In honor of Micro Week, we went in search of the best tiny backcountry lodges that also offer up great skiing. The majority of the smaller backcountry offerings are yurts, which admittedly get the job done, but at the cost of conformity. We looked past the shared space of large backcountry cabins and found a diverse range of cozy backcountry shelters just big enough for a tight knit crew of adventurous skiers and snowboarders. These don't boast the luxuries of ski town lodging, but they're all slopeside—or more accurately, on the slopes, and at a fraction of the cost.
↑ Alaska's Snowbird Hut
Built in 2010 as a replacement for the previously run down hut, the Snowbird hut is situated in the Talkeetna Mountains, accessible from Archangel Valley near Hatcher's Pass approximately 60 miles north of Anchorage Alaska. The hut is provided by the Alaska Section of the American Alpine Club, no fee is required to use the hut and no reservations are accepted. The hut is tricky to locate deep on the glacier, but once located, hearty alpinists are rewarded with spectacular views and the protection from the elements. The hut includes bunks for six and an overflow loft offering shelter for six more. Details here.
↑ Oregon's Tam McArthur Rim Huts
Located 6-miles deep in the Three Sisters Wilderness just outside of Bend, Oregon, these six-bunk yurts made the cut thanks to their unique layout. The two 20-foot yurts flank a wood fired sauna. The terrain is pretty terrific, too, the Tam McArthur Rim rises up 1,500 feet directly from the yurts and stretches for two miles, providing access to 280,000 acres of terrain including open bowls, treed glades, couloirs, gentle meadows, and steep chutes. Single Hut Exclusive Rental for three nights $1,350, more info here.
↑ Colorado's Nokhu Hut
The Nokhu Hut is located in the Colorado State Forest State Park, Northwest of Fort Collins, Colorado. This classic cozy log cabin features a wood-burning stove and a convenient location just a short 1.6-mile skin up from the trailhead in a clearing shared with one other cabin. The Nokhu Hut is part of the 10 Never Summer Nordic hut/yurt system throughout the Colorado State Forest State Park which provides easy access to backcountry skiing or just a fun family winter getaway. The hut sleeps six to eight at $90 per night. All the beta here.
↑ Idaho's Bench Hut
The Bench Hut, at 7,400 feet in Idaho's Sawtooth range, is a unique wall tent design built onsite from local lodgepole pines. A massive picture window frames the spires of Mount Heyburn from inside the toasty lodge, which houses two wood burning stoves, bunks for 10, solar-powered lighting, and (crucially!) an outdoor wood-fired sauna. Visitors can attack the gentle backcountry slopes behind the hut before venturing into bigger terrain in the lakes basin above. Those looking for a bigger adventure can link Bench Hut with the Fishhook yurt and/or Williams Peak Yurt to make a Sawtooth hut to hut ski adventure. More details here!
↑ Montana's Woody Creek Cabin
The Woody Creek cabin, built in 2012, is a classic log cabin with a bright thoughtfully laid-out interior featuring bunks and a loft space sleeping 11. The cabin sits on a 21-acre private holding outside of Cooke City, Montana on the border of Yellowstone National Park and is completely surrounded by National Forest providing access to remote backcountry drainages offering stellar skiing. The cabin features a stocked kitchen, a 3-burner propane range, a wood burning stove and a welcoming front porch. Book it here or here.
↑ Vermont's Stone Hut
Located at the summit of Stowe Mountain Resort, this modest stone hut is highly-desired for its ski access. A wood-fired stove heats this rustic hut, which offers no kitchen or electricity, but does provide shelter for 12 people and offers ample seating around a communal table. Reservations are available through a highly competitive lottery system every fall, bookings are $195 per night, find out more here.
↑ Montana's Hellroaring Hut
Operated by Hellroaring Powder Guides, this brand new Quonset hut caught our eye. The 250-square foot hut is outfitted with bunks for six, cooking equipment, LED lanterns, and a wood stove. Located in the Centennial Mountain Range 25 miles outside of West Yellowstone, Montana, the hut rents for $250–300 per night with guided trips starting at $400 per day. Click for more.
· Backcountry Hut, Lodge, and Yurt Guide [Backcountry]
· Rent a Ritzy Treehouse, Teepee and More in Ski Country [Curbed Ski]
· Tiny Vermont Cabin is Small on Space, Big on Design [Curbed Ski]
· Tiny, Italian A-Frame Is Free to Stay If You Climb 8,303 Feet [Curbed Ski]