The Lodge at Camp Ervay

Relax and unwind at a rustic off-grid cabin in beautiful upstate New York! The Lodge at Camp Ervay is a two-bedroom fully off-grid cabin nestled on five wooded acres and bordering the 11,000 acre Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management area. It is 30 minutes from downtown Ithaca and within an easy drive of the many towns, wineries, and waterfalls along Cayuga and Seneca Lakes. It has seasonal running water, off-grid solar, fiber internet, composting toilets and a seasonal outdoor shower. The space The Lodge has a main room with a kitchen with a 2-burner induction stove, under-counter fridge, sink with seasonal running water (with a backup brown jug under the sink if the faucet pump is not working), and a full set of utensils, pots, pans, and dishes. This room also includes a kitchen table and a small wood stove for heat in the cooler months. There are two bedrooms, one on either side of the kitchen. Each bedroom includes a queen-sized bed with comfortable mattress, huge windows to enjoy the light and scenery, and a small sitting area--one with chairs and the other with a small couch. The couch can be converted into a bed to fit a child (it's a little too short for an adult). Each bedroom also has a small quarter bathroom with a pocket door that has a waterless (composting) toilet. Outside there is a deck with chairs for relaxing and in the back of the cabin is an outdoor cedar shower with hot water (please note, this will be turned off when there is a risk of freezing). There are solar panels on the roof for lights, cooking, and charging phones/laptops, and a wood stove for heat. We allow dogs, but please keep them off the furniture. The property is 5 acres and includes woods, wide mowed paths, and a small wildlife pond. There is an additional one-bedroom off-grid cabin (available for rent separately) on the opposite side of the property. The property directly borders the 11,000 acre Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management area, the largest wildlife management area in the state and one of the largest contiguous high-elevation forests in the region. Connecticut Hill has multiple hiking trails, including the 2.8-mile Bob Cameron Loop trail which can be accessed from the property. Camp Ervay is approximately 25 minutes from downtown Ithaca, 30 minutes from Watkins Glen, and within an easy drive of countless wineries, breweries, and cideries in the area. Please note, the cabin does not have grid power or all-season running water. In case the running water is turned off for the season (usually sometime in late September or early October, possibly later if it stays warm), day passes may be purchased to shower at Island Fitness in Ithaca. It's also a beautiful spot where you can exercise overlooking the lake! Guest access You will have sole access to the entire lodge, deck, and shower. Access to the 5-acre property is shared with the other cabin on site. Other things to note Please note that The Lodge only has waterless (composting) toilets. If you haven't used one before, don't panic! They are very straightforward and not scary (promise!). They are Separett toilets and you will not have to do anything to maintain them during your stay.