No matter the season, renting a cozy cabin is the perfect way to embrace vacation and get in touch with nature. Whether you're looking to establish a home base for a weekend of hiking, snowshoeing, climbing, or skiing, or seeking a secluded spot for a few days of resting and recharging with a good book and a roaring fire pit, cabins beat a hotel room any day. Want to elevate the fun even further? Do it literally: rent a treehouse instead.
Treehouse rentals immerse visitors in their surrounding forest. If renting a cabin sounds like your ideal way to explore nature, imagine having the same amenities and comforts, but up in a tree. It sounds like a gimmick, but we're not talking about the plywood clubhouse you dreamed of as a kid—a proper treehouse rental comes with all the amenities of a home on the ground.
You often don't have to go to Costa Rica to find a good treehouse for rent either—there are plenty of options on Airbnb and VRBO. And with parks and trails across the west overrun by travelers, it's easy to be intimidated by the crowds in popular destinations like California or Texas. Often-overlooked states like Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan provide plenty of outdoor adventure and cozy cabin opportunities, including treehouses.
Known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes, Minnesota is outdoor lover's ideal destination. The state offers thousands of miles of hiking and biking trails (mountain bikers will especially want to note the courses at Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area), 3.8 million acres of fishable waters, and 66 state parks including Grand Portage State Park, home to a 120-foot-tall waterfall. The state is also known for the famed Boundary Waters, a protected 1,200-mile wilderness area of lakes and woods accessible only by canoe.
Along with the Nordlys cabin and the Off-Grid Inn (for those who prefer to keep their feet on the ground) in neighboring Wisconsin, the six treehouses on this list are more proof that the Midwest is anything but flyover country. Scroll on for the best treehouses to rent in Minnesota.
