Indian Flats Cabin

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

Location: HELENA, MT, MT

Price: From $30 per night

Price range: $30–$45 per night

Rating: 4.3 out of 5 (19 reviews)

Season: May through October

Indian Flats Cabin is nestled in a hollow of old-growth trees in the shadow of Hogback Mountain, offering a remote lodging experience in the Big Belt Mountains in west-central Montana. The present Indian Flats Guard Station started its days as the Conway Station on Rock Creek in the Jim Ball Basin. The cabin was constructed in 1944 and replaced the original Conway Station.

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/indian-flats-cabin to be notified when sites open up.

Remote cabin experience nestled in old-growth trees in the Big Belt Mountains with a 5/5 rating from campers who praised its isolation and weather protection. Historic 1944 guard station offering authentic Montana backcountry lodging.

Wildlife alert: Mountain goats, American black bears, and white-tailed deer present in area. Also wandering garter snakes and northern rubber boas.

Insider tips for Indian Flats Cabin: Book early — this is a federal campground with only 1 site and high demand Final half mile of road is washed out; high-clearance vehicle recommended Firewood available for purchase on-site

Skip Indian Flats Cabin if: Expecting hookups — no electric, water, or sewer at this site. Need services — this is a remote location 40 miles northeast of Helena. Visiting outside May-October — seasonal operations only.

Best time to visit Indian Flats Cabin: May-October — Official operating season only; campground closes outside these months.

Nearby campgrounds: Bar Gulch Cabin (TOWNSEND, MT), Devil’S Elbow Campground (Helena, MT), Clark’S Bay Day Use Area Shelter (Mt) (Helena, MT), White Sandy Campground (HELENA, MT).

Cell Phone Coverage at Indian Flats Cabin

Cell signal at Indian Flats Cabin (HELENA, 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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Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Indian Flats Cabin

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HELENA, MT, MT★ 4.3 (19 reviews)From $30/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Indian Flats Cabin is nestled in a hollow of old-growth trees in the shadow of Hogback Mountain, offering a remote lodging experience in the Big Belt Mountains in west-central Montana. The present Indian Flats Guard Station started its days as the Conway Station on Rock Creek in the Jim Ball Basin. The cabin was constructed in 1944 and replaced the original Conway Station.

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:✕ Expecting hookups — no electric, water, or sewer at this site✕ Need services — this is a remote location 40 miles northeast of Helena✕ Visiting outside May-October — seasonal operations only

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a federal campground with only 1 site and high demand

Final half mile of road is washed out; high-clearance vehicle recommended

Firewood available for purchase on-site

Best: May-October

Official operating season only; campground closes outside these months

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, American black bears, and white-tailed deer present in area. Also wandering garter snakes and northern rubber boas.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
406-449-5201· Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest
Getting there →

Indian Flats Cabin is located 40 miles northeast of Helena. Take Highway 280 east from Helena. Several miles after crossing the Missouri River, you will come to the small community of York. Turn left at the York Bar and proceed 5 miles to the smaller community of Nelson, where you should turn right. Stay on the main road up Beaver Creek, through a series of switchbacks up Burnt Gulch, past Pikes Gulch Campground to the junction of Hogback Lookout and Indian Flats Roads. Take the left hand fork f

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.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Indian Flats Cabin cost per night?+
Indian Flats Cabin costs $30–$45 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is Indian Flats Cabin open?+
Indian Flats Cabin is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Indian Flats Cabin have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at Indian Flats Cabin?+
Indian Flats Cabin is primarily a tent camping facility.
How do I make reservations at Indian Flats Cabin?+
Indian Flats 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 Indian Flats Cabin?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Indian Flats Cabin is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Indian Flats Cabin open, and what are check-in times?+
Indian Flats 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.

$30 /night★ 4.3 (19)
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 Indian Flats Cabin cost per night?+
What season is Indian Flats Cabin open?+
Does Indian Flats Cabin have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Bar Gulch Cabin

TOWNSEND, MT

From $25/night

Devil’S Elbow Campground

Helena, MT

From $25/night

Clark’S Bay Day Use Area Shelter (Mt)

Helena, MT

From $50/night

White Sandy Campground

HELENA, MT

From $25/night

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