Belly River Ranger Station Historic District

The Belly River Ranger Station Historic District in Glacier National Park includes several historic structures, including the original ranger station, now used as a barn.[2] The rustic log structures were built beginning in 1912. Other buildings include a woodshed, built in 1927 to standard National Park Service plans[3] and a cabin used as a fire cache.[4]

Belly River Ranger Station Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
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Nearest city	West Glacier, Montana
Coordinates	48°55′56″N 113°42′40″W
Built	1925
MPS	Glacier National Park MRA
NRHP reference No.	86000329
Added to NRHP	February 14, 1986[1]

The ranger station building is similar to those at Sherburne and Upper Lake McDonald, with the ranger's office and quarters downstairs and space for guests in the loft. The station is one of the oldest locations, established in 1912 and staffed by District Ranger Joe Cosley. It remains the only ranger station in Glacier which cannot be accessed by road. The present barn was the original 1912 ranger station.[5]

The woodshed is a standard National Park Service design, built according to standard drawing G811. Woodsheds were an essential element of early ranger stations, providing shelter from the snow for work and storage. The fire cache, which is used to house fire-fighting tools, was built in 1928 and used for accommodations for a time, then converted to fire cache use. It is substantially similar to the Kintla Lake fire cache.[5]

There is no utility power at Belly River. Propane is used for heat, cooking and refrigeration.[5]

Belly River Ranger Station woodshed

Belly River Ranger Station fire cache