Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
Just because you like to rough it doesn’t mean you always have to rough it: Immersing yourself in the sublime spectacle of the wilderness doesn’t have to mean bedding down on a foam sleeping pad surrounded by the walls of a tent. There are a plethora of ultra-remote lodges and retreat centers scattered around the country that are immersed in the wilds, while remaining cozy enough to please even the most discerning traveler.
Sure, booking a hotel in a mountain town or popular gateway community will get you close to the action, but if you want to eat, sleep, and recreate in the middle of it all, check out these fabulous nature lodges for your next adventure.
Tordrillo Mountain Lodge, Alaska
Top activities: Heli-skiing, fly fishing, private via ferrata, remote national parks
Tordrillo Mountain Lodge takes the idea of a wilderness hotel and turns the volume up to eleven. Want to go heli-fishing in the remote Alaskan bush? Take a float plane to Katmai National Park and photograph grizzlies? Climb a via ferrata that can only be reached by air? Just say the word, and they can make it happen. I stayed at Tordrillo back in 2023, and my group was even treated to an all-day bear watching excursion at Katmai National Park.
When guests at the resort are done shredding the nearby backcountry ski terrain or paddleboarding around Judd Lake, they can book a relaxing massage, enjoy fresh, chef-prepared cuisine, and unwind in a scorching sauna. Or, indulge in my personal favorite activity–watching the sunset from a lakeside hot tub.
Dunton Hot Springs, Colorado
Top activities: Backcountry skiing, horseback riding, hot springs, fly fishing, hiking
If you’ve ever wanted to bed down in your own private ghost town, Dunton Hot Springs is the vacation spot for you. Home to a gaggle of historic log cabins, a rustic saloon, and, of course, a steamy hot springs building, this site seamlessly blends a Colorado backcountry experience with luxury meals and lodging. Fun fact: Butch Cassidy even carved his name into the main bar.
When I stayed at Dunton, I was spellbound by the locale’s posh, bohemian décor, sustainable cuisine, and uber-deep hot springs pool, which is set inside a rustic wooden building on the property. Best of all? The lodge’s proprietors are avid book collectors, and guests can pop into the on-site library, day or night, to borrow a book (or three). If you’re seeking a glamping escape, check out Dunton River Camp, situated right next door.
Amangiri, Utah
Top activities: Hiking, guided stargazing, private via ferrata, slot canyons
Tucked away in the rust-red mesas and sandstone bluffs of southern Utah, between Lake Powell and Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, Amangiri can seem more like a mirage than a real-deal hotel.
That’s because its assortment of luxurious suites and spacious glamping tents are designed to blend in with the surrounding landscape, offering a serene immersion in the desert landscape. When guests aren’t cooling off in their private plunge pools or dining at the Southwest-inspired on-site restaurant, they can embark on unique adventures like hiking private trails, doing yoga in the wilderness, or going on a three-slot canyon tour led by a local Navajo guide.
Muir Trail Ranch, California
Top activities: Hiking, stargazing, hot springs, horseback riding
Long a favorite stopover for thru-hikers on the John Muir Trail, Muir Trail Ranch (MTR) is famous for its wild hot springs, on-site dining, and world-class hiking in the Sierra Nevada. From its modest cabins, guests can day hike to the crystal clear Sallie Keys Lakes or take a stroll along Piute Creek into the towering granite domes of Piute Canyon.
Though it’s not as luxe as many properties on this list, MTR more than makes up for it with rustic charm. Visitors will need to hike a minimum of 5 miles through craggy granite peaks just to get to the ranch, but once on site, they can kick back in a private hot spring pool, book a trail ride, or simply chuckle while watching hungry JMT hikers devour their long-awaited resupply buckets.
Castle Hot Springs, Arizona
Top activities: Farm-to-table dining, hiking, via ferrata, private soaking tubs, mountain biking
Situated at the end of a dusty washboard road roughly one hour from Phoenix, Castle Hot Springs is a literal desert oasis, complete with palm trees and an assortment of natural soaking ponds.
A smattering of adorable casitas lines the property, which is also home to a chic yoga center and an organic farm, from which its all-inclusive dining menus originate. But adrenaline seekers shouldn’t worry–Castle Hot Springs offers a little something for everyone. In between sultry soaking sessions, guests can embark on Arizona’s only via ferrata, cycle down arid desert single track, or take a hike on one of the resort’s private trails. My favorite part of staying here was the food, though. Expect incredible dishes, like a locally grown panzanella salad and Faroe Islands salmon with tomato consommé.
Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge, British Columbia
Top activities: Heli hiking, canyoneering, rock climbing, mountain biking, paddle sports
I couldn’t pen an article about the top wilderness retreats without mentioning Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge. Set on the dense, forested coast of Vancouver Island, this resort offers over 600 acres of UNESCO-designated biosphere reserve as its backyard.
Guests at this high-end glamping retreat can only arrive by boat or, Thursdays and Sundays only, by seaplane. Once they arrive, they are truly in the backcountry. Take a helicopter ride to a remote backcountry hike or go on a guided wildlife watching expedition to photograph black bears and whales. At night, enjoy spa treatments like their signature Pacific Rhythm massage before chowing down on delicacies like slow-cooked Canadian bison shoulder.
Brush Creek Ranch, Wyoming
Top activities: Hiking, horseback riding, fishing, private ski hill, farm-to-table dining
Though its amenities and lodging options are strikingly modern, the sheer size of Brush Creek Ranch is hard to fathom. At over 30,000 acres, the property is roughly the size of Black Canyon of the Gunnison or Haleakala National Park.
As such, it’s easy to let yourself get lost on this expansive site, which is open for year-round adventure. When I visited during the winter, snowy horseback riding trails and soaking trips to Saratoga Hot Springs topped my list, but the ranch transforms with the seasons. During the summer months, guests can expand their horizons to fly fishing, llama hiking, mountain biking, and scenic river floats.
Red Mountain Alpine Lodge, Colorado
Top activities: Backcountry skiing, hiking, mountaineering
Set up to mimic the fabled mountain huts of Switzerland, Red Mountain Alpine Lodge is one of Colorado’s best-kept secrets. It’s hiding along the state’s famous Million Dollar Highway, right between the adventure hubs of Ouray and Silverton.
This year-round lodge offers both private rooms and dorm-style accommodations, with meals included. In the winter months, snow aficionados can zoom down backcountry ski terrain or get their heart rate up on a cross-country adventure. When summer rolls around, there are miles of high-elevation hiking trails through the rocky peaks and wildflower-studded meadows of the San Juan Mountains.
From 2025