Openings · last 7 days
0
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-10176101
When Lost Horse Guard Station reopens
Lost Horse Guard Station's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
1
Openings · last 90 days
7
Only 7 openings in the last 90 days: not enough recent activity for a reliable pattern. A free Campsite Sniper alert watches around the clock instead, and pings you the moment one opens.
02 · Availability Outlook · Jan 15 – Mar 15, 2027 · of 1 monitored site
Of the 60 tracked site-nights (Jan 15 – Mar 15, 2027): 25 open for online reservation · 35 reserved.
Where the open windows are
58.3% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 25 of 60 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Jan 15 – Mar 15, 2027Not open online58.3%
Open site-nights25 / 60
Reserved (of online inventory)35 / 60
Weekday openings20
Weekend openings5
Of the open site-nights on mapped sites, 20 fall on weekdays and 5 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Jan 2027 – Mar 2027February holds the most room. 12 of 28 site-nights are still open there.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 1 site| Window | Night | Sites open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year | FRI Jan 1 | 0 | None open |
New Year: no online availability on Friday.
Availability
Most open site-nights · tracked window| Site | Open site-nights |
|---|---|
| Lost Horse Guard Station | 25 |
This site currently has 25 site-nights available.
Tracked window
CoverageCampsite Sniper's data for this facility starts Jan 15, 2027. That is about 74 days after the current snapshot was taken, so dates before Jan 15, 2027 are not covered by what Campsite Sniper tracks here — they are not known to be unavailable. The site-nights shown on this page describe Jan 15, 2027 onwards only. Check Recreation.gov for earlier dates.
Stays and site detail
25 open site-nights across 1 site at Lost Horse Guard Station, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
Multi-night stays. 7 2-night, 5 3-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Jan 18, 2027 at site Lost Horse Guard Station.
All 1 site with current availability
| Site | Max RV | Hookups | Open site-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lost Horse Guard Station | Not recorded | None | 25 | 5 nights | Jan 18, 2027, Jan 19, 2027, Jan 20, 2027, Jan 21, 2027, Jan 25, 2027, Jan 26, 2027, Jan 31, 2027, Feb 1, 2027, Feb 2, 2027, Feb 7, 2027, Feb 9, 2027, Feb 10, 2027 +13 more |
About Lost Horse Guard Station
Overview
Winter 2025 - 2026 is the first winter season the cabin is available for rent during the winter. Please call Darby Ranger Station with questions prior to visit. Please let us know how we can improve the facility. From January - March the cabin must be accessed by snowmobile or other over-snow vehicles via a 14 mile route that may not be recently groomed. Road and snow conditions can change rapidly. Please plan accordingly, prepare and check conditions before you go.
Missoula Avalanche Center https://missoulaavalanche.org/
Grooming Information https://www.bitterrootrr.org/grooming--trail-info.html
The Lost Horse Guard Station was built in 1938 by request of George Case, Moose Creek District Ranger, to assist the Forest Service’s efforts to administer and manage the high country of the southern Bitterroot Range. Using funds from the Works Progress Administration (WPA), the cabin was constructed by Emil Schwartz, from Wisdom, MT and known for a paying close attention to detail. Its quality of construction is evident through the minimal amount of required repairs and restoration over the 80 years since its construction. It is an excellent example of a Region One standard plan log cabin and guard station, with saddle-notched random-length log crowns, a drive through porch, native stone foundation and cedar shingle roof. The cabin features two sets of full sized bunk beds, a wood burning stove as the heat source and a propane cook stove. There is no drinking water at this cabin, please bring your own water for drinking, cleaning etc. There is no trash service at this cabin. PACK IT IN, PACK IT OUT. Firewood is only provided January - March.
Recreation
Visitors to the Lost Horse Guard Station have access to a multitude of recreation opportunities.
