Overview
Liz Creek Cabin was built in 1929 in the remote backcountry as a Forest Service guard station and is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. An extensive restoration that was completed in 2014 brought the cabin back to life as a rental available to the public. The small single room cabin has a loft and a covered porch. Although there are several entry points to the area, the site is only accessible by the single track multi use portion of Weitas Cr trail 20 that connects 12 mile saddle to the North Fork of the Clearwater River. Visitors are strongly advised to consult the forest website, as well as a map prior to reserving or traveling to the cabin and to call the district information desk for any questions.
Recreation
While remote, this site offers a great chance to explore both riparian habitat and mountain vistas. Along with trail 20 a multi-use motorized trail, that is also open to ATV/UTV from 12 Mile Saddle to within approximately 1.5 miles of the cabin, there are several other trails in the vicinity that offer connection to a host of recreation opportunities to the avid outdoors adventurer with berry picking, hiking, biking, sightseeing, fishing and hunting being the most popular. Recreate responsibly, be sure to check the regulations and rules to educate yourself before you recreate by visiting https://idfg.idaho.gov/ and https://www.fs.usda.gov/news/nezperceclearwater/news-events for up to date information.
Facilities
The small primitive cabin has a loft and a covered porch and can accommodate a maximum of four people. There are sleeping cots, table with chairs, wood heating stove, storage cabinet, and a fire ring outside. The remote site offers no modern amenities, an outhouse with pit toilet is located a short distance from the cabin and a stream provides water that needs to be treated before consuming. Guests must bring their own supplies and gear for a comfortable stay as there are no linens or toiletries provided. Guests are required to pick up after their pets/stock, take their trash and clean the cabin before they check-out with the provided cleaning supplies, under the “Leave it Cleaner than when you arrived” and the “Pack it in Pack it out” policies, so everyone may enjoy their stay.
Natural Features
Situated at an elevation of 3,500 feet at the confluence of Liz and Weitas Creeks, the site offers a panoramic view of the diverse surroundings. The forest beyond the cabin’s meadow varies from old growth conifer trees mixed with huge cedar snags from the great 1910 fires, to steep mountain sides filled with an abundance of vegetation, including Huckleberry, Mountain Maple, Thimble berry and alder. Weitas, and to a lesser extent Liz Creek, have multiple beaver dams unique to the area providing a water abundant habitat full of native flora/fauna, so visitors are likely to have several opportunities to catch a glimpse of the many species in the area. The cabin is an ideal base camp for those looking to reconnect with nature, or as a stopover for a variety of outdoor enthusiasts as they explore the district.
Nearby Attractions
Depending on how you decide to travel into the cabin, there are many attractions along the way including: The historic Lolo Motorway that stretches 100 miles through scenic mountain landscapes with spectacular views as it parallels a portion of the Lewis and Clark and the Nez Perce trails that pass by but not limited to places such as; The Smoking Place, The Sinque Hole, and Spirit Revival Ridge. The North Fork ranger district prides itself on the diversity of world class recreational opportunities ranging from bird/wildlife watching, big game hunting, whitewater rafting, leisurely floats, secluded backpacking/equestrian trails into the high mountain backcountry, to motorized OHV/ ATV/OHV trail systems, providing unique experiences that draws visitors from around the world and of all walks of life. The historic Lolo Motorway stretches 100 miles through scenic mountain landscapes. Summer visitors can see meadows and hillsides blanketed in colorful wildflowers. Travelers should be prepared for rough, sometimes treacherous conditions. No services are located along this road, so travelers should have plenty of gas, food and water for the drive.
Nearby Activities
- Biking
- Historic & cultural site
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Picnicking
- Wildlife viewing
- Fire lookouts/cabins overnight
- Organization site fs owned
- Photography
- Mountain biking
- Berry picking
- Star gazing
- Scenic drive
- Backpacking
- Mushroom picking
Gallery
Directions
There are no “services” located on the district, so travelers should have plenty of gas, food and water for their visit, including planning for possible emergency situations. The travel route to the cabin can be quite challenging even treacherous at times, as the gravel roads on the district can be quite rough and partially blocked with debris. The preferred route into the cabin is via U.S Hwy 12 to FS Road #107 (Saddle Camp) located at mile marker 139.7 approximately 25 miles west of Powell, ID on U.S Hwy 12. Follow Rd 107 north, twelve miles to Saddle Camp Junction with roads #500 & #587. Take a hard left on the #500 Rd heading west. Follow #500 Rd 4 miles to 12 mile saddle and the trail #20 TH (Weitas Creek). From 12 mile saddle to Liz Creek Cabin is a 9.5 mile moderate hike down into the cabin on trail #20, a multi-use motorized trail open to ATV/UTV to within 1.5 miles of the cabin. Visitors are strongly advised to consult a map as well as the forest website, prior to reserving or traveling to the cabin, all mileages given are an approximation.
GPS Coordinates
Latitude 46° 28′ 49.0001″ N
Longitude 115° 17′ 21.9998″ W