45 Cozy Cabins and Lodges for your Winter Getaway | Featured Adventure
Plan an unconventional getaway. Sure, jacuzzis, continental breakfast, and room service are nice, but watching the Milky Way slowly turn its way down the window and waking up to utter silence occupies an entirely different league.
Old fire lookouts, cozy backcountry cabins and yurts, and small mountain resorts are peppered across the hardest to reach places—half the fun is setting out to find them. In most cases, weathered walls harken back to a different era altogether, and usually the flatware matches. There’s absolutely no tastier way to have morning coffee than out of the old enamel percolator that occupies almost every wilderness kitchen.
In the winter, these places become exceptionally coveted. The ones offering the most spectacular views are either first-come, first-served or operate on a reservation system. In both cases the early bird gets the worm: Only those willing to get an alpine start can lay claim to a prize like Devil’s Peak Lookout, while the calendar fills up soon after annual booking begins for places like the Tilly Jane A-Frame. In almost every last case, the payoff is well worth the effort.
Below you’ll find a less-than comprehensive list of the West Coast’s cozy cabins and lodges. Be sure to check availability and conditions before you go; sadly some have had to cease operations due to lack of funding or vandalism. As always, ensuring your party leaves no trace enables these magical places to remain in use for winters to come.
Southern British Columbia
Journeyman Lodge, Squamish-Lillooet Area. Photo by Outdoor Project Contributor Adam Cowcill.
Northern Washington
Sun Mountain Lodge during the winter months. Photo by Outdoor Project Co-Founder Tyson Gillard.
- The Rolling Huts
- Patterson Lake Cabins
- The North Cascade Lodge at Stehekin
- Cama Beach State Park Cabins
- Log Cabin Resort
- Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort
- Hamma Hamma Guard Station
- Kalaloch Lodge + Cabins
- Sun Mountain Lodge
Central Washington
Honeymoon Cabin at Alta Crystal Resort. Photo by Outdoor Project Co-Founder Tyson Gillard.
Northern Oregon
Barlow Butte Hut, Mount Hood. Photo by Outdoor Project Contributor Jackie Arnal.
- Tilly Jane A-Frame
- Silcox Hut
- Barlow Butte Hut
- Barlow Ridge Hut
- Fivemile Butte Lookout Tower
- Clear Lake Butte Lookout
- Devil's Peak Lookout
- Timberline Lodge
Central Oregon
Gold Butte Lookout, Metolious River. Photo by Outdoor Project Contributor Daniel Sherman.
- Gold Butte Lookout
- Olallie Lake Resort
- Green Ridge Lookout
- Belknap Hot Springs Resort
- Fish Lake Remount Depot
- The Suttle Lodge
Southern Oregon
Pickett Butte Fire Lookout, Umpqua Wilderness. Photo by Outdoor Project Team Member Kat Dierickx.
- Warner Mountain Lookout Tower
- Shelter Cove Resort + Marina
- Pickett Butte Fire Lookout
- Hager Mountain Fire Lookout
Northern California
Clair Tappaan Lodge, Lake Tahoe. Photo by Outdoor Project Contributor John Cody.
Central California
Pearl Lake Ski Hut, Southern Sierra. Photo by Outdoor Project Team Member Aron Bosworth.
Southern California
El Capitan Canyon Nature Ranch, Santa Barbara. Photo by Outdoor Project Team Member Aron Bosworth.
Colorado
Mesa Lakes Lodge, Grand Mesa. Photo by Outdoor Project Contributor Denis LeBlanc.
Vermont
Butler Lodge, Northern Green Mountains. Photo by Outdoor Project Contributor Eric Adsit.
Article by Outdoor Project Pro Contributor, Elle Ossello.