Thompson Guard Station
Thompson Guard Station is a national forest campground in Montana. Hookups: no hookups.
- Type
- National forest campground
- Location
- Montana
- Coordinates
- 46.50417, -111.20833
- Hookups
- No hookups
- Activities
- Biking, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Hunting, Wildlife Viewing, Winter Sports
- Map
- Open in OpenStreetMap
- Phone
- 406-266-3425
Amenities
- Reservable sites
Only amenities a source confirms are listed; an amenity missing here is unknown, not absent.
About Thompson Guard Station
Overview 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. Recreation Gipsy Lake is 1 mile south of the cabin and is accessible by vehicle. It offers rainbow trout fishing and a launch for non-motorized boats. Another 3 miles south of Gipsy Lake are Hidden Lake, Upper Baldy Lake and Edith Lake. A number of multi-use trails and roads are in the area, offering chances to hike, mountain bike or ride horses. The winter landscape is ideal for snowshoeing, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. Facilities The guard station is furnished with 6 single beds with mattresses to accommodate up to 6 people. The cabin has a Monarch cook stove, propane lanterns, propane stove and a wood heat stove. Other amenities include a
Cell coverage
No coverage data for this location yet.
Nearby RV services
- Dump station
- None mapped within 50 mi
- Water fill
- None mapped within 50 mi
- Propane
- Montana Propane · 36 mi
- Low clearances
- None mapped within 10 mi
- Off-road routes
- 70 designated routes (98 mi) within 10 mi
Other places to stay nearby
| Name | Type | Distance | Fee | Hookups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birch Creek Trailhead | National forest camping area | 0.2 mi | — | — |
| Gipsy Lake Campground | National forest campground | 0.3 mi | — | — |
| Duck01 | National forest camping area | 0.3 mi | — | — |
| East Big Belts Gfa - Gipsy Cua | National forest camping area | 0.3 mi | — | — |
| Gipsy Lake Campground | Private campground | 0.4 mi | — | — |
| Duck03 | National forest camping area | 0.4 mi | — | — |
Open Thompson Guard Station in DryRig
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Sources. Recreation.gov (RIDB). Updated June 2026. Facility facts only; DryRig does not publish ratings or reviews on this page.