The interior of Little Bear Cabin is very much analogous with times of old, and as with most U.S. Forest Service cabins open to the public for rent, minimal amenities are provided. PHOTOS BY PARKER THOMPSON
By Jessianne CastleEBS ENVIRONMENTAL & OUTDOORS EDITOR
BOZEMAN
– It’s the little things that foster the fondest camping memories: a warm
shelter, a view, the peaceful serenity of mountain air. Yet few things conjure
more comfortable camping than a cabin in the forest.
The
U.S. Forest Service has nearly 14,000 cabins for rent to the public throughout
the country and within the Custer Gallatin National Forest there are a total of
23. These structures vary in amenities but are sure to treat guests to a rustic
Montana experience.
The
Gallatin Canyon and surrounding area has six different Forest Service cabins
available for rent through an online reservation system. While Windy Cabin up
Portal Creek is only open from June to October, the remaining five are open
year-round. Here’s a brief overview:
Little Bear Cabin
As
is the case with many of the Forest Service cabins, Little Bear was built in
the first half of the 1900s. Surrounded by hiking or skiing trails, the small
structure remains frozen in time and continues to be a great mountain getaway
on the north end of the Gallatin Range. Visitors can look out on Gallatin
Valley and catch glimpses of the Bridger Mountains. Complete with a bunkbed and
upstairs loft, Little Bear also has a traditional wood cook stove.
Throughout
the fall visitors can access this cabin by wheeled vehicles, but once snow
accumulates, access becomes limited to snowmobiles or a 10-mile ski. To reach
Little Bear Cabin from Big Sky, travel north on Highway 191 for approximately
25 miles. As you approach Gallatin Gateway, turn east onto Little Bear Road and
continue for about 10 miles to the cabin.
Spanish Creek Cabin
The
Spanish Creek Cabin is adjacent to the popular Spanish Creek Trailhead north of
Big Sky. The 1934 cabin is two stories and rests in a large meadow at the base
of the Lee Metcalf Wilderness. The South Fork Spanish Creek burbles nearby and
mountain peaks from the Madison range stretch tall around the area.
Prior to December, cabin-goers can travel north from Big Sky on Highway 191 for 20 miles to Spanish Creek Road. Turn west onto Spanish Creek Road and travel about 9 miles. Prior to reaching the trailhead, you’ll see a jack-leg fence and gated drive on the east side of the road that leads to the cabin. After Dec. 2, renters must ski, snowshoe, hike or bike the last 3.5 miles to the cabin.
Garnet Mountain Fire Lookout
The
Garnet Mountain Fire Lookout sits at an elevation of 8,245 feet and provides
panoramic views of the Gallatin Valley to the north, the Little Bear area to
the northeast, the eastern Hyalite Ridge, Gallatin Peak and Table Mountain to
the west, and the Gallatin Range to the south.
As
a fire lookout, Garnet Mountain offers a unique kind of cabin stay. Its large
glass windows and presence on the treeless mountaintop lend a feeling of
exposure—especially during a storm—but the morning sunrise and commanding views
are a valuable reward.
To
get to the lookout, travel north from Big Sky on Highway 191 for 17 miles. Turn
east onto Storm Castle Road and either continue to the lookout by hiking or
biking 6 miles on the Garnet Mountain Trail. You may also utilize an ATV or
motorbike 12-miles via the Rat Lake Trailhead, or travel by snowmobile or ski
in winter.
Yellow Mule Cabin
Yellow
Mule is a backcountry cabin that was originally built in 1920 and used as a
ranger station. Unlike many Forest Service cabins that were built following a
standard design, Yellow Mule was constructed to the builder’s preferences. A
12-foot-by-14-foot single-room structure, Yellow Mule is currently closed for
maintenance and repairs and is slated to reopen sometime next year.
The
Yellow Mule Cabin offers a particularly rustic experience as it is remote and
can’t be accessed by a car. To get to the cabin, renters can either travel by
way of Buck Creek Ridge Trailhead or Lower Buck Creek Trailhead, south of Big
Sky, or via the Ousel Falls Trailhead southwest of Big Sky Town Center.
Wapiti Creek
A
small, one-room cabin, Wapiti Creek Cabin is described by the Forest Service as
“primitive.” A wood stove provides heat and four cots are available for
sleeping. This cabin, tucked between the Madison and Gallatin ranges at about
7,000 feet, is nestled within rich grizzly and black bear habitat in an area
known as Taylor Fork.
The
Taylor Fork drainage offers an array of activities, from hiking, fishing and
horseback rides in the summer to snowmobiles, skiing and snowshoeing in the
winter. There is a corral available for visitors to bring stock and the Big Sky
Snowmobile Trail passes nearby.
From Big Sky head south on Highway
191 for 14 miles. Turn west onto Taylor Fork Road and continue for 3.5 miles.
In the winter, snowmobiles can park at the Sage Creek Trailhead as well.
If You Go
A
stay in any Forest Service cabin will be a rustic experience. There usually
isn’t cell phone service and you should be prepared for a chilly walk to the
outhouse.
These
cabins are rented through an online reservation system and it’s not uncommon
for the most popular ones to book six months in advance.
Visit recreation.gov to check reservations or find out more on a specific cabin.
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a
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Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a limited palette to create different color combinations? Are you tired of carrying around 15-20 different tubes when you paint plein air? Have you ever wanted to create a certain “mood” in a painting but failed? Do you create a lot of mud? Do you struggle to achieve color harmony? All these problems are addressed in John’s workbook in clear and concise language!
Based on the bestselling “Limited Palatte, Unlimited Color” workbook written by John Pototschnik, the workshop is run by Maggie Shane and Annie McCoy, accomplished landscape (acrylic) and plein air (oil) artists,exhibitors at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery and members of the Big Sky Artists Collective.
Each student will receive a copy of “Limited Palette, Unlimited Color” to keep and take home to continue your limited palette journey. We will show you how to use the color wheel and mix your own clean mixtures to successfully create a mood for your paintings.
Each day, we will create a different limited palette color chart and paint a version of a simple landscape using John’s directives. You will then be able to go home and paint more schemes using the book for guidance.
Workshop is open to painters (oil or acrylic) of any level although students must have some basic knowledge of the medium he or she uses. Students will be provided the book ($92 value), color wheel, value scale and canvas papers to complete the daily exercises.