The Long Way
Powell County
A log cabin in a snowy forest.
Plate I. Monture Guard Station Cabin in winter. From recreation.gov
An interior view of a living room with a couch, television, and dining area.
Plate II. Cabin interior, Monture Guard Station Cabin. From recreation.gov

Monture Guard Station Cabin

Ovando, Powell County, Montana. Cabin; Open December 1 - April 14.

Details

Map. Ovando, Powell County, Montana. Larger map
Where
Ovando, Powell County, MT. No street address stated. Directions
Getting there
From Clearwater Junction (Montana highways 83 and 200) travel east on Hwy 200 for 12.5 miles; turn north on FS Road #89 (Monture Creek Road) and go 7.5 miles.
Fees
Overnight Use: $75 per night.
Access
Potable water is available at this site.
Walk-in or reserve
Available Campsites.
Phone
406-677-2233
Website
fs.usda.gov
Managed by
Lolo National Forest.
Coordinates
47.127395, -113.152253.

A completely restored ranger station available only in winter, with comfortable heating, a kitchen area, and refinished wood floors; the area offers motorized and non-motorized recreation.

Notable Events

  1. 1891Congress passed the Forest Reserve Act of 1891, which set aside forest land for the public's benefit. historicmt.org
  2. 1905The Department of the Interior transferred this land to the newly created U.S. Forest Service. historicmt.org
  3. 1906Forest Service rangers established a presence in the Monture Creek drainage by 1906. historicmt.org
  4. 1918Land disputes with the Anaconda Company prompted district leaders to move from the Shoup Lake area to the present location. historicmt.org
  5. 1920Seeley Lake District Ranger Walt Robb began supervising construction of a new residence. historicmt.org
  6. 2002Volunteers began collaborating with the ranger district to restore the station. historicmt.org
  7. 2006The Forest Service made the restored station available to the public as a recreation rental. historicmt.org
  8. 2022The Federal Register recorded the Monture Guard Station nomination - submitted by the Federal Preservation Officer and supported by the State Historic Preservation Officer - in Powell County. govinfo.gov
  9. The Lolo National Forest Historical Preservation team and Montana Conservation Corps reroofed the station and repaired its failing chimney. seeleylake.com

People

  • Walt Robb, Seeley Lake District Ranger who supervised construction of the new residence (1920).
  • George Monteur, Hudson's Bay Company interpreter and trader remembered in the name of Monture Creek; killed in a drunken brawl on the bank of the North Fork of the Blackfoot River and buried where he died (killed 1877).
  • Chad Mullman, Seeley Lake Ranger District recreation staff who supported the preservation work.
  • John Green, Volunteer on the Historic Preservation Team.
  • Katie Knotek, Seeley Lake Ranger District recreation staff who supported the preservation work.
  • Rachel Feigley, Seeley Lake District Ranger.
  • Shiffy Wellborn, Roof-repair project coordinator and Region One Historical Preservation Team member.
  • Sydney Bacon, Lolo National Forest Zone Archeologist involved in the station's roof repair.

Sources

  1. recreation.gov/api/camps/campgrounds/234506
  2. fs.usda.gov/r01/lolo/recreation/monture-guard-station-cabin
  3. recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/234506
  4. historicmt.org/items/show/3506
  5. govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2022-12-22/pdf/2022-27896.pdf
  6. lewis-clark.org/the-trail/road-to-the-buffalo/seamans-creek
  7. seeleylake.com/story/2016/10/13/news/a-new-roof-for-monture-guard-station/1403.html
  8. nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/weekly-list-2023-01-20.htm
  9. fs.usda.gov/r01/lolo/recreation/monture-guard-station-cabin