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Rillway Cabin

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

Location: TOWNSEND, MT, MT

Price: From $30 per night

Price range: $30–$45 per night

Rating: 4.4 out of 5 (44 reviews)

Season: Year-round

Rillway Cabin is located 14 miles east of Townsend, Montana along scenic Deep Creek in Helena National Forest. Its history can be traced to Dr. Kelly, a physician who arrived in Townsend in 1915 and served as mayor from 1920-1924.

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/rillway-cabin to be notified when sites open up.

Rillway Cabin offers a comfortable, historic retreat 14 miles east of Townsend along scenic Deep Creek in Helena National Forest. Campers praise the efficient wood stove, pleasant creek setting, and convenient highway access, with a 4.5/5 rating from 13 Google reviews.

Wildlife alert: American Black Bear and Common Raccoon present in area; also Dusky Grouse, Spotted Towhee, American Robin, and Townsend's Solitaire.

Insider tips for Rillway Cabin: Book early as this is a federal campground with high demand Wood stove heats efficiently; bring firewood or purchase on-site Hang hammocks near the creek for meditation and relaxation

Skip Rillway Cabin if: You need hookups — no electric or water hookups available. You are concerned about pack rats — one reviewer reported this issue. You are noise-sensitive — cabin is near Highway 12.

Best time to visit Rillway Cabin: Year-round — Cabin is accessible year-round by vehicle and operates seasonally; one reviewer noted it functioned well during May cold rain and snow conditions..

Nearby campgrounds: Thompson Guard Station (TOWNSEND, MT), Indian Road Group Use Shelter (Helena, MT), Miller Cabin (Townsend, MT), White Earth Campground (Helena, MT).

Cell Phone Coverage at Rillway Cabin

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

    Rillway Cabin

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    TOWNSEND, MT, MT★ 4.4 (44 reviews)From $30/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
    On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

    Rillway Cabin is located 14 miles east of Townsend, Montana along scenic Deep Creek in Helena National Forest. Its history can be traced to Dr. Kelly, a physician who arrived in Townsend in 1915 and served as mayor from 1920-1924.

    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
    SeasonYear-round
    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 hookups — no electric or water hookups available✕ You are concerned about pack rats — one reviewer reported this issue✕ You are noise-sensitive — cabin is near Highway 12

    Insider tips & when to go

    CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

    Book early as this is a federal campground with high demand

    Wood stove heats efficiently; bring firewood or purchase on-site

    Hang hammocks near the creek for meditation and relaxation

    Best: Year-round

    Cabin is accessible year-round by vehicle and operates seasonally; one reviewer noted it functioned well during May cold rain and snow conditions.

    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 Black Bear and Common Raccoon present in area; also Dusky Grouse, Spotted Towhee, American Robin, and Townsend's Solitaire.

    Location

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

    The cabin is accessible year-round by vehicle. From the 4-way stop light in Townsend, turn east on Hwy 12. Follow the road for 14 miles and watch for the Rillway Cabin sign along the right side of the highway at the 14-mile marker. There is also a sign that welcomes you to the National Forest. Please note, only right turns are allowed when you leave the cabin area. Approximately 1 mile to the east is a pull out; use this to turn around if you must drive west. Please respect the private lands tha

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

    $30 /night★ 4.4 (44)
    SeasonYear-round
    Check-in2:00 PM
    Check-out12:00 PM
    Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
    Dates full? Get an availability alert
    FAQ
    How much does Rillway Cabin cost per night?+
    What season is Rillway Cabin open?+
    Does Rillway Cabin have hookups?+
    All 7 questions →

    Nearby Campgrounds

    Thompson Guard Station

    TOWNSEND, MT

    From $50/night

    Indian Road Group Use Shelter

    Helena, MT

    From $20/night

    Miller Cabin

    Townsend, MT

    From $45/night

    White Earth Campground

    Helena, MT

    From $10/night

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