Willow Cabin

Willow Cabin sits on the shore of Pelaw Lake, inside the Haliburton Forest & Wildlife Reserve, a 100,000-acre tract of trails and backcountry in the Haliburton Highlands. It's reached by a drive-in road suitable for 2WD vehicles, accessible year round, and shares the lake with two sister cabins, Quasi and Kaya.

Inside there's a single bed set up for up to three guests, along with an indoor compost toilet, an indoor shower, and an outdoor shower for warmer months. A mini fridge, sink, stovetop, and basic cookware cover the kitchen side, with salt, pepper, olive oil, sugar, and coffee stocked. Running water is available mid-May through mid-October; outside that window, guests should plan accordingly. There's no Wi-Fi here, and the cabin is off-grid, so evenings run on campfire light and a mini library rather than screens. A canoe with lifejackets is included for getting out on the lake, and two pairs of snowshoes cover the winter months.

The surrounding forest supports hiking, mountain and gravel biking, paddling, swimming, fishing, and trail running in warmer seasons, with cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice fishing taking over in winter. Snowmobiling is possible but requires a separate seasonal trail pass.

Rates run from $189 a night in winter weeknights up to $271 on summer holidays, varying by season and day of the week. Check-in is at 3 pm and check-out at 11 am. Pets are not permitted. Booking runs through Cabinscape, the cabin's listing platform.