Plan ahead, enter lottery

ST. MARIES - The St. Joe Ranger District is now accepting lottery applications for reservation rental dates at the popular Red Ives Cabin. Lottery applications must be received by Feb. 28.

Send applications to: St. Joe Ranger District, 222 S. 7th Street Suite 1, St. Maries, ID 83861.

"Due to the high demand for the Red Ives Cabin, we use a lottery system for cabin rental reservations to ensure fairness," said Wade Sims, St. Joe Ranger District Ranger. More than 500 applications were received for the 2012 season, but only 50 applicants were selected for a reservation.

To apply for the Red Ives Cabin rental lottery:

n Lottery applications can be obtained from the web at www.fs.usda.gov/ipnf and click on the Red Ives Quick Link, or;

n Applications may picked up at the Forest Service offices in St. Maries and Avery.

n Lottery applications must be received or postmarked by Feb. 28, 2013. Mail applications to: St. Joe Ranger District, ATTN: Red Ives Cabin Rental, 222 S. 7th Street Suite 1, St. Maries, ID 83861.

Successful applicants will be notified by mail by the end of March. Cabin rental dates not booked through the lottery process will be available on a "first-come" basis and will be posted on the cabin website the first week of April.

Red Ives Cabin Information: Red Ives Cabin will open for the 2013 season on May 24 - weather permitting - through Sept. 30. The fee is $60 per night with a maximum stay of three nights. The capacity is eight people. It is 86 miles southeast of St. Maries on Forest Road 218. No pets are allowed.

The cabin features two bedrooms, kitchen, living room, bathroom, and covered front porch; propane stove/oven and refrigerator; hot water, flush toilet, and shower/tub. Propane/battery lanterns are provided for lights and there is a gas log fireplace for heat.

For more information, call (208) 245-2531.