Cabin

Hand Built Log Cabin in Ponderosa Forest

Photo gallery for Hand Built Log Cabin in Ponderosa Forest

A log cabin with a balcony, a porch, and a stone foundation.
A log cabin interior with a wooden door, a chandelier, and various decorations including flags and a clock.
A wooden ceiling with a fan, exposed beams, and stone walls.
A wooden spiral staircase in a log cabin interior.
A log cabin with a wooden porch, a front door, and a small balcony.

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Balcony or patio
  • Barbecue
  • Pet-friendly
  • Refrigerator
  • Fireplace
  • Non-smoking

Explore the area

View map
Columbus, MT
  • Place, Stillwater River
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Place, Stillwater Golf Course
    ‪14 min drive‬
  • Place, Granite Peak Park
    ‪15 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Futon

Entertainment Den

1 Double Futon

Little Loft

2 Single Beds

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Dining area

Add dates for prices

Similar properties

Property grounds
New Listing! Rosebud Creek Home - Waterfront home in historic Absarokee, Montana
Absarokee
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Pet-friendly
10.0 out of 10, Exceptional, (17 reviews)
New Listing! Rosebud Creek Home - Waterfront home in historic Absarokee, Montana

About the area

Columbus

Located in Columbus, this cabin is in the mountains. Tippet Rise Art Center is a local attraction and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Cooney State Park and Stillwater River. Kayaking and water tubing offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with mountain biking and cycling nearby.
View more Cabin rentals in ColumbusOpens in a new window
Map
Columbus, MT

What's nearby

  • Stillwater River - 6 min drive - 4.6 km
  • Itch-Kep-Pe Park - 13 min drive - 16.6 km
  • Park Avenue Park - 13 min drive - 16.9 km
  • Stillwater Golf Course - 14 min drive - 17.6 km
  • Granite Peak Park - 15 min drive - 17.6 km

Getting around

  • Billings, MT (BIL-Logan Intl.) - 59 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Chrome Bar - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Dew Drop Inn - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Itti Bitti Bistro - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Peking Garden - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Touch of Country - ‬10 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Hand Built Log Cabin in Ponderosa Forest pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

Where is Hand Built Log Cabin in Ponderosa Forest located?

Situated in the mountains, this cabin is 1.6 mi (2.5 km) from Stillwater River and within 9 miles (15 km) of Itch-Kep-Pe Park and Park Avenue Park. Yellowstone River and Stillwater County Library are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 80 out of 103 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 15 out of 103 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 103 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 3 out of 103 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 3 out of 103 reviews

8.6/10

Cleanliness

8.0/10

Amenities

8.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.8/10

Check-in

9.6/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Third summer we stayed there and always a great experience!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Private cabin on top of mountain,nice cabinWe enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We loved the Hermitage! We will be back again. It made for a perfect weekend away for me and my husband.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful stay

Very nice cabin in a perfect location!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great beautiful cabin. Relaxing.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a fantastic time staying here and did not want to leave. If I could transport us to Montana to be there right now, I would. Thank you for building such a magical home and for sharing it with us!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 30 September 2025
I am glad that you enjoyed your time at my cabin; come back next year!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I liked the personalized touch of the cabin ,it was like a friend offered you to stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful house in a peaceful location.

Such an unusual house, we had a really lovely stay here in a quiet peaceful location.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Charming cabin

Enjoyed staying in the hand crafted cabin filled with character and artifacts bursting with history.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fun cabin with lots of interesting history

It was a great place to rest and relax after a long day playing in the Stillwater Valley.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic Getaway

Perfect location for a quiet stay yet close to hiking and white water rafting. We loved it!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nostalgic Cabin

Had a wonderful stay! Enjoyed all of the amenities and fun artifacts. Highly recommend!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

2/10 Terrible

Liked: Check-in
Disliked: Cleanliness, communication, listing accuracy
Unfortunately, the guests I rented this space for refused to stay in it after checking in. The main reason was mouse poop on the couch and futon (where they were supposed to sleep). They also discovered it had no heat and absolutely no cell service (or WiFi, but the description does not say there’s WiFi so I can forgive that. I think they could have lived without the cell service but the mouse droppings and lack of heat were a deal breaker. I have asked for a refund and not gotten a reply.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 3 May 2026
The woman who wrote this negative review has never been at The Hermitage, indicated by she didn't realize that the guests would sleep in the queen bed, located on the second floor. Apparently she is simply repeating what her clients claimed. As soon as I received this review, I called my housekeeper and she told me that she, herself vacuumed both the couch and the futon the day before their arrival date. I trust her word explicitly over some anonymous guest that I have never had any contact with. My house cleaner has been with me for several years now, and ever since she took over, the place has been always ready for guests, I urge you to check out the dozens of previous reviews, most with an Excellent review that mentions "cleanliness" as a highlight. I feel that these guests simply didn't want to light a fire in the 100 year old parlor stove with mica windows, but most people who rent log cabins seem to love to light fires. There are actually two wood stoves and one fireplace, as well as a baseboard heater in the bathroom, so I don't know how the "no heat" accusation stands up. The cell service is occasionally spotty, but it always seems to work well in the evening. I can also access the internet in the evening with my iPhone, particularly on the second floor. I call my wife in Hawaii every evening when I am staying up at The Hermitage, but apparently the same people who don't like to light a fire simply cannot live without the internet. I feel sorry for them.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
I really like the place. There are some many interesting artifacts, books, decorations, etc to look at in the cabin. We enjoyed grilling on the deck over looking the property. We had deer and turkeys. It’s only 10 minutes to 4 coffee shops in Absarokee. I recommend!
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing!

A great location for a weekend getaway that has great views and everything needed! The house has amazing design and hand-crafted woodworking.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Repeat Visit

We stayed at The Hermitage last year and it was another great stay this year. The hand-built cabin is remarkable, and if one is looking for peace and quiet but still within 10 minutes of Absarokee in one direction and Columbus in the other, this is it. Great star-gazing from the back balcony!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful!

Wonderful weekend in the wilderness. My kids loved exploring inside and outside and it was the perfect location to go out and explore the other little towns in the area
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Shooting Stars**

Nice quiet location to enjoy the mountains and the night skies are amazing from the deck.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Serene and beautiful

Loved the isolation, no close neighbors. Fun home.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 22 August 2021
Aloha Linda, Thank you for the 5-star review; this has been a "bumpy" season, but with my new professional cleaning service, I am confident that things are improving. Aloha, Michael
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cabin tucked away

Beautiful location with lots of cool antique items in the cabin. Quiet peaceful neighbor. Beds and towels need upgrading but overall cute place.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 10 October 2024
I'll happily replace the towels, but I doubt that I am going to swap out the beds any time soon.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cool place

Everything was as advertised. Private and beautiful site with all of the amenities. We enjoyed all of the personal touches and were amazed by the workmanship that went into building this cabin!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2022
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

What you imagine your stay in Montana would be like

We were in town for a few days of fly fishing on the Stillwater and Yellowstone rivers. Great location for access to both rivers. Drive up to the cabin is adventure within itself. With the climb up the road you will hit a couple of switch backs with great views of the valley. The cabin is
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Hidden Gem

This is what I would build if I had the time and money. Every nook and cranny has some sort of history to find. I knew it was right up my alley as we were pulling in to the property on that winding skinny road. Wildlife was abundant, used my new binoculars to watch elk grazing across the valley. 11/10
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Sister trip

3 of us sister’s drive up from Iowa and met my sister, niece and nephew from California. The property was beautiful, once we drove the road a few times we got comfortable with it. Was a little narrow and scary the first time. Was a nice location and we enjoyed the privacy and scenery saw many deer and a turkey with her little ones. Would love to stay again.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

MT vacation

This beautiful cabin has a great story with lots of fun details inside, even though we spent most of our time outside exploring and enjoying the wildlife. We were lucky enough to make contact with someone from the property who let us know that the nearby town was having their annual “Absarokee Days” with a parade and vendor fair and street dance… so much fun!! Thanks for opening up your home to us and allowing us to experience a tiny piece of Montana:)
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023
Tell us how we can improve our siteShare feedback