Hiking : There are many trails that are close to the cabin. The Bailey Lake Trailhead is within walking distance. Travel one mile to the west to Bear Creek Pass and access the Bear Creek Trail, Lower and Upper Bear Lakes, Coquina Lake, Fish Lake and the South Fork of Lost Horse Creek Drainage. Travel 2 miles to the North to access the Twin Lakes Trail and Wahoo Pass Trail and the vast expanse of the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness.
Fishing : Along with Lost Horse Creek, anglers can drive or hike to any of the lakes mentioned above. Expect to find Brook Trout, Westslope Cutthroat trout, Rainbow trout, Bull trout, Brown trout and Mountain Whitefish. DISCLAIMER* Some of the lakes in the area are in Idaho. Please obtain the appropriate licenses in the state that you will be fishing in.
Hunting : Many species are at home in the Lost Horse Creek drainage. Hunters can strike out in search of whitetail deer, mule deer, black bear, elk and mountain grouse species.
Skiing : With routine heavy snowfall, this area is a great opportunity for Cross Country Skiiers with some areas being groomed and lots of wild untouched snow.
Over Snow Travel : While the road makes for an easier ride, deep powder can be found very easily in a variety of terrain for riders of any experience level. NOTE* Motorized travel is not permitted in the Wilderness Area
Horseback: Bear Creek Pass and Twin Lakes both feature ramps and hitching posts for those riders looking to either take a leisurely day ride or venture into the labyrinth of trails that disect the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness.
Kayak/Canoe/SUP : Just 2 miles from the cabin, motorized boats are prohibited on Twin Lakes, this makes for a great opportunity for non motorized craft.
Opportunities for other activities such as climbing, bird watching, photography and general nature viewing abound in this area.
Natural Features
The cabin resides nearly 18 miles from Highway 93 in the Lost Horse Creek drainage on the west side of the beatuful Bitterroot Valley. The Lost Horse Road was built in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The drainages on the west side of the valley differ from the surrounding landscape. These glacial carved canyons are home to towering peaks, craggy granite cliffs, serene alpine lakes, steep avalanche chutes, flowing creeks and cascading waterfalls. These features create a microclimate in the canyon that sustains a dense mixed coniferous forest that contains ponderosa pine in the lower/drier sites; Douglas-fir, western hemlock and western red cedar along the creek, and lodgepole pine, subalpine fir, Engelmann spruce and whitebark pine in the higher elevations. The Lost Horse Road provides access into the Bitterroot Mountains much further than the typical eastern boundary of the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. The Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness can be accessed at Bear Creek Pass and Twin Lakes, which are both within 2 miles of the Lost Horse Guard Station.
1 monitored siteNo hookups1 shadedMax party 8
Getting there
P.O. Box 388, Darby, MT 59829406-821-3913
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-10176101 · facility
Photo gallery
Roll CS-10176101 · Lost Horse Guard Station · Darby MT12 frames · facility
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Lost Horse Guard Station?
Reservations for Lost Horse Guard Station are made through Recreation.gov. 25 of 60 tracked site-nights are currently open (41.7%). Campsite Sniper has also detected 7 site openings here in the last 90 days, so further dates may appear. Pick a site on the map to see its calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this campground for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Nov 2, 2026 18:20 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
How often do new openings appear at Lost Horse Guard Station?
Campsite Sniper detected 7 site-date openings here over the last 90 days, none in the last 7. A free alert watches around the clock and pings you the moment one appears.
Can I get a multi-night stay at Lost Horse Guard Station?
5 three-night openings are showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Jan 18, 2027 at site Lost Horse Guard Station. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which month has the most availability at Lost Horse Guard Station?
February 2027, with 12 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 28.
When is the next open date at Lost Horse Guard Station?
Campsite Sniper cannot answer that from the current snapshot. The availability data held for Lost Horse Guard Station begins Jan 15, 2027 — about 74 days after this snapshot was taken, so any earlier dates are outside what Campsite Sniper is tracking here rather than known to be unavailable. Check Recreation.gov for dates before Jan 15, 2027.
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