Make One of These Backcountry Bars Your Next Great Adventure

The only thing more gratifying and soul-nurturing than exploring America’s great outdoors is, we’d argue, pairing your adventure with the perfect drink. You likely know where to grab a solid gin on the rocks or a special old fashioned in your area, but you might not expect to find these booze-swilling hidden gems.

Nestled within backwoods, across deserts, in sparsely populated outskirts, and along winding roads, these bars are worth making an arduous but fun trek to grab a cold one or an expertly crafted cocktail. They’re in shacks, old fire stations, caves, and, in one case, only accessible by train—which really redefines throwback tippling. But however remote their locations, they share a dedication to serving great drinks in a cozy environment you won't want to leave. Next time you’re venturing off the beaten path, their hidden pleasures await.

With the help of bartenders, cocktail historians, and other experts, we’ve selected the best backcountry bars in the country right now. While they're all worth visiting, one destination stands out in this pack. If you happen to be winding along New York state's western border with Pennsylvania, Cochecton Fire Station is an outlier cocktail shrine you definitely need to visit. In fact, kicking back at all of these beloved backcountry bars is worth a full dedicated road trip. 

Related: The 9 Best Whiskey Bars in America for 2023

Why You Should Trust Us

I’ve been writing and editing content about spirits, cocktails, and drinking culture for over a decade. I’ve visited beloved bars, both high-end and hardcore dive, from New York City to Miami to Chicago to Portland, OR, and beyond.

To assemble this list of the best backcountry bars, I searched less-traveled byways for bars that offer next-level drinking experiences—especially after a long drive, bike ride, or hike—and confirm that when you're in the middle of nowhere, a good beer and a well-made cocktail taste that much better. Delicious food doesn’t hurt either.

How We Chose the Best Backcountry Bars

I consulted numerous experts from deep in the world of professional drinking and all things outdoors, including top bartenders, cocktail historians, and frequent camping friends who also know their way around a cocktail shaker. The regional representation here is intentionally diverse, though (spoiler) the Western U.S. does tend to dominate this genre.

Best Overall Backcountry Bar: Cochecton Fire Station (Chochecton, NY)

Right by the Delaware River in western-central Sullivan County, NY, lies Cochecton, “a little clutch of buildings with a bridge to Pennsylvania and not much else,” says David Wondrich, a drinks historian and author of Imbibe!, a James Beard Award–winning book. “There's a Post Office, a decommissioned firehouse of the non-picturesque 1960s sort, and a small scattering of houses. If not the middle of nowhere, then somewhere approaching it.”

But this nowhere town has a must-visit spot. “Park next to the old firehouse, and walk through the door and you will be stunned to find a full, modern cocktail bar, ready to make Queens Park swizzles, paper planes, and old fashioneds customized to your most exacting specification,” says Wondrich. He likes the food at Cochecton Fire Station, too—which includes comforting sides like Hasselback potatoes and Cuban corn that'll go well with whatever you're imbibing. 

Best Desert Bar: Pappy & Harriet's Pioneertown Palace (Pioneertown, CA)

It’s easy to romanticize California's wide-open desert land and its old western frontier aesthetic. But the truth is that sometimes—like when it’s pushing 107 degrees and a Joshua Tree hike is out of the question—you need to stop for a thirst-quenching, nerve-numbing icy beverage simply to avoid passing out. That’s when you should head to Pappy & Harriet’s in Pioneertown, a picture-perfect 1880s-style town that was originally built as a movie set in the 1940s. The roadhouse, opened in 1982, is a favorite of locals and discerning tourists alike for its selection of tequila and mezcal (try the latter in the Highway Queen cocktail with firewater, orange juice, and lime) as well as raucous live music shows and on-point, open-fire Santa Maria-style BBQ (order the juicy thin-sliced tri-tip). Once you’re fortified, stumble over to the Red Dog Saloon down the street for more craft cocktail fun.

Best Log Cabin Bar: Cold Spring Tavern (Santa Barbara, CA)

Though it’s technically located within the bounds of Santa Barbara, just north of Los Angeles, Cold Spring Tavern feels far away from the college town’s urban core. As you navigate the beautiful drive through the Santa Ynez Mountains, turn down a small, windy, tree-lined road to get to Cold Spring Tavern, a log cabin-turned-bar and favorite pit stop for John Grondorf, owner of LA’s buzzy Tiny’s Hi-Dive. “Grab a cold beer, a tri-tip sandwich, and some of their famous chili,” Grondorf says. “Sit outside on a picnic bench surrounded by the woods and forget where you are for a bit.”

Best Bar Only Accessible by Train: Glen Blair Bar (Mendocino County, CA) 

Glen Blair Bar scores points for its charmingly antiquated entrance: You can only access it by taking an old steam train from the 1880s, running through the surrounding giant redwoods and over a bridge in this rural stretch of California’s North Coast. The secret bar’s Friday and Saturday night shenanigans “might be the best-kept secret in the bar industry,” says Cody Goldstein, founder of Muddling Memories. During the 30-minute ride aboard the Skunk Train, you can purchase some bar snacks, wine, and beer to hold you over until you reach your destination. "When you reach the junction, you'll be greeted by what can only be described as a campfire speakeasy with excellent cocktails," adds Goldstein. "The train ride itself is worth going for, but the reward at the end of the tracks is a great time.” Just be sure to reserve your trip ahead of time.

Best Cave Bar: La Kiva (Terlingua, TX)

A homey tavern carved out of huge sandstone boulders hiding in a former mining district in southwest Texas near Big Bend National Park, La Kiva isn't technically situated in an actual cave—but close enough. The subterranean space is decked out with rock walls and archeological-themed dinosaur decor, which has made it a favorite take-a-photo destination among both locals and tourists stopping by for nourishment and relaxation. After a day on the trails, duck your head in for true Texas all-meat-no-beans chili and margaritas.

Best Rancher Bar: Pony Bar (Pony, MT) 

The ultimate “where are we again?” Montana saloon, Pony Bar sees all kinds of folks. Hikers, bikers and local ranchers (you might spot one of their horses lingering outside) gravitate to this watering hole named for the unincorporated town (population 136) where it's been hiding for years. The bar occasionally hosts live music and duck races with cash prizes (don’t worry, they’re rubber duckies), along with antique reminders of the cowboy and mining center this area once was. Faded historical photos line the wall between the deer heads, and longtime regulars will gladly chat you up about everything that has transpired on this rough terrain if you buy them a drink. Grab a surprisingly tasty burger with your hooch.

Best Florida Keys Bar: Alabama Jack’s (Key Largo, FL)

As a Miami native, I can confidently say that no trek to the Florida Keys, an hour’s drive south of the city, is complete without a stop at Alabama Jack’s, an outdoor seafood shack and bar on a virtually empty toll bridge road set by swampy waters. You must order the legendary conch fritters, perfectly crisp on the outside and pillowy in the center, along with an ice-cold beer (or if hungover, a refreshing Bloody Mary). It’s an essential salve in an inevitably sweaty journey to the southernmost end of the country. 

Best Biker Bar: Stoneville Saloon (Alzada, MT)

A prototypical Western biker bar done right, Stoneville in Alzada (population: 23) has no official website and curtly advertises its offerings as “cheap drinks and lousy food.” Expect many Harleys parked outside its wood facade and the riders of said motorcycles inside—who are generally much friendlier than they might look. It’s also customary here to take a photo of yourself in an open coffin that stands outside.

Related: 20 Best Bourbons for an Old Fashioned, Tasted and Reviewed