs through the compound.

In the winter, trails in the area are groomed for snowmobile use and opportunities abound for cross country skiing and snowshoeing. Lookout Pass ski hill is located just 16 miles west, on Interstate 90.

Facilities

Guests are required to clean the facility before leaving. Follow the cleaning instructions posted in the kitchen. Hosts are onsite to perform a checkout inspection before leaving the facility.

The cottage has two bedrooms, a modern bathroom and kitchen, a dining area, as well as a living room. It has one queen bed with mattress and two twin beds with mattresses that can sleep up to four people. The kitchen is equipped with a stove, a microwave, refrigerator and assorted cooking utensils and dishes for eating.

Guests will need to bring their own bedding, including sleeping bags, blankets and pillows, as well as towels, soap, and other necessities.

The cottage is available May to October, except when it is reserved for administrative use or maintenance. Guests to the facility are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety.

The cottage is a locked facility. A key code will be sent in the reservation confirmation email. The key code will unlock the lock box located in the entry way of the cottage. The lock box holds the key to the front door. Please return the key to the lock box before leaving the facility.

Natural Features

The cottage is one of four rental cabins located at the Historic Savenac Nursery. The nursery was founded in 1907 to grow trees for the Forest Service Nursery operations that concluded in 1969. The site is now open to the public for recreation.

The facilities are close to the Idaho border in the Bitterroot Mountains of western Montana. The Lolo National Forest is home to many species of wildlife, including deer, elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, mountain lions, moose and black bears.

Nearby Attractions

Savenac is in Haugan, Montana with easy access to Interstate 90. It is within walking distance of a family restaurant, gas and general store and gift shop. The Savenac Compound also consists of a visitor center that is operated from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

The description, directions and fees are the Forest Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • berry picking
  • biking
  • birding
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • historic & cultural site
  • hunting
  • information site
  • interpretive programs
  • photography
  • picnicking
  • snowmobile trails
  • water access
  • wildlife viewing
  • winter sports

The land around Savenac East Cottage

The ringed pin is this campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Nearest campgrounds

Camping near

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated July 18, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.

Join Overlanding Life
Saved Account

Start with a region

Browse the directory