Elk Creek Cabins

Boise National Forest — riverside

Location: LOWMAN, ID, ID

Price: From $45 per night

Price range: $45–$50 per night

Rating: 3.3 out of 5 (3 reviews)

Season: May through October

Elk Creek Cabins are open from November through April, offering a rustic retreat for winter sports enthusiasts. Guests must be prepared to snowmobile, snowshoe or ski at least 15 miles from the parking area to the cabin, and they are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety. These cabins offer a few amenities, but guests will need to bring some of their own equipment and supplies to make their stay comfortable.Thirty miles of groomed trails surround the cabins, offering excellent

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

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

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

Remote winter backcountry cabins with 30 miles of groomed trails for snowmobiling, skiing, and snowshoeing. Access to wildlife viewing opportunities including mountain goats, river otters, and sandhill cranes.

Wildlife alert: Mountain goats, North American river otters, pronghorn, snowshoe hares, sandhill cranes, and garter snakes present in the area

Insider tips for Elk Creek Cabins: Book early—this is a federal campground with limited availability Prepare for 15-mile backcountry travel via snowmobile, ski, or snowshoe from Cape Horn parking area Park at the plowed lot near Cape Horn on Highway 21, approximately 40 miles east of Lowman

Skip Elk Creek Cabins if: Google reviews report lead pipes, asbestos in cabin ceilings, and bed bugs across all beds and mattresses. Seeking hookups—no hookups available at this facility. Looking for summer camping—seasonal operations only (winter months).

Best time to visit Elk Creek Cabins: November-April — Winter sports season with groomed trails; RIDB official season for cabin operations.

Nearby campgrounds: Boundary Creek Campground (Challis, ID), Bull Trout (Lowman, ID), Barneys Campground (Boise National Forest, Id) (LOWMAN, ID), River Side (Id - Boise) (LOWMAN, ID).

Cell Phone Coverage at Elk Creek Cabins

Cell signal at Elk Creek Cabins (LOWMAN, ID): 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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Boise National Forest — riversideLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Elk Creek Cabins

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LOWMAN, ID, ID★ 3.3 (3 reviews)From $45/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Elk Creek Cabins are open from November through April, offering a rustic retreat for winter sports enthusiasts. Guests must be prepared to snowmobile, snowshoe or ski at least 15 miles from the parking area to the cabin, and they are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety. These cabins offer a few amenities, but guests will need to bring some of their own equipment and supplies to make their stay comfortable.Thirty miles of groomed trails surround the cabins, offering excellent snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

Best for:Wildlife 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 TablesFirewood for Sale
Family & Pets
Vault Toilets

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:✕ Google reviews report lead pipes, asbestos in cabin ceilings, and bed bugs across all beds and mattresses✕ Seeking hookups—no hookups available at this facility✕ Looking for summer camping—seasonal operations only (winter months)

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a federal campground with limited availability

Prepare for 15-mile backcountry travel via snowmobile, ski, or snowshoe from Cape Horn parking area

Park at the plowed lot near Cape Horn on Highway 21, approximately 40 miles east of Lowman

Best: November-April

Winter sports season with groomed trails; RIDB official season for cabin operations

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 goats, North American river otters, pronghorn, snowshoe hares, sandhill cranes, and garter snakes present in the area

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
1111111111· Boise National Forest
Getting there →

From Lowman, ttake State Highway 21 east approximately 40 miles to Cape Horn. Park in the plowed parking lot and snowmobile/ski/snowshoe on the Stanley-Landmark Road (FS579) for approximately 15 miles to Elk Creek. Alternate access from the Boise area if Highway 21 is closed between Grandjean and Banner Summit: from Lowman, snowmobile north on the Clear Creek Road (FS582) for approximately 34 miles. Go west on the Stanley-Landmark Road for approximately 3 miles to the cabin. Depending on groomin

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 — Boise National Forest fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Boise 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 Elk Creek Cabins cost per night?+
Elk Creek Cabins costs $45–$50 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is Elk Creek Cabins open?+
Elk Creek Cabins is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Elk Creek Cabins have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at Elk Creek Cabins?+
Elk Creek Cabins is primarily a tent camping facility.
How do I make reservations at Elk Creek Cabins?+
Elk Creek Cabins 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 Elk Creek Cabins?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Elk Creek Cabins is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Elk Creek Cabins open, and what are check-in times?+
Elk Creek Cabins 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.

$45 /night★ 3.3 (3)
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 Elk Creek Cabins cost per night?+
What season is Elk Creek Cabins open?+
Does Elk Creek Cabins have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Boundary Creek Campground

Challis, ID

From $10/night

Bull Trout

Lowman, ID

From $20/night

Barneys Campground (Boise National Forest, Id)

LOWMAN, ID

From $12/night

River Side (Id - Boise)

LOWMAN, ID

From $12/night

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