The Baltic is a two-story off-grid treehouse in Ontario’s Haliburton Highlands built by Cam, a woodworker and furniture builder who studied sustainable treehouse construction at Yestermorrow in Vermont. Together with his wife Lauren, he founded Fort Treehouse Co. and built this structure using techniques that protect the host trees while supporting the building.
The platform is supported by two live maple trees using custom treehouse hardware, plus three steel posts—a hybrid approach that works with the available trees on the property. The treehouse features cob floors (sand, clay, and straw), a sleeping loft with king-size bed, heat recovery ventilation, and floor-to-ceiling forest views.
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Exterior with Hybrid Tree and Post Support System
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Balcony and Utility Column Below
A spacious balcony provides forest views, while the framed and insulated column below houses the electrical panel, fresh and waste water pipes, and WiFi router.
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Foyer Entry with Heat Recovery Ventilation
The minimalist foyer includes a bench, hooks, and open storage. The HRV units exchange air to maintain freshness throughout the treehouse.
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Open Living Area with Floor-to-Ceiling Window
The open-concept living room and kitchen feature a propane fireplace and an enormous window providing unobstructed forest views.
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Sleeping Loft with King Bed and Cross Ventilation
A custom ship’s ladder leads to the bright loft with full standing height and a king-size bed. Two operable windows create cross breezes, and a 3-foot roof overhang allows windows to stay open during rain.
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Bathroom with Heated Floor and Walk-In Shower
The main floor bathroom features a wall-to-wall shower with heated floor, flush toilet, and sink. The treehouse uses well water and connects to a septic system.
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Video Tour: The Baltic Treehouse
Design Details
- Name: The Baltic
- Builder: Fort Treehouse Co. (Cam and Lauren)
- Location: Haliburton Highlands, Ontario, Canada
- Stories: 2 (main floor + sleeping loft)
- Capacity: 2 guests
- Bedroom: Loft with king-size bed and full standing height
- Tree Support: 2 live maple trees with custom hardware
- Additional Support: 3 steel posts (hybrid design)
- Flooring: Cob (sand, clay, straw mix)
- Loft Access: Custom ship’s ladder with handrails
- Power: Off-grid solar
- Water: Well
- Waste: Septic system
- Heat: Propane fireplace
- Ventilation: HRV system, cross-breeze windows, ceiling fan
- Bathroom: Walk-in shower with heated floor, flush toilet
- Special Feature: Floor-to-ceiling forest view window
- Roof Overhang: 3 feet (allows open windows during rain)
- Amenities: Wood-fired hot tub, dog-friendly
- Training: Yestermorrow sustainable treehouse building course
Lessons from This Build
- Treehouse School Teaches Tree-Safe Methods: Cam’s training at Yestermorrow taught mounting techniques that allow trees to stay alive and healthy while supporting a structure—knowledge that protects both the build and the trees
- Hybrid Support Systems Work When Trees Are Limited: Combining tree-mounted hardware with steel posts creates a stable platform when the available trees cannot support the entire structure alone
- Utility Columns Organize Off-Grid Systems: Housing electrical panels, plumbing, and networking equipment in an insulated column below the treehouse keeps mechanical systems accessible and protected
- Passive Cooling Eliminates Air Conditioning: Cross-breeze windows, an open loft layout, and a large ceiling fan provide adequate cooling without mechanical AC in Ontario’s climate
- Cob Floors Add Thermal Mass: The sand, clay, and straw flooring provides thermal mass that helps regulate interior temperature while adding visual warmth to the space
Learn More
- Fort Treehouse Co.
- Fort Treehouse Co. on Instagram
- Yestermorrow Design/Build School
- Watch on Exploring Alternatives
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I love it! The only problem is, I couldn’t climb those outdoor steps, but I’m sure that house could be built on ground level.