Openings · last 7 days
0
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-234298
When Ibex Cabin reopens
Ibex Cabin's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
18
Openings · last 90 days
18
Only 18 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 · Nov 2, 2026 – May 3, 2027 · of 1 monitored site
Of the 183 tracked site-nights (Nov 2, 2026 – May 3, 2027): 140 open for online reservation · 43 reserved.
Where the open windows are
23.5% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 140 of 183 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Nov 2, 2026 – May 3, 2027Not open online23.5%
Open site-nights140 / 183
Reserved (of online inventory)43 / 183
Weekday openings96
Weekend openings44
Of the open cabin-nights on mapped sites, 96 fall on weekdays and 44 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Nov 2026 – May 2027March holds the most room. 28 of 31 site-nights are still open there.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 1 cabin| Window | Night | Sites open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving | THU Nov 26 | 1 | Open |
| FRI Nov 27 | 0 | None open | |
| SAT Nov 28 | 0 | None open | |
| Christmas | THU Dec 24 | 0 | None open |
| FRI Dec 25 | 0 | None open | |
| New Year | THU Dec 31 | 0 | None open |
| FRI Jan 1 | 0 | None open | |
| Memorial Day | FRI May 28 | 0 | None open |
| SAT May 29 | 0 | None open | |
| SUN May 30 | 0 | None open | |
| MON May 31 | 0 | None open |
Thanksgiving: no cabin is currently available for the complete three-night stay. Friday and Saturday have no online availability; individual Thursday night remains open. Christmas: no online availability on any tracked night. New Year: no online availability on any tracked night. Memorial Day: no online availability on any tracked night.
Availability
Most open cabin-nights · tracked window| Cabin | Open cabin-nights |
|---|---|
| 001 | 140 |
This cabin currently has 140 cabin-nights available.
Next windows
As of Nov 2, 2026 snapshotNext open dateTue · Nov 3
Next open weekendFri · Nov 20
The next bookable night is Nov 3; the first open weekend starts Nov 20. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
140 open cabin-nights across 1 cabin at Ibex Cabin, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
Multi-night stays. 18 2-night, 16 3-night, 5 7-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Nov 3 at site 001.
All 1 cabin with current availability
| Cabin | Max RV | Hookups | Open cabin-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Not recorded | None | 140 | 33 nights | Nov 3, Nov 4, Nov 5, Nov 8, Nov 9, Nov 10, Nov 11, Nov 12, Nov 17, Nov 18, Nov 19, Nov 20 +128 more |
About Ibex Cabin
Overview
Ibex Cabin was constructed in 1939 as a shelter for Forest Service rangers working within the Shields Ranger District of the Gallatin National Forest of south-central Montana. It is available for summer and winter recreational use, and provides a peaceful, remote mountain retreat.
Guests can drive to the cabin from June until the snow flies. The cabin is closed April and May due to road and wildlife protection. High clearance, four-wheel drive vehicles are strongly recommended. The access road to the cabin may get muddy in the rain, so guests may want to call ahead for road conditions. In the winter, the cabin is only accessible by a 5.5-mile ski, snowshoe or snowmobile trip. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety.
This cabin offers very rustic accommodations with limited amenities, so guests should be prepared to bring most of their own supplies and gear to make their stay an enjoyable experience.
Recreation
There are a number of trails in the area for hikers, equestrians and snowmobilers. Tresspass Trail and Cottonwood Lake Trail are good trails in the area to explore. Trails in the area may cross private property,so guests MUST stay on the trail.
Winter recreation includes snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Big game hunting is also a popular activity in this area.
Facilities
The cabin has bunk beds with mattresses to accommodate up to four people. Other amenities include a wood stove for heat, a propane lantern , a propane cookstove, ( bring propane cannisters), table, chairs, axe, splitting maul, bucket, broom, mop and shovel.
An outhouse with vault toilet is located outside. FIREWOOD IS NOT AVAILABLE FROM JUNE 1ST THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH. PLEASE BRING FIREWOOD OR GATHER FROM FOREST DURING SUMMER. DO NOT BURN PROVIDED FIREWOOD FOR OUTDOOR FIRES, EVER, AS IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO REPLACE. Firewood is available during winter months as long as supplies last. A campfire ring is located outside, (collect wood in forest nearby or bring firewood for outside fires).
Electricity and water are not available. Guests must bring their own water supply, as well as cooking gear, propane canisters for the lantern and stove, bedding, matches, newspaper, first aid kit, dishes and utensils, toilet paper and other necessities. The cabin will need to be cleaned and all trash carried out, prior to leaving.
Natural Features
The rustic cabin is nestled at the edge of a meadow in the foothills of the Crazy Mountains, at an elevation of 6,600 feet. A forest of Lodgepole pine grows behind the cabin, and views from the front reveal the 7,354-foot peak of Ibex Mountain. The surrounding meadow bursts with color from wildflowers in the summer. Mule deer, porcupine and elk may be spotted around the cabin. Several bird species that inhabit this area include bald eagles, owls, jays, western meadowlarks and mountain bluebirds.
1 monitored cabinNo hookups1 shadedMax party 4
Getting there
From Livingston, travel north on U.S. Highway 89 just past Clyde Park. Turn right onto Cottonwood Bench Road and continue 3 miles. Turn right onto Cottonwood Road and proceed for about 7 miles, to the intersection of Upper Cottonwood Creek Road and Lower Cottonwood Road. Turn left on Upper Cottonwood Creek Road. Take the next right, continuing on Upper Cottonwood Creek Road. Continue approximately 4.5 miles to an intersection and bear left onto Ibex Road, following the signs for the next 2.5 miles to the cabin. (High clearance four-wheel drive vehicles are recommended due to the rough road conditions). In the winter, either park along the county road or in the private winter parking area at the intersection of Briggs Lane and Upper Cottonwood Creek Road. This parking lot is maintained by our Forest Service partners, the Big Sky Snow Riders. Please contact them for permission/access to use the parking area, at 406-220-1356. Please remember to allow for others to turn around and for the county snowplow to be able to operate. Do not block roadways or driveways. Both parking opportunities are approximately 9 miles from U.S. Highway 89. Ski, snowshoe or snowmobile the remaining 5.5 miles to the cabin. The Cottonwood area can be extremely windblown during the winter months. Roads drift in with snow quickly during high winds and may not be plowed for 24 to 48 hours. It is recommended that winter guests carry topographic maps and compasses for navigation since the route may be windblown and difficult to find. The signs might be down due to weather conditions or vandalism.
5242 Highway 89 South, Livingston, MT 59047
CampingHikingHuntingWildlife ViewingWinter Sports
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-234298 · facility
Photo gallery
Roll CS-234298 · Ibex Cabin · Livingston MT8 frames · facility
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Ibex Cabin?
Reservations for Ibex Cabin are made through Recreation.gov. The current snapshot shows substantial availability: 140 of 183 tracked site-nights are open (76.5%), though availability can change. Campsite Sniper has also detected 18 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 Ibex Cabin?
Campsite Sniper detected 18 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 Ibex Cabin?
16 three-night openings are showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Nov 3 at site 001. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which month has the most availability at Ibex Cabin?
March 2027, with 28 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 31.
When is the next open date at Ibex Cabin?
As of the Nov 2, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Tue, Nov 3 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Nov 20. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
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