Best Cabins Near Boulder

Cabin life. It’s the quintessential way to do Colorado.

You can find cabins of all different flavors, from retro to contemporary, from tiny and simple to impressive with oversized decks. Here are a few of our favorite cabins in and near Boulder.

Chautauqua Cottages

Stay in a historic cabin in Boulder at Chautauqua. The cottages range from about 285 square feet for a studio efficiency unit to about 980 square feet for a three-bedroom. All cottages have a full kitchen or  kitchenette, fully stocked with pots, pans, plates, silverware and more. This makes Chautauqua ideal for longer-term stays.

The cottages are equipped with locally and sustainably made Verlo mattresses, Boulder-roasted Ozo coffee and tea from the Boulder Tea Company. In addition, rooms feature high-quality amenities, such as mahogany hangers in closets.

What lodging doesn’t have: TVs or phones. That’s intentional. Wifi is included in the stay but it’s not intended to be high-speed for watching movies. It’s for quick check-ins online, if needed.

Also check out the rustic Missions House Lodge.

Rockmount Cabins

Head to nearby Estes Park for these cozy cabins, off the main drag for a little more privacy, yet still close enough to the downtown action (and entry to Rocky Mountain National Park). Pick from different sizes and locations and enjoy the on-site amenities, perfect for families. You’ll find a playground, basketball court and game room. Elk regularly wander through the premises. Rockmount has 20 cabins.

YMCA of the Rockies

While you can’t stay directly in Rocky Mountain National Park, you can stay nearby at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park. This sprawling property backs up to the park on more than 800 acres. Due to the size of the Y, it feels like it’s in the middle of no man’s land, yet it’s all-inclusive and provides access to everything you need, including food, arts and crafts, a museum, skating rink, basketball (indoor and outdoor), mini golf, fishing and hiking trails.

The Y is much larger than Rockmount. It offers more than 200 different cabins. Some are even pet-friendly.

Mountain Resorts

While Boulder’s mountain resorts are not exactly private cabins, they offer many of the same qualities that you might look for in a little wooden home on the hill. For example, the Alps Boulder Canyon Inn is where to stay if you want nature and luxury in the same facility. Award-winning Alps Boulder Canyon Inn puts you in the heart of the beautiful Boulder Canyon.

Adventure Lodge

Boulder Adventure Lodge is all about getting outside and into nature. The A-Lodge (as it’s called) is located up Fourmile Canyon Drive. The rooms are simple and rustic (although each room does have a sitting area, TV, free wifi and its own bathroom), but that also means they’re not expensive for Boulder. The real sell: The lodge is built on seven acres, surrounded by hiking trails.

Stone Mountain Lodge and Cabins

Stone Mountain, in nearby Lyons, offers romantic cabins tucked into the red mountain cliffs. It provides easy access to hiking trails to explore. There’s also free wifi, a pool, a pond and grills to prepare food that you can take to the outdoor seating areas for a perfect picnic. The historic cabins are all different and may include a fireplace, full kitchen, vintage decor, jetted tubs and lofts.

Check Vacation Rentals

You can find tons of great, private cabins on Airbnb, VRBO, Vacasa and other vacation rental websites.

A few highlights to look for (of course, with Airbnb, the listings may change their names and availability at any time):

• Big Owl Cabin, Allenspark: This is a short drive outside of Boulder and can sleep six. Dogs allowed. We love the gorgeous, wrap-around deck and outdoor grill for cooking in warmer weather (or in the full kitchen). Inside, snuggle next to the fireplace and play on the ping-pong table. Big Owl is spacious and ideal for a family getaway in the mountains with easy access to the Rocky Mountain National Park.

  

• Mountain Haven Plus Loft, Lyons: The Mountain Haven in Lyons sleeps nine (but not pets). This historic mountain home was built in the early 1900s. Guests can use the full kitchen and enjoy the gorgeous, furnished patio with forest views and the sound of the stream nearby. This home includes a loft. It’s not far from all the best outdoor spots: Roosevelt National Forest, Rocky Mountain National Park and Indian Peaks. It’s also fun to stroll through the adorable downtown Lyons and grab a bite to eat at a local restaurant.

  

• Retro Mountain Cabin, Allenspark: Head to nearby Allenspark for a cabin in the mountains with retro charm. This 1960s-style cabin will bring you back in time with retro furnishings, but the real highlight is the huge wrap-around deck and natural rock outcroppings. Grill on the deck or make food in the full kitchen. It’s common to see wildlife hanging around.

  

• 2 Bedroom Boulder Cottage, Boulder: While this isn’t a cabin in the mountains, it’s as close as you can get right in the heart of downtown. This adorable two-bedroom cottage is a short walk to Pearl Street and the popular Spruce pool. Highlights include skylights to let in that Boulder sunshine, beautiful landscaping with rose bushes and a sun porch for relaxing. The cottage can sleep four, making it great for a small family or couple looking to stay in the heart of Boulder. Bonus: This cottage has special weekly rates where you can get seven nights for the price of six. Learn more and book it here.

  

• Boulder Canyon Cabin, Nederland: The Boulder Canyon Cabin is a cute cabin (duplex) with a full kitchen, ideally located in the canyon along Boulder Creek. It’s tucked against the rock walls in the woods, with easy access to all kinds of outdoor fun: fly-fishing, rock-climbing, hiking, cycling and more. It’s 14 miles from Eldora Ski Resort. Bonus: Public transportation stops right adjacent to the cabin, so you can hop on the bus to go to Eldora or take a ride down into Boulder. This is the perfect, personal base camp in the mountains.

  

• Little Cabin in the Woods, Ward: Craving the simple life? Head to the quirky, tiny mountain town of Ward and book a night in this tiny, one-room cabin. The building itself is only eight-by-10 feet, but the outside is vast; it’s built in the woods on 8.5 acres. Inside, there’s a small cooking area. Outside, there’s a fire pit and charcoal grill. It’s better than camping in a tent but still focused on the outdoors, adventure and simplicity.