There’s something inherently romantic about a cabin all on its own, surrounded by miles of wilderness. From Abe Lincoln’s log cabin to Henry David Thoreau’s cabin on Walden Pond, cabins are a part of our national lore—and with a little pre-planning, they can also be part of a killer backpacking trip, mountain bike journey or a backcountry ski trip that’s wild from start to finish. These 10 backcountry cabins (and huts, and bunkrooms and fire towers) are all out there—remote and rugged enough to appeal to hardcore woodspeople, yet comfortable enough to keep tenderfeet coming back for more. Here, a look at the top backcountry cabins:
Doyles River Cabin in Shenandoah National Park is one of many backcountry cabins we’ve stayed in.
Love downhill skiing, but hate the crowds most major resorts attract? Check out Ken’s Cabin in Colorado’s high country, situated near tons of backcountry skiing. Part of the Summit Huts Association, the one-room log cabin was first built in the 1860s, when the road that runs near it was just a wagon trail over the Continental Divide. It was restored and added to the National Register of Historic Places in the 1990s, and sleeps just two or three people. Located just a few miles away from Breckenridge, it’s accessed via an easy snowshoe up an old railroad grade.
huts.org
Amy Reinink 