Redfish Lake Lodge, Stanley, ID
An assemblage of well-appointed log cabins around a lakeside inn, Redfish Lake Lodge, founded in 1929, has a full-service marina with craft ranging from pontoons—reached via canoes and kayaks—to paddleboards. Launches drop day-trippers at the feet of the twin 10,000-foot peaks, members of the Sawtooth chain, that tower over the lake’s southern end. After a strenuous day of hiking, unwind with a drink in the old-timey bar, scoring tips from the outdoorsman bartender for the next day, then try the sous vide Idaho trout in a dining room overlooking the water.
Lake O’Hara Lodge, Field, B.C.
Seven miles from the nearest paved road, Lake O'Hara Lodge, constructed in 1926 from Douglas fir logs, overlooks an alpine lake in Yoho National Park. Only 250 people are allowed into this valley per day. This means these hills are alive with wildlife, including mountain goats and grizzlies. The lodge is civilized but simple. The kitchen pairs Alberta beef with British Columbia wines and bakes bread and pastries daily.
Sardine Lake Resort, Sierra City, CA
Three generations of the Browning-Hunt family have run Sardine Lake Resort, set on a boating and trout-fishing lake at the base of the Sierra Buttes since 1941. (Would-be swimmers must head to nearby Sand Pond.) Its individuated, chinked-log cabins are available during high season for rental by the week, with guests congregating in the evenings in the lakeside bar and dining rooms.
Lake Crescent Lodge, Port Angeles, WA
Built in 1915 on a headland jutting out into the water, Lake Crescent Lodge’s classic dining room occupies a glassed-in porch facing the water and Pyramid Mountain beyond. There are rooms with a similar view in the main building, and the lakeside Roosevelt Fireplace Cabins, named for Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who visited in 1937, are ideal for groups.
Suttle Lake Lodge & Boathouse, Sisters, OR
The Suttle Lodge & Boathouse, set on 15.5 acres just outside of Sisters, OR in the Deschutes National Forest, is a playground for kids and adults alike.Guests spend days boating, tubing, kayaking, and playing lawn games. In the evenings, they relax over board games, bonfires, and gourmet camp food such as trout chowder and lodge mac ‘n’cheese paired with classic cocktails and Willamette Valley wines.
Flathead Lake Resort, Bigfork, MT
The homey Flathead Lake Resort has a private beach dotted with sculptural driftwood on what is the largest lake west of the Mississippi. Its nautical- and Montana-themed cabins are a great base from which to explore the surrounding wilderness. Glacier National Park is a short drive away, as are the Swan River’s rapids, famous among rafters and kayakers. During the warm months, the nearby town of Bigfork programs festivals (cider, guitar) and summer-stock theater.
