Wigwam Western Summit in North Adams, Massachusetts | Best Wilderness Lodge in Every New England State
Photo Credit : Courtesy of Wigwam Western Summit
Escaping to enjoy the many pleasures of the great outdoors doesn’t have to mean battling the mosquitos and sleeping in a tent. For the perfect blend of nature and comfort, a wilderness lodge can provide the perfect getaway. Here are our editor-approved picks for the best wilderness lodge in every New England state.
Need more outdoor travel ideas? Find these picks, plus more than 120 of the best things to do, places to eat, and places to stay that celebrate the great outdoors in The Best of New England: Outdoor Edition.
Wigwam Western Summit in North Adams, Massachusetts Photo Credit : Courtesy of Wigwam Western Summit
America’s Switzerland is yodeling its siren song again now that a long-abandoned Mohawk Trail landmark has visionary new owners. Wake up to rolling mountains and 800-plus acres of trail-laced forest when you stay in one of four comfy cabins or two main house units that share Florida Mountain’s summit with the renovated Wigwam gift shop, now a window-walled, lodge-vibe café famed for its cold-brew coffee and more than 20 homemade fudge flavors.
Just downstream from 4,000 acres of state-protected forest, this post-and-beam lodge with six B&B rooms lures serious anglers and mainstream vacationers alike. Outside flows the Farmington River, renowned for year-round fly fishing. One lesson with a hired guide, and you’ll be hooked.
Stay at the Appalachian Mountain Club’s flagship lodge, in one of the White Mountains’ most alluring spots, and you lay claim to the expert guidance and free-to-borrow gear you need if you and your family aren’t typically outdoorsy. Accommodations are varied and no-frills: You’re here to spend your time hiking, climbing, biking, paddling, and observing wildlife and waterfalls. Even after a hearty included dinner, you’ll want to venture out to peer at intensely sparkly stars.
The Preserve Sporting Club in Richmond, Rhode Island Photo Credit : Courtesy of The Preserve
The Ocean State is half forested, and a luxury sporting lodge—the sort you’d expect to find out west—hides in the midst of 3,500 of those wooded acres. Full-kitchen suites have just been added to the array of lodgings for overnighters, enticed here by a multitude of on-property activities: fishing, golfing, shooting sports, tennis, swimming, biking, ziplining, spa-going.
From the time your boat captain deposits you at this island outpost, where vacationers have retreated since 1893, your agenda will be far from ordinary. Paddle to uninhabited isles, hook a salmon, pick blueberries on a mountaintop, hike crowd-free trails, put more than one lobster on your plate, bonfire-toast marshmallows, and snuggle up in your gas-lamp-lit cottage to read until loons’ calls induce sleep.
It’s the first summer since this rustic-chic, 26-room retreat was made over by new owners known for intimate properties that honor their settings’ uniqueness. The lodge sits on Kent Pond, with woodlands all around and the AT running straight through, so you can devote hours to hiking, kayaking, and casting for trophy fish. A farmhouse and a 180-year-old barn with exposed original beams and contemporary lodge decor are where you’ll decompress, dine, and dream.
Did we miss your favorite? Leave your pick for the best New England wilderness lodge in the comments below.
