Log Cabin Luxury: 7 Deluxe Log Homes

We’ve come a long way from Laura’s Little House in the Big Woods with its translucent, greased-paper windows. Today’s log homes come with a view, usually a big view.  

Yes, today’s log cabins still offer the warm stone hearth, and the cozy, rustic ambience of yesteryear, but they provide much more light, space, and creature comforts than the pioneers ever could have imagined. Handcrafted details, modern conveniences, contemporary design ideas, and spectacular vistas of mountain, prairie, and forest await. 

From a luxury lodge in Big Sky Country to a chic ski chalet in the mountains of Japan, the iconic log cabin of the American frontier has been rebooted for 21st-century living. 

1. The River House Estate in Telkwa, British Columbia, Canada

The River House Estate is a private compound on the Bulkley RIver between the towns of Smithers and Houston, some 200 miles from Prince George, BC, and 70 miles from the southernmost tip of Alaska.

Overlooking mature forests and the Telkwa Mountains, the property offers world-class wildlife and steelhead fishing, miles of hiking and snowmobiling trails, and a lake perfect for trout fishing. 

There are three main structures on the property: The River House, built on a bluff overlooking the river, offers four bedrooms, five full bathrooms and two half baths.

Its welcoming great room, with vaulted ceiling, massive river stone chimney opens to a dream kitchen. The dining room’s artisanal tables can accommodate more than 20 guests. The lower-level entertainment spaces open onto expansive decks and 293 acres of great outdoors. 

The River Cabin, just steps away, is a two-story, two-bedroom, two-and-a half-bathroom guest house with a living room, full kitchen, balcony, deck, laundry room, and garage. 

The Lake Cabin, with two bedrooms and a bathroom, is set on a 15-acre private lake, with a deck and attached dock. Bear, moose, elk, and deer make regular appearances. Flocks of migrating swans and geese, and the endangered Western Spotted Toad visit the lake.

The property is 45 minutes from Smithers Airport, a 1.5-hour flight to Vancouver. 

2. Classic Mountain Lodge in Ketchum, Idaho 

This classic mountain lodge has a private, 4.6-acre setting, just north of Ketchum and the Sun Valley Resort. The property borders the Adams Gulch Trail System, a wilderness area in the Sawtooth National Forest. 

Ketchum-based architect Janet Jarvis designed the 12,624-square-foot residence with dramatic, open-plan living spaces styled for both casual family living and elegant entertaining.

The highlight is the two-story great room, with its vast, log-burning fireplace, wrought-iron chandeliers, and floor-to-ceiling windows to frame the mountain vistas. Adjacent is a timber-clad lounge with a river rock fireplace. The huge gourmet kitchen opens to a cozy family room and glass-enclosed breakfast room. 

Further appointments of the five-bedroom, six-and-a-half bedroom home include media and games rooms, a custom-built cocktail bar, and a rear terrace with heated pavers and a jaw-dropping view of the wilderness. 

Related: Discover How 4 Architects Are Reimagining the Modern Log Cabin

3. Chalet Pire Co in Bariloche, Rio Negro, Argentina 

Chalet Pire Co is a private, 4.5-acre estate on the shores of Lago Moreno, a crystalline mountain lake in Argentine Patagonia. The property includes three dwellings, all positioned to capture views of the lake and Mount Tronador, an extinct stratovolcano in the southern Andes.  

The 2,583-square-foot, four-bedroom, four-bathroom main house was designed in the style of an Alpine chalet, with wide timber beams and railed verandahs under a pitched roof. Inside, gleaming wood floors flow throughout the principal living spaces to create a cozy and relaxing ambience. 

The central living and dining area is warmed by a large wood-burning hearth and opens to a fully equipped kitchen. Picture windows bring in the light and the views of the lake and the mountains. A handcrafted wooden staircase rises to the private quarters. Rounding out the main house is a self-contained guest apartment. 

Additional structures include a one-bedroom guest cottage, three-bedroom staff house with a garage, and two covered boat docks. 

4. Rusutsu Chalets #1 in Hokkaido, Japan 

Bold and contemporary, warm and inviting, Rusutsu Chalets are luxury-serviced, four-season golf and ski homes in Hokkaido, Japan. Their motto: “Ten seconds to the green, 1 minute to the ski lifts.”

Each chalet overlooks Izumikawa golf course and is just steps from Rusutsu Ski Resort.Chalet #1 offers 3,089 square feet of contemporary living space with high ceilings, bespoke light fixtures, radiant heated floors, and several fireplaces.

The open-plan living, dining, and entertainment spaces on the ground floor have large, double-height windows facing the golf course and the surrounding woodland. There are four beautifully appointed bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms, each with designer fixtures and custom finishes. 

Large outdoor decks invite barbecues and family gatherings. A gazebo with a Jacuzzi offers respite after a day on the fairways or Hokkaido’s world-renowned powder ski slopes.  

5. The Golden West Lodge in Bigfork, Montana

The Golden West Lodge is a classic Flathead Lake cabin estate just south of the village of Bigfork, Montana. The historic 1924 lodge was meticulously restored with modern amenities while keeping the traditional log cabin experience. 

The property encompasses 15 acres with 888 feet of waterfront on the shores of Flathead Lake. The seven cabins have a total of 14 bedrooms, ideal for festive gatherings large or small.

All cabins have been beautifully refurbished or built anew to match the original live-edge siding and cedar interiors of the 1920s design.The interiors are bright and airy, and luxuriously appointed for relaxation after a day’s hiking or fishing.  

The resort-like amenities include a dedicated entertainment lodge, as well as a fitness center, lap pool, an outdoor firepit by the lakeside, and two covered docks with a combined seven boat slips. A two-acre cherry orchard and five acres of forest complete the picture of perfection.

Related: Read Why an A-Frame Cabin Is an Ideal Second Home

6. Riverfront Estate in Woody Creek, Colorado 

This secluded six-acre estate at the confluence of Woody Creek and the Roaring Fork River captures the essence of Rocky Mountain living. The centerpiece is a luxurious, 9,446-square-foot, custom-built log home.

The timbered entrance hall opens to inviting reception rooms with timber beams and wide-plank floors. The great room has floor-to-ceiling windows facing the pines. Adjacent are the formal dining room and gourmet kitchen. 

There are six bedrooms and six full bathrooms. The primary suite has a cozy fireplace and picture windows overlooking the river. The lower level includes a family room and fully equipped gym. Just beyond is a sun terrace with a sunken hot tub. 

The six-acre grounds offer a variety of outdoor entertaining spaces, lushly landscaped with wide lawns and mature trees. Ancillary structures include a one-bedroom, one-bathroom caretaker’s house and a timber barn with a bunkroom and four-car garage. 

The location is ultimately private and secure—a winter wonderland of evergreen forests and snow-capped mountain peaks, close to Aspen and the world-class ski resorts of Aspen Mountain, Snowmass, Buttermilk, and Highlands. 

7. Chalet Apartment in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Belluno, Italy

This stylish apartment is situated in a converted Alpine chalet in the historic heart of Cortina d’Ampezzo, the “Pearl of the Dolomites.” 

The floor plan extends to more than 1,500 square feet with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Crafted entirely of wood, the interiors retain all of their period character, with the addition of such creature comforts as luxury bathroom fixtures and top-of-the-line kitchen appliances. 

The main living area is anchored by a built-in seating space adorned with colorful antique tiles. The space also includes an open-plan kitchen and a light-infused sitting area with panoramic views of the Dolomites.  

The home is a few blocks from Corso Italia, one of Italy’s most fashionable shopping streets. Cortina’s legendary ski slopes are a short drive away.