Directions

Directions to the Cabin

(CLICK ON MAP BELOW FOR DIRECTIONS).

3502 Blacktail Road, Darby, MT 59829

 

AFTER TURNING OFF TIN CUP ROAD

  1. Stay on US 93 through Darby and turn right on Tin Cup Road as you are leaving town.

  2. Drive up Tin Cup Road 1/2 mile to Blacktail Road (a gravel road), which will be on your left (a private drive).

  3. There are two options when you turn onto Blacktail Road, straight and left—go left.

  4. Drive up the hill and stay on it as it bends to the right over a cattle guard and between our neighbors houses (log home on the left, newer home on the right).

  5. Once over the cattle guard, you are on our property. Follow the drive about 200 yards to the house (an older log home with a loft, small guest cabin, and large shop).

Arrival & Departure

Arrival :)

  • KEY BOXES There are key lock boxes beside each door; the code is 1234. This includes the house, garage, and fly shack.

  • HEATING

    • Turn up the Rinnai propane heater with the up arrow.

    • In the master bedroom, turn on the electric baseboard unit and turn up the master bath thermostat.

    • Each of the other main floor bedrooms has a baseboard heater.

    • Turn on the ceiling fan to low to push heat down from the loft.

  • TRASH Trash bags for inside and larger cans outside are in the pantry. PLEASE TAKE YOUR TRASH WITH YOU unless you make other arrangements.

  • STOVE If you are not familiar with the operations of a wood-burning stove, please refrain from using it (or call Justin for instructions).

  • FIRES Please do not have outdoor fires.

Departure :(

  • CRITICAL FOR WINTER

    • Turn down the Rinnai propane heater until it’s as low as it will go.

    • Turn off all baseboard heaters and ceiling fan.

    • Turn the master bathroom thermostat on the wall down to 50.

    • Open the cabinet door under the sink in the guest bathroom, kitchen, and master bathroom.

    • Close all doors other than the laundry room and guest bathroom.

  • We Don’t Have a Cleaning Service

    • Please take your food, drinks, and trash with you unless you make other arrangements.

    • Please wipe down the counters, vacuum the floors, and wash/dry any bedding that was used.

How Stuff Works

Keeping it cool in the summer.

If the window or stationary AC units are present simply turn them on as needed. We typically run them during the day and then open up the house at night to let the cool air in.

Using the wood stove & wood pile.

The path of least resistance is a single fire-starter block, some kindling on top of it, then a log on top of that. Light the fire-starter, close the door but don't latch it, then latch door once fire is going. There are not other vents that need adjusting. BEWARE OF LIGHTING FIRES WITH TODDLERS - IT'S HOT! We do have some child-fence around if you want to gate it off. There is wood outside the back door and the wood pile is out by the barn if you need more (along with ax and maul). 

Using the Toys

  1. The raft is great fun, call Marty's Shuttle service for a $20 car shuttle 406-274-6331. About a 3-hour float from Hannon Bridge to Darby Bridge on the Bitterroot River. You also might be able to bribe Kaleb into shuttling for you if a truck is needed. 

  2. The motorized toys are there to be enjoyed, just remember to turn the keys to off when you are done or the batteries will die. There is also a fuel jug that you can fill up in town and none of them take mixed oil/gas, just buy 91 octane and fill the tank as needed. 

  3. There are lots of spare fly rods and spin rods in the fly shack, though a few are labeled as our private rods and we ask you please not use them. 

 

What We Love

In no particular order!

  1. Hiking Lake Como trail and swimming in the lake 
  2. Picking huckleberries up Chaffin Creek Trail
  3. Fishing the West Fork (or Bitterroot or Selway or Bighole or East Fork...)
  4. Hiking or cross country skiing on the ranch (see Map of Ranch)
  5. Dinner under the trees by the irrigation ditch (move the outdoor table and chairs down)
  6. The Darby Brewery
  7. The Sawmill Saloon "Burger and a Beer"
  8. Mountain biking or skiing up on Lost Trail Pass
  9. Fishing the stocked ranch pond with kids
  10. Bringing our own food down as the restaurants and grocery options in Darby are... limited
  11. Hiking Trapper Peak
  12. Taking the 3 wt. rods on a stroll along Tin Cup Creek (if irrigation season we like to fish up from the trail head instead of the ranch - more water). 
  13. Driving over to the Selway River