Stay Off the Grid in these Mountaintop Cabins in Winthrop, Washington
Truly off-grid, these mountaintop cabins in Winthrop, Washington are accessible via roast road in the summer, but once winter rolls around, they’re cut off from our everyday transportation, leaving them to those who travel by snowshoe, cross-country skiing, or snowmobiling. You don’t want to miss this epic glamping getaway!
Table of Contents
Overview
Location: Winthrop, Washington
Amenities: Sleeping Pads, Propane Lights, Sanitary Outhouse, Propane Cook Stove and Oven, Wood Stove Heater and Fuel, Pots, Pans, and Utensils
Best time to visit: Winter. These are available year-round, but I’d recommend visiting in winter to have the full hut-to-hut nordic skiing experience!
Are dogs allowed? Yes, dogs are welcome at Heifer, Rendezvous, and Grizzly huts only.
Price: $110-$500 depending on time of year and package. See “How to Book” at the end for the full pricing structure.
Winthrop always intrigued me – besides its cowboy-themed town, seemingly preserved in another time, it's also known for its sundry of outdoor recreational activities. Its dry snow, sunny weather, and varied terrain landed itself a spot on the map as one of the best Nordic ski destinations in the world.
In the winter, cross-country skiers can strap in and stride on a hut-to-hut adventure, and in the summer, those trails become roads and those huts become reservable. So, when my mom called me up and said, "Hey, do you want to stay on a mountaintop in a remote hut on the outskirts of the North Cascades?" I said, DUH!
None of us are big Nordic skiiers, so we opted for a summer adventure (pro tip: prices are cheaper in summer too!).
After 40 minutes of driving on dirt forest roads, following tiny signs and "slight lefts" and avoiding cows that like to hang out in the road, we miraculously stumbled upon the Cassal Hut.
About the Rendezvous Huts
There are five Rendezvous Huts of various sizes (sleeping up to 8 people) in the network, and each is equipped with a full kitchen, games, a wood stove heater and fuel, sleeping pads, propane lights, and an outhouse. We reserved the most remote of them all: The Cassal Hut.
COVID-19 UPDATE:
All dishes were removed but cookware is still available to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Bring your own dishes if you need ‘em! There will also be no games, cards or puzzles this year. Definitely bring your own!
Official Hut Map
In general, the main floor has a 48" double bunk bed, and the loft has additional sleeping for five-to-six people. There’s also typically a sitting/sleeping shelf by the fire. Ours had a couple of nice benches and table pictured above!
Check out all five huts with their own exceptional characteristics and rustic personalities here.
Pro Tip: Arrive before dark; leave with a full tank of gas; and drive a lifted 4WD car if you can – this hut definitely needed it.
Firewood is stockpiled at the huts and water tanks hold up to 5 gallons of water.
Note: One awesome quirk about the Rendezvous Huts is that they’re open to the public for day use even if you have a reservation for the night. That means you may have a nordic skiier or two popping in for a quick warm-up by the fire. Welcome them in and have a chat!
COVID 19 UPDATE: Day-use is no longer permitted to stop the spread of COVID-19. Warming stations will be set up outside of the huts for Nordic skiers and snowshoers to warm-up throughout the day.
Hut-to-Hut Nordic Skiing or Snowshoeing
Where to rent:
The Rendezvous Huts is teaming up with Cascade Outdoor Store to offer a 2-for-1 nordic ski rental deal for those staying in a Rendezvous Hut!
Note: There is a TRAIL PASS FEE for every day that you ski the trail system. Find a nearby retailer here.
Three Day Pass
Adult (18+)...............$60 plus $20 per additional day
One Day Pass
Adult (18+).............. $24One Day Snowshoe Pass
Adult (18+)...............$5One Day Dog Pass..$10
Staying the night but don’t want to lug around all your gear? Consider hiring a freight service to drop it off at your hut for you!
For $95+tax one-way, you can have 2-4 people’s gear, food, water, extra skis, etc. hauled to your hut, from your hut, or between huts. How cool is that?
If you choose to forego a freight haul, there’s a chance you could arrive to a hut without the full five gallons of water. Bring materials to melt snow just in case.
Hut Etiquette
Please clean up after your stay! Just like camping, practice all Leave No Trace principles, and don’t leave any food behind.
How to Book
All those wanting to spend the night in a Rendezvous Hut must have a reservation. Book your stay here.
The winter booking calendar opens on a week-by-week rolling basis a year in advance.
Winter
Sunday-Thursday: $175/night
Friday-Saturday: $200/night
Holidays (which includes certain holiday periods): $230/night. Tax added.
Freight Hauls: $95 + tax one-way
Have your gear, food, water, extra skis, etc. hauled to your hut, from your hut, or between huts. Standard requirements for freight is one duffel per person and one cooler per 2-4 people
Family Package: $425+ tax
Two consecutive nights, Sunday-Thursday, in the same hut, plus 2 one-way freight hauls. Use discount code FAMILY during payment to receive this special. Not available Christmas or New Year Week, and Ski Week (the week after President’s Day Weekend.)
Spring/Fall
$110/night
Hike or drive to your Rendezvous Hut in spring or fall for spring flowers or fall foliage. No freight hauls available, but vehicle access to huts is permitted.
Cleaning Fee: $30/hut stayed in overnight.
This cleaning fee is implemented to help keep things extra COVID-safe at each Rendezvous Hut.
Winthrop: Washington’s cowboy town
Walking down Winthrop's streets, it's easy to imagine horse-drawn carriages and wild west shootouts that never were. The western-themed architecture of this tiny, postage-stamp town on Washington's North Cascades Scenic Byway is the product of a fool-proof plan to attract the tourism industry after droughts, freezes and floods forced Winthrop residents out of farming. So, the town hired the architect of Washington's Bavarian-themed town of Leavenworth and revamped it into the wild west watering hole it is today.
Winthrop Restaurants:
Oliver's Artisan Kitchen – Breakfast sandwich and a latte
Duck Brand Hotel and Restaurant – Blueberry pancakes
Sheri's Sweet Shoppe – Chocolate-dipped Twinkies, seafoam, truffles, you name it; it's all good.
Old Schoolhouse Brewery – For tasty brews and live music
Copper Glance – For creative cocktails and cozy vibes
Three Fingered Jack's Saloon – Because it's Washington's oldest legal saloon, so you basically have to go... sorry?
Where to shop:
Cascades Outdoor Store – for rad, hyper-local adventure gear. I picked up my new favorite North Cascades National Park hat and a sticker for my growing collection – don't hate.
Don't Miss:
The Shafer Museum – I didn't actually get to go myself, but I hear it's fantastic!
Float the river! This is a fun summer activity that's easy to do and always an epic time.
And there ya have it! Here’s to an epic adventure in these mountain cabins in Winthrop. Happy wandering, friends!