The Long Way
Carbon County
A log cabin sits in a grassy field with mountains in the background.
Plate I. Rustic exterior of Sage Creek Cabin. From fs.usda.gov
A rustic wooden cabin sits in a dry grassy landscape under a cloudy sky.
Plate II. Sage Creek Cabin and surrounding grounds. From recreation.gov
A dark wooden cabin with a covered porch stands in a grassy valley beneath rolling hills.
Plate III. Exterior of Sage Creek Cabin. From recreation.gov
A view looking out from the covered porch of a rustic cabin toward a grassy field and hills.
Plate IV. Front porch, Sage Creek Cabin. From recreation.gov
A small wooden outhouse building sits in a grassy area with a hillside behind it.
Plate V. Vault toilet, Sage Creek Cabin. From recreation.gov
An interior room with a wood-burning stove, wooden floors, and a desk.
Plate VI. Living area and woodstove, Sage Creek Cabin. From recreation.gov
A small room with a wooden bunk bed and an open door leading to another room.
Plate VII. Bedroom with bunk beds, Sage Creek Cabin. From recreation.gov
A rustic room features a wooden bunk bed and a chair, with a dining area visible through an arched doorway.
Plate VIII. Bunk beds inside Sage Creek Cabin. From recreation.gov

Sage Creek Cabin

Bridger, Carbon County, Montana. Rustic Forest Service cabin rental; May 1st – November 30th.

Details

Map. Bridger, Carbon County, Montana. Larger map
Where
2276 Pryor Mountain Rd, Bridger, MT 59014. Directions
When
Open 24 hours/day.
Getting there
From Bridger, MT: head south on US-310, turn East on Pryor Mountain Road, stay on Pryor Mountain Road to the National Forest boundary, turn right at the red gate on the right, one mile after crossing the forest boundary. Alternative wet-weather Power Line Route available.
Fees
Overnight Use: $65 per night.
Access
Four-wheel drive and high clearance are recommended. Cabin has electricity but no running water; wood stove heat only; no stove/oven, no refrigerator; vault toilet nearby. Bring your own water, linens, dishes, pots, pans, utensils, stove, and cooler. Combination lock at the gate and cabin; entrance gate must remain closed to prevent cattle. Be bear aware. No pets inside the cabin.
Walk-in or reserve
Entry by combination lock; combination code in reservation confirmation letter.
Phone
406-446-2103
Managed by
Custer Gallatin National Forest (Beartooth Ranger District).
Established
1892.
Coordinates
45.208651, -108.557645.

A rustic Forest Service cabin in the Pryor Mountains of the Custer Gallatin National Forest, originally an 1892 line cabin for horse and cattle operations that became the administrative office for the Pryor Mountain Ranger District in 1908.

Notable Events

  1. 1908The line cabin transitioned into the administrative office for the Pryor Mountain Ranger District. fs.usda.gov
  2. 1920sThe north wing and kitchen area were added to the original squared shaped building in the 1920's. fs.usda.gov
  3. 2020The nomination for Sage Creek Ranger Station was received by the National Park Service before July 11, 2020 and placed on the pending list. nps.gov

People

  • Raymond Coster, ranger who lived at the station with his family and photographed it (1920s).
  • Tim Urbaniak, co-authored the National Register nomination form for the station.

Sources

  1. recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/10346418
  2. fs.usda.gov/r01/custergallatin/recreation/sage-creek-cabin
  3. kulr8.com/news/sage-creek-ranger-station-nominated-to-be-a-national-historic-place/article_f96ccd9e-e998-11ea-9790-c700659ff473.html
  4. billingsgazette.com/lifestyles/recreation/article_44743dbb-5216-5aab-9549-5b07491280a4.html
  5. nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/pending-list-20200711.htm
  6. carboncountyhistoricalsociety.squarespace.com/s/2022-Preservation-Plan-Final.pdf
  7. nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/upload/weekly-list-2020-national-register-of-historic-places.pdf
  8. archive.org/stream/generalhistorica1974harv/generalhistorica1974harv_djvu.txt