Harvard Cabin

Harvard Cabin is a winter-only backcountry cabin at the base of Huntington Ravine on Mt. Washington, maintained and operated by the Harvard Mountaineering Club with support from the Harvard Cabin Administrative Board. It is a rustic, off-the-grid, self-service stop used as an overnight shelter by winter hikers, backcountry skiers, and ice climbers.

Use is limited to the winter season, typically open from December 1 through March 31. The cabin runs as a full-time caretaker operation and has an overnight max occupancy of 16; along with the cabin, there are tent sites nearby. Overnight lodging in the cabin is priced per person per night, with different rates for online bookings versus walk-ins, and tent camping is priced per night by tent size; campers may use the privy and take fresh water from the stream behind the cabin (cabin facilities are for cabin guests only).

Reservation works through an online system plus walk-in access: half of the cabin spots and all tent sites can be reserved online, and walk-in guests are welcome when space exists. Regardless of booking method, you sign in at the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center so the caretaker has a log of who will be on-mountain that night; after the visitor center closes, the log book can be found downstairs in the 24-hour pack-up room. Off-season (including tent sites) is not allowed, and guests are required to carry in/carry out all trash and unused food and not bury waste in snow.

Inside, expect a kitchen area and a wood stove; you need to bring your own sleeping bag and sleeping pad/air mattress as well as your food. Pets are not allowed inside the cabin, and there is a moldering privy available to the public across the Fire Road from the cabin.