7 Amazing Camps and Secluded Lodges Across the United States

Stone fireplaces and Pendleton blankets. Warm beverages and natural hot springs. Tranquility and starry skies. These are some of our favorite comforts, inspired by our last camping trip when a touch of luxury was desired. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of several Great Camps and remote luxury lodges throughout the United States to spark your next outdoor adventure—regardless of the season. Some are steeped in history, while others are just a few years old. One is perched on a glacier. All will leave you eager for more.

The Ahwahnee

The nearly century-old Ahwahnee is currently experiencing a significant transformation, thanks to a $31.6 million grant from the Great American Outdoors Act aimed at enhancing this national park’s iconic landmark. The kitchen and dining area reopened at the end of 2023, with additional updates such as new heating, air-conditioning, and infrastructure improvements set to be completed by the end of 2024.

Guests enjoy a variety of room layouts and cottages that can host multiple visitors—offering 97 guest rooms and 24 cottages. Plus, once parked at the hotel, they’ll be right in the center of the action, with easy walking access to Yosemite Village and several popular hiking trails, including Yosemite Falls and Cook’s Meadows Loop, minimizing the need for driving.

Securing a reservation can be challenging, especially during peak season, but if you succeed, don’t miss the chance to enjoy the heated pool (opening April 15, 2024), bike around the valley, and explore nearby river beaches and swimming spots for a refreshing dip and some rock skipping.

While it’s one of Dinogo’s top family-friendly Yosemite lodges, keep in mind that the renowned dining room has a more formal atmosphere. “If you have younger children who might be restless, you may want to wait until they’re a bit older to enjoy that experience,” advises Michelle Baran, Dinogo’s deputy news editor and mother of two young kids.

Sheldon Chalet

In 1966, bush pilot Don Sheldon constructed a quaint cabin in this remote location atop the 6,000-foot-high Ruth Glacier in Denali National Park, an area that was once only reachable by the most daring adventurers. In 2018, his descendants enhanced the site with the year-round Sheldon Chalet. A remarkable example of creativity and the sole luxury lodge in Denali, it provides breathtaking views of the aurora borealis in winter, the midnight sun in summer, and the majestic Mount Denali year-round. “This could be the most unexpected hotel location in the United States,” notes Alex Schechter in his review of Sheldon Chalet.

With just five rooms, the property accommodates a maximum of 10 guests and can be reached by helicopter from Anchorage or Talkeetna. Smart design features, including a high-efficiency fireplace that serves as a clean-energy heating system, create an elegant interior while minimizing the carbon footprint. During “Adventure Season” from May to August, guests can trek across Ruth Glacier, explore its crevasses, and rappel down its icy walls, whereas “Aurora Season” from September to April offers moonlit glacier treks, spelunking in snow caves, and helicopter trips to nearby hot springs as prime activities.

“The chalet, located at 63º N latitude, is completely isolated from all signs of civilization. There’s no TV, no cell phone reception, and no Wi-Fi. The nearest town is 50 miles away, across land that is mostly inaccessible on foot. You won’t encounter roaming moose, flocks of birds, or any vegetation. You are entirely surrounded by snow, rock, and ice,” explains Schechter.

Evenings are spent unwinding in the rooftop sauna, stargazing, enjoying creative meals, and reveling in the profound silence.

Dunton Hot Springs

Nestled in the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado along the Rockies, Dunton Hot Springs features a collection of 15 cabins that originated from an 1800s mining town, now beautifully restored as guest accommodations. No matter which cabin you select, you'll be treated to breathtaking mountain and meadow views.

Recognized as one of Dinogo’s top hot spring resorts, the property boasts a 19th-century bathhouse and natural mineral springs, rich in iron, manganese, and calcium bicarbonate, with temperatures ranging from 85 to 106 degrees Fahrenheit. Guests can relax in the bathhouse, enjoy the two outdoor pools, or take a dip in the natural setting at the springs' source. Those who reserve the Well House cabin can indulge in their own private hot spring bath and cold plunge pool.

All meals are included in the nightly rate and are served in the historic saloon at the center of the property. (If you look closely at the wooden bar, you might spot the initials carved by Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.)

The Lodge at Blue Sky, Auberge Resorts Collection

Featured in Dinogo’s 2020 best new hotels list, the Lodge at Blue Sky, Auberge Resorts Collection is approximately a 25-minute drive from Park City, nestled deeper in Utah’s Wasatch Mountain Range. The lodge offers 19 minimalist one- and two-bedroom rooms and suites within the main building. A separate structure houses 16 one-bedroom Earth Suites complete with fireplaces and outdoor terraces; these can be connected for family accommodations. Additionally, there are five standalone, adults-only Creek Houses along Alexander Creek, featuring neutral-colored interiors, king beds, and leather-covered chaise lounges, with some offering expansive private verandas and firepits.

Outside, a world of seasonal adventures awaits, featuring activities like fly-fishing, horseback riding, snowshoeing, and skiing. Additionally, there's a 1.5-acre farm, and the horse stables house the Saving Gracie Horse Foundation, a sanctuary established in 2014 for abused and abandoned horses. This lodge is also among Dinogo’s top selections for family-friendly Wild West experiences: The Little Vaquero’s Kids Camp enables children ages 5 to 12 to assist on the farm, groom horses, and enjoy activities such as treasure hunts and yoga.

Post Ranch Inn

Note: Due to a closure on Highway 1 north of Big Sur, Post Ranch Inn is not accepting reservations until April 23, 2024.

For over 30 years, the Post Ranch Inn, perched 1,200 feet above the Pacific Ocean, has been a favored retreat for those who believe that well-being begins with a location that respects and minimally impacts its natural surroundings. Designed by Big Sur architect Mickey Muennig, the 40 guest rooms are powered by solar energy, constructed from recycled wood, and harmoniously integrated into the Santa Lucia Mountains. Massive windows offer breathtaking views of either the Pacific Ocean or the surrounding mountains.

“Unlike typical ‘luxury’ hotels, our rooms lack televisions because the beauty of nature is the real entertainment,” managing partner Mike Freed shared with Dinogo contributor Annie Fitzsimmons in 2021. Instead, guests can enjoy reflexology treatments, a doctor-led sleep program, as well as personalized guided hikes and meditation sessions amidst the ancient forests nearby. Culinary experiences are also a highlight, with a two-acre organic garden supplying 40 percent of the restaurant’s seasonal fruits and vegetables.

Captain Whidbey Inn

With its serene maritime allure, Whidbey Island feels like a hidden gem just two hours away by car and ferry from Seattle. The main lodge of the lovingly restored 117-year-old Captain Whidbey Inn—located by the mussel-rich waters of Penn Cove—was constructed from madrona and fir logs and features a grand stone fireplace. The 12 upstairs rooms were refreshed upon reopening in 2019.

“What truly attracts visitors, however, are the four standalone cabins—each crafted by a different creative enterprise from the Pacific Northwest,” notes Aislyn Greene in her review in Dinogo’s 2020 best new hotels list. “Edit, a modern home store in Langley owned by David Price, decorated its airy cabin with textile art from fabric designer Marcia Derse.”

The inn truly shines during summer. “But I visited in winter and adored it,” Greene reflects on the year-round retreat. “The inn was peaceful and beautifully adorned for the holidays. In the evenings, I enjoyed curling up by the lobby fireplace with a book and a cocktail, and in the mornings, I relished the warmth of my cabin’s fireplace with a book and a cup of local coffee.”

The Point

For one of Dinogo’s top NYC escapes, take a six-hour drive north to experience a historic “Adirondack Great Camp” nestled in the expansive six-million-acre state park. In the early 20th century, the Gilded Age's industrial titans vacationed in the Adirondack Mountains, constructing mansion-like log cabins adorned with granite fireplaces and furniture made from branches.

Today, you can stay in several of these lodges, including The Point, a Great Camp built nearly a century ago by William Avery Rockefeller on the shores of Saranac Lake. It underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation in 2018. This plush Relais & Châteaux resort isn’t exactly welcoming for casual visitors—there’s no signage off Route 30, and at the end of the five-mile, single-lane road through the woods, a closed gate awaits, marked with a stern sign: “THE POINT IS RESERVED FOR GUESTS ONLY . . . NO VISITORS.”

Beyond that gate lies a luxurious all-inclusive retreat filled with antique decor, exquisite art, and a dedicated staff eager to cater to your every need. (They’ll even pick you up from the airport if you arrive by private plane, which many guests do.) Despite its grandeur, it offers a surprisingly intimate experience, featuring just 11 rooms, each with a lake view and a cozy fireplace.

This article also includes contributions from Michelle Baran, Julia Eskins, Serena Renner, Annie Fitzsimmons, Aislyn Greene, Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, and Alex Schechter.

This article was initially published in 2021 and was refreshed on April 16, 2024, to include the latest information.