One of the few properties with a dedicated outdoor firepit.
Centrally-located
You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
Discover nearby landmarks
Near Arkansas River
Sleeps 9•2 bedrooms•4 beds
Popular amenities
Garage parking available
Pet-friendly
Kitchen
Washing machine
Air-conditioning
Barbecue
Explore the area
Howard, CO
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
Place, Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
5 min drive
Riverside Park
Place, Riverside Park
36 min drive
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area Visitor Center
Place, Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area Visitor Center
36 min drive
Rooms & beds
2 bedrooms (sleeps 9)
Bedroom 1
1 Queen Bed
Bedroom 2
2 Single Beds
Overflow Sleeping Area
1 Single Bunk Bed and 1 Double Futon
2 bathrooms
Bathroom 1
Toilet · Shower only
Bathroom 2
Toilet · Shower only
Spaces
Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area
About this property
Country house along the Arkansas: Views and hiking included.
Relaxing family getaway located in the Upper Arkansas River canyon near Howard, CO. This 2 bedroom 2 bath house is located at the end of a quiet dirt road and is only 20 minutes from Salida, 40 minutes to Monarch Ski Area, and a peaceful 15 minute walk to fishing and boating along the Arkansas River. A great location for family vacations, fishing/boating trips, or for getting some great R&R.
This is the house that we (Kate and Rick) hope to retire to, and we are excited to share it with some guests, so that we can afford to keep it and enjoy it when we have time to come visit ourselves, or with our family! This is not run by a vacation rental company, and therefore is not a "luxury" home, but it is very comfortable and we have endeavored to make it nice for guests. We are welcome to any suggestions and improvements, and hope to invest our rental money back into the house over the coming years to make it even better!
More house details: Insane views of the Arkansas River and the surrounding Sangre de Cristo range to the south. A two bedroom, two bathroom house adjacent to the Sand Gulch BLM area with a fully equipped kitchen (no dishwasher), internet, and standard amenities. One bedroom has a queen bed, the other has two twin beds that can be pushed together if desired. The living area has a giant sectional couch, a twin bunk bed and a pull out couch. Therefore this place can comfortably sleep 6, and can sleep up to 8 or 9 people upon request and approval. Please let us know how many will be staying.
- Laundry available. - Cell phone booster and WiFi is broadband via Hilltop Broadband - Dogs are welcome (within reason)! - A chest freezer is available for successful fisherfolk and hunters, or for longer stays. - The living room has a Roku-equipped TV and DVD player. - Cleaning fee is listed to cover normal use. A refundable cleaning deposit of $200 is required. - We are available via text or call if any questions come up.
Area Activities: Hikers: Close to a variety of day and overnight hikes in the Sangre de Cristo wilderness area or walk right out the door and explore the Sand Gulch BLM area which borders the property on 3 sides.
Bikers: Spend a relaxing evening here after riding the Monarch Crest trail or enjoy the world class mountain biking trails located in the valley from Canyon City to Salida, including the Rainbow Trail, S mountain trails, and Royal Gorge Rim trails.
Rafters: The nearest pullout is Vallie Bridge (just a 5 minute drive away!) Many rafting companies are located in the valley that can help you plan your trip.
Fishermen and Fisherwomen: Walkable public access to the Arkansas is located along County Road 45 in between Vallie Bridge and Howard. If you are willing to drive, there are many more options.
Skiers: Monarch ski area is 40 minutes away, and there is very little traffic! Wolf Creek and Crested Butte are also close enough to consider for long day trips if the weather is right. Backcountry access is also close by, near Monarch and elsewhere.
Hot Springs Enthusiasts: Princeton Hot Springs is approximately 45minutes away, and the Valley View Hot Springs near Villa Grove are a little over an hour away.
Large Parties: We are open to considering large events (such as work group training, retreats, or family reunions). Please inquire, availability for large groups is case-by-case.
