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Around 14,000 Forest Service cabins—that is, privately owned cabins on United States Forest Service land—exist in the United States, and we have a whole lot of them in the wilds of Washington State. These cabins all have a carefully guarded woodland aesthetic thanks to rules similar to landmark laws, although each one varies in design and how much you’re actually roughing it.
This one along Goat Creek near Mount Rainier National Park, originally built in 1930, is a true getaway. It’s in pristine condition thanks to a recent restoration, including interior log walls, a vaulted cedar ceiling, and a large, cozy, wood-burning fireplace. But at the same time, it’s not so elaborate that you forget you’re in the woods—its simple, 560-square-foot design has just enough room for fireside gatherings, a queen bed, and an eat-in kitchen.
It comes with more than a half-acre of forest, along with three outbuildings: a garage with a chimney (the current owner thought about turning it into a bunkhouse), a giant woodshed, and an outhouse (it’s BYO water out here). While much of the property is still wild, there’s a spacious back deck overlooking the creek and a stone patio for relaxing by the fire.
18 Silver Creek is on the market for $349,000 through Windermere. While Forest Service cabins are usually a cash transaction since they’re leased on national land, listing agent Theresa Doherty notes that Sound Community Bank recently started offering loans for them.
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