9 cozy winter lodges and resorts across the U.S.

Whether you crave a simple, rustic mountain lodge or prefer the kind of spread that comes with a ski concierge and gourmet hot chocolate cart, your cocoa cup runneth over this season.

Across the country, several spots are reviving beloved old winter traditions, others are blazing new trails (sometimes literally, as in freshly debuted ski runs), and still others are leaning into—as Marcel Proust wrote in Swann’s Way—“the comfort of reclusion, the poetry of hibernation.”

Read on for 9 of the best: a mix of lodges, inns, farms, and even a castle that make for a wonderful winter getaway.

Born in the early 1860s as a stagecoach stop and converted into the homestead of the couple who founded Keystone Resort in Colorado more than a century later, this wooded chalet is believed to be one of the nation’s oldest operating ski lodges.

Nowadays, Ski Tip, a premier property of Keystone Resort, is part bed-and-breakfast, part culinary icon (the restaurant’s four-course dinners are award-winning), and all charm: Picture stone fireplaces, hand-hewn beams, and vintage wooden skis as wall decor.

Though the guest-only sitting room is a tough place to vacate, what with the steady supply of house-baked treats, at some point you’ll want to check out what’s happening just outside on Keystone Mountain, where new enhancements include an energy-efficient snowmaking system and a high-speed chairlift, debuting this winter.

Info: Rates start at $215. 764 Montezuma Road, Keystone, Colorado. (970) 496-4950; keystoneresort.com.

Clearly, the 1860s were a prime time for mountain outposts: In 1869, this Victorian castle resort opened on the shores of a glacial lake with the slopes of New York's Catskills Mountains for a backdrop.

If you visit on select weekends in November and December, you’ll catch their edition of the Victorian Holidays celebration (carolers in period costume, old-timey gingerbread houses, the works)—all a throwback to the days of Mohonk Mountain House founder Albert Smiley, whose descendants still own the National Historic Landmark hotel.

But no matter when you visit over the winter, you’ll find seemingly endless seasonal pursuits, a short list of which includes snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and ice-skating. Warming offerings abound, too, whether the marshmallows you’ll roast around a campfire or the ginger-spiked massages and heated mineral pool you’ll find at the renowned spa.

Info: Rates start at $655 (meals and most activities included). 1000 Mountain Rest Road, New Paltz, New York. (845) 765-3286; mohonk.com.

It calls itself a “mountain lodge,” but this AAA Five Diamond spread in Wyoming will have you rethinking the bounds of that term upon arrival, when one of the first characters you’re likely to meet is the ski concierge, who can arrange for—among other services—in-room boot fittings.

Beyond your time on the slopes of Rendezvous Mountain, seasonal highlights in this Teton-adjacent wonderland can range from horse-drawn sleigh rides past the residents of the National Elk Refuge to dogsledding excursions along the Continental Divide.

And when post-adventure refreshments are in order, this winter’s offerings won’t disappoint (be sure to designate a driver if you plan to drink alcohol): There’s a pop-up champagne bar, a gourmet hot chocolate cart, and even a local whiskey that’s blended specifically for the resort (sample it in the new Backcountry Old-Fashioned). Another bespoke blend that’s at least as relaxing? The spa’s new Wildcrafted Facial, complete with hydrating, sustainably sourced ingredients from the surrounding mountains.

Info: Rates start at $725. 7680 Granite Loop Road, Teton Village, Wyoming. (307) 732-5000; fourseasons.com/jacksonhole.

Lest mountains get all the winter glory, here’s proof that heading for the hills can be just as heavy on gemütlichkeit—or warmth and good cheer—in a famously Teutonic corner of Texas Hill Country. In fact, 2021 marks the 175th anniversary of Fredericksburg’s founding by the Society for the Protection of German Immigrants, with celebrations throughout the year.

When you’re not out enjoying the Yuletide festivities in the town Marktplatz, warm up at Hoffman Haus, where check-in includes mulled wine or hot cider. The cozy vibe continues throughout the B&B’s guestrooms and suites.

Though each has its own character, picture a prevalence of wooden panels and beams, atmospheric antiques, plush bedding, and local lavender amenities. If you’ve booked a room with a soaking tub, the urge to stay put is particularly strong, but you need not wander far to find other temptations—from the on-site holiday cookie- and cupcake-decorating classes to the treatments at the spa cottage down the garden path.

Info: Rates start at $190. 608 E. Creek Street, Fredericksburg, Texas. (830) 997-6739; hoffmanhaus.com.

Anyone who likes the idea of winter camping more than the reality of it should consider a cozy compromise: The two “Great Indoors” rooms at this South Lake Tahoe hotel come with fort-like indoor tents, trompe-l’oeil forest-backed “campfires,” and glow-in-the-dark ceiling stars.

Then again, no room at Basecamp feels far removed from nature, given that Lake Tahoe itself and the Heavenly Ski Resort gondola are both within a five-minute walk.

In the interest of helping you explore the ski resort, the hotel partners with Ski Butlers during the snowy months—also an ideal time to experience Basecamp’s beer garden, with fire pits, lounge chairs, and occasional musical performances in front of the resident Airstream.

Info: Rates start at $98.10. 4143 Cedar Avenue, South Lake Tahoe, California. (530) 208-0180; basecamptahoesouth.com.

Even if you’ve never been to this Washington State lodge, odds are, you recognize it: It doubled as the Great Northern Hotel in Twin Peaks, a much-binged re-watch before the recent return of the ’90s cult classic. But centuries before the show’s fans laid eyes on this stunning corner of the Cascade foothills, the Snoqualmie River served as a seasonal gathering point for indigenous people—and the falls just outside the lodge remain sacred to the Snoqualmie Tribe, who now own the property and the surrounding land.

Of course, it’s hard to imagine not feeling a sense of reverence at the sight of the river’s 268-foot plunge over a forest-shrouded granite cliff into the ethereal pool below. And the scene reaches peak otherworldliness in winter, thanks to maximum water flow and intermittent snow, frost, and ice.

For extra-easy access to the path to the Snoqualmie Falls’ viewing area, with extra coziness in the bargain, book one of the lodge’s new Patio rooms, where you’ll find your own fire pit (and access to a Fire Pit Concierge), in addition to an indoor fireplace, oversize tub, and ample comfy seating. Guests who stay in the Suites are treated to views of the spectacular waterfalls.

Whichever room you decide on, and however often you manage to venture beyond its walls, make sure to have at least one of the four-course country breakfasts in the dining room, where the river vistas rival even the house-harvested “Honey from Heaven” that’s drizzled on your biscuits.

Info: Rates start at $299. 6501 Railroad Ave, Snoqualmie, Washington. (425) 888-2556; salishlodge.com.

Another retreat with ­hallowed roots, this New Mexico hotel is literally named the Sacred Mountain—a nod to neighboring Taos Mountain, also known as Mó-ha-loh or Má-ha-lu among the Native inhabitants of the ancient, UNESCO-listed Taos Pueblo, who still consider the peak holy.

Whatever your spiritual persuasion, New Mexico’s high desertscape is unequivocally awe-inspiring—and on full view from the balconies, patios, and nature paths of this AAA Four Diamond hideaway. The surrounding slopes will no doubt call to you, but so will the coziness of your quarters. Though details vary from room to room, there’s a preponderance of kiva fireplaces, exposed wooden beams, and private balconies or courtyards. The award-winning resident spa is a sanctuary within a sanctuary, with an emphasis on eco-friendly, Native-inspired, and locally sourced treatments.

Info: Rates start at $259.  317 Kit Carson Road, Taos, New Mexico. (575) 758-3502; elmontesagrado.com.

If you’re a winter purist looking for an Elsa-caliber deep freeze, head to the highlands of central Maine, where you’ll find the state’s biggest lake—and this AAA Four Diamond retreat along the southern shore.

Expect one-of-a-kind hand-carved wooden beds piled with plush linens, in-room fireplaces, and, almost without exception, snowy mountain and frozen lake views. Though the water teems with activity in summer, a contemplative hush falls over the icy surface in winter—a vibe that’s become so sought-after, the lodge is staying open much longer than usual this year. Still, there are a few blackout dates to be aware of: the first two weeks of December, the four days surrounding Christmas, and one week in February.

Though some seasonal activities—say, downhill skiing or ice fishing—require that you leave the cozy confines of the lodge, one of the best is possible right on the property: epic winter stargazing.

Info: Rates start at $399. 368 Lily Bay Road, Greenville, Maine. (207) 695-4400; lodgeatmooseheadlake.com.  

For the splurgiest, award-winningest take on a cozy winter escape, check out this 300-acre estate in Vermont—a celebrity magnet since way back. The story goes that when Nobel Prize–winning writer Sinclair Lewis proposed to newspaper columnist Dorothy Thompson, her acceptance was contingent on the promise of a Vermont farm with, among other enticements, sweeping lawns and “delicious air.”

The 18th-century Twin Farms sealed the deal, and for decades, the couple entertained the literati and politicos of their day here. In the farm’s current incarnation as an all-inclusive Relais and Châteaux retreat, the bold-faced names come from every conceivable field—the common thread being a desire for personalized service and serious privacy. How private? There’s an on-site ski area open only to the farm’s guests, with new trails debuting this year. Also new for 2021: a vintage lift shack turned intimate eatery (aptly named the Lift Shack), where your gourmet lunch or après ski is paired with breathtaking views of the local mountains.

If skiing isn’t your thing, there’s also fat-tire winter biking, snowshoeing, ice-fishing, sledding, and ice-skating on a private pond, complete with mini-Zamboni and hot toddies. For additional warmth back at the farm, soak in the spa’s Japanese furo, sink into your room’s king-size featherbed, or settle in by your fireplace with a hand-crafted keepsake wooden jigsaw puzzle.

Info: Rates start at $2,250 (meals and activities included). 452 Royalton Turnpike, Barnard, Vermont. (802) 234-9999; twinfarms.com.