Eagle Guard Station

Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest — fishing, hiking

Location: TOWNSEND, MT, MT

Price: From $25 per night

Price range: $25–$45 per night

Rating: 4.2 out of 5 (27 reviews)

Season: May through October

Eagle Guard Station is located in high grasslands and surrounded by a scattered forest in the Elkhorn Mountains in west-central Montana. The former Eagle Creek Ranger Station was built by miner Richard Owen in 1895. While his family lived there, the area was in a booming gold rush.

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

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

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/eagle-guard-station to be notified when sites open up.

Historic 1895 log cabin nestled in the Elkhorn Mountains with a 4.7/5 Google rating. Offers a quiet mountain getaway with access to biking, hiking, fishing, and horseback riding in a scenic high grasslands and scattered forest setting.

Wildlife alert: American Elk and Yellow-bellied Marmot documented in the area

Insider tips for Eagle Guard Station: Book early — this is a federal campground with limited availability High clearance vehicle or 4x4/AWD is essential; road is native surface dirt with ruts, rocky sections, and deep potholes Contact the Forest Service directly for rental information and to verify cabin cleanliness before arrival

Skip Eagle Guard Station if: You have a passenger car or low-clearance vehicle — the access road is not suitable. You require modern amenities or hookups — this is a rustic historic cabin experience. You visit outside May-October — seasonal operations only.

Best time to visit Eagle Guard Station: May-October — Official operating season as verified by campground data.

Nearby campgrounds: Indian Road Group Use Shelter (Helena, MT), Strawberry Cabin (Helena, MT), White Earth Campground (Helena, MT), Hellgate Campground (Helena, MT).

Cell Phone Coverage at Eagle Guard Station

Cell signal at Eagle Guard Station (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›Eagle Guard Station
Eagle Guard Station — photo 1
Eagle Guard Station — photo 2
Eagle Guard Station — photo 3
Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest — fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Eagle Guard Station

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TOWNSEND, MT, MT★ 4.2 (27 reviews)From $25/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Eagle Guard Station is located in high grasslands and surrounded by a scattered forest in the Elkhorn Mountains in west-central Montana. The former Eagle Creek Ranger Station was built by miner Richard Owen in 1895. While his family lived there, the area was in a booming gold rush.

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 RingsDrinking WaterFirewood for Sale
Recreation
Picnic TablesElectric Hookups
Family & Pets
Vault ToiletsFishing

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 have a passenger car or low-clearance vehicle — the access road is not suitable✕ You require modern amenities or hookups — this is a rustic historic cabin experience✕ You visit outside May-October — seasonal operations only

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a federal campground with limited availability

High clearance vehicle or 4x4/AWD is essential; road is native surface dirt with ruts, rocky sections, and deep potholes

Contact the Forest Service directly for rental information and to verify cabin cleanliness before arrival

Best: May-October

Official operating season as verified by campground data

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: American Elk and Yellow-bellied Marmot documented in the area

Location

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

All mileage is approximate from the highway. Road is native surface dirt, with ruts and rocky sections, higher clearance vehicles are a must, 4x4/AWD recommended, road is NOT for passenger cars. Directions to Eagle Guard Station from the intersection of highway 287 and Indian Creek Road (which is just north of the Missouri River Bridge, north of Townsend). Take the Indian Creek Road (traveling west) approximately 3.5 miles, you will pass a National Forest Access that says "Indian Creek", there w

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 Eagle Guard Station cost per night?+
Eagle Guard Station costs $25–$45 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is Eagle Guard Station open?+
Eagle Guard Station is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Eagle Guard Station have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at Eagle Guard Station?+
Eagle Guard Station is primarily a tent camping facility.
How do I make reservations at Eagle Guard Station?+
Eagle Guard Station 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 Eagle Guard Station?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Eagle Guard Station is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Eagle Guard Station open, and what are check-in times?+
Eagle Guard Station is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Compare campgroundsPlan a multi-stop trip
●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★ 4.2 (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 Eagle Guard Station cost per night?+
What season is Eagle Guard Station open?+
Does Eagle Guard Station have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Indian Road Group Use Shelter

Helena, MT

From $20/night

Strawberry Cabin

Helena, MT

From $30/night

White Earth Campground

Helena, MT

From $10/night

Hellgate Campground

Helena, MT

From $10/night

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