Openings · last 7 days
0
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-234421
When Bend Guard Station reopens
Bend Guard Station's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
0
Openings · last 90 days
4
Only 4 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): 69 open for online reservation · 94 reserved · 20 closed.
Where the open windows are
62.3% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 69 of 183 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Nov 2, 2026 – May 3, 2027Not open online62.3%
Open site-nights69 / 183
Reserved (of online inventory)94 / 163
Weekday openings48
Weekend openings21
Of the open site-nights on mapped sites, 48 fall on weekdays and 21 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Nov 2026 – May 2027March holds the most room. 16 of 31 site-nights are still open there.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 1 site| Window | Night | Sites open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| 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 online availability on any tracked night. 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 site-nights · tracked window| Site | Open site-nights |
|---|---|
| 001 | 69 |
This site currently has 69 site-nights available.
Next windows
As of Nov 2, 2026 snapshotNext open dateMon · Nov 30
Next open weekendFri · Jan 8, 2027
The next bookable night is Nov 30; the first open weekend starts Jan 8, 2027. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
69 open site-nights across 1 site at Bend Guard Station, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
Multi-night stays. 16 2-night, 9 3-night, 1 7-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Dec 6 at site 001.
RV length. Longest recorded site here is 40 ft. 1 site takes 25 ft, 1 site takes 35 ft, 1 site takes 40 ft.
All 1 site with current availability
| Site | Max RV | Hookups | Open site-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | 40 ft | None | 69 | 7 nights | Nov 30, Dec 6, Dec 7, Dec 8, Dec 9, Dec 10, Dec 21, Jan 4, 2027, Jan 5, 2027, Jan 6, 2027, Jan 7, 2027, Jan 8, 2027 +57 more |
About Bend Guard Station
Overview
The Bend Guard Station is located in a historic site within the Lolo National Forest of northwestern Montana. It is equipped with modern features, including a full-service kitchen and bathrooms, and provides guests with access to a variety of activities.
The cabin sits within an open meadow surrounded by an evergreen forest, providing beautiful scenery during any season.
Recreation
The Bend area offers opportunities for a variety of outdoor recreation experiences, including hiking, fishing, mountain biking, cross country skiing, snowshoeing and berry picking. A variety of trails snake around the campground and through the forest, several of which are accessible near the cabin.
The Thompson River is a short walk from the cabin. Anglers might see a variety of trout as well as mountain whitefish in the river.
Facilities
The two-story cabin has four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a large kitchen and a living area. Beds with mattresses can sleep up to 16 people. It has electric heaters, flush toilets, hot showers and a fully furnished kitchen, with modern appliances including a two electric stoves, a microwave, two refrigerators and two sinks with running hot and cold water. Basic cooking and eating utensils are also supplied.
Guests will need to bring their own bedding, food, toilet paper and garbage bags. The cabin will need to be cleaned before leaving and basic cleaning equipment is provided.
A horse corral is also located on the property. A frost-free water hydrant also services the corral area.
The cabin is available to rent year-round, except for a week in the month of May, when it is reserved for administrative and educational uses. A key code will be provided after a reservation is made. The key code gives you access to the entry gate and a lock box, which holds the key to unlock the cabin. Please make sure to return the key to the lock box before leaving the facility.
Natural Features
The 3,200-foot elevation site has multiple structures and has previously been used as a ranger station for the old Cabinet National Forest, which was divided by the Forest Service in 1954. The original log cabin is on-site and was constructed in 1911. While there are several buildings at Bend, the only one available for recreation rental use is the combined bunkhouse and cookhouse building. It was built in 1923 to house Forest Service work crews and rangers working in the area and was remodeled in 1984. The 2 million-acre forest includes four wilderness areas and a wide variety of trees, plants and wildlife. The area is home to mountain goats, bighorn sheep, elk, moose, deer and grizzly and black bears. Both the bald and golden eagle reside in the forest, along with trumpeter swan, herons and dozens of varieties of duck. The cabin is accessible by vehicle, but requires high-clearance with tire chains during winter months. The roads leading to the cabin may not be plowed on a regular basis in the winter. Four-wheel drive is highly recommended. There is no cell phone service or a land line at Bend. The nearest cell phone service is a few miles away. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.
Nearby Attractions
Fishing and water sports are available at Thompson and McGregor Lakes, both of which are a 30-minute drive from the cabin.
1 monitored siteRVs up to 40 ftNo hookups1 shadedMax party 16
Getting there
This rental is located approximately 32 miles up the Thompson River Road (County Road 56 on maps, County Road 556 on the ground) from its junction with Montana Highway 200, five miles east of Thompson Falls, Montana. It may also be accessed from U.S. Highway 2 by turning south on the Thompson River Road (County Road 56 on maps, County Road 556 on the ground) between McGregor Lake and Lower Thompson Lake, approximately 40 miles west of Kalispell, Montana. After leaving Highway 2 or 200, area roads are low standard gravel or dirt and are often rough. Area roads also serve logging trucks and should be driven with care. During the winter, it may be necessary to hike, ski or snowmobile for at least a mile to the cabin, as roads are not always plowed. Maps are available online or for purchase by calling the Plains/Thompson Falls Ranger District.
408 Clayton, Po Box 429, Plains, MT 59859406-826-3821
BikingCampingFishingHikingHistoric & Cultural SiteHuntingWildlife ViewingWinter Sports
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-234421 · facility
Photo gallery
Roll CS-234421 · Bend Guard Station · Plains MT6 frames · facility
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Bend Guard Station?
Reservations for Bend Guard Station are made through Recreation.gov. 69 of 183 tracked site-nights are currently open (37.7%). Campsite Sniper has also detected 4 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 Bend Guard Station?
Campsite Sniper detected 4 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 Bend Guard Station?
9 three-night openings are showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Dec 6 at site 001. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which sites at Bend Guard Station fit a 35-foot RV?
1 of the 1 site that support RV analysis has a recorded maximum of 35 ft or more; the longest recorded is 40 ft.
Which month has the most availability at Bend Guard Station?
March 2027, with 16 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 31.
When is the next open date at Bend Guard Station?
As of the Nov 2, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Mon, Nov 30 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Jan 8, 2027. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
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