Our cabin is nestled in the Sapphire Range of Lolo National Forest about halfway between Philipsburg and the Rock Creek Lodge, 20 miles east of Missoula.
It’s easily accessible year-round, and every season is spectacular in its own way. Winter access is from the Philipsburg side ONLY, as much of the Missoula side is not maintained.
The cabin has 2 bedrooms on the main (2nd) floor, each with a queen bed. The 200 square foot loft has a queen bed and a twin bed. On the ground floor there’s a room with another queen bed and a twin roll-away. The photos make it look larger, but know that the ground floor and second floor are each about 850 square feet. (24’ x 36’). The interior stairs are steep and wide, so if you have small kids, you should know that.
The bathroom on the main floor has a tub/shower, toilet and sink. The bathroom on the ground floor has a shower, toilet and sink. Laundry facilities are on the main floor. There’s an infrared sauna in the bedroom on the ground floor.
The main floor has a living area with 3 couches, chairs, a TV/DVD player, a dining table that seats 6-8, and a fully stocked kitchen. There’s no dishwasher. There is a second kitchen in the garage, that’s more party zone than garage. There’s a sitting area with 2 couches and a cart converted into an awesome coffee table in the garage.
Other features include a 430 square foot deck with a table with room for 6. There’s also a propane fire pit with seating for 4 and 4 other chairs.
In the warmer months, there’s an outdoor shower with on-demand hot water that you just won’t want to leave.
A 6-foot fire ring gives you plenty of room to get everyone around the fire. For smaller gatherings, the portable 3 foot fire pit works much better. There’s a propane fire pit on the deck. There’s a propane grill on the deck for outdoor cooking.
Please note that there’s NO computer, NO WiFi, NO cell service and NO cable TV, but there is a landline.
There is a SiriusXM satellite radio boom box. We also have 30 or so DVD’s, board games, cards and cribbage boards.
Luckily, you’re likely not here to sit inside and look out the window. Rock Creek is famous for excellent fishing. We have Rainbow, Brown, Brook, Cutthroat and Bull Trout. Our cabin isn’t on the creek, but public access is a 3-minute walk upstream. The Wyman trailhead is a quarter mile downstream. It’s popular with anglers, hikers, and it’s a great place to play in the water. Other trails are nearby to offer opportunities for hikers to enjoy the area.
In addition to the fish, you’re also likely to see deer, sheep, eagles, owls, bats at dusk, and moose. If you’re lucky, you might see an elk or a bear.
So bring your raft, drift boat, tubes or kayaks and get in the water! Note that you cannot fish from a boat after June 30, but you can still float the creek. People will tell you otherwise (some of them quite sternly and even aggressively), but they’re misreading the fishing regulations. There’s typically enough water to float until the 2nd or 3rd week of July. With few others floating the creek, you’ll likely have it all to yourself.
If you choose to visit in the colder months, you may enjoy sitting inside the warm cabin watching it snow. Curling up with a book, watching a movie or playing games are great ways to pass the time on cold winter days. During the winter, you’ll only see a handful of vehicles pass in a day. It’s really quiet.
Philipsburg, voted one of America’s Prettiest Painted Places, is a 45 minute drive and features the great Philipsburg Brewing Company, several restaurants, the Sweet Palace Candy Store, Gem Mountain Sapphire Gallery and small town shopping.
Discovery Basin Ski Area is only 45 miles away, (about an hour and fifteen minute drive).
The Skalkaho Road is 18 miles upstream and offers a gorgeous but slow drive to Hamilton. Skalkaho Falls is spectacular in the spring. There’s also a sapphire mine where you can find your own stones. The Skalkaho Road is a great place to spend an afternoon.
We’re dog friendly, but please control them as there are other dogs in the neighborhood.
Finally, we have a very minimal cleaning fee that almost covers the fuel to drive there. We ask that guests leave it as they found it (or better).
