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On the north shore of Lake Como in Montana’s Bitterroot National Forest, you can rent a historic log cabin built in 1928. Woods Cabin has three bedrooms, a full kitchen and dining area, a big living room, and a deck with views across the lake to the snowy Como Peaks. There’s no electricity, just wood stoves and propane lamps, which makes it a true rustic Montana escape for families and groups of up to 15. Book it on Recreation.gov for $60 a night in the off-season and $100 a night in summer.
A Cabin with a Long History
Dr. Herbert Hayward built the cabin in 1928 as a private lakeside retreat. It was later sold to C.M. Buxton, then to Bud and Irene Wood, whose family used it for many years before donating it to the Forest Service in the 1990s. The Forest Service renovated it in 2011, and today anyone can book it through Recreation.gov. It’s a lot like the Heritage Ranch log cabin near Bozeman, except this one sits on public land and rents for a fraction of the price.
Big Windows and a Lakeside Deck
Large windows and a spacious deck make the most of the setting. From the deck, you look straight across Lake Como to the Como Peaks, often topped with snow. The 913-acre lake sits at 4,245 feet in the central Bitterroot Mountains. Osprey, bald eagles, deer, moose and elk live around it, and so do bears, so store food carefully.
Room for a Group Inside
The living and dining room is wrapped in multi-pane windows on three sides, with long tables, benches and chairs for family dinners or group gatherings. The Forest Service says it’s mostly used for retreats, meetings and workshops because it can hold a big group. Two wood stoves keep the cabin warm (firewood is provided, though you may need to split it), and propane lamps provide light after dark.
The kitchen has wood counters, a deep sink, plenty of cabinets and a window looking into the trees. There’s no electricity and no hot water, so plan your cooking and dishwashing around that.
The three bedrooms have double bunk beds with mattresses, enough beds for 12 people. The overnight limit is 15, so a few guests may need their own cots or sleeping pads. Bring your own sleeping bags or bedding.
Getting There, Even in Winter
The cabin is about 7 miles from Darby, Montana, off Lake Como Road. A gated gravel drive winds down a moderately steep hillside to a pull-through loop at the front door, with parking for two vehicles and more space in an upper lot. The gate’s combination lock changes regularly, so call the Darby Ranger Station a week before your stay to get the code. Four day-use vehicle passes are left inside the cabin for your stay.
In winter, the road from the main Lake Como Road to the cabin isn’t plowed, and the gate stays closed. You may need to park at the boat launch and walk, ski, or snowshoe about three-quarters of a mile across the dam, hauling your gear in by sled or backpack. That turns the trip into part of the adventure. There’s no drinking water in winter, so bring your own. A vault toilet is nearby.
What to Bring
Woods Cabin is only partly furnished, and it’s more than 90 years old. The Forest Service recommends bringing:
- Sleeping bags or bedding
- A cooler or ice chest
- Dish soap, matches, flashlights and a first-aid kit
- Drinking water in the off-season (water is generally available in summer only)
Firewood and a splitting maul are provided, but expect to split your own. The Forest Service also warns about occasional mice, so keep food sealed in containers or cupboards. Leave the cabin cleaner than you found it.
Stay Details
- Location: north shore of Lake Como, Bitterroot National Forest, near Darby, Montana
- Built: 1928; renovated 2011
- Layout: 3 bedrooms, full kitchen and dining area, large living room, deck
- Sleeps: beds (double bunks) for 12; overnight limit of 15
- Utilities: no electricity or hot water; two wood stoves (firewood provided, split it yourself) and propane lamps
- Water: drinking water generally available in peak season only
- Bathroom: vault toilet nearby
- Parking: 2 vehicles at the cabin, more in the upper lot; 4 day-use passes included
- Winter access: road not plowed; park at the boat launch and walk, ski, or snowshoe about ¾ mile across the dam
- Check-in 2 p.m., check-out noon; maximum stay 5 days
- Gate code: call the Darby Ranger Station one week before your stay
- Nearby: beach and swimming area, boating, fishing, and the Lake Como National Recreation Trail
- No horses or pack animals
- Rates: $100 per night in peak season (May 1 to Sept. 30); $60 per night off-season (Oct. 1 to April 30)
What Makes This Stay Special
- A real 1928 log cabin with a story, donated to the public by the family who loved it.
- Lake and mountain views from a big deck.
- Room for big families and groups, at a price that’s hard to beat.
- An off-grid stay with wood stoves and lamplight.
- A winter ski or snowshoe trip right to the front door.
- A beach, boating and the Lake Como National Recreation Trail just outside.
Staying longer in the Bitterroot? See this tiny house rental in Stevensville, at the north end of the same valley, or the off-grid Bitterroot Valley tiny house by Rocky Mountain Tiny Houses. For more public lands cabins and lookouts you can rent, see the Tilly Jane A-Frame on Mt. Hood, Calpine Lookout in Tahoe National Forest, and Jersey Jim Lookout in Colorado.
Learn More
Woods Cabin, Bitterroot National Forest
Reservations: recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/234288
Forest Service: fs.usda.gov, Woods Cabin
Darby-Sula Ranger District: 406-821-3913, 712 N. Main, Darby, MT 59829
Photos: USDA Forest Service / Bitterroot National Forest / Recreation.gov. Rates as listed by the Forest Service in October 2026.
Highlights
- Historic 1928 log cabin on Montana’s Lake Como
- Three bedrooms with beds for 12; overnight limit of 15
- Deck with views of Lake Como and the Como Peaks
- Full kitchen, wood stoves, and propane lamps; no electricity or hot water
- $60 a night off-season, $100 a night in summer
- Bookable year-round, with ski or snowshoe access in winter
- Run by the Bitterroot National Forest
Explore More
- The Tilly Jane A-Frame: A CCC Cabin on Mt. Hood
- Calpine Lookout: Sleep in a 1934 Fire Lookout Tower
- Jersey Jim Lookout: Sleep in a 55-Foot Fire Tower
- A Tiny House Vacation in Stevensville, Montana
- Heritage Ranch Log Cabin in Montana
- Five Grain Bins on a Montana Farm, Fitted Out as Tiny Stays
- Six Cabins in the Woods
- Cabins
- Vacations
Would you snowshoe across a frozen dam to spend the night in a 1928 cabin? Tell us in the comments.
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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through one of our links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Alex
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