Harvard Cabin

Harvard Cabin is a winter-only public-use backcountry cabin located at the base of Huntington Ravine on New Hampshire's Mt. Washington, a 2 mile hike from Pinkham Notch. The cabin is within the White Mountain National Forest and operates under a Special Use Permit from the US Forest Service.

The cabin is open from December 1st through March 31st each year and offers overnight accommodations inside the cabin as well as tent sites nearby. The cabin is maintained by a caretaker but is otherwise off-the-grid and self-service with minimal amenities. See the Facilities page for more details.

Typical cabin guests include ice climbers, backcountry skiers, and winter hikers who use the cabin as a base camp and take advantage of the superb alpine setting that Mt. Washington uniquely provides the Northeast.

Support Harvard Cabin

The Harvard Cabin has been open to the public for over 60 years, since its construction in 1962. Except for a paid seasonal caretaker, the cabin's affairs are managed by volunteers. Although still overseen by the Harvard Mountaineering Club, it is run as an independent nonprofit which does not receive financial support of any kind from Harvard.

We keep our lodging prices very low to ensure the cabin is accessible for all. Most seasons, the Harvard Cabin incurs a modest loss. Community donations are crucial to funding the cabin's upkeep and continued operations. Please consider making a (tax-deductible) donation today to support its mission. Annually recurring contributions are especially welcome, as the need for community support is ongoing from one season to the next.

About Us

The Harvard Cabin is managed by the Harvard Mountaineering Club (HMC), an independent student organization at Harvard University. The cabin receives no financial support from Harvard University. Since 2021, the HMC has delegated operational cabin management to the Harvard Cabin Administrative Board (HCAB) - a nonprofit organization comprised of volunteers including former caretakers, community members, and current HMC members and alumni. Together, the HMC and HCAB are committing to ensuring the sustainability of the Harvard Cabin as a rustic backcountry experience for winter climbers, skiers, and hikers on Mt. Washington. If you would like to contact the board about cabin operations or to learn about volunteer opportunities, please send an email to: community@harvardcabin.org. To receive updates and announcements from the Harvard Cabin, we encourage you to subscribe to our email newsletter.

If you are looking to reserve a cabin or are participating in a group event at a Harvard Cabin in Jackson, NH that was reserved via the Appalachian Mountain Club, you may be looking for the Harvard Outing Club Cabin. You can find more information on that cabin on AMC's website and Harvard Outing Club's website. The Harvard Outing Club Cabin is not affiliated with the Harvard Cabin on Mt. Washington.