One thing we’ve learned from the tiny-home movement is that if you’re going to go small inside, you should maximize your living space outside. One way to do that? Plant yourself smack-dab in the middle of nature. These tiny mountain houses currently for sale make up for what they lack in square footage with amazing outdoor amenities (private piers, beaches, and acreage), endless picturesque views of lakes, canyons, and quiet woods, and last, but certainly not least, personality (1960s decor!).
The houses from Ticonderoga, NY, to Crawford, CO, all use their petiteness in thoughtful ways and showcase innovative design techniques like pitched roofs. So build a fire in the fireplace, sit back, and cozy up to these 12 mountain homes.
1. Home on the range
$37,500, River Canyon Road, Imnaha, OR 97842
Turn this 196-square-foot home close to the Idaho border into a writer’s or painter’s paradise. The cabin has a porch and double-pane windows overlooking the mountains — the perfect hidden retreat. Electricity is accessible on the property, and it’s approved for a standard septic system. Imnaha, OR is close to scenic views from Hells Canyon on the Snake River, so you’ll never be far from seriously breathtaking vistas.
2. Nature’s calling
$69,900, 219 Red Bank Road, Linden, TN 37096
Enjoy peace and quiet in this 153-square-foot home in Linden, TN, two hours outside Brentwood, which has electricity and taps into well water. The property is set on 2 lush acres of woods and forest and even has air conditioning for those hot Tennessee nights.
3. Quiet on the creek
$144,900, 322 Old Tate Mill Ext, Jasper, GA 30143
Go at your own pace in this private, 750-square-foot, one-bedroom home on 9.58 acres. The upstairs bedroom has views of the creek and woods, but you’ll want to spend most of your time outside, where there’s a picnic area, horseshoe and fire pits, and stone paths. The loft area could easily be used as an extra bedroom if you want to let guests in on your slice of solitude.
4. Strawberry flat(s) forever
$149,949, 25711 North Road, Twin Peaks, CA 92391
Recall an easier time or at least a groovier one (the ’60s, naturally) at this former logger’s campsite in the Strawberry Flat Association. You’ll have plenty of privacy on the 10,794-square-foot lot. Enjoy the concrete patio well into the evening before heading back into the tin-roofed home. The property has one bedroom, but a loft space can be made into two sleeping areas, ensuring your guests have room to stay over.
5. Off the grid in Big Sky country
$169,000, Tbd Reller Road, Cameron, MT 59720
Put down your cellphone and relish this one-bedroom, one-bathroom property on 35 acres in Montana. The home has views of the Madison River and Yellowstone Park so sublime, you won’t miss Instagram. Perfect for the true outdoorsman, the 320-square-foot cabin was built with reclaimed lumber and has a composting toilet.
6. Over the river, beside the woods
$279,000, 19359 N 4000 E, Whiterocks, UT 84085
An appreciation for outdoor recreation is required to spend time in this one-bedroom, one-bathroom, 640-square-foot log cabin. Built in 1976, the solar-powered home sits on 10 acres nestled between Ashley National Forest, the Uintah Mountain Range, and a bubbling river — all which make for great fishing, hiking, and year-round panoramic views.
7. Stargazing paradise
$299,000, 7246 Seventh Ave., Tahoma, CA 96142
Enjoy four-season living in this one-bedroom, one-bathroom Tahoma, CA, home. Stargaze from the deck, the fire pit, or hot tub while you listen to music from the outdoor sound system. Drop your gear (skiing or hiking) in the storage shed before cooking dinner under vaulted ceilings in the kitchen.
8. Needle Rock views from the garden
$329,000, 38618 Fruitland Mesa Road, Crawford, CO 81415
Get back to nature at this 468-square-foot home overlooking Colorado’s famous Needle Rock. Built in 2008, the straw-bale-construction home features beautiful timberwork, a flagstone patio, and covered porches on the north and east sides. When you aren’t admiring the tongue-and-groove ceiling or built-in bookcase in the bedroom loft space (there are lower-level bunk beds as well), you can get to work planting a garden on the 40-acre lot.
9. Fun in the bunkhouse
$359,000, 53 Mossy Point Road, Ticonderoga, NY 12883
Camping takes on new meaning at this 600-square-foot, two-bedroom Lake George property with a rare 83 feet of waterfront. Enjoy Ticonderoga, NY, sunsets from the porch, dine inside with lake views, and take advantage of easy water access with your own dock on Mossy Point. Younger guests in tow? The bunkhouse is equipped for a TV and has plenty of room to sleep and socialize.
10. Lakeside hideaway
$435,000, 4501–4509 Anthony Island, Hustisford, WI 53034
Get two beautiful homes for one price with this family-style compound on Anthony Island on Lake Sinissippi. The properties have 180 feet of lakefront spread over five island lots. Take in your morning coffee as eagles, great blue herons, ospreys, and white pelicans start the day in their natural paradise in front of you. Each cottage has two bedrooms and one bath. The main cottage was built in 1929 but has undergone an extensive gut renovation, while the second cottage has a large deck looking onto the lake. Bonus for water lovers? The property comes with two boats, a 23-foot pontoon and 21-foot Malibu Sunsetter ski boat.
11. Lush oasis on the lake
$699,000, 2111 Sugar Pine Road, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
Relax on Lake Tahoe with views of Heavenly Ski Resort and the Sierras without compromising comfort at this 420-square-foot home. The one-bedroom, one-bathroom property, which was built in 1960, sits in the gated Cascade Properties and has pine walls, a vaulted, beamed ceiling, and a patio and deck overlooking the tiered gardens and pine trees. Gain access to the lake, the beach, and a shared pier through a short path nearby.
12. The river runs through it
$795,000, 2600 Maiden Rock Road, Divide, MT 59727
History beckons from this restored 1900 cabin at Big Hole Canyon Ranch. The 685-square-foot home sits on nearly 11 acres on the Big Hole River and is equipped with your own boat launch, a stocked pond, and maintained acreage. Spend the day on the river before retiring to the two-bedroom home with an updated bathroom. We can imagine sipping hot cocoa around that stone fireplace now.
