If you’re like me, you love to recreate on public lands but hate paying a premium for lodging. Here’s the secret to your next getaway: Forest Service cabins.
You can book these cabins, lookout towers and yurts throughout the country at recreation.gov. The best part: these are beautiful, historic properties—in prime locations—available for your next trip at a fraction of the cost.
I recently stayed at the West Fork of Rock Creek cabin, on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest in Montana, about an hour outside of Missoula. The cabin was perfect for our weekend getaway—it is located near one of the most iconic Western Montana trout streams, with remote creek access and mountain views right out the back door. The area is home to native bull trout and cutthroat trout, moose and other big game. We enjoyed fishing, hiking, playing board games and relaxing by the woodburning stove.
It doesn’t get better than that.
A few tips on booking
Cabins and lookout towers can sometimes be tricky to book—oftentimes, especially if they are nice properties, they can be in high demand.
Here’s what you need to know to book your next fishing cabin:
Timing matters.
Cabin, campsite, lookout tower and yurt reservations are generally released on a 6-month rolling window, with new dates open daily at 10 AM Eastern Time. So, if you’re like me, and looking at a cabin to spend your birthday, you should login at 10 AM Eastern exactly 6 months before your desired reservation date to make sure someone else doesn’t get it.
Pro tip: log on to Recreation.gov and navigate to your preferred property at least 5 minutes before the release time, that way you won’t be slowed down by login screens, navigation, etc.
Do your research.
While all Forest Service cabins are special, not all of them are equal. Each property has its own set of amenities. Many are “dry cabins”—without indoor plumbing or even potable water. Some cabins can be accessed by car year-round. while others are in remote areas of our National Forest System—making for an excellent trip for cross country skiers, backpackers and hunters. I’ve stayed in what I can only call “lux” Forest Service cabins with electricity, fully stocked kitchens and indoor bathrooms with warm showers—and I’ve also stayed in historic fire lookouts, with only a wooden platform to sleep on. Further, many Forest Service properties allow pets, but some do not.
Each Recreation.gov listing provides information on amenities, access and facilities, as well as reviews from other visitors—read up on what to expect before you book.
It’s a privilege—treat it as such.
With our public lands increasingly understaffed and underfunded, it’s important to note that not all Forest Service units have the capacity to care for and maintain these properties. As a visitor, know that staying in these beautiful, historic places is a privilege, and it’s up to us to steward them as such. Most cabins do not have a regular cleaning or maintenance staff—it’s up to us to make sure we leave these properties better than we found them.
Find a hidden gem.
Not sure where to go? Try searching for the Forest Service unit or closest town to your ideal fishing locale. For example, to find the Rock Creek cabin, I searched “Philipsburg, Montana”—a popular town for Rock Creek anglers.
Recently, on a trip to Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, I searched for “Olympic National Forest”, and multiple results appeared. For my own trips, I always like to check and see if there are nice Forest Service cabins (usually <$100 per night total) before I book an expensive vacation rental.
Some of my best memories on public lands come from Forest Service cabins. Find a cabin, campsite, yurt or lookout tower at recreation.gov.
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