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Outdoor Adventure
The 12 Coolest Places to Book Now
06
Nov
Nov
The only thing better than waking up in a mountain town is overnighting within minutes of the destination’s best trails, waterways, and ski runs—and I learned this firsthand on a June 2024 Alaskan getaway. I’d spent several weeks hopping between national parks, including bear watching in Lake Clark and backpacking in Wrangell St-Elias. I wasn’t ready for the adventure to end, and a stay at the new Chugach State Park-adjacent BlueWater BaseCamp, instead of downtown Anchorage, meant it didn’t have to.
I spent the 48 hours before my homebound flight strolling the property’s trails, hiking the Chugach-view loop around nearby Eklutna Lake, and crossing off an exciting wildlife spotting: the trip’s first black bear.
That’s just the start of this list’s adventure-centered digs. I scoured Airbnb for other incredible stays in the nation’s beloved mountain towns, from a waterfront abode in my lucky lower 48 aurora-hunting perch—Michigan’s Upper Peninsula—to a postcard-worthy A-frame in my favorite fall hiking spot, the Adirondacks. Here are 12 can’t-miss mountain-town Airbnb homes to add to your bucket list.
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Watch Stars Shimmer Above the Chisos in Terlingua, Texas
From this dramatic Stardust Big Bend Luxury A-frame, you’ll be within minutes of Terlingua’s old-western ghost town, not to mention the Maverick entrance to Big Bend National Park. But the cabin’s dramatic Chihuahuan desert surroundings, and the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook it, make it hard to leave the property. Watch from bed as the rising sun paints the Chisos peaks hues of pink and peach, or relax on the spacious deck or hammock as the desert transitions from golden hour to star-speckled night—a signature of the region’s enormous Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve. Your hangout is one of 11 cabins on the property, and it feels like a home away from home with a full kitchen, one bedroom, two beds, and one bathroom, for up to four guests. Meet your neighbors in the community game room, but note, pets are not allowed.
Squeeze in Ample Adventure Within One Hour of Anchorage Airport, Alaska
This handicap-accessible cabin is part of BlueWater Basecamp, a new collection of eight Scandinavian-style abodes set near Alaska’s Chugach State Park and roughly one hour from the Anchorage International Airport. With this proximity, you can spend your final days in Alaska hiking, biking, and wildlife watching instead of bopping between Anchorage gift shops. Teal-tinged Eklutna Lake, for example, is mere minutes from the property, with guided paddle trips and a 12-mile dirt loop around the water for biking and hiking. Wildlife such as moose and black bears are known to inhabit the area, and they may even stop by BlueWater BaseCamp for a porch safari. The pet-friendly property has three styles of abodes, including the handicap-accessible deluxe mountain cabin with room for up to six guests with two bedrooms, three beds, and one bathroom, as well as a full kitchen—a necessity given that the nearest main towns, Palmer and Eagle River, are 30 minutes away.
Stay in a Taos Earthship Within Minutes of Stunning, Uncrowded Trails in New Mexico
This eye-popping Taos Mesa Studio Earthship is more than a place to rest your head. It’s a lesson in sustainable housing, with an off-grid design built to catch rainwater and generate its own electricity—all while staying 72 degrees throughout the year, even on chilly desert nights. The Earthship lies 10 minutes from the West Rim Trail, an eight-mile out-and-back route that overlooks the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument’s plains and peaks, with parallel views of the 800-feet-deep Taos gorge. Your one-bedroom, one-bathroom Earthship can welcome up to four guests thanks to a cozy, convertible daybed. Pets are welcome with a $50 fee, and the home comes with a full kitchen.
Snooze in a Snow Globe After Hitting the Breckenridge, Colorado Slopes
Enjoy endless fresh air among the Pike National Forest pines at The Deck at Quandary Peak, which allows for up to three guests. This backcountry Breckenridge home, which becomes its own glorified snow globe each winter, overlooks the Tenmile range’s highest peak, Mount Quandary. You’ll have quick access to the Breck ski lift and town center within 15 minutes. The cabin, with its hygge-inspired aesthetic, includes one bedroom with two beds, one bathroom, and a full kitchen. Relax among the conifers on the fairy-light-adorned deck, or nap by the cozy indoor fireplace after a long day on the slopes. You’ll need a 4WD vehicle to reach the home, and tire chains are required for winter visit. Pets are not allowed.
Overnight Beside a New York Adirondacks Lake—Kayaks Included
New York’s Adirondack Park is a four-season getaway, and few overnights immerse you in the changing landscape like this picturesque Lakefront A-frame Cabin on Stoner Lakes. Enjoy the mirror-still water from the fire ring, or hop aboard the kayaks that come with the property for a scenic paddle. The mountain town of Caroga Lake, set in the Adirondack foothills, is a 15-minute drive south. Head there for hiking, fishing, or snowmobiling. Or, travel 10 minutes north of your cabin to tackle the steep 3.5-mile out-and-back up Good Luck Mountain. Royal Mountain Ski Area’s 13 trails are a short 20 minutes south of you, too. Up to six guests (and pets) can enjoy this two-bedroom, three-bed, and one-bath getaway. (Note: this is a three-night minimum stay.)
Catch Shut-Eye in a Treehouse Near Park City, Utah’s Best Runs
Park City’s Dreamy Living Cabin puts the “tree” in treehouse, with a 200-year-old fir jutting up through its airy wood-paneled interior. The getaway, which glows with natural light from the 270-degree glass windows, sits at 8,000 feet elevation. It’s just north of the protected Rocky Point Preserve woodlands, where hiking trails give travelers the chance to spot moose, porcupines, and eagles. Park City downtown and its many ski hangouts, such as Deer Valley Resort, lie roughly 30 minutes south of your stay. The property is also less than one hour from the Salt Lake City Airport. It’s a great getaway for two, with one bedroom, one bathroom, a full kitchen, and a large deck that overlooks the soaring Uintas. Pets are not allowed. (Note: this is a two-night minimum stay.)
Doze Beneath the Tetons in Jackson, Wyoming’s Dreamy Geodesic Domes
A sprinkling of 11 heated geodesic dwellings, known as Tammah Jackson Hole Domes, plunge guests into Wyoming’s jaw-dropping wilderness, with views of the jagged Tetons best enjoyed from your cozy king-sized bed. Overnights at this Airbnb include free breakfast, in-dome telescopes, and ensuite bathrooms. The property also has a shared sauna and firepit—the perfect way to share stories after a day of hiking in Grand Teton National Park; its Granite Canyon entrance is five minutes north by car. For skiing and snowboarding, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is also a five-minute drive away. Each 540-square-foot dome fits two guests maximum; pets are welcome.
Overnight in a Grain Silo in Kalispell, Montana
Add some farm feels to your mountain-town escape by sleeping in a converted grain silo with views of Montana’s peak-laden Flathead Valley. These metal accommodations have it all: a kitchenette, loft bedroom, two beds, and one bathroom, not to mention an outdoor fire pit for watching the Rocky Mountain landscape change from blue-sky day to gold-tinged dusk. Don’t head to sleep early on the star-splashed night skies, either. Start the day with a stroll along the 80-acre farm’s walking trails, or, when the powder hits, try snowshoeing or cross-country skiing the farm routes. Glacier National Park is a 30-minute drive north, while Whitefish Mountain Resort’s 3,000 skiable acres are around 50 minutes northwest. Downtown Kalispell’s delicious breweries are a 10-minute drive from your silo. Pets are not allowed.
Crash Beside the Tennessee River in This Cozy Chattanooga Cabin with a Watchtower
Soak up the Tennessee River Gorge’s grandeur from a pet-friendly waterfront cabin in the heart of this dramatic river canyon. The two-bedroom, five-bed, and one-bathroom Chattanooga-adjacent house can welcome up to eight guests with plenty of water adventures onsite, from angling on the Tennessee riverbank to paddling with the property’s rentable kayaks. Climb the cabin’s scenic watchtower to scout for wildlife like ospreys, bald eagles, and deer, or catch more flora and fauna from the nearby hiking jaunts, including six-mile out-and-back Snoopers Rock Trail, roughly a 30-minute drive away. Snag a view of the 100-foot-tall Julia Falls roughly 20 minutes to the east; it’s among the most scenic stops on the over 300-mile Cumberland Trail.
Bunk-Up Near Trailheads and Slopes in Picturesque Stowe, Vermont
Sleep within steps of your hiking path at the Cady Hill Trail House, a one-bedroom, one-bathroom guesthouse in the quintessential New England town of Stowe, Vermont. The two-guest home, complete with a full kitchen, is surrounded by the charming Cady Hill Forest, home to over 11 miles of trails—and a profusion of color when the leaves change each fall. Stowe’s many breweries, cafes, and restaurants are just five minutes away; the 116 ski trails at Stowe Mountain Resort are within 10 minutes driving, too. Guest have ample outdoor space to store gear like bikes, skis, and snowshoes. In addition to ambles, the Cady Hill trail network welcomes skiers, snowshoers, and mountain bikers depending on the season. Pets are not allowed. (Note: this is a two-night minimum stay.)
Sleep in a South Dakota Firetower Near Mount Rushmore
Play fire lookout for a night—or week—from this firetower-inspired getaway within minutes of South Dakota’s Custer State Park, where bison now abound. An array of park trails are within a 25-minute drive of your tower, including Sunday Gulch Trailhead, which weaves by dramatic van-sized boulders for three miles, or the take the route up Black Elk Peak, South Dakota’s highest point. Cross Mount Rushmore off your bucket list while you’re here; it’s 30 minutes northeast by car. This one-bedroom, 1.5-bath tower, built for two guests, comes with a full kitchen, wrap-around deck, and a common area with a firepit and yard games. Pets are not allowed.
Catch Zzzs After Watching for Northern Lights Near Michigan’s Porcupine Mountains
One of Michigan’s best-kept secrets, the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park (better known as the Porkies), lies within 15 minutes of this Lake Superior Beach House—a two-bedroom and two-bath abode with a full kitchen and sweeping turquoise water views. The Porkies offer all sorts of Great Lakes adventures: ascending the world’s tallest artificial ski jump, Copper Peak; fishing or taking a dip in the photogenic Lake of the Clouds; or schlepping up the steep half-mile route to the Summit Peak Observation Tower, which offers views as far as Isle Royale National Park on a clear day. Back at the cabin, relax by the indoor fireplace or hang outside after dusk to watch for one of the Upper Peninsula’s greatest treats: the aurora borealis. Select pets are allowed upon request. (Note: this is a four-night minimum stay.)
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When she’s not staying in cool places around the world, adventure and astrotourism writer Stephanie Vermillion chases comets and northern lights, and hunts the best stargazing in dark sky zones. Her upcoming book 100 Nights of a Lifetime: The World’s Ultimate Adventures After Dark will be out December 3.
