Bar Gulch Cabin

Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking

Location: TOWNSEND, MT, MT

Price: From $25 per night

Price range: $25–$50 per night

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (27 reviews)

Season: May through October

Bar Gulch Cabin is located in the Big Belt Mountain Range in Helena National Forest. The cabin was originally constructed in the 1930s on Forest Service lands to be used for mining purposes. Instead, it was used for recreational purposes and issued a special use permit, which was transferred to several owners until it was donated to the Forest Service in 1988.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Electric Hookups, Fishing, Firewood for Sale

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/bar-gulch-cabin to be notified when sites open up.

Historic 1930s cabin in Helena National Forest offers a rustic recreational getaway with great views and quiet surroundings. Google reviewers praise clean facilities, on-site host, and peaceful atmosphere.

Wildlife alert: Mountain Goat, Mule Deer, Osprey, Pileated Woodpecker, and Bullsnake present within 8km

Insider tips for Bar Gulch Cabin: Book early — it's a federal campground with high demand Bring your own firewood or plan to purchase — rangers do not sell wood Arrive during daylight — the area is pitch dark at night and difficult to navigate Water spigot available near bathrooms Porta potty restrooms on site

Skip Bar Gulch Cabin if: You need RV hookups — no hookups available at most sites. You prefer online reservation-free camping. You visit outside May-October season.

Best time to visit Bar Gulch Cabin: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.

Nearby campgrounds: Jo Bonner Campground (HELENA, MT), Court Sheriff Campground (Helena, MT), Chinamen’S Campground (HELENA, MT), Cave Point Group Use Area (Helena, MT).

Cell Phone Coverage at Bar Gulch Cabin

Cell signal at Bar Gulch Cabin (TOWNSEND, MT): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.

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CamperWatch›MT›Bar Gulch Cabin
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Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Bar Gulch Cabin

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TOWNSEND, MT, MT★ 4.5 (27 reviews)From $25/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Bar Gulch Cabin is located in the Big Belt Mountain Range in Helena National Forest. The cabin was originally constructed in the 1930s on Forest Service lands to be used for mining purposes. Instead, it was used for recreational purposes and issued a special use permit, which was transferred to several owners until it was donated to the Forest Service in 1988.

Best for:AnglersHikersBoatersFamiliesSites:Tent
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonMay through October
Stay limit14 days
HookupsNo hookups.
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsFishing
Recreation
Picnic TablesFirewood for Sale
Family & Pets
Electric Hookups

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ You need RV hookups — no hookups available at most sites✕ You prefer online reservation-free camping✕ You visit outside May-October season

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

it's a federal campground with high demand

Bring your own firewood or plan to purchase

rangers do not sell wood

Arrive during daylight

the area is pitch dark at night and difficult to navigate

Water spigot available near bathrooms

Porta potty restrooms on site

Best: May-October

Campground operates seasonally May through October only

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 0%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: Mountain Goat, Mule Deer, Osprey, Pileated Woodpecker, and Bullsnake present within 8km

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
406-266-3425· Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest
Getting there →

Bar Gulch Cabin is located 24 miles from Helena and 30 miles from Townsend on Magpie Road (#425). From Helena, take Canyon Ferry Road over the dam, past Kim's Marina. Continuing east, watch for a left-hand turn onto Magpie Road. From this intersection, proceed up Magpie Road 3.9 miles. Turn left on Bar Gulch Road. Continue on Bar Gulch Road approximately .25 miles to the cabin. The cabin is located on the left. Access to the cabin is good and does not usually require a 4-wheel drive vehicle but

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)

Pro tips

  • Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
  • Bear country — store all food in bear boxes or locked vehicle at all times.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Bar Gulch Cabin cost per night?+
Bar Gulch Cabin costs $25–$50 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is Bar Gulch Cabin open?+
Bar Gulch Cabin is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Bar Gulch Cabin have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at Bar Gulch Cabin?+
Bar Gulch Cabin is primarily a tent camping facility.
How do I make reservations at Bar Gulch Cabin?+
Bar Gulch Cabin is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at Bar Gulch Cabin?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Bar Gulch Cabin is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Bar Gulch Cabin open, and what are check-in times?+
Bar Gulch Cabin is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
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●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$25 /night★ 4.5 (27)
SeasonMay through October
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Bar Gulch Cabin cost per night?+
What season is Bar Gulch Cabin open?+
Does Bar Gulch Cabin have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Jo Bonner Campground

HELENA, MT

From $10/night

Court Sheriff Campground

Helena, MT

From $15/night

Chinamen’S Campground

HELENA, MT

From $10/night

Cave Point Group Use Area

Helena, MT

From $35/night

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