Trapper’s Cabin

Trapper’s was the original private mountainside cabin in ski country, and it’s still the quintessential night in the woods.

• An authentic cabin experience gone upscale, with a full staff and luxury bedding
• Total privacy, with access by snowmobile or skis only
• Hor d’oeuvres and drinks served by chef after a day of skiing

It’s one thing to rent a private home at a ski area like Beaver Creek or Vail; quite another to spend a night (or more) snuggled into this four-bedroom trailside cabin up at 9,500 feet. Sure, there’s a housekeeping staff to prepare the hors d’oeuvres when you ski up in the late afternoon. And the hot tub on the deck will be properly heated when you take a dip under the stars after dinner. But then comes the magical moment when the cabin-keepers have loaded the dishwasher, tidied the bathrooms, and bid you a good evening, hopping onto their snowmobiles and leaving you (and perhaps a few friends) totally, utterly alone, with barely a light to be seen in the distance. In the morning, they’ll tiptoe back in and start frying up the bacon (or anything else you want) for breakfast, but that carefree, blissfully silent night is what really elevates Trapper’s above all other ski-house experiences. A 2008 renovation brought the four bathrooms up to date with granite countertops, etc. and the bedrooms got upscale bedding, but the soul of Trapper’s remains the same.

Wild-eyed romantics; folks who want to experience the mountains after the lifts shut down; friends looking for the ultimate getaway. If the thought of being all alone up there makes you just a tad nervous, you should instead stay in town.