Openings · last 7 days
0
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-234372
When West Fork Cabin (s of Ennis) reopens
West Fork Cabin (s of Ennis)'s openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
3
Openings · last 90 days
3
Only 3 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 173 tracked site-nights (Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027): 65 open for online reservation · 30 reserved · 78 not yet released.
Where the open windows are
62.4% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 65 of 173 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027Not open online62.4%
Open site-nights65 / 173
Reserved (of online inventory)30 / 95
Weekday openings39
Weekend openings26
Of the open cabin-nights on mapped sites, 39 fall on weekdays and 26 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Mar 2027January shows no online availability. 0 of 31 tracked site-nights are open there — 31 not yet released.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 1 cabin| 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 | 1 | Open |
| FRI Nov 27 | 1 | Open | |
| SAT Nov 28 | 1 | Open | |
| Christmas | THU Dec 24 | 1 | Open |
| FRI Dec 25 | 1 | Open | |
| New Year | THU Dec 31 | 1 | Open |
| FRI Jan 1 | 0 | None open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked night. Thanksgiving: 1 cabin is available for the complete three-night stay. Christmas: 1 cabin is available for the complete two-night stay. New Year: no cabin is currently available for the complete two-night stay. Friday has no online availability; individual Thursday night remains open.
Availability
Most open cabin-nights · tracked window| Cabin | Open cabin-nights |
|---|---|
| 001 | 65 |
This cabin currently has 65 cabin-nights available.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotNext open dateMon · Sep 21
Next open weekendFri · Oct 16
January0 of 31 · not yet released
The next bookable night is Sep 21; the first open weekend starts Oct 16. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
65 open cabin-nights across 1 cabin at West Fork Cabin (s of Ennis), from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
Multi-night stays. 7 2-night, 6 3-night, 1 7-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Sep 21 at site 001.
All 1 cabin with current availability
| Cabin | Max RV | Hookups | Open cabin-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Not recorded | None | 65 | 36 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Oct 1, Oct 8, Oct 11, Oct 12, Oct 13, Oct 15, Oct 16, Oct 17, Oct 18, Oct 19 +53 more |
About West Fork Cabin (s of Ennis)
Overview
West Fork Cabin is a small, secluded cabin in the mountains of southwestern Montana, located high in the Gravelly Range. The cabin was built in 1928 as an intermediate station for patrolling grazing allotments. The area is home to a variety of wildlife and offers numerous trails for hikers, equestrians and off-road vehicle riders during warmer months and snowmobilers in the winter.
The cabin is available from July 1 through March 31. It can typically be accessed by vehicle; however, a portion of the roadway may be muddy or snow-covered, requiring four-wheel drive or chains. Beginning around mid-October, snow may make access very difficult. In winter, over snow vehicles are necessary to reach the cabin, but are only permitted after December 1. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.
West Fork Cabin is closed on Wednesdays for administrative purposes, July - November.
Recreation
The cabin is popular year-long, especially during hunting season. In early summer, the cabin is an excellent base camp for viewing the spectacular wildflower displays in Eureka Basin and along the Gravelly Range Road. Snowmobile use is permitted after December 1st. Visitors are encouraged to practice safe snowmobiling techniques ( learn more about avalanche danger ).
Miles of hiking and horseback riding trails, which wind through the mountains and to the 10,542-foot Black Butte, can be accessed near the cabin. Hellroaring trailhead, just a few miles north of the cabin, leads to the extensive network of trails in the backcountry. Off-road vehicles must stay on designated trails at all times in the area.
Facilities
The primitive, one-room cabin is small and has a set of bunk beds and one twin bed to sleep up to three people. It has a table and chairs, a propane stove and lantern, and a wood stove for heat. Firewood is stacked against the outside fence or within a box on the porch. The cabin is also stocked with basic cookware, dishes, utensils and cleaning equipment.
An outhouse with a vault toilet is located about 30 yards south of the cabin at the tree line. It is not visible from the cabin and must be accessed through the gate in the back corner of the fence.
Guests may use the large administrative horse pasture, but the take-down fence is usually down and not maintained. Stock is not allowed within the small, rail-fenced area immediately surrounding the cabin.
The cabin does not have drinking water or electricity. Fuel is not provided for the stove or lantern, which use the small one gallon diposable bottles. Guests need to bring their own water for drinking, cooking and cleaning. Water taken from the nearby spring box should be filtered or boiled prior to use. Cell phone service may be available a few miles to the north near the Hellroaring trailhead.
Items to bring include bedding, pillows, propane fuel canisters, food, flashlights, toilet paper, matches and garbage bags. All garbage and food must be packed out, and guests must clean the cabin and replenish the wood in the woodbox prior to leaving.
Natural Features
The cabin is located on the southern end of the Gravelly Range at an elevation of 8,460 feet at the headwaters of the West Fork Madison River. Much of the area around the cabin was burned in the Eureka Fire in 2013. Black Butte, the highest peak in the range and an old volcanic cone, is about 10 miles to the north and can be easlly climbed.
The area is home to some of the highest-elevation pronghorn antelope, as well as other wildlife, such as elk, moose and bears ( learn about bear safety ).
Nearby Attractions
Red Rocks National Wildlife Refuge is a short drive south. Historic Virginia City is nearby to the north and Yellowstone National Park is about 60 miles east
1 monitored cabinNo hookups1 shadedMax party 3
Getting there
From Ennis, travel south on Highway 287 for about 30 miles, then head northwest on Standard Creek Road for about 20 miles and 10 miles south on Forest Road 290. The majority of the road to the cabin is gravel and has some long, steep grades, which may require four-wheel drive. The road can be treacherous and impassable if the conditions are wet or snowy, often in mid-October and November. Over snow vehicles are necessary in winter, permissable after December 1. All roads in the Gravelly Range are closed to wheeled motorized use from April 1 through June 30. Maps (Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest-South) may be purchased by calling the Madison Ranger District.
5 Forest Service Road, Ennis, MT 59729406-682-4253
BikingCampingHikingHuntingWildlife ViewingWinter Sports
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-234372 · facility
Photo gallery
Roll CS-234372 · West Fork Cabin (s of Ennis) · Ennis MT9 frames · facility
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at West Fork Cabin (s of Ennis)?
Reservations for West Fork Cabin (s of Ennis) are made through Recreation.gov. 65 of 173 tracked site-nights are currently open (37.6%). Campsite Sniper has also detected 3 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 16:19 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 West Fork Cabin (s of Ennis)?
Campsite Sniper detected 3 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 West Fork Cabin (s of Ennis)?
6 three-night openings are showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Oct 11 at site 001. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which month has the most availability at West Fork Cabin (s of Ennis)?
December 2026, with 31 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 31.
When is the next open date at West Fork Cabin (s of Ennis)?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Mon, Sep 21 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Oct 16. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
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