The 12 best secluded cabins to rent in the Northeast US

City dwellers have long sought refuge in nature as an escape from the hustle and bustle of urban life, but now that social distancing protocols are standard practice in much of the US, remote destinations hold even more appeal – particularly for those in the packed metropolises of the Northeast. 

Whether your style is traditional or contemporary, cozy country or luxe minimalist, there's a vacation rental to fit the bill. From Maine to New York, here are 12 show-stopping cabins across the region. 

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1. Vermont Tree Cabin – Coventry, Vermont

Bumping up against bucolic farmland complete with grazing cattle, the Vermont Tree Cabin is surrounded by 40 acres of forest and wetland, just a few minutes from downtown Newport and a few hours from Boston. A pair of white pines provide structural support, and a spiral staircase leads up to a bedroom with cathedral ceilings and rough-hewn cedar rafters. Sadly, swimming isn’t allowed at Walker Pond, but you can canoe, kayak, and fish – with a license – for perch and horned pout, and there's a custom cedar hot tub on the premises to soak away your troubles. $294 per night.

2. Mid-Century Modern Vermont Cabin – Wardsboro, Vermont

An Adirondack-style cabin with photoshoot-ready mid-century decor, this chic Green Mountains retreat is situated between Mt Snow and Stratton Mountain Resort on its own acre of land. The amenities are a mix of classic – vintage prewar fireplace, Marshall speakers (albeit Bluetooth-enabled) – and cutting edge – 50” smart TV, Ninja coffee bar – with a modernist look that blends crisp whites and blonde woods to maximum effect. Gather around the firepit and gaze up at the stars, or fire up the grill and enjoy a meal al fresco – just don't forget to bear-proof the garbage. $199 per night.

3. Waldhaus – Mad River Valley, Vermont

Three hours northeast of Boston, Waldhaus is billed as a modern forest home, and between its matte-black exterior and light-filled, bright-white interiors – not to mention Nordic-tinged fixtures and soaring windows overlooking leafy vistas – it’s not hard to see why. Sip a morning pour-over on the deck, wade in the brook that runs through the property, or venture further afield for hiking trails and swimming holes galore. Pick up fresh produce from the farmstand on your way back, and after dinner, pull an Adirondack chair up to the fire and breathe in, surrounded by trees, greenery, and blissful, blissful solitude. $182 per night.

4. Cozy rustic cottage – Elmore, Vermont

Don’t expect to order in late-night snacks here. A rustic 180-year-old farmhouse located 15 miles from Stowe, on 42 wooded acres accessible only via bumpy dirt roads, this rural spot is well outside of any restaurant’s delivery range. Which is too bad, given that guests are invited to work up an appetite exploring the grounds, by snowshoe and ski in winter and by foot the rest of the year. But luckily the kitchen is kitted out with everything needed to prepare a stellar home-cooked meal – one that's best eaten outside on the porch as the sun dips below the horizon. $152 per night.

5. The Glass House – Marlboro, New York

Located 90 minutes from New York City in Hudson Valley wine country, the Glass House is a 180-sq-ft tiny home with off-grid bonafides, including solar panels, a propane HVAC system, and a dry-flush toilet you just might recognize from 2015’s The Martian. Set on a peaceful 30-acre farm with a lavender field and a fire pit – plus coyotes, deer, and swarms of butterflies – the one-room property is 90 percent windows, and in keeping with the flawless facade, its decor is impeccable, from the stainless-steel kitchen to the cushy queen bed. $266 per night.

6. Bearpen Lodge – Halcott, New York

Traveling with a sizable brood? Less than 40 minutes from the mountain towns of Pine Hill and Phoenicia, on 125 untouched acres in the Catskills, the three-bedroom Bearpen Lodge sleeps 10 with ease, offering plenty of room for the whole crew to spread out and relax. Vly and Bearpen mountains are nearby for hiking, and the slopes at Belleayre and Plattekill are suitable for skiers both beginner and advanced. A wraparound deck sits high above green grass and rolling hills, and it's the perfect place to watch the sunset year round – but it's particularly lovely in autumn, when there’s vibrant foliage as far as the eye can see. $171 per night.

7. Tilted Barn Hideaway – Madison, New Hampshire

A peaceful haven in the shadow of Mount Chocorua, the dog-friendly Tilted Barn Hideaway is easily accessible to the natural splendor of the White Mountains and all the hiking, biking, swimming, and boating that location entails – and it’s just a short drive to the shops and restaurants of North Conway as well. The traditional wood-clad cabin features stylish mod furnishings alongside a wrap-around porch, wood-burning fireplace, and skylights for stargazing in the master bedroom. $179 per night.

8. 231SIM – Dalton, New Hampshire

An upscale option for bigger groups in the White Mountains, the luxe 231SIM sleeps 11 across four bedrooms – and with three bathrooms, there should be no disagreements over whose turn it is to shower. The cabin’s traditional veneer belies an upgraded interior, with floor-to-ceiling windows, granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances. The hot tub and deck afford beautiful views of the Connecticut River and the mountains of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. Needless to say, it’s a spectacular spot to take in the fall foliage, but given its proximity to a plethora of ski resorts, it’s a good destination for winter as well. $416 per night.

9. The Log Cabin on Paradise Pond – Long Eddy, New York

Social distancing comes naturally at this secluded waterfront property with private beach access, less than 30 miles from Bethel Woods and the site of the 1969 Woodstock music festival, as well as picturesque upstate towns like Long Eddy, Hancock, and Roscoe. The cabin is equidistant from three rivers offering boat rentals and fishing access, but it’s entirely possible to spend a weekend without leaving the grounds, grilling up a storm, paddling around the pond in one of the kayaks provided, or simply kicking back an inner tube, frosty beverage in hand. $295 per night.

10. The Tree House – Olive, New York

Admittedly, this one might strain the definition of “cabin" a bit, but it’s such a stunner it was tough to resist. An architectural beauty nestled on the sunny side of Ticetonyk Mountain, between Woodstock and Phoenicia inside Catskill State Park, the three-level Tree House mirrors the gradation of its grounds, with large-scale windows looking out on forests and mountains and furnishings that reflect the surrounding environment. The kitchen is a cook’s dream, with a commercial-grade gas range and Bosch double ovens, and the south-facing platform deck  boasts uninterrupted views of the Ashokan Reservoir. $338 per night.

11. Perry Pond Paradise – Narrowsburg, New York

Between the Catskills and the Poconos, just two hours north of New York City near Narrowsburg, a dead-end road leads to this quaint log cabin and its seven acres of rural quietude. With a pond nearby for fishing and boating and the Delaware River easily accessible for more of the same, it’s the ideal atmosphere to help you unwind. Inside, country-style furnishings lend a traditional air, and the rocking chairs on the front porch make a great perch for watching deer, turkey, foxes, and more parade by. $180 per night.

12. The Canopy Treehouse – Sanford, Maine

Another elevated accommodation, southern Maine's Canopy Treehouse is one of five tiny cabins at Purposely Lost, a boutique operation that’s shooting for carbon neutrality with small, well-insulated properties, low-energy appliances, and soon, the installation of 150 solar panels to power the whole shebang. The 350-sq-ft space has a modest footprint, but its interior is surprisingly roomy, even with a full kitchen and bath, two queen beds, a wood stove, and sustainable materials throughout (think: a sturdy log repurposed as a vanity, and a granite boulder transformed into a sink). There’s also a hot tub, a tree-level deck with a grill, and a private dock with a canoe at your disposal. $395 per night. 

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