Stony Cabin

Overview

Stony Cabin is a small primitive cabin that was built in 1914 as a place for Forest Service employees to sleep while working in the area. The cabin is situated close to Stony Creek Road and across the street from Stony Creek Campground. It is not remote but ideal for those who want to stay in a cabin while friends camp across the street at the campground.

It provides access to Rock Creek, a Blue Ribbon Trout Stream, and Stony Creek. The cabin is within close proximity to a variety of hiking and biking trails also. Guests can enjoy winter recreation on those same trails when there is snow in the area, typically from December until April of each year. The cabin is available all year, offering the opportunity to experience the backcountry of western Montana in all seasons.

The cabin can be accessed by vehicle most of the year. There is limited parking in the driveway and trailers are not recommended. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring their own personal amenities.

Recreation

Fishing is available in Rock Creek and Stony Creek and anglers might find plentiful brook, brown and rainbow trout. Much of the stream is protected from bull or west slope cutthroat trout fishing to improve the fishery. It is illegal to target Bull Trout, if caught they must be released immediately with minimal handling. Big game hunting is possible in designated areas. Appropriate licensing is required to fish and hunt in Montana.

Rock creek is a popular rafting and boating trip at appropriate water levels.

A variety of hiking, mountain biking, ATV and horseback riding trails as well as old roads climb into the steep drainages and canyons of the Bitterroot Range.

Stony Lake trailhead is at the end of the road another 3 miles, and it is open to foot, horse, and bike travel.

Guests also enjoy snowmobiling, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing in the area during the winter.

Facilities

This is a small, primitive, one-room cabin and is equipped with two sets of bunk beds with mattress pads that can sleep up to four people. It has a small table and chairs, plates, bowls, cups, silverware for 4 people, a 2 burner coleman stove (BYO Propane), pots, pans, french press, kitchen utensils (spatula, large spoon, knives, cutting board, can opener, cheese grater, measuring cups, measuring spoons), sponges/scour pads, Battery Powered LED Lantern (D batteries), mop, broom, washbasins, dish rack, splitting maul, hatchet, cleaning products, rags, hot mitts, fly swatter, and mouse traps. Paper towels, matches, toilet paper, garbage bags, bleach wipes, batteries, newspaper, and hand sanitizer are stocked monthly.

There is a wood stove for heat. Firewood is almost always available but cannot be guaranteed.

A fire ring and picnic table are located outside the cabin. Please gather or bring wood for outside fires.

A vault toilet and a hand pump for drinking water are located across the road in the Stony Cr. Campground.

Guests will need to bring their own bedding, food, personal items, propane (1lb coleman propane bottles for stove), and specialty kitchen items. Guests are asked to replenish the supply of split wood and kindling, pack out all trash and food, and clean the cabin prior to leaving. Please alert the Pintler Ranger Station at 406 859 8230 if you notice any of the above items missing or broken.

Natural Features

Many older maps still refer to this cabin as the Squaw Rock Cabin because the notable Squaw Rock formation overlooks the site. This cabin is right off of Stony Creek Road and across from Stony Creek Campground in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. The cabin is very close to the confluence of Rock and Stony Creeks.

The area is known for its high, rugged and beautiful mountain scenery, as well as the variety of wildlife that makes its home there, including bighorn sheep, elk, moose, deer, mountain lions and bears ( learn more about bear safety ).

What people do here

• camping
• fishing
• hiking
• hunting
• wildlife viewing
• winter sports