On the Market: 5 Fabulous Forest Retreats from Wisconsin to Montana

There’s a good reason so many fairytales take place in a forest—a magical, ever-changing setting that offers serene summer shade, dazzling autumn foliage and, with the addition of a few evergreens, color all winter long. Nestled into thick canopies of trees, these five luxurious properties offer everything one would ever want in a bosky setting.

53 Currier Road, Mendon, VT: $1.95 million

Photo courtesy of LandVest

Located on 46 acres in the Green Mountains – and boasting breathtaking sunsets when looking toward the Adirondacks—this 7,000-plus-square-foot, shingle-style abode boasts high ceilings, a jumbo commercial grade kitchen and comfortable lounge areas ideal for a large family, including a three-season porch that brings the outside in. A hot tub takes advantage of the magnificent views, which include professionally landscaped perennial gardens and flowering shrubs. Access to trails and a mountain bike loop add to this one-of-a-kind property’s appeal. 

9345 Cottage Row, Fish Creek, WI: $8.3 million

Photo courtesy of Arbor Crowne Properties

“Cottage Row”—even the address is charming. Located steps from town in Fish Creek, Wisconsin on the state’s northern peninsula, this well-appointed home by architect Tom Dobbins and Great Northern Construction has an expansive open layout that offers spectacular waterfront views from the major living areas and the master bedroom. Taking things up a notch, the original boathouse has been rebuilt with a new sunning deck.

62 Sols Cliff Road, Bar Harbor, ME: $8.9 million

62 Sols Cliff Rd exterior
Photo courtesy of Acadia Realty Group

Fittingly named Eastern Watch for its location high up on the Sols Cliff overlooking Frenchman Bay, in Bar Harbor, Maine—one of the most easternmost points in the contiguous United States, this classic New England cottage offers jaw-dropping views of the Porcupine islands, the Egg Rock lighthouse and beyond. Nested into its forested surrounds steps from downtown, the four-bedroom main house has a living room with a three-story cathedral ceiling and a granite fireplace. Just outside, a 130-foot granite-and-bluestone terrace with an outdoor kitchen and fireplace offers a beautiful spot for whale watching. In addition, the carriage house has a second-story, two-bedroom apartment with a bunk room and play loft.

6238 Winters Trail, Kewadin, MI: $3.2 million

Photo courtesy of Coldwell Banker Schmidt

Designed by Cranbrook Institute-trained Karen Swanson of Swanson Meade, this steel-and-glass modernist masterpiece is located on an exclusive, private property with its own sandy beach on Traverse Bay. The living room’s 35-ft. windows frame those views, creating an open and airy milieu. The main home has two master suites, one with his-and-hers dressing and bathrooms. A skybridge leads to two more bedrooms with their own bathrooms. A spacious sauna imported from Finland distinguishes the two-story boathouse.

40 Saddle Horn Rd, Big Sky, MT: $11.4 million

40 saddle horn rd exterior
Photo courtesy of the Big Sky Real Estate Company

Offering magnificent forest and mountain vistas, this nine-bedroom log cabin in Moonlight Basin’s woodsy Diamond Hitch neighborhood has multiple open entertainment spaces and a spectacular chef’s kitchen outfitted with a painted center island that plays off the log walls. Literally steps away from the ski trail and abutting 90 acres of open space, this 10,000-square-foot private enclave is an ideal spot for both everyday living and extended ski retreats with family and friends. 


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Tate Gunnerson is a Chicago-based freelance journalist with an equal appreciation for natural beauty and good design. He is a passionate supporter of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the National Kidney Foundation.

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