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Cape Horn Winter Rental Campground in Idaho
Hard to BookNational Forest

Cape Horn Winter Rental Campground

Salmon-Challis National Forest, Idaho

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As of September 2026, Cape Horn Winter Rental Campground is a campground in Salmon-Challis National Forest, Idaho with 1 campsite. Cape Horn Winter Rental Campground is booked through Recreation.gov.

  • PermitSnag checks Cape Horn Winter Rental Campground for availability and tells alert holders when a site opens up.
  • Cape Horn Winter Rental Campground is located at 44.3727° N, 115.1190° W.
people allowed on each site
10

Cape Horn Winter Rental Campground reservations and next available dates

September 2026

open, tap to book on Recreation.govsold outin your alert

Campsites at Cape Horn Winter Rental Campground

  • Cabin 1

Amenities

  • restrooms
  • potable water

At a glance: Setting: Mountain.

Things to do: wildlife, photography, offroad.

All sites at Cape Horn Winter Rental Campground, as listed by Recreation.gov

Every site is in the CAPE HORN WINTER RENTAL loop.

SiteTypeSleeps
001Cabin10

About Cape Horn Winter Rental Campground

Overview

Cape Horn Winter Rental is located in beautiful Elk Meadow, approximately 16 miles northwest of Stanley, in central Idaho. It sits at an elevation of 6,660 feet. Guests enjoy the area for its endless winter recreation opportunities, including cross-country skiing, back country downhill skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling.

Recreation

The Cape Horn area offers unlimited cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling opportunities in the surrounding meadows, and downhill skiing is available on the slopes behind the cabin. Click here for an Idaho OHV safety message.

Facilities

The cabin is open for reservations during the winter only. In the summer, it is used by Forest Service employees as a guard station.

The cabin can comfortably accommodate four people on one double bed and one single bed, each with mattresses, and one couch. More people can use sleeping bags on the floor, but due to the cabin's size, group size is limited to eight people. Guests need to bring their own food, toiletries, towels, bedding and trash bags.

The cabin is equipped with electricity, which powers the lights and a standard four-burner stove and oven, but due to heavy snowfall on power lines, electricity cannot be guaranteed at all times. Be prepared to cook meals on the wood stove if the power is out. Firewood is provided, though it may need to be split.

A table and chairs and additional seating is provided, along with a battery powered lantern and a wooden rack for drying clothes. The water system is turned off during the winter season so the indoor flush toilet and running water are not available. A vault toilet is located behind the station.

Natural Features

The cabin is situated in a stand of lodgepole pines. On clear days, the cabin's front porch affords breathtaking views of the rugged Sawtooth Mountain Range to the south.

Rules and notices at Cape Horn Winter Rental Campground

Recreation.gov does not date these notices. We last read them on September 29, 2026. Check Cape Horn Winter Rental Campground on Recreation.gov

Notices from Recreation.gov

Walk-in use is not allowed; reservations must be made via the website or call center prior to arrival

A maximum of 8 people are allowed in the cabin

Horses and livestock are not permitted at the cabin

Please bring garbage bags; this is a 'pack it in, pack it out' facility

No tent, trailer or RV camping is allowed at the site

Snowfall can be heavy and Highway 21 may be closed at times; access is still possible from Boise via Sun Valley and over Galena Summit to Stanley

On occasion, Highway 21 in the Stanley Basin may not be plowed to the skier's parking pullout, changing the distance to ski to the guard station from 1.7 miles to nearly 9 miles: The parking pull out is near and across Highway 21 from FS Road 195 and Swamp Creek; The coordinates for the pullout are 44° 21' 39.0000" N 115° 8' 20.0000" W; The trail is marked from the pull out on Highway 21 to the guard station; The coordinates for the guard station are 44°22'21.88"N, 115° 7'8.34"W. There is no winter road access to the cabin. Be prepared to ski, snowshoe, or snowmachine from the parking pull out.

The cabin remains locked; please see your confirmation email for the current combination.

Click here for more information on the Salmon-Challis National Forest

Don't Move Firewood: Help prevent the spread of tree-killing pests in our national forests by obtaining firewood near your destination and burning it on-site. For more information visit dontmovefirewood.org.

Firewood is provided at the cabin; Self-Service from the covered woodshed near the cabin.

Pets are not allowed

Cape Horn Winter Rental Campground FAQ

How hard is it to get a campsite at Cape Horn Winter Rental Campground?

Cape Horn Winter Rental Campground is rated "Hard to Book" based on historical demand. This campground is popular and often books out weeks in advance. Your best strategy is to monitor cancellations.

How do I find last-minute availability at Cape Horn Winter Rental Campground?

Cancellations happen frequently at Cape Horn Winter Rental Campground, especially 1-2 weeks before check-in dates. PermitSnag monitors availability 24/7 and sends instant alerts when sites open up due to cancellations. This is often the best way to snag popular campsites.

How many campsites does Cape Horn Winter Rental Campground have?

Cape Horn Winter Rental Campground has 1 campsites.

More campgrounds in Salmon-Challis National Forest

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