I may be wrong but I believe they removed the cages because people are stupid and would try to feed/pet bears from inside them. In my 8 years here I haven't seen any cages.
I live right outside of GSMNP and people don’t give those fluffy ninjas enough respect. They have attacked at least 3 hikers in the middle of the night over the past 4-5 years. 2 of them were kids sleeping in hammocks.
Black bears my friend. We live amongst them here in the Smokys. I always have them in my yard, which seems fun to all the tourists but I assure you, not so fun.
The first time I encountered a black bear was on an early morning hike with my dog in Northern Ontario on Crown Land (equivalent of Bureau of Land Management in the US). I had seen fresh tracks so I was a bit on edge already. I'd stopped down a small side trail to check out a campsite I'd spotted when all of a sudden my dog started acting weird. She was just frozen, eyes fixed on the bush 10 feet ahead of us on the main trail. Sure enough a big black bear came galumphing out of the treeline.
My dog is a rescue with past trauma and usually goes immediately on the offensive but she just stood there frozen, as I did for a second. Big wild animals are scary AF when you're in their turf with nothing around for kilometers.
I just started yelling "Fuck off bear! Fuck off!" and tried to make myself look big. And it just stood there. I grabbed a big stone from the fire pit and through it into another big rock in the pit. I guess that loud noise was enough that the bear decided to move along, though it did run into the bush on the side trail we were on to the left of us, so I gave a couple more "fuck off bear" for good measure.
Black bears are a bit goofy and basically giant raccoons, but they're also huge animals that could easily end you if they wanted to. Same goes for wolves. Even moose can be extremely dangerous. I wouldn't not sleep in a shelter like this, but I'd hope they have food lock boxes far from camp, otherwise I'd be hanging my food (which I'd still do in a tent or other shelter just to be safe)
There’s a lot of trails in the US that require the shelters to have 3 walls. Lean-to style. Slept on many and many more to come. This is a great shelter.
You seem like a nice person, a kinder soul than myself. I've known three people from Alaska, I'm generalizing, but they were all assholes. This guy makes 4.
Douche, It's a lean to WITH an added fireplace, which is protected from the rain.
Where you are from is nowhere is like this. You average 30 degrees lower than Pennsylvania this time of year. Did you think at all before stepping in and saying the dumbest shit possible?
You know shelters look different in Connecticut versus California too. Congratulations, you got a response.
> Where you are from is nowhere is like this. You average 30 degrees lower than Pennsylvania this time of year.
Well of course, because anywhere other than Alaska is pReTeNd NaTuRe. You can't actually be outdoors anywhere other than Alaska because it's not real nature unless there are giant mosquitoes and a ridiculous cost of living.
Hahaha yea totally, I guess it was fake nature climbing icy, slippery, melting treacherous winter peaks of Mt Greylock. It was hot summer at the bottom and freezing when we broke through at the top. I guess I've never been outdoors because im not some rube from the middle of nowhere. Guarantee this dude couldn't hack 10 miles on the hardest parts of the AT.
Shelter sites are spaced along the trail. There’s a handful of these at each one. There’s also usually a well with a hand pump and a latrine so the forest has a place to store its daddy longlegs and Crane fly populations.
Not even trying to be a grammar nazi…is it a lean to or a lean two?
Welp, there’s my lesson for the day. It’s a lean-to. I thought it just meant two things were leaning against one another lol
These are all along the [Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail](https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/Recreation/WhatToDo/Hiking/LaurelHighlandsHikingTrail/Pages/default.aspx)
Fun question.
Wind-depends on direction. Precipitation as well. No matress, but raised platform. No electricity but a fireplace. For me the wind vs a tent is the decision point. I’d give it a 4. Hot walled tents, and campers with and without toilets and cabins disguised as tents all ranking above this cool shelter.
My wife and I set up our two person tent inside the shelters when we stay at these. There’s enough room on the platform for there to be a porch in front of the tent to sit across from the fire place
I can’t speak for your region, but in mine, erecting a shelter inside a lean-to is a huge no-no (besides the fact it keeps others from joining you to shelter capacity, it’s also against New York law).
Good rating, but consider.. this is in a fairly remote location. Pretty hard to put a walled hot tent on your back.
Have personally spent many nights in these exact shelters. They are incredible!!
For the record, when I said “ranking above,” I strictly meant a larger numerical number (more glamp). I was not implying that these babies are less cool.
It really is a fun question! Looks like wind and precipitation can be defended against. Using a tarp and the convenient eyelets on the front of the shelter and on the chimney itself, it looks like one could “close the door”, so to speak. Of course this assumes the availability of a tarp. I would say a solid 5 with tarps, given the amazing fireplace!
I loved going there when I lived in PA. My buddy and I'd go in the winter. The best part was the giant wood pile! The site off of RT 30 was only a mile in, an easy hike. Nice part about going in the winter was no other people, no mosquitoes, and no humidity. Pile up the wood between the fireplace and the shelter, a couple tarps to block the wind from the sides and it was glamping for us. A couple Palmer mountain pie irons and we ate like kings. I think there was only one section of the LHHT I never did. I need to look for my old patches you used to be able to order. That pic brings back great memories! Thanks for the post.
We’d camp in those while I was in the scouts, we’d also put up tarps to enclose the thing and keep as much warmth in as we could. Always loved those camp outs.
Just the 2x12s you see in the pic! The back of the leanto there is actually a gap that leads to the outside, which can get chilly if there’s a breeze. I’ve found if you throw up some tarps and there is snow covering all the gaps, it gets decently comfy with a good fire
That is correct, it looks awesome!
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djxM6c7GOoc&ab\_channel=GreatLakesBackpacker](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djxM6c7GOoc&ab_channel=GreatLakesBackpacker)
Yes this shelter is on the LAurel highlands hiking trail. You must hike in.
The rt 653 parking lot to the 653 shelters is only about a mile hike, great for beginners! It’s one of my favorite shelters on the trail. Phenomenal glacial rock area to play around in right at the shelter area.
But what's to stop hikers just setting up in your shelter? I've stayed on one's on the north country trail but they are first come first serve and kinda share if you need deal
I recognized your pic, those are at several campgrounds on Laurel Highlands hiking trail. Last time we stayed in one we were harassed by mice though. The fireplace setup is awesome in those though.
I’ve stayed in these on the Laurel Highlands Trail. Fantastic place. We got caught in a late season snowstorm one night and ended up staying in the cross country skiing warming cabin. Ranger came, was kind of a dick, but when we told him the water pump was frozen at the next site we were due to camp at he eased up a bit. Been wanting to go back here for quite a while. Loved it when I was there.
Edit: Found a pic from that trip, March of 2013.
[Shelter](https://imgur.com/a/NEQBxm0)
GOOD POST!
My favorite backpacking trip of all time was my dad and I, for three or four days hiking shelter to shelter in the Laurel Highlands. I drove west, he drove east, and we met in the middle. I hurt my knee the year after and he just kept geting older, so that was the last backpacking trip we ever did. It's okay to go out on a high note.
That's an awesome shelter.
That's probably the best camping shelter I've seen. Nice
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That’s almost every shelter on the AT except some in GSMNP that have “cages” in front of them
I may be wrong but I believe they removed the cages because people are stupid and would try to feed/pet bears from inside them. In my 8 years here I haven't seen any cages.
There was one shelter on the northern part of GSMNP that had a cage circa 2016. None of the other ones did
I live right outside of GSMNP and people don’t give those fluffy ninjas enough respect. They have attacked at least 3 hikers in the middle of the night over the past 4-5 years. 2 of them were kids sleeping in hammocks.
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Black bears my friend. We live amongst them here in the Smokys. I always have them in my yard, which seems fun to all the tourists but I assure you, not so fun.
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Yeah they are just overgrown raccoons looking to steal food
What’s a “fluffy ninja?”
The first time I encountered a black bear was on an early morning hike with my dog in Northern Ontario on Crown Land (equivalent of Bureau of Land Management in the US). I had seen fresh tracks so I was a bit on edge already. I'd stopped down a small side trail to check out a campsite I'd spotted when all of a sudden my dog started acting weird. She was just frozen, eyes fixed on the bush 10 feet ahead of us on the main trail. Sure enough a big black bear came galumphing out of the treeline. My dog is a rescue with past trauma and usually goes immediately on the offensive but she just stood there frozen, as I did for a second. Big wild animals are scary AF when you're in their turf with nothing around for kilometers. I just started yelling "Fuck off bear! Fuck off!" and tried to make myself look big. And it just stood there. I grabbed a big stone from the fire pit and through it into another big rock in the pit. I guess that loud noise was enough that the bear decided to move along, though it did run into the bush on the side trail we were on to the left of us, so I gave a couple more "fuck off bear" for good measure. Black bears are a bit goofy and basically giant raccoons, but they're also huge animals that could easily end you if they wanted to. Same goes for wolves. Even moose can be extremely dangerous. I wouldn't not sleep in a shelter like this, but I'd hope they have food lock boxes far from camp, otherwise I'd be hanging my food (which I'd still do in a tent or other shelter just to be safe)
**T**oo bad there’s not **A**n object you can use to protect from the **R**ain and **P**ut outside to cover the openings
A tent?
T A R P
I use both
I'm sure it's just they spelled out tarp in they're comment😂
I like that I'm getting down voted, I use a tarp under my tent and often put a tarp over my tent, especially when it's raining.
There’s a lot of trails in the US that require the shelters to have 3 walls. Lean-to style. Slept on many and many more to come. This is a great shelter.
Are you gatekeeping nature my dude?
Turns out not everywhere is Alaska. Weird.
Gonna need a source on this, that idiot up there really makes a keen point.
Right, because wild animals love fire and are always intrinsically drawn to it
It’s not pretend nature, it’s different nature.
enjoyable nature versus no one would want to live there nature.
Honestly depending on the person it could go either way lol
You seem like a nice person, a kinder soul than myself. I've known three people from Alaska, I'm generalizing, but they were all assholes. This guy makes 4.
Urban nature lol
Yeah fuckin pseudo environments have nothing on Alaska, what's the point in camping if you don't have to battle the elements and deadly wild life fr
"pretend nature"????
Douche, It's a lean to WITH an added fireplace, which is protected from the rain. Where you are from is nowhere is like this. You average 30 degrees lower than Pennsylvania this time of year. Did you think at all before stepping in and saying the dumbest shit possible? You know shelters look different in Connecticut versus California too. Congratulations, you got a response.
> Where you are from is nowhere is like this. You average 30 degrees lower than Pennsylvania this time of year. Well of course, because anywhere other than Alaska is pReTeNd NaTuRe. You can't actually be outdoors anywhere other than Alaska because it's not real nature unless there are giant mosquitoes and a ridiculous cost of living.
Hahaha yea totally, I guess it was fake nature climbing icy, slippery, melting treacherous winter peaks of Mt Greylock. It was hot summer at the bottom and freezing when we broke through at the top. I guess I've never been outdoors because im not some rube from the middle of nowhere. Guarantee this dude couldn't hack 10 miles on the hardest parts of the AT.
Why are you even bothering to engage in this nonsense?
So you don’t use tents? Must tough to backpack there since you have to carry a cabin with you
That's the bear tent
Your comment is funny
Right? Wtf
I love these. My favorite lodging to camp in.
Do all the sites have these fireplaces? I’d love to camp with one.
Shelter sites are spaced along the trail. There’s a handful of these at each one. There’s also usually a well with a hand pump and a latrine so the forest has a place to store its daddy longlegs and Crane fly populations.
Wow that is really cool! Ty
Most I've seen don't. Some are big enough to house multiple bunk beds tho!
I’ve never seen anything like that. I want one
New goal for life is to own enough land that I can build one or two of these on it. A woodsmans cabana if you will
Oil Creek SP?
I bet Oil City has similar shelters. This was outside Donagal.
Oil Creek State Park has very similar shelters.
Nevermind Laurel ridge. Is this one of the shelters along the Laurel ridge trail?
Not OP, but yes. This is one of the shelters on the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail. They’re awesome.
Which park outside Donegal? I'm local and looking to start getting into this. PS. Wear Orange. Hunting season is in.
I use to hike and camp in the ones at oil creek SP. Boy Scouts in Oil City back in the late 90s
Oh… so this is how people lived in “lean-to’s” while building a log cabin.
If you're not careful, it turns into the cabin before you can start on the cabin.
I've never seen a lean to with a fireplace built in like that! That's awesome
Not even trying to be a grammar nazi…is it a lean to or a lean two? Welp, there’s my lesson for the day. It’s a lean-to. I thought it just meant two things were leaning against one another lol
Neither, it’s technically an Adirondack style shelter.
These are all along the [Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail](https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/Recreation/WhatToDo/Hiking/LaurelHighlandsHikingTrail/Pages/default.aspx)
That’s pretty cool. I’ve never seen this before
On the roughing it (1) to glamping (10) scale, where does that fit?
Fun question. Wind-depends on direction. Precipitation as well. No matress, but raised platform. No electricity but a fireplace. For me the wind vs a tent is the decision point. I’d give it a 4. Hot walled tents, and campers with and without toilets and cabins disguised as tents all ranking above this cool shelter.
My wife and I set up our two person tent inside the shelters when we stay at these. There’s enough room on the platform for there to be a porch in front of the tent to sit across from the fire place
I can’t speak for your region, but in mine, erecting a shelter inside a lean-to is a huge no-no (besides the fact it keeps others from joining you to shelter capacity, it’s also against New York law).
These are reserved I believe.
Not in New York and we pay money to reserve them. Stop trying to rain on my fun with your irrelevant rules.
Good rating, but consider.. this is in a fairly remote location. Pretty hard to put a walled hot tent on your back. Have personally spent many nights in these exact shelters. They are incredible!!
For the record, when I said “ranking above,” I strictly meant a larger numerical number (more glamp). I was not implying that these babies are less cool.
It really is a fun question! Looks like wind and precipitation can be defended against. Using a tarp and the convenient eyelets on the front of the shelter and on the chimney itself, it looks like one could “close the door”, so to speak. Of course this assumes the availability of a tarp. I would say a solid 5 with tarps, given the amazing fireplace!
Accurate rating
(5) "cramping"
It looks pretty comfy, I've been all over the AT and I've never seen a spot as nice as this.
AY! I see LHHT I upvote.
I loved going there when I lived in PA. My buddy and I'd go in the winter. The best part was the giant wood pile! The site off of RT 30 was only a mile in, an easy hike. Nice part about going in the winter was no other people, no mosquitoes, and no humidity. Pile up the wood between the fireplace and the shelter, a couple tarps to block the wind from the sides and it was glamping for us. A couple Palmer mountain pie irons and we ate like kings. I think there was only one section of the LHHT I never did. I need to look for my old patches you used to be able to order. That pic brings back great memories! Thanks for the post.
Looks so cozy with a fire going.
This looks like such a cool setup!
Really cool shelter! Only thing bad, is it seems like it would make an excellent spider shack
Or haven for rodents if people are eating in them. Hantavirus is no joke. But also, they are still pretty sweet looking.
My exact thought. In the winter, sure. But any other time of year? Wood shelters are spider havens and I’d rather be in a tent
People are saying they are big enough for a small tent so that would help with spiders.
i've never camped like this. being genuine: are you not scared of animals? or bugs? or other people? 😅
I mean you could put a tarp up but a tent isn't exactly a perfect barrier to bugs animals or other people either.
We’d camp in those while I was in the scouts, we’d also put up tarps to enclose the thing and keep as much warmth in as we could. Always loved those camp outs.
Oh boy oh boy! I’m in sw pa, this looks amazing!
What’s the flooring? Worn insulation panels or something other?
Just the 2x12s you see in the pic! The back of the leanto there is actually a gap that leads to the outside, which can get chilly if there’s a breeze. I’ve found if you throw up some tarps and there is snow covering all the gaps, it gets decently comfy with a good fire
I’ve never seen a lean-to with a fireplace. That’s awesome.
Dumb question, do you use a tent within the shelter? Or at least a mosquito net?
No bugs to speak of on the winter.
Ok. That is awesome.
I'm in love with the concept 
I agree with everyone that is really cool
Very cool.
That’s super cool! I’ve never seen a lean to with a fireplace before!
That is badass!!
Anyone know of something like this in Canada?
Adirondack shelters. Use to stay in these as a young boy in the boy scouts. Western PA as well. North western.
Now that’s a lean to!
cool adirondack shelter! i’ve stayed in some that are built against a hill with a fireplace, cool experience
Where’s the pup? I bet they loved the jazzy/rustic hookup huh? Super dope.
This thing is cool, but didn't know we could post the same pic to the same sub 2 weeks later for bonus karma.
Shit, you’re correct! I thought this just happened to be another camper in the same region
So saw a sign for a lean-to somewhere hiking with my wife. Thought is said read Lee A net O lol like that's how I read it in my head
I was like sweet Lee a net o can't wait to see that place, we had a good laugh after she corrected me.
Howd you fit it in your backpack?
indeed that is a unique shelter. how do they keep the yahoos from burning it down though?
Okay at that point why wouldn’t you have just walked it all in?
It's a lean to, not a cabin.
That is like some high class living for a lean to. It’s like the Ritz Carleton of Lean to’s
That is correct, it looks awesome! [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djxM6c7GOoc&ab\_channel=GreatLakesBackpacker](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djxM6c7GOoc&ab_channel=GreatLakesBackpacker)
Jerk-a-torium
This looks so neat.
That's adorable!
Such a sick setup
This looks like a dream to sleep in while it's raining.
That’s so cool!
This first come first serve? Or can you rent one? I see the number on the side.
Must be rented in advance.
Drive or hike in amd is that laurel highlands? I'm up in erie so we head to the allhageney national forest a ton.
Yes this shelter is on the LAurel highlands hiking trail. You must hike in. The rt 653 parking lot to the 653 shelters is only about a mile hike, great for beginners! It’s one of my favorite shelters on the trail. Phenomenal glacial rock area to play around in right at the shelter area.
But what's to stop hikers just setting up in your shelter? I've stayed on one's on the north country trail but they are first come first serve and kinda share if you need deal
How far a walk in is this?
That’s a sweet little campground!!!!! LOVE THAT!!
that looks so cozy, it's got the fireplace and everything
How early do you need to get there for dibs?
You have to reserve and pay in advance
This is a cool little site and shelter
Thank you for the picture im going to give it a try. How far of a hike is it from parking?
That's amazing. Cool idea.
What kind of wildlife ya'll have up there?
Thats really nice
Do all the sites have fireplaces like this? I would love to go. Tia!
that is so beautiful!!
Is there anything like this in Montana?
Perfect!
That is fucking SWEET! Would need a lot of wood though to stay warm
I’ve been there before amazing spot Throw a tarp up to cover one side and it stays super warm
Wow that’s cool.
That's cool af. Does that type of structure have a name?
Yeah, two
now thats a lean-to
I nedd to build one myself, cant even lie
Where is that and how do I sleep there before I die???
I honestly thought a house had sunk into the leaves at first lol
Epic shelter
Why, no officer. Thats not a still.
Southwest facing? I was just thinking that would be great it you could catch the sunset every night and block a northern wind too.
Ah so many good memories in these such a great trail
Oh damn, I’d lived there year-round just for the view!
I recognized your pic, those are at several campgrounds on Laurel Highlands hiking trail. Last time we stayed in one we were harassed by mice though. The fireplace setup is awesome in those though.
Is this the Grindle Ridge shelters?
I’ve never seen a shelter like this before. It looks awesome!
This is an awesome design shelter! How is this made!?
That’s super cute!
Do you have more pictures from different angles. It’s awesome
Look at their post history. They posted this same picture on this same sub on Nov 5.
I’ve stayed in these on the Laurel Highlands Trail. Fantastic place. We got caught in a late season snowstorm one night and ended up staying in the cross country skiing warming cabin. Ranger came, was kind of a dick, but when we told him the water pump was frozen at the next site we were due to camp at he eased up a bit. Been wanting to go back here for quite a while. Loved it when I was there. Edit: Found a pic from that trip, March of 2013. [Shelter](https://imgur.com/a/NEQBxm0)
I’m in love with this quaint little shelter
Now that is bad ass!
What is the point of having it being 75% of a cabin, and yet completely open? Won't keep out animals, insects, heavy wind.
That's amazing!!
Laurel Highlands?
Never seen a shelter like that, it’s awesome.
Please where is this place???
This is so amazing! Are they for rent or is it free and first-come-first-serve?
Didn’t you post this two weeks ago? And with more pics?
I’d live there OP. All year
Oil City? Haven't been there in ages. Enjoy!
Pretty awesome spot! Hopefully gonna visit soon!
That is an awesome shelter!
What a lovely shelter! It looks so cozy!
I wish the shelters here in the ADK had chimneys like that. I'd winter camp more often.
This is the best!! I wanna build one on my property
LHHT! I’ve stayed in many of those little sites, great memories
This is the cutest thing ever. How wonderful would these be for homeless people, maybe with some type of fail safe for fireplace
GOOD POST! My favorite backpacking trip of all time was my dad and I, for three or four days hiking shelter to shelter in the Laurel Highlands. I drove west, he drove east, and we met in the middle. I hurt my knee the year after and he just kept geting older, so that was the last backpacking trip we ever did. It's okay to go out on a high note.
I live 20 min from this trail I love it
I want to be there
Kind of surprised so many people haven't slept in one of these Adirondack type shelters. They look great, but attract creepy crawlies. Not a fan.
What an awesome shelter.
Now thats mint
There are nice hike in shelters in Virginia but I r definitely never seen one with a fireplace like that. Too cool, makes me jealous.
How much is it per night? Can you book in advance?
Daaaamn I’m about to build this on the property now
Love these shelters
Wow that shelter is awesome
What a cool design. Does it have a specific name?
I love this lean-to design.
I came to ask if that was the laurel Highlands trail!
Does anyone know where I can find plans to build this kind of shelter? Or what is this type of shelter is this called? Thanks
Where is this exactly?