Big Creek Cabin

Custer Gallatin National Forest — fishing, hiking

Location: LIVINGSTON, MT, MT

Price: From $75 per night

Rating: 4.4 out of 5 (23 reviews)

Season: May through October

The original Big Creek Cabin was built in 1907 and it still stands on this site. The current cabin, a former guard station, was completed in 1925 and sits right next to the original. Big Creek Cabin is the largest cabin in the Yellowstone District, a 28-by-40 log structure with five rooms and two porches.

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

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

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

Historic log cabin from 1925 (the largest in Yellowstone District) with rustic charm and direct access to fishing and hiking. Located in a scenic area 34 miles south of Livingston with vehicle access when weather permits.

Wildlife alert: Mountain lions present in the area per iNaturalist research-grade observations. Use standard wildlife precautions, especially at dusk/dawn.

Insider tips for Big Creek Cabin: Book early — federal campground with only 1 site and seasonal operations means limited availability. Bring your own gear and supplies — RIDB notes limited amenities and rustic accommodations. Use high-clearance or 4WD vehicle — RIDB explicitly recommends this for the 5-mile approach on Big Creek Road. Bring firewood or plan to purchase on-site — firewood is available for sale per amenities.

Skip Big Creek Cabin if: You need modern hookups — site explicitly has no hookups.. You have a low-clearance vehicle — high-clearance/4WD strongly recommended for access road.. You prefer developed campgrounds with extensive amenities — rustic cabin requires self-sufficiency..

Best time to visit Big Creek Cabin: May-October — Official operating season. Big Creek Road requires high-clearance/4WD and becomes inaccessible in winter per RIDB directions..

Nearby campgrounds: Windy Pass Cabin (Gallatin Gateway, MT), Window Rock Cabin (BOZEMAN, MT), Chisholm Campground (Bozeman, MT), Maxey Cabin (BOZEMAN, MT).

Cell Phone Coverage at Big Creek Cabin

Cell signal at Big Creek Cabin (LIVINGSTON, 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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Custer Gallatin National Forest — fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Big Creek Cabin

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LIVINGSTON, MT, MT★ 4.4 (23 reviews)From $75/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

The original Big Creek Cabin was built in 1907 and it still stands on this site. The current cabin, a former guard station, was completed in 1925 and sits right next to the original. Big Creek Cabin is the largest cabin in the Yellowstone District, a 28-by-40 log structure with five rooms and two porches.

Best for:AnglersHikersWildlife watchersFamiliesSites: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 RingsElectric Hookups
Recreation
Picnic TablesFishing
Family & Pets
Vault ToiletsFirewood for Sale

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 modern hookups — site explicitly has no hookups.✕ You have a low-clearance vehicle — high-clearance/4WD strongly recommended for access road.✕ You prefer developed campgrounds with extensive amenities — rustic cabin requires self-sufficiency.

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

federal campground with only 1 site and seasonal operations means limited availability.

Bring your own gear and supplies

RIDB notes limited amenities and rustic accommodations.

Use high-clearance or 4WD vehicle

RIDB explicitly recommends this for the 5-mile approach on Big Creek Road.

Bring firewood or plan to purchase on-site

firewood is available for sale per amenities.

Best: May-October

Official operating season. Big Creek Road requires high-clearance/4WD and becomes inaccessible in winter per RIDB directions.

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 lions present in the area per iNaturalist research-grade observations. Use standard wildlife precautions, especially at dusk/dawn.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
406-222-1892· Custer Gallatin National Forest
Getting there →

From Livingston, drive south on Highway 89 for approximately 34 miles to Big Creek Road and a sign for Mountain Sky Guest Ranch. Turn right at the sign and follow Big Creek Road for about 5 miles to the cabin. High-clearance, four-wheel drive vehicles are strongly recommended. In winter, the road is plowed to Mountain Sky Guest Ranch. Park in the small parking lot just west of Mountain Sky Guest Ranch. Cross-country skis or snowshoes are required the last half-mile to the cabin from the end of t

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 — Custer Gallatin National Forest fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Custer Gallatin 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 Big Creek Cabin cost per night?+
Big Creek Cabin costs $75 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is Big Creek Cabin open?+
Big Creek Cabin is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Big Creek Cabin have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at Big Creek Cabin?+
Big Creek Cabin is primarily a tent camping facility.
How do I make reservations at Big Creek Cabin?+
Big Creek 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 Big Creek Cabin?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Big Creek Cabin is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Big Creek Cabin open, and what are check-in times?+
Big Creek 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.

$75 /night★ 4.4 (23)
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 Big Creek Cabin cost per night?+
What season is Big Creek Cabin open?+
Does Big Creek Cabin have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Windy Pass Cabin

Gallatin Gateway, MT

From $55/night

Window Rock Cabin

BOZEMAN, MT

From $65/night

Chisholm Campground

Bozeman, MT

From $26/night

Maxey Cabin

BOZEMAN, MT

From $65/night

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