In the early years of Yellowstone National Park, soldiers in the U.S. Army patrolled the backcountry for poachers. To shelter the soldiers in winter, cabins were built about a day’s ski distance apart – roughly 12 to 16 miles. A few of these structures still stand and others have been rebuilt or upgraded. In total, 27 backcountry cabins now dot the park. As late as the 1940s, rangers were stationed at some of the cabins to patrol for trappers crossing into the park illegally. They are now used by researchers conducting studies or groups like trail crews performing work inside the park. They are not available for recreational use, as old Forest Service cabins are. To read more about the structures, including their use by some animals and how one small cabin was intricately built, check out my story at https://billingsgazette.com/outdoors/yellowstone-national-park-backcountry-cabins-a-link-to-parks-history/article_140c59bc-7f50-11ee-a994-b38df2f3dd65.html.

Written by Brett French | Outdoors Editor of the Billings Gazette