Crunchy Leaf-Peeping Walks and Forest Bathing Await Across California
Leaf-peeping isn’t just an East Coast thing. Although fall admittedly hits Southern California a lot later than most of the country, it’s time to think about crunchy trail hikes and board games with friends beside the fire back at base. And that means figuring out somewhere to stay. Thankfully, cozy cabins with mod cons and luxe details like Frette linens and jetted tubs abound across the Golden State. From quaint cabins just outside Yosemite to charming chalets in Mammoth and rustic houses among the redwoods in Big Sur, here are 10 of our favorite cozy cabins in California for a fall weekender.
Autocamp Yosemite
Located 25 miles from the park’s El Portal entrance, Autocamp Yosemite invites travelers to skip the Airstreams and safari-style canvas tents and check into one of its family-friendly cabins instead. After a day of marveling at fall colors along the Merced River or hiking Bridalveil Fall, the beautifully restored pine cabins here (which can sleep up to six thanks to a twin bunk bed and pull-out sofa) provide some pretty cozy digs for a few days. Load up on snacks and s’mores kits from The General Store or skip cooking entirely and order dishes and drinks from The Kitchen to enjoy beside your fire pit. Each of these abodes features a private queen bedroom, separate kitchen and living area and a private patio and dining area, making Autocamp Yosemite the perfect home away from home.
Location: Midpines
Outbound Mammoth
Lifestyle hotels geared towards people who love experiencing beautiful outdoor destinations are what newcomer hospitality group Outbound excels at. Their all-season alpine Mammoth Lakes outpost is a perfect case in point. Dial those autumn week-away vibes up to a ten in their one-bedroom chalet, which is dog-friendly and features a spacious living area, wood-burning stove and mountain views from the second floor. Amenities are on point, too. Guest parking is free; there’s an outdoor pool, hot tub and several communal fire pits across the property. Thanks to a wine bar and The Outbound Mammoth mercantile, the lobby scene is solid, but for local beers, good eats and old-fashioned video games (hello, Pac-Man), post up at Bar Sierra.
Location: Mammoth
Black Bear Lodge
Located a mile from Sierra Shores, this timber-hewn South Tahoe retreat and its standalone mountain cabins rock some major cozy home-away-from-home vibes. Ideal for a couples’ weekend, The Hideout features a river rock fireplace and jetted tub, while The Den is geared towards families or traveling friends with its Jack-and-Jill bathroom. No matter which cabin you check into, considerate touches abound and include pour-over coffee kits, doTerra diffusers and bathrobes. The front desk moonlights as a wine bar and is the place to sip craft beers and California wines over small bites. Meanwhile, the communal lounge has board games, books and DVDs for guests to borrow. Soaking under the stars in the outdoor hot tub is another must-do when staying here.
Location: South Lake Tahoe
Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn
Established in the 1930s, Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn is an eclectic off-the-grid kind of place everyone should experience at least once. Many of its rooms and only standalone cabin are furnished with antiques (including Grandpa Deetjen’s old record collection), but tucked within a redwood forest in Castro Canyon means no internet or cell phone coverage. After checking out the nearby Henry Miller Memorial Library and hiking the 6-mile Ewoldsen Trail, head back to Deetjen’s for a candlelit dinner beside the fire at its namesake restaurant. Although Highway 1 through Big Sur won’t reopen until 2025, it is still possible to reach businesses as far south as the Esalen Institute, including Deetjen’s, by taking Highway 1 south from Monterey or Carmel. Location: Big Sur
Arrowhead Pine Rose Cabins
For a postcard-worthy town dubbed the “Alps” of Southern California, Lake Arrowhead doesn’t always get the press it deserves. Perhaps that’s what makes this San Bernardino Mountains destination a still-hidden gem. If you’re looking to get back into nature (but make it a short drive from San Diego or Los Angeles), consider Arrowhead Pine Rose Cabins, whose collection features romantic one-bedrooms like the bird-themed Blue Jay, where it’s easy to imagine kicking back on the log trundle daybed or cracking open a bottle of something red in front of the stone fireplace. A creek runs through the property, and there are hiking trails nearby. Plus, Lake Arrowhead is a short drive away for shopping and dining.
Location: Twin Peaks
Hotel Marina Riviera
Located on the south shore of Big Bear Lake, the 1960s Viking lodge-inspired and now reimagined Hotel Marina Riviera is currently building out its eagerly awaited restaurant and bar, and several new amenities, and plans to re-debut in early 2025. However, one of its lovely standalone cabins across the street is still bookable through Airbnb, with access granted via keypad entry. Its residential-style layout features two bedrooms, one bathroom, a full kitchen equipped with everything needed to whip up a charcuterie board or multi-course meal, and a separate living room with a fireplace and comfy-looking couches. Downtown Big Bear, great local restaurants (see Tropicali and La Pergola Trattoria) and purveyors like Bear Cupboards Market are all within a few minutes walk.
Location: Big Bear Lake
El Capitan Canyon
Fall foliage might not be as popping here as, say, in the High Sierra, but that doesn’t detract from its standing as a lovely place to channel cabin core vibes for a weekend. Sitting just north of Santa Barbara, the upscale glamping resort El Capitan has long been a favorite among eco-minded and nature-loving travelers. Its cedar cabins come decked out with comfortable beds, fine linens, kitchenettes, full bathrooms and private picnic areas for dining alfresco. Some have fireplaces or outdoor fire pits, too. Whether borrowing cruiser bikes, watching birds and wildlife, wine tasting at Canyon Market or even hopping in the heated pool, on-site activities are plentiful, much like things to see and do in the area.
Location: Santa Barbara
Humboldt Bay Social Club
Should the famous redwoods of Humboldt County draw you to this far northern part of the state, take a ten-minute drive from Old Town Eureka to the rugged Samoa Peninsula, and you’ll find the Humboldt Bay Social Club. The main building features several hotel rooms and a convivial lobby bar, which serves coastal comfort dishes, signature cocktails, picnic baskets and oyster kits to-go, including a 25-pack of fresh Humboldt Bay Bucksport Oysters from local supplier Aqua-Rodeo Farms. Across the road on Oyster Beach, its four rustic extended-stay cabins are tastefully decorated with vintage finds. Steps from the bay and surrounded by a eucalyptus forest, cabins and their configurations vary. The Cabin is perfect for couples, while families will appreciate the two-bedroom Bay House.
Location: Samoa
Desolation Hotel Hope Valley
Touted as “Tahoe without the crowds,” Hope Valley is an under-the-radar gem in Northern California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range, where aspen trees blaze a riot of yellow and gold every fall. One of the best cabin rentals in Northern California and places to stay in town is Desolation Hotel Hope Valley, a 165-acre mountain resort whose historic cabins date back to the early 1900s. Beautifully restored and refurbished, they channel a minimalist but hygge Scandinavian aesthetic, with beds dressed in crisp white linens and spa-like bathrooms. There’s limited WiFi and cell service here, but with wood-fired saunas at your disposal and direct access to hiking trails, plus Sorensen’s Cafe for craft cocktails and hearty stews, there’s no reason you wouldn’t want to spend time in nature. Location: Hope Valley
Tenaya Lodge
Another option for anyone headed to Yosemite is the Explorer Cabins at Tenaya Lodge. Located just two miles from the park’s southern entrance, these cabins in California are tucked away in the forest. However, they are only a stone’s throw from the main lodge, where guest perks include access to amenities, such as restaurants, outdoor pools and Ascent Spa, plus organized activities like guided hikes and mountain biking. Cabin configurations vary, but all feature two bedrooms (pro tip: primary rooms always have the balcony), a wet bar with a compact fridge, microwave and coffee maker and a mini living space with a sofa, TV and Pendleton Yosemite Park Blanket for getting cozy in front of the fireplace.
Location: Fish Camp
Keri Bridgwater is a freelance writer covering travel and lifestyle. Her work has been featured in Fodor’s Travel, Marie Claire, Matador Network and InsideHook, among other outlets and publications.
