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Gordon Reese Cabin provides a modern, well-equipped place to stay while enjoying the scenic western Montana mountain ranges. During the summer a variety of recreational opportunities exist in the surrounding area, including hunting, hiking and viewing abundant wildlife. The cabin is a feature along the Lewis and Clark Trail.
During the winter months the Gordon Reese Cabin and surrounding areas transform into a winter wonderland. Surrounding the cabin are 32 kilometers of cross-country ski trails for which visitors enjoy various levels of difficulty. Gordon Reese Cabin is available as a warming hut to the public during the day, meaning the renters of the cabin do not have exclusive use of the facilities and are expected to act in a welcoming manner. The upstairs sleeping area can be closed off to provide limited privacy during the day when the cabin is used as a warming hut.
In the summer, the cabin can be accessed by a short, level hike from a parking area less than a mile away. In the winter, the cabin is available by cross-country skiing the same distance. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.
Popular activities include hiking, cross-country skiing and mountain biking on the area's many trails. The cabin sits along the famous Lewis and Clark Trail, which led frontier explorers through the area in the early 1800s. The entire length of the trail covers 4,600 miles, showcasing some of the most beautiful and rugged areas of America. The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail also passes close by the Gordon Reese cabin. During summer months long-distance CDNST hikers will pass by this cabin daily.
The cabin has two double beds and four twin beds with mattresses in the loft, and can sleep up to eight people. A wood stove is available on the main floor for heat and firewood is kept in the basement, along with emergency and solar power equipment and other supplies. The cabin is equipped with propane-powered lighting.
A main floor contains a well-equipped kitchen, two tables with benches, cupboard and counter space with stools and a variety of cooking and eating utensils. The kitchen has a propane cooking stove and a sink for waste water. Water is not available at the cabin. An outdoor vault toilet is provided.
Guests will need to bring their own water for drinking, cooking and cleaning, as well as bedding, towels, toilet paper, soap, matches, food and other necessities. Guests must bring their own garbage bags and are required to carry out all garbage. The cabin must be cleaned prior to departure. There is no cell phone service in the area.
The Gordon Reese Cabin was built in 2001 and is located in the Picnic Meadows area near Chief Joseph Pass, along the Montana-Idaho border.
At the base of the Anaconda Mountain Range, the cabin sits in an evergreen forest with abundant wildlife in the area. Mountain lions, elk, deer, moose and bears can be found within the range [(learn more about bear safety).](http://www.bebearaware.org)
Historic sites in the area include the Big Hole National Battlefield on the Nez Perce National Historic Trail. It is a commemorative site where war broke out in 1877 and is part of Big Hole National Battlefield, which is located about 15 miles east of the cabin.
From Wisdom, travel west on Highway 43 for 26 miles, the parking area is located at the top of Chief Joseph Pass. The route has many signs. Maps of the area may be purchased by calling the Wisdom Ranger District.
Looks like a great place to stay in the winter if you ski.
Cheap to rent out wood stove is great is great as a warning hut an abundance of wood as well
Nice cabin. Had trouble getting Into the cabin initially bc we were given a code and the cabin was actually locked w a key lock. Tons of beds upstairs and a great living space on the main floor. We stayed here in the summer and didn’t have to worry about being “cabin hosts” like you do if you rent it in the winter bc it’s a warming hut for cross country skiers. Awesome star gazing. Make sure you bring plenty of water for washing and drinking.
USFS cabins and lookouts are not comparable to commercial for profit rentals. You are relying on previous renters to clean the cabin before you arrive which sometimes does not happen. Our star review is based upon a rustic cabin experience and some cabins have electricity, propane or just a wood stove. A 5 star for a USFS cabin or lookout could equal a 2 or 3 star review to a regular for profit cabin.
The good:
The BEST USFS cabin we ever rented. Opened in 2001!
Basement with wood, supplies & ski patrol rescue equipment. Main floor is the kitchen, wood stove, dining tables & sitting areas are. The top floor is the bedroom.
You can drive to the cabin except in skiing season. Go through the gate in the woods on the west end of the Chief Joe XC ski trailhead parking area. That road is called Broadway. You can also go via 43 to Gibbons Pass Road & take the first right which Broadway connects.
If you need cell service we have Verizon & about .4 miles north of the cabin on Broadway we got 4 Bar LTE service.
The kitchen has a lot of cooking supplies, a double sink that drains, a 4 burner propane stove although the oven does not work.
2 huge dining tables for about 8+ people each & the kitchen has a bar with 3 seats as well.
In addition there are numerous padded seats since it is a warming hut.
The bedroom upstairs has 2 padded queen size beds & 4 individual pads along the wall so "officially" 8 people can stay.
Solar lights on each floor although but only 1 bulb upstairs with propane lantern backup.
At least 3 battery powered lanterns are provided.
A few games & puzzles + skis on the walls & beams for decoration.
Huge porches on 2 sides.
Lots of wood.
Fire pit with numerous benches.
The bad:
Mouse or something in the wall on the right porch so long waste is running down the exterior wall.
Very limited availability. Only allowed to rent 1 night a year & much of the calendar is blocked.
Not really private. While we had no visitors, there were numerous locals cutting firewood. The CD Trail is nearby & you may get visitors many times in season. The ski club may be by to do work. When open as a warming hut for skiers, they have full access to the main floor. You can't control who & what kind of people will be in the cabin during this time. You are also expected to shovel snow and maintain the cabin as you are the "host" in the winter.
Just noticed that it has gone from $35 to $75 a night.
This is our second time staying at the Gordon Reese Cabin. It’s become our family getaway (I’m a single mom of four). I love that I can get my oldest daughter, who is in a wheelchair, into the cabin and there is plenty of room for her Hoyer lift, commode and cot. :) We added a new 2022 journal to the cabin because we looked EVERYWHERE and couldn’t find the book! I hope the other campers add lots of great entries because we love to read them every year when we come back. I love meeting the through hikers on the CDT when they come through. We helped out a few with a nice rest and water. My children love the grey jays! We also loved visiting Darby, Big Hole Battlefield and Bannack Ghost Town nearby! We saw elk, rabbits, antelope and moose. See you next year, Cabin!
