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Check out my guest post today in The Girl and Globe about one of the best deals for outdoors lovers in the mid-Atlantic states – the Myron Glaser cabin and the cabin system of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC).
The club rents out over 30 rustic, but well-maintained cabins within a couple of hours drive from Washington, DC. With rental costs averaging $30 to $50 a night, these cabins are a well kept secret for family getaways.
Many of the cabins are rented to the public, but some of the properties with more amenities, including those discussed here, are only available to Club members.
With membership costs of just $35 a year, it may be a good investment for you if you live in the mid-Atlantic states.
It’s kind of like owning a vacation home or a time share that you can escape to for hiking, or just relaxing, without the expense and hassle of ownership.
I have visited many PATC cabins, but one that I always return to is Glass House, in the Massanutten Mountains of Northern Virginia.
Glass House is just 85 miles from Washington DC — just west of Front Royal, Virginia. It is a delightful stone cabin that was willed to PATC by Jewell Glass, a long-time club member and noted geologist.
To many, Glass House is the jewel of the PATC cabin system.
Sure, the cabin has some creature comforts that are lacking in many of the more primitive PATC cabins — such as electricity and indoor plumbing — but I don’t think that’s the reason why Glass House is so well-loved.
What draws people to this little gem of a house is the screened porch with a magnificent view of Fort Valley.
The cabin has a small bunk room in the back of the house, but we inevitably end up sleeping on air mattresses on the porch. It’s just so pleasant and peaceful, no matter the time of year.
Because of its popularity and accessibility (you can drive right up to the cabin) you may have better luck snagging a reservation for Glass House on a weekday, when rates are just $50 per night. There is plenty to do in the area, including the Fort Valley Riding Stable just down the road, and Elizabeth Furnace Recreation Area which offers fishing and wading. The best source for suggestions on hikes or other activities is the Log Book found in every PATC cabin. Visitors record their experiences for the next party’s benefit.
Another favorite of mine is Mutton Top Cabin in Greene County, Virginia, pictured below, and Highacre House in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.
Joel Shprentz photo
Highacre sits above the town, near Jefferson Rock, and boasts a tremendous view of the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers.
Harpers Ferry is a National Historical Park, and the whole town is a living museum. It’s great fun for kids who like to dress up as colonials!
If you have an interest in staying in a PATC cabin, I highly recommend that you purchase a copy of the current PATC Cabin Book. The publication has pictures and descriptions of all the rental cabins, and important logistical information for planning a trip. You can order it from PATC online for $8.50.
