About Thompson Guard Station
Thompson Guard Station is located in the Big Belt Mountain Range in Helena National Forest. Historical records indicate that the guard station was built in 1954 for rangers in the district, but it may have been used as a cookhouse for a Civilian Conservation Corps camp prior to that date. In later years, engineering and road maintenance crews used the cabin as lodging. Today, the cabin is a rustic getaway for guests seeking relaxation and recreation in west-central Montana. It is accessible by car, but snow closes the road in winter and access is maintained to within about 4 miles of the cabin on the east side. During these periods, guests should be prepared to reach the cabin by snowshoes, cross-country skis or snowmobile. The cabin offers many amenities, but guests must bring some of their own gear and supplies. Gipsy Lake is 1 mile south of the cabin and is accessible by vehicle. It…
- Managed by: Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, FS
- Where: 9 mi west of Springdale Colony, MT · 46.50417, -111.20833
Things to do:
Official page for this camp (fees, closures, booking)
Weather by month
Typical daily highs and lows (°F), 1991–2020 NOAA normals. Best months: Jun–Aug (comfortable days, mild nights, little rain). Nights below freezing: Oct–Apr.
Fly over it in 3D, check today's weather and fire news, plan the drive and print a trip plan.
Trails near camp
| Trail | Open to | From camp | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gipsy Lake Campground Loop | Horse | 0.1 mi | 0.3 mi |
| Gipsy/Birch Creek | Horse | 0.3 mi | 13.0 mi |
| Snowbank Mine | ATV / OHV, Dirt bike | 1.4 mi | 0.8 mi |
| Little Camas Creek | ATV / OHV, Dirt bike | 1.9 mi | 2.5 mi |
| Hidden Lake | Horse | 2.1 mi | 10.7 mi |
| Little Camas Creek | ATV / OHV, Dirt bike | 2.2 mi | 0.3 mi |
Straight-line distance from camp, from Forest Service, BLM, state and OpenStreetMap trail data.
Good to know
T-Mobile 5G
From the carriers' FCC coverage maps, which tend to be generous.The Milky Way casts shadows and the sky is crowded with stars.
Class 1 of 9, from NASA/NOAA night-light data.Stargazing nearby: Montana Learning Center Observatory (Observatory), 39 mi.
Dump station: 14.3 mi
Propane: 19.7 mi
Camps nearby
- Gipsy Lake Campground 0.4 mi
- Thompson Guard Station 1 mi
- Miller Cabin 11.2 mi
- Skidway Campground 11.6 mi
- Rillway Cabin 11.8 mi
- Rillway Cabin 11.9 mi