Colorado secret: You need only drive two-plus hours from Denver to find the sort of scenery and wildlife worthy of a real-estate brochure—but without open-house crowds. Up Poudre Canyon, just west of Cameron Pass, summer blooms cling to 12,000-foot peaks, dense conifers hide unnamed lakes, and the moose outnumber people (seriously, they have their own visitor center). It’s a straightforward, 1.5-mile approach on a narrow Forest Service road to this pair of small, wooden cabins (in summer, you can drive even closer). Each sleeps six and boasts a well-stocked kitchenette and wood-burning stove, but the best part may be the easy access to Lake Agnes, an alpine pool nestled in a cirque. It’s just a mile from the front door to the bowl, where moose hang at dusk.

Trailhead Lake Agnes Season Year-round (snowshoe or ski in winter) Amenities Bunks with mattresses; wood-burning stove; two-burner stove (propane provided); cookware Reservation $85/night; reserve online Contact