Eagle Guard Cabin

The former Eagle Creek Ranger Station is now available as a rental cabin.  The Eagle Creek Cabin was originally built by Richard (Dick) Owen about 1895 as a home for himself, his wife Sarah, and daughter Sadie. During that same time the country was experiencing a booming gold rush.  Dick Owen worked at Hassel in the mines and possibly at the Park mines. By the early 1900's, the Owen's had moved to Radersburg, where Sarah Owen ran a boarding house.  In 1905, the Elkhorn Forest Reserve was formed.  In 1908, the Helena National Forest was designated and Eagle Cabin became an administrative site. The Eagle, Tizer and Glendale Stations were all linked by a telephone line and connected to the switchboard at a Radersburg store. The cabin is the oldest administrative log structure on the Helena National Forest and predates the establishment of the Forest.  Eagle Station was used by the Forest Service on a regular basis until the early 1950's. Riders from the Crow and Indian Creek Livestock Association used the cabin over the years until the 1970's.  Due to the historical value of Eagle Cabin, it has been determined eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. From 1991-1994, the Forest Service, with the help of volunteers and donated materials, restored the cabin. Primitive building skills and materials were used to restore the cabin's original features. The current site consists of the cabin, a woodshed, toilet, barn, horse corrals, a fire ring, and is surrounded by a jackleg pole fence. There is no potable water or electricity at the site.  The cabin is heated with a wood stove; a propane camp stove is also provided for cooking. There are three bunk beds that accommodate six people. Also provided are: dishes, silverware, cooking utensils, pots and pans, firewood, axe, shovel, outhouse and cleaning supplies.  Bring your own drinking water (or boil water from a local source), sleeping bags, warm clothes, food, and a flashlight. You should also plan on bringing one or two small propane cylinders to use in the lanterns or propane stove.

At a Glance