Billings Cabin

Billings Lodge was donated to the Dartmouth Outing Club in 1966 by the Billings family. Initially considered a “white elephant” by DOC members, it quickly became popular due to its proximity to the Presidential Range and the other White Mountains.

Cabin Overview

*As of winter 2024, Billings is no longer reservable as it has sustained significant storm damage.

Billings is a six-room summer cottage which has been partially winterized, located at the north foot of Mt. Madison in the Presidential Range.

Billings is located 98 miles from Hanover in Randolph, New Hampshire, and is 50 feet from parking. In the winter, there is a small pullout able to fit a couple of cars, or guests can park at the Appalachian Mountain Club's Appalachia parking a half mile down the road.

Cabin Details

Amenities and Recreational Opportunities

It sleeps 14 in its three bunkrooms and has a screened-in porch. In addition it has a kitchen, a living/dining room, an electric stove for cooking, a refrigerator, electric lights, electric heaters, and a spigot and wooden outhouse out back. The electric heaters don't do a great job of heating up the cabin when it's below freezing, although they work better for the bedrooms than the common areas.

Some of the best hiking in all of New Hampshire is just outside the door of Billings Lodge (such as Mt. Washington and the Presidential Range). Swimming and trout fishing are close by the cabin. A small picturesque stream, Cold Brook, is about 100 yards beyond the wood shed. The cabin is within easy reach of New Hampshire's finest alpine and nordic ski areas.

Cabin History

The family of Marland Billings, a prominent New Hampshire geologist, proposed to donate a summer cottage to the Outing Club in November of 1965. In February 1966, the College approached Cabin and Trail (the hiking, trailwork, and cabin maintenance sub-club of the DOC) to see if they would accept it. C&T voted to reject the cabin, fearing overextension in the midst of several other cabin crises. The College persisted, however, and by the fall of 1967 Billings had become a full-fledged club cabin, the favorite jumping-off place for expeditions in the Presidentials.

Cabin Rates

Cabin Reservations

Availability

Cabin availability is on a first come, first serve basis. How far in advance you can book a cabin depends on both the cabin and your group type. DOC Cabins (including those in the Grant) can be reserved six weeks in advance by current students, and four weeks in advance by everyone else.

All of the cabins are available year-round, except that we close the Grant down around the month of April for mud season. Also, we don’t plow all the roads in the Grant every year (it depends on where logging operations are going on), so some cabins may be far from parking in the winter.

How to Reserve

All cabin reservations are made online through ResNexus, albeit on separate pages for DOC and OPO Cabins. ResNexus only allows online booking within the standard availability window (four weeks for DOC cabins, six months for OPO cabins). All reservations beyond the standard booking window can only be made by contacting the Cabins Manager. If you are unsure whether your group qualifies for advance booking, reach out to the Cabins Manager and they can assist you.

You will NOT be charged until the Cabins Managers have received an accurate guest list, including the names of all guests that will be in attendance, as well as class years if you are a student group. All online reservations must add payment information (i.e. credit or debit card) to complete the booking. If your group qualifies for a free reservation, the Cabins Manager will adjust your rate manually once they have received your guest list.

Reserve a Cabin

Cabin Policies

Dartmouth students may reserve a cabin more than 6 weeks in advance only by contacting the DOC Cabins Manager.

Keys and Renter Responsibilities

Cabins are secured by combination padlocks or combination key lockboxes. Lock combinations will be provided to cabin renters one week before their stay.
The use of all DOC and Outdoor Programs facilities is intended to be for educational purposes. While the consumption of alcohol is permitted, it must be limited to 1-2 servings per person and will be strictly monitored. 'Drinking games' of any kind are not permitted. Obvious intoxication by any member of the group will result in immediate revocation of use privileges for the entire group or organization. Continued use of these facilities and spaces are contingent upon adherence to this and all other policies as well as compliance with Outdoor Programs staff.
Outdoor Programs may charge for any damage to a cabin or any cleaning that is necessary resulting from a cabin stay. Additionally, outdoor fires are not allowed at any cabins except '66 Lodge, Armington, or Great Bear and require the advance permission of the Cabins Manager. Evidence of an unauthorized outdoor fire will incur a $100 fine.
Pets are allowed at all cabins. Owners are responsible for the behaviour and management of pets, and any damages or mess will result in fines. Please pick up waste and remove from the property.

Payment

Group size may not exceed the capacity of the cabin (nor is tenting permitted around the cabins or anywhere in the Grant).
Payment information (e.g. credit card number) is due upon making the reservation. Payments will be processed when we finalize the reservation's cabin fee.
Misrepresentation of number of party members or membership status for a cabin reservation will result in the fee being doubled. Failure to pay any fee for a cabin reservation will result in the revocation of cabin use privileges and may result in loss of Outing Club membership.

Educational Rates

Dartmouth faculty using DOC or OPO cabins with students as part of an academic class are entitled to flat per-night rates. This is listed as the "Educational Group" rate in the charts.
Educational and Non-Profit organizations (such as schools, youth groups, 501(c)3s, etc.) are eligible for discounted rates for DOC and OPO cabins. To get your organization approved for these rates, please e-mail doc.cabins@dartmouth.edu for DOC Cabins and Cabin.Reservations@dartmouth.edu for OPO Cabins. Approval may take a few weeks, so please plan ahead.

Changes and Cancellations

DOC cabin reservations may be cancelled with full refund up to seven days before the reservation. Fewer than seven days prior, cancellations forfeit half the rental fee. No refunds will be given for cancellations owing to weather conditions.

Dartmouth Outdoors