Openings · last 7 days
0
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-234345
When Star Meadows Guard Station reopens
Star Meadows Guard Station's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
38
Openings · last 90 days
38
Only 38 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 · Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027 · of 1 monitored site
Of the 183 tracked site-nights (Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027): 83 open for online reservation · 88 reserved · 12 closed.
Where the open windows are
54.6% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 83 of 183 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027Not open online54.6%
Open site-nights83 / 183
Reserved (of online inventory)88 / 171
Weekday openings61
Weekend openings22
Of the open site-nights on mapped sites, 61 fall on weekdays and 22 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Mar 2027February holds the most room. 16 of 28 site-nights are still open there.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 1 site| Window | Night | Sites open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open | |
| Thanksgiving | THU Nov 26 | 0 | None 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 |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked night. Thanksgiving: no online availability on any tracked night. Christmas: no online availability on any tracked night. New Year: no online availability on any tracked night.
Availability
Most open site-nights · tracked window| Site | Open site-nights |
|---|---|
| 001 | 83 |
This site currently has 83 site-nights available.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotNext open dateSun · Sep 20
Next open weekendFri · Oct 30
The next bookable night is Sep 20; the first open weekend starts Oct 30. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
83 open site-nights across 1 site at Star Meadows Guard Station, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
Multi-night stays. 16 2-night, 14 3-night, 1 7-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Sep 20 at site 001.
All 1 site with current availability
| Site | Max RV | Hookups | Open site-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | 20 ft | None | 83 | 10 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 5 +71 more |
About Star Meadows Guard Station
Overview
The Star Meadows Guard Station has all the rustic feel of a remote Forest Service cabin while still being accessible by paved road from Whitefish. Furnished with a refrigerator/freezer, range and oven, microwave, coffeemaker, pots and pans, dishes and silverware, and electric heat, this cabin has everything you need to come and enjoy some time in the Forest. Nearby Tally Lake and Sylvia Lake offer opportunities for water play and fishing and a centralized location in the Tally Lake District to access miles of hiking, biking or horseback riding trails with a trailhead right behind the cabin. Enjoy a large backyard area for family games, or just sit in front of the campfire with s’mores and make some memories. Star Meadows Guard Station is 23 miles from Whitefish on Forest Service Road #539. The road is paved and open year-round.
The Star Meadows Guard Station was built in 1941 to house Forest Service personnel and stock for the Tally Lake District. It was built to replace a 1908 building at the same location. The site operated as a work center when the Ranger Station was located at Tally Lake. In 1953, the District Office moved to Whitefish. The station housed fire suppression crews, contractors, and timber camps, and served as a staging area for engineers designing and building the roads on the District. During the winter months, the road was not plowed, and the site was inaccessible.
In 1991 a cultural survey found that the facilities were historically significant and were placed on the National Historic Register. In 2001, A Passport in Time project (PIT) funded the beginning of the restoration.
Recreation
There is plenty of opportunity for hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking in the area surrounding the cabin. Trail #171A starts in the back yard and goes all the way to Sylvia Lake approximately 10 miles away. In the winter, visitors enjoy cross country skiing and snowshoeing. Snowmobiling can be enjoyed on designated trails, but is not permitted on the cabin grounds.
Big game hunting in the national forest lands is a popular activity enjoyed by visitors, as well as fishing in Sheppard Creek behind the cabin, other nearby mountain streams and Tally Lake, which is about 11 miles east of the cabin. Guests at the cabin also enjoy ample open space for yard games and other outdoor group activities.
Facilities
The Star Meadow Guard Station is a two-room cabin. The bedroom has two bunk beds with queen on bottom and full on top and sleeps 6. The second room is the kitchen area with a couch, table with chairs and benches. A bunk house located 20 yards away from the main house has two bunkbeds and a futon couch. Sleeps 6 and is great for the kids!. There are electric heaters throughout the cabin and in the bunkhouse. The kitchen comes complete with refrigerator, oven, microwave and coffeemaker; dishes, utensils and pots and pans are provided. Cleaning supplies are provided and the cabin must be cleaned upon departure. All garbage must be packed out.
The restroom is a wood paneled vault toilet 20 yards from the cabin and has electric lights. A well with a hand pump is also located 30 yards from the cabin and water is available approximately April 1st through November 30th. There is no running water. A patio provides an outdoor area with tables, chairs and a charcoal grill. Please bring your own charcoal and empty it in the receptacle provided. An outdoor fire pit, picnic tables and horse shoe pit are in the large backyard.
Dogs are allowed. No pets are allowed on the furniture and cleaning up after them is required. Pets may not be left in the cabin while renters are away; an outdoor kennel is provided.
The site is also an excellent area for large family gatherings, with ample room in the lower meadow for several RVs or tents. Stock animals are allowed, but there is no corral or running water on site. Renters with stock or additional camp units should contact the district prior to their stay for access to the lower meadow and an additional fee may be charged.
Guests must bring their own bedding and food, among other necessities. Guests will also need to bring water if the reservation falls outside of the range of dates when water is available nearby. There is no cell phone service at the cabin. During winter storms or snowfall accumulation, the paved access road may not be plowed, so be prepared for winter driving and road emergencies. This is a non-smoking facility. Please be respectful to adjacent neighbors.
Natural Features
The cabin sits in a valley near the foot of Mt. Swaney, providing views of the surrounding forested mountains. It is in the northwestern corner of Flathead National Forest in the Tally Lake Ranger District.
Nearby Attractions
The town of Whitefish is about 45 minutes away. Tally Lake, the second deepest lake in Montana is located 7 miles away.
1 monitored siteRVs up to 20 ftNo hookups1 shadedPets OKFire pitsMax party 12
Getting there
STAR MEADOW GUARD STATION 5250 Star Meadows Road Whitefish, Montana 59937 Travel from Whitefish west on Highway 93 approximately 12 miles to mile marker 139, turn left onto Farm to Market Road. Continue 1.7 miles; turn right onto the Star Meadows Road. Continue to mile marker 15 located almost across from the cabin driveway.
650 Wolfpack Way, Kalispell, MT 59901406-758-5204
BikingCampingFishingHikingHorseback RidingHuntingWildlife ViewingWinter Sports
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-234345 · facility
Photo gallery
Roll CS-234345 · Star Meadows Guard Station · Kalispell MT11 frames · facility
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Star Meadows Guard Station?
Reservations for Star Meadows Guard Station are made through Recreation.gov. 83 of 183 tracked site-nights are currently open (45.4%). Campsite Sniper has also detected 38 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 Sep 18, 2026 14:17 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 Star Meadows Guard Station?
Campsite Sniper detected 38 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 Star Meadows Guard Station?
14 three-night openings are showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Sep 20 at site 001. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which sites at Star Meadows Guard Station fit a 35-foot RV?
No RV-analyzable site here has a recorded maximum of 35 ft or more; the longest recorded is 20 ft.
Which month has the most availability at Star Meadows Guard Station?
February 2027, with 16 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 28.
When is the next open date at Star Meadows Guard Station?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Sun, Sep 20 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Oct 30. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
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