Openings · last 7 days
0
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-234567
When Bar Gulch Cabin reopens
Bar Gulch Cabin'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
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): 151 open for online reservation · 31 reserved · 1 unavailable (cause unspecified).
Where the open windows are
17.5% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 151 of 183 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Nov 2, 2026 – May 3, 2027Not open online17.5%
Open site-nights151 / 183
Reserved (of online inventory)31 / 182
Weekday openings90
Weekend openings61
Of the open cabin-nights on mapped sites, 90 fall on weekdays and 61 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Nov 2026 – May 2027March holds the most room. 30 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 | 0 | None open |
| FRI Nov 27 | 0 | None 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 | 1 | 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. Thursday and Friday have no online availability; individual Saturday night remains open. Christmas: 1 cabin is available for the complete two-night stay. New Year: 1 cabin is available for the complete two-night stay. Memorial Day: no online availability on any tracked night.
Availability
Most open cabin-nights · tracked window| Cabin | Open cabin-nights |
|---|---|
| 01 | 151 |
This cabin currently has 151 cabin-nights available.
Next windows
As of Nov 2, 2026 snapshotNext open dateTue · Nov 3
Next open weekendSat · Nov 28
The next bookable night is Nov 3; the first open weekend starts Nov 28. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
151 open cabin-nights across 1 cabin at Bar Gulch Cabin, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
Multi-night stays. 6 2-night, 5 3-night, 4 7-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Nov 3 at site 01.
All 1 cabin with current availability
| Cabin | Max RV | Hookups | Open cabin-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Not recorded | None | 151 | 51 nights | Nov 3, Nov 4, Nov 28, Nov 29, Nov 30, Dec 1, Dec 2, Dec 3, Dec 6, Dec 7, Dec 8, Dec 9 +139 more |
About Bar Gulch Cabin
Overview
Bar Gulch Cabin is located in the Big Belt Mountain Range in Helena National Forest. The cabin was originally constructed in the 1930s on Forest Service lands to be used for mining purposes. Instead, it was used for recreational purposes and issued a special use permit, which was transferred to several owners until it was donated to the Forest Service in 1988.
Today the cabin is a rustic getaway for guests seeking relaxation and recreation in west-central Montana. It is accessible by car, but snow removal is not provided in winter. The cabin offers several amenities, but guests should be prepared to bring some of their own supplies and gear.
Recreation
Guests at the cabin can step out to several hiking opportunities right out the backdoor. Belt Divide Trail and Bar Gulch Trail are favorites in the area. Bar Gulch Trail is actually an old road through a timbered gulch, and is mainly used for hunting.
The Ridge Trail, located along the crest of the Big Belt Mountains, is a favorite for those on foot, offering expansive views of the surrounding mountain ranges as well as overnight camping opportunities.
Guests can take advantage of boating and fishing at Canyon Ferry Lake, which is only five miles away. The lake offers excellent fishing opportunities for rainbow trout, perch, ling and walleye. The wildlife viewing near the lake is quite impressive as well. It is one of the best in the country for viewing large concentrations of bald eagles. A wildlife management area at the end of the reservoir is home to a colony of terns and pelicans.
Facilities
The small, single-room cabin can accommodate up to six people with two bunkbeds and a full-sized bed with mattresses. The cabin has a skylight, an antique cook stove, propane lanterns and a wood stove for heat. The kitchen is equipped with a table and chairs, a propane stove, some cooking utensils and cookware. A picnic table, campfire ring and accessible pit toilet are outside. An axe and snow shovel are available. Firewood may be stocked at the cabin, but it is not guaranteed. The cabin does not have electricity, running water or indoor plumbing. Guests must bring a sufficient amount of water for drinking, cooking and washing during their stay. Propane is not provided for the lanterns or propane stove, so guests must bring one or two small cylinders. Bringing an additional light source is also recommended. Other supplies to bring include sleeping bags, linens, towels, cooking gear, dish soap, matches, first aid kit, toilet paper and garbage bags. Guests are expected to pack out all trash and food and clean the cabin before leaving. No firewood provided from June 1st - August 31.
Natural Features
Bar Gulch Cabin sits in a grassy, open clearing surrounded by a canopy of mixed-conifer forest.
The area around the cabin offers a variety of landscapes, from river banks to subalpine terrain. Valley bottoms, dense forests, meadows and barren ridges are mixed with streams, rivers and lakes.
The area offers unique opportunities for viewing wildlife. Elk, bighorn sheep, mule and white-tailed deer, black bear, moose and a variety of birds are commonly seen. The more elusive badger, wolverine, mountain lion and lynx find habitat here as well.
1 monitored cabinNo hookupsMax party 6
Getting there
Bar Gulch Cabin is located 24 miles from Helena and 30 miles from Townsend on Magpie Road (#425). From Helena, take Canyon Ferry Road over the dam, past Kim's Marina. Continuing east, watch for a left-hand turn onto Magpie Road. From this intersection, proceed up Magpie Road 3.9 miles. Turn left on Bar Gulch Road. Continue on Bar Gulch Road approximately .25 miles to the cabin. The cabin is located on the left. Access to the cabin is good and does not usually require a 4-wheel drive vehicle but the Forest Service does not provide snow removal to the cabin. Please respect the private lands that are near the cabin site.
415 S. Front Street, Townsend, MT 59644406-266-3425
BikingBoatingCampingFishingHikingHuntingSwimming SiteWinter Sports
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-234567 · facility
Photo gallery
Roll CS-234567 · Bar Gulch Cabin · Townsend MT4 frames · facility
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Bar Gulch Cabin?
Reservations for Bar Gulch Cabin are made through Recreation.gov. The current snapshot shows substantial availability: 151 of 183 tracked site-nights are open (82.5%), though availability can change. 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 Bar Gulch Cabin?
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 Bar Gulch Cabin?
5 three-night openings are showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Nov 28 at site 01. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which month has the most availability at Bar Gulch Cabin?
March 2027, with 30 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 31.
When is the next open date at Bar Gulch Cabin?
As of the Nov 2, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Tue, Nov 3 and the next open weekend starts Sat, Nov 28. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
Stop refreshing. Let the app watch it.
Filter
Lakefront, hookups, your RV length, weekends only - set it as picky as you want.
Watch
We run paced availability checks for Bar Gulch Cabin. One watch covers every matching site.
Get the ping
When a match opens, you get a push with a Recreation.gov link so you can review and book it yourself.