--------- ATTENTION: Fremont County fire bans during the summer months are common in the area. When dry conditions abound, Fremont County fire ban information is sometimes difficult to find - but we encourage fire safety and often ask guests to refrain from smoking, using firearms, and sometimes from using the fire pit. At a minimum, the fire pit should always be supervised and should be extinguished fully before leaving the area or going to sleep. We will provide notes to this effect before check in, and encourage questions from guests regarding fire safety precautions. ---------
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Parties/event hosting possible upon request/approv
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Pets
Pets allowed
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Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Dogs on leash if being walked on the shared access road
Understand and review fire restrictions per State of Colorado and Fremont County. No outdoor burning if Stage 2 Fire Restrictions in effect.
Important information
You need to know
Property # 1237332vb
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Parties and events are allowed on site
Note from host: Parties/event hosting possible upon request/approv
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
About the area
Howard
Located in Howard, this holiday home is in a rural area and on a river. Wood's High Mountain Distillery and Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area Visitor Center are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area and McIntyre Hills Wilderness Study Area. Journey Quest and Rocky Mountain Mini Golf are also worth visiting. Kayaking and water tubing offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with horse riding and mountain biking nearby.
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area - 5 min drive - 2.2 km
Riverside Park - 36 min drive - 37.8 km
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area Visitor Center - 36 min drive - 37.5 km
Mt. Shavano Fish Hatchery - 39 min drive - 40.0 km
Little Rainbow Trail - 45 min drive - 42.2 km
Restaurants
Dusty Rose Roadhouse - 10 min drive
Riverview Cafe - 10 min drive
Howard’s Cafe - 10 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Country house along the Arkansas: Views and hiking included. pet-friendly?
Yes, pets are allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Country house along the Arkansas: Views and hiking included.?
As of 2 August 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Country house along the Arkansas: Views and hiking included. on 18 October 2026 start from NZ$1,292, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Country house along the Arkansas: Views and hiking included.?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Country house along the Arkansas: Views and hiking included.?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Country house along the Arkansas: Views and hiking included.?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Country house along the Arkansas: Views and hiking included. located?
Situated on a river, this holiday home is within a 10-minute walk of Arkansas River and Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area. Cotopaxi City Park is 7.8 mi (12.6 km) away.
Reviews
9.6
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Property was very clean. Kitchen was well-stocked with dishes and cooking essentials. Great views! Excellent location not too close to town, but easy to access lots of trails, hiking and river adventures.Host was easy to contact and very helpful.Really enjoyed our time here and the many memories made.Thank you for sharing your house with us.
Even better than the pictures. Great place for a family; hiking right outside; river access just to play around and centrally located for lots of family fun. House was clean and responsive. Would stay again.
This house had everything we needed for a comfortable stay. Kate was a great hostess. We enjoyed relaxing on the back deck looking at mountains and wildlife when we weren't hiking or fishing nearby. Gregory
Great place to hang and relax with the family. Great location for views of the valley and river access for rafting/fishing. Even got to beat my brother at horseshoes and lose at darts!
Zachary W.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review
8/10 Good
Daniel S.
27 July 2018
Great views,& trails
The house was nice & roomy everything we needed was there. Close to anything we wanted to do. Only thing it could use is a couple more ceiling fans in bedrooms. Great place.
Daniel S.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 22 March 2020
Thanks for the input. We have bought a few more fans to use around the house.
Verified review
8/10 Good
Karen K.
4 June 2024
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication
secluded
nice place…perfect for our needs. Some people might feel like it is a little rundown. We thought it was great for our family and dogs
We absolutely love coming here. Having the mountains in your backyard is amazing and our boys LOVE to climb them. The dogs and I enjoy walking down to the beautiful stream. Neighbors were friendly.
Shannon-Marie K.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2023
Verified review
10/10 Excellent
Gena G.
31 July 2024
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in
Get Away
We had a family matter to attend to and stayed here during our time in CO. It was very beautiful.
If you need to work, internet is not the best, but overall it was a very comfortable stay. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to get away and stay in a clean safe area.
This place is a little slice of heaven. The views are splendid and the house has everything one could want.
Kate was super communicative and helpful. I'm definitely going to try and come back.
Aaron G.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022
Verified review
10/10 Excellent
John L.
17 January 2019
Amazing! Great house, beautiful views. Tranquil family vacation.
Arrived to a buck standing at the front door. Clean, well-stocked, comfortable home. Skiing at Monarch was awesome, next day at Mt. Princeton hot springs so relaxing. Perfect setting. Kids will remember this forever. Thank you!
John L.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 22 March 2020
Thank you, John! We are so glad that you had a wonderful time. It is a special spot, and you would certainly be welcome back any time!
We had an enjoyable stay in a comfortable home, with views that are magnificent. The hosts were very responsive to our needs and very available. We recently spent an extended time there; our 18th summer experience in Fremont, Chaffee and Custer counties. The hot springs swimming pool in Salida is the reason we first came to this area. It is the largest, indoor mineral pool, in the US?, divided into a walk in area, soaking pool, and regular swimming and lap lanes. Next to the pool is a new public skateboard park, and also outdoor pickleball courts. As rockhounds, the public lands, BLM and National Forests, old and new mines, provide a lot of opportunity! Thank you for making your home available!!!
This is a solid, comfortable, attractive, well-stocked house with magnificent vistas of the river valley and the local peaks. We also saw deer, ground squirrels, and lizards around the property. Lots of birds and of course, bird song to listen to. One morning, 5 "free range" horses were grazing in the back yard, which was unexpected, but kind of cool. There are good star gazing opportunities, as the few neighbors and the lack of streets or street lights make the area dark enough to see what seems like a million stars. Salida is close enough for any reason you'd want to go to town, but if you pack your personal stuff well, you don't have to. Kate and Rick have included so many nice extras, you could just enjoy staying at the property for your whole visit.
It was a very peaceful place to stay with wonderful veiws of the moutains and river. We saw a herd of deer several times, horses running, and a chipmunk.
It was in a really good location to take day trips to other places.
A few things to make it better would be to have drain plugs to fit sinks in kitchen to do dishes, something to sit suitcases on or a place to put clothes in room with twin beds. My in laws shower needed cleaned a little better.
The house was a very nice place to stay. Owners responded quickly when we had to call about a toilet float valve not shutting off all of the time. We would definitely stay again. We hated to leave.
The scenery was great! The outside deck and inside needed some TLC and repairs. The host knew the swamp cooler, washing machine, and a window was not working in one of the rooms after letting them know. It was very hot inside during the day where the outside temp was in the low 90s. The host said they would give us a partial refund but refused after leaving. We would not recommend or stay there again.
Carl M.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 12 September 2023
We are sorry to hear that you did not enjoy your stay. As communicated, the window and swamp cooler were working fine upon inspection after your stay and the washing machine has been replaced. We were not informed by the guest of any issues before the final night of the stay, unfortunately so could not address issues before check out.
This property was perfect! I’m the listing they mention it’s not some high end luxurious property. But I gotta tell ya, those properties are not worth the high dollar signs and they don’t have the views that this property does! It was perfect for our crew on Memorial Day weekend. The views are out of this world. It’s private. A quick walk to the river that we took the dogs on each morning. We explored all the surrounding areas and hiked and biked during the day. Grabbed a drink in Salida and then came back and grilled out, are wonderful sunset dinners and then hung around the fire pit in the backyard. For us, it was a great “crash pad.” A place for a group of friends to hit the mtns during the day and come back and be together at night. The rustic feel fit the outdoor environment we were in and for a group of us that are use to “higher end” lodging, we all said we would book this comfortable, homey house again in a heart beat! I can see my why Kate and her spouse want to retire here! Wifi and phone reception were just fine. Plenty of towels and cookware. Pet friendly. Go for it! You won’t regret it! And you can’t beat the price!
A nice little place of the beaten path. Has lots of potential. The energy is very welcoming. The hills behind the house offer an ancient spirit of the earth and the view out of the front leaves one in awe of nature.
The property was very nice. The view was gorgeous. It is stocked very good with cooking products. It is a great place to stay we spent the whole week with no problems.
The home was spacious and view perfect. It would sleep a lot, but there were only 3 of us. The furnishings were dated and well worn. The property has not had any updates. Our main issue was the tall grass around the property. We were greeted by a large snake (over 5 ft.) right at the front door on our first day. We do not believe it was poisonous, but we were nervous outside the rest of the time. The main reason we rented this property was because it had a/c (swamp cooler) which we needed with the warm days and the view.
First and foremost, the hosts are amazing!! I contacted them numerous times over pitilly stuff, and they answered immediately each and every