Bear Creek Bunkhouse (Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Mt)

Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest — hiking

Location: ENNIS, MT, MT

Price: From $55 per night

Rating: 4 out of 5 (4 reviews)

Season: May through October

The Bear Creek Bunkhouse allows visitors to experience southwestern Montana’s vast wilderness areas, including wide open hills and the Lee Metcalf Widerness in the Madison mountain range . Situated on the Trail Fork of Bear Creek, the cabin offers a scenic location to enjoy nature. The cabin was constructed in 1934 by the Civilian Conservation Corps as crew quarters and a garage.

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

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

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/bear-creek-bunkhouse-beaverhead-deerlodge-national-forest-mt to be notified when sites open up.

Historic 1934 CCC-built bunkhouse offers scenic access to southwestern Montana's wilderness, including the Lee Metcalf Wilderness in the Madison mountain range. Located on Trail Fork of Bear Creek with opportunities for hiking, hunting, and winter sports.

Wildlife alert: Moose, mountain goats, pronghorn, golden eagles, and dusky grouse present in area within 8km radius.

Insider tips for Bear Creek Bunkhouse (Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Mt): Book early — this is a federal campground with limited availability. Final several miles to cabin are gravel or dirt road — prepare accordingly. Larger cabin available about 100 feet east, also on rental program.

Skip Bear Creek Bunkhouse (Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Mt) if: You need hookups — no hookups available at this site.. You need winter access — seasonal operations May through October only..

Best time to visit Bear Creek Bunkhouse (Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Mt): May-October — Official operating season for the campground..

Nearby campgrounds: Bear Creek Cabin (Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Mt) (ENNIS, MT), Yellow Mule Cabin (BOZEMAN, MT), Wall Creek Cabin (ENNIS, MT), Eldridge Guard Station (West Yellowstone, MT).

Cell Phone Coverage at Bear Creek Bunkhouse (Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Mt)

Cell signal at Bear Creek Bunkhouse (Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Mt) (ENNIS, 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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Bear Creek Bunkhouse (Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Mt) — photo 1
Bear Creek Bunkhouse (Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Mt) — photo 2
Bear Creek Bunkhouse (Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Mt) — photo 3
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Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest — hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Bear Creek Bunkhouse (Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Mt)

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ENNIS, MT, MT★ 4 (4 reviews)From $55/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

The Bear Creek Bunkhouse allows visitors to experience southwestern Montana’s vast wilderness areas, including wide open hills and the Lee Metcalf Widerness in the Madison mountain range . Situated on the Trail Fork of Bear Creek, the cabin offers a scenic location to enjoy nature. The cabin was constructed in 1934 by the Civilian Conservation Corps as crew quarters and a garage.

Best for:HikersFamiliesSites: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.
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsFirewood for Sale
Recreation
Picnic Tables
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 hookups — no hookups available at this site.✕ You need winter access — seasonal operations May through October only.

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a federal campground with limited availability.

Final several miles to cabin are gravel or dirt road

prepare accordingly.

Larger cabin available about 100 feet east, also on rental program.

Best: May-October

Official operating season for the campground.

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: Moose, mountain goats, pronghorn, golden eagles, and dusky grouse present in area within 8km radius.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
406-682-4253· Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest
Getting there →

From Ennis, take Highway 287 south for 11 miles, to Cameron, Montana. From Cameron, turn east on Bear Creek Loop and continue approximately 6 miles to the cabin. The last several miles is gravel or dirt, which may be muddy or snow-covered and may not always be plowed. Maps may be purchased by calling the Madison Ranger District.

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 — Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Beaverhead-Deerlodge 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 Bear Creek Bunkhouse (Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Mt) cost per night?+
Bear Creek Bunkhouse (Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Mt) costs $55 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is Bear Creek Bunkhouse (Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Mt) open?+
Bear Creek Bunkhouse (Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Mt) is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Bear Creek Bunkhouse (Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Mt) have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at Bear Creek Bunkhouse (Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Mt)?+
Bear Creek Bunkhouse (Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Mt) is primarily a tent camping facility.
How do I make reservations at Bear Creek Bunkhouse (Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Mt)?+
Bear Creek Bunkhouse (Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Mt) 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 Bear Creek Bunkhouse (Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Mt)?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Bear Creek Bunkhouse (Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Mt) is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Bear Creek Bunkhouse (Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Mt) open, and what are check-in times?+
Bear Creek Bunkhouse (Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Mt) 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.

$55 /night★ 4 (4)
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 Bear Creek Bunkhouse (Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Mt) cost per night?+
What season is Bear Creek Bunkhouse (Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Mt) open?+
Does Bear Creek Bunkhouse (Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Mt) have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Bear Creek Cabin (Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Mt)

ENNIS, MT

From $65/night

Yellow Mule Cabin

BOZEMAN, MT

From $55/night

Wall Creek Cabin

ENNIS, MT

From $45/night

Eldridge Guard Station

West Yellowstone, MT

From $75/night

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