Dartbrook Lodge.

Sits along Route 9N in Keene, the town that calls itself the Home of the High Peaks because it sits at the foot of the Cascade, Porter, and Giant trailheads. Dartbrook is the cabin-style alternative to the chain motels in Lake Placid and the bigger inns in Keene Valley. The property runs back to the 1800s and looks the part.

Cottages and suites are sold one at a time rather than as identical rooms. Furniture is handcrafted in the Adirondack Great Camp idiom, much of it built locally. Several units have full kitchens and private porches, which makes them workable for a five-night hiking week rather than a one-night stop.

The Forty-Six Restaurant and Dartbrook Rustic Goods sit on the same campus, so dinner and a Sunday browse don't require getting back in the car. Best for couples and small parties who want a quiet base for the High Peaks without paying the Mirror Lake premium.