Brainard Lake Cabin

How to visit the cabin

Drop in during the day
On most weekend days from roughly mid-December to mid-April, a volunteer day host opens the cabin from about 10:00 to 2:30. Anyone is welcome to come in, warm up and have a cup of hot cocoa. Sign the guest register on the desk by the door and we ask you to kindly leave a donation of $1 per person to cover supplies.

Day hosting depends entirely on volunteers. We ask that you treat an open cabin as good luck, not a schedule. Hosts tend to be longtime CMC members with years of experience using and working on the cabin. They will make you feel welcome, and they may also put you to work: hauling water from the creek, splitting wood, following the same house rules everyone follows.

Stay overnight
You do not need to be a CMC member to reserve spots, but at least one person in your group must be a Qualified User, meaning they have completed cabin training. That person receives the lock combination and takes responsibility for the cabin, its contents and everyone in the party. Training is free and scheduled through the year.

The cabin was built by adults for adults, and it has hosted children from six weeks old on up, triplet toddlers included. Plan around three things: the sleeping area is reached by a ladder, the wood stoves get hot, and the outhouse is down the hill. Three segments of a freestanding Superyard gate are kept at the cabin. Ask Reservations if you want to use them.

For overnight stays, we recommend that you bring food, a sleeping bag, and a headlamp or flashlight. The cabin supplies the rest. If you want to travel light, there are wool blankets and pillows already there.

Rates to book an overnight trip

2026-2027 rates are:

• CMC Member: $20 per person, per night

• Non-member: $35 per person, per night

• Children under 13: Half price

There are no refunds except in extraordinary circumstances. Even so, if you cannot use all the spots you booked, tell the coordinator. It keeps us from reporting you missing, and it frees the space for someone else.

How to book an overnight stay

The cabin holds twelve people total, and more than one group may be booked on the same night. You must be a Qualified User (someone who has completed cabin training) to book an overnight stay. Bookings open for:

• Qualified Users who have also signed up to day host may book starting at the winter preparation work day.

• All other Qualified Users may book starting October 1.

Follow this process:

1. Check the calendar. The reservation calendar is updated daily and shows how many spots are already taken on each night.

2. Send your request. Use the Reservation Request Form or email the Reservations Coordinator. Include your CMC membership number to get member pricing.

3. Wait for verification. The coordinator confirms that your group includes a Qualified User, then emails you a PayPal request.

4. Pay within three days. Any major credit or debit card works. This deadline applies to everyone, members and staff included. Spots are not held until payment arrives.

5. You are on the calendar. Your name and party size go up once payment clears.

How to become a Qualified User

Qualified Users are people who have successfully completed the cabin training and can book an overnight stay in the cabin. The Boulder Group runs training sessions at the cabin through the year, scheduled whenever enough people express interest and the training coordinator has time to donate. A session covers how and where to split firewood, starting fires in the wood stoves, controlling propane for the burners, where the outhouse is, where to get water and how to make it drinkable, the photovoltaic lighting system and where the first aid supplies live.

Email the Training Coordinator to be told about the next session.