Forest Service Cabin Camping is one of our favorite things to do in the winter for a myriad of reasons.

1. It is really fun!
2. It is excellent family bonding.
3. We get to experience the quiet calm of the mountains in the winter with our kids safely.
4. No cell service or screens to distract us so we are all present with ourselves and each other.
5. Bears. Are. Hibernating.
6. Bugs, particularly mosquitos, are back in hell where they belong.

These cabins are easy enough to book here in Montana. Just click this link HERE , find a cabin, read ALL THE DETAILS, and go from there!

We have fallen in love with a particular Forest Service cabin outside of West Yellowstone, Montana. It is a 4 mile ski in from the highway to this slice of winter paradise that is doable with kids. We have gone to this cabin two times and both times have had the most serene and glorious experience.

Our first time skiing into the Forest Service Cabin was three years ago.

With only one kid and our one ski chariot and our one dog, it was fairly easy. This year we had two kids, two dogs, and one chariot which created an exciting extra challenge. Fortunately for us, most of our friends have kids, love cross country skiing, and have double seater ski chariots. One of my friends lent us her chariot, thus making our trip entirely possible. Each kid would get a chariot that was packed with all our gear. It wasn’t the most comfortable ride but hey, at least they didn’t have to walk!

Wednesday before our trip, I allowed the extremely organized side of my brain to take over my being. When I do this, anything and everything will get done quickly, thoroughly, and very organized. Within a couple hours I had everything perfectly packed and ready to go. Thursday, we loaded up the car and drove the 2 hours to the trail head.

Our kids were exceedingly excited, especially our daughter who had never been Forest Service Cabin Camping.

Though the ski in was challenging due to the kids having tantrums and fighting and the sheer physical act of us having to pull two heavy chariots whilst skiing over snowmobile tracks, it was beyond gorgeous and beautiful. You know the saying that says you can’t properly photograph the sunset because it’s always better in person? Same goes for every single aspect of this trip. I tried to take pictures of the beauty around me but always came up short.

Every few minutes the kids would ask if we were there yet to which we would say “we are getting closer!” Once we finally saw the sign indicating the cabin was right through the trees, we told the kids that we were there. Cheering ensued.

As soon as the kids were freed from their chariots, the walked to the door so we could open it. We unlocked the door and the magic began. I love seeing kids transform in these rustic situations. It’s almost as if their natural instincts kick in, triggering the Little House on the Prairie brain to click on. They both oo’ed and ahh’ed over the most basic of things. Like the rickety old chairs, forest service bunk bed, and ladder that goes to the little sleeping loft.

The first thing you do when you get to our forest service cabin in the winter is start the fire.

It is generally cold and as your sweat dries, you get colder. Patrick started working on the fire, creating a blaze that would quickly heat the cabin all while explaining to the kids that they absolutely must not touch the stove, not fight around the stove, or push around the stove. As it can burn very badly and we are far from medical care. Spoiler, kids did great and no burns occurred.

As Patrick worked on this, I worked on unpacking the chariots and organizing our belongings in the cabin. I then stashed the chariots on the porch with the skis and the fun began.

The kids spent the entirety of our first day exploring the cabin, small as it was and wood shed outside. “oh my gosh… OH my gosh!!! OH MY GOSH!!!” Was exclaimed by my 2 year old when she got into the sleeping loft. Because how isn’t a sleeping loft of a cabin built in the 1930’s not the coolest thing ever??

Did I mention that we went there to celebrate mine and my sons birthdays?

I packed little twinkle lights to decorate with and a bag of homemade cookies per the request of my son. That night we feasted on left over pad thai packed in from home and birthday cookies.

When we go on trips such as these, we allow the kids to pack 1 book, 1 toy, and 1 small stuffed animal in their little back packs that they have to take care of. This strategy is a game changer for bedtimes, which for some reason are always a challenge for us whilst camping.

We had brought this amazing little popup tent for our two year old, that she proudly inhabited and played in all evening and then did a fair job sleeping in as well.

We book our Forest Service Cabin Camping for at least two nights….

With the effort it takes to get there. After a fairly rough night of sleep for us adults and a very good night of sleep for the kids, we stoked the fire back to life, let the dogs out, and ate yogurt and granola. Rufus, our son, loves to play with his little hatchet and my throwing knives. He went with his dad to the wood shed to ‘help’ split wood for the fire and gather kindling. Etta, our daughter, stayed with me, playing with her tent, looking at things, exploring, and being adorable.

We took a little 1 mile ski trip farther into the mountains to try and coax the kids to sleep. Spoiler! It didn’t work. But we did have fun running around in the open mountain field, wrestling, throwing snow, and enjoying each other without disctraction.

If you’re wondering whether or not the kids took a nap on the way back, they didn’t.

The rest of the day was spent looking out the window waiting for grandpa to show up.

Grandpa and Shelly eventually showed up. Even better, they brought a sled! Rufus immediately started walking up the hill behind the cabin with the ease of Legolas while Patrick and I post holed our way up. It was arduous work that ended in great fun for everyone; A sledding hill. Grandpa even taught the kids how to go about building an igloo. Etta taught him snow angels.

That night we enjoyed hot dogs and instant mashed potatoes and more cookies.

Life could not have been better.

I will give a fair warning about these Forest Service Cabins. They will leave you feeling recharged, reconnected, and rejuvenated. In fact, you might not want to leave at all as the part of your soul that yearns for simplicity has been touched. You will want to stay. You will want to lead the simple life from hence forth.

The entirety of our trip was blessed with magical snow fall.

Including our ski out. The snow was stickier for some reason making it a tad harder to ski, but the beauty and magic remained.

Trips like these touch our families soul. It lifts our hearts and helps us remember what is truly important in this wild world we live in. I am grateful beyond measure for the forest service cabin camping program. It has been such a blessing in our lives and I hope you all can take advantage of it too!