Summary
Leave the front country behind in favor of more remote, wild spans away from serious crowds. However, that ambition doesn’t mean every night has to wind down on a foam camping pad inside a drippy tent. A hike-in lodge offers all the adventure of a wilderness trek with the comfort of a clean bed, hot showers, and a home-cooked meal at the end of a rewarding day.
The nine hike-in lodges below provide remarkable access to some of the most remote parts of the US without sacrificing the comforts of home. Because let’s be honest, nothing feels more hedonistic than pampering yourself in the wilderness!
Phantom Ranch, Arizona
Best for hiking the Grand Canyon
There’s only one lodge at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, and it’s so popular that you’ll need to plan more than a year in advance. Phantom Ranch has been welcoming guests into the depths of the wild west’s most iconic landmark for a century, providing respite from the elements in rustic cabins made of wood and native stone. Of course, the journey is as wild as the destination: you descend 7.5 miles on the exposed South Kaibab Trail and make the arduous return via the more shaded 10-mile Bright Angel Trail.
Muir Trail Ranch, California
Best for a mountain escape
There’s no road within 11 miles, no phone, and no showers—though the Japanese-style hot springs will certainly soothe aching muscles. Muir Trail Ranch is a true off-grid escape in the high mountains of central California, featuring riverside tent cottages and log cabins commonly used by those tackling the John Muir or Pacific Crest trails. After a day of adventure, guests can gather in the fireplace lounge, equipped with books, board games, and comfy furniture. Bring a sleeping bag, but don’t worry about meals, as they are included!
Lake of the Clouds Hut, New Hampshire
Best for summiting the highest peak in the northeast
Lake of the Clouds is the largest and highest of eight huts operated by the Appalachian Mountain Club in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Its spectacular setting, situated in a col between Mount Monroe (5372ft) and Mount Washington (6288ft), serves as an ideal staging ground for summit bids. Access to this 100-year-old property is via the Crawford Path (7 miles), where guests can sleep in one of the 90 bunks and expect a small “croo” to not only cook but entertain and educate.
Hike Inn, Georgia
Best as a hub for the Appalachian Trail
It’s a five-mile trek across babbling streams and up the scenic ridges of Georgia’s Amicalola Falls State Park to reach the LEED-certified Hike Inn. This lodge is among the more comfortable options on this list, featuring solar-heated showers, plush linens, and nourishing meals. The 20-room lodge stands at an altitude of 3100 feet, offering stunning views from its wrap-around porch over gently rolling hills, making it a popular launching spot for thru-hikers on the Appalachian Trail.
Paradise Lodge, Oregon
Best for the gourmand hiker
The name doesn’t lie: Paradise Lodge is located on an idyllic stretch of the lush Lower Rogue River Canyon, featuring 18 woodsy rooms spread across six unique cabins. Access is either by foot (the shortest trail is a family-friendly 3.5 miles) or by rafting, kayaking, or jetboating downriver. Gourmet dining, local wines, craft beer, and freshly roasted coffee await as a reward for your adventurous arrival.
Charit Creek Lodge, Tennessee
Best for the rustic, no-electricity escapist
Charit Creek Lodge is located just 1 mile from the nearest parking lot, allowing you ample time to explore the 150 miles of surrounding trails through the scenic gorges and sandstone bluffs of Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area. While the lodge is completely off the grid, the private cabins come with comfortable linens, oil-burning lanterns, wood-burning stoves, and porch-top rocking chairs for relaxation. Plus, the meals are rave-worthy, and the restrooms have hot showers and flush toilets!
Granite Park Chalet, Montana
Best for the views of Glacier National Park
The Great Northern Railway built this panoramic chalet in 1914 at an elevation of 6693ft above sea level. The sweeping views over Glacier National Park are astounding, though to enjoy them, you’ll need to trek at least four uphill miles and bring your own linens, water, and food, which you can prepare in a basic kitchen. For those preferring something less rustic, try the nearby Sperry Chalet, highly regarded among America’s hike-in lodges, which reopened in 2020 after a partial destruction in a 2017 wildfire.
Bearpaw Camp, California
Best for incredible panoramas of Sequoia National Park
Experience the High Sierra backcountry of Sequoia National Park by staying at Bearpaw Camp. The 11.5-mile hike in, which includes several creek crossings, is well worth it for the million-dollar views of the snow-frosted mountains of the Great Western Divide. Once you arrive, anticipate a generous dinner, hot showers, and a cozy stay in one of the six tent cabins situated on a rocky saddle. The camp opens from June to mid-September, and a wilderness permit is required before setting out.
LeConte Lodge, Tennessee
Best for relaxation in the Smoky Mountains
You’ll find the highest altitude guest lodge in the eastern United States on an open glade at 6400ft above sea level, just below the summit of its namesake peak within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Access is available via five routes, with the 6.5-mile Trillium Gap Trail being the most popular; it is also used by pack llamas carrying supplies. Hearty homecooked meals, kerosene lanterns, propane heaters, and washbasins for old-school sponge baths enhance the comfort of your stay in one of the seven rustic cabins or three multi-room lodges.
This article was first published May 18, 2020, and updated May 3, 2022.
