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State Park
Challenge Cabin
Essex, MT
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State parks set their own rules and reservation systems. Fire bans, road closures, and operating dates change seasonally — check the state park website before traveling.
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Managed by State Park
Reserve or permit
- Reserve on Recreation.gov
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- Address:Essex, MT
About
Overview
Challenge Cabin is available during the winter and is located about 60 miles southeast of Hungry Horse, in northwestern Montana. It provides a primitive escape for visitors who enjoy winter recreation. The cozy shelter awards visitors with beautiful mountain views, peaceful sounds of nature and virgin, white snow for great photography and snow play.
Access to the cabin involves an 8-mile trek by hiking, skiing, snowshoeing or snowmobiling. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.
Recreation
Cross country skiing, snowmobiling and snowshoeing are popular activities enjoyed by visitors to the area. Reaching the cabin on the 8-mile access trail is part of the snow sport fun. Visitors might also catch a glimpse of any number of wildlife that lives in the area.
Facilities
The cabin can sleep up to five guests. It is equipped with a propane cook stove, lights, and a wood stove. Furnishings include a table and chairs, a bunk bed and a small loft where additional people can roll out sleeping bags. Basic cooking pots and utensils are supplied, but guests are encouraged to bring their own. Pets are allowed, but cleaning up after them is required.
A vault toilet is provided outside the cabin. Firewood is included for heating in the wood stove.
Guests should bring their own water for drinking, cooking and cleaning purposes, as well as food, bedding, flashlights, garbage bags and basic camp gear. [Click here for more cabin details](http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/flathead/recreation/camping-cabins/recarea/?recid=66318&actid=101).
Natural Features
The cabin sits in a meadow surrounded by a stand of Douglas fir and pine trees, near Challenge Creek. The Hungry Horse Ranger District is bordered on the east by the Middle Fork of the Flathead River and Glacier National Park.
Nearby Attractions
The nearest grocery stores are in East Glacier and Hungry Horse. Both towns are about an hour-and-a-half drive, in addition to the trek from the cabin.
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Amenities
Flush Toilets
Pet Policy
Pets allowed on leash
Campground Rules
- No campfires allowed
Within ~30 miles
Trails near Challenge Cabin
Trail
Devil Creek to Elk Lake
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12.4 mi4,242 ftgain
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Trail
The Tranquil Basin Overlook
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4.9 mi2,431 ftgain
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Trail
Dickey Lake
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5.1 mi1,732 ftgain
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Trail
Stanton Lake
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4.3 mi1,404 ftgain
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Trail
Aeneas Creek Trail
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6.1 mi1,135 ftgain
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Trail
Alpine Big Hawk Trail
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17.2 mi5,023 ftgain
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Hunt context
Hunting units around this campground
During hunting seasons, wear blaze orange and check regulations — see the Montana hunting page
Nearby Campgrounds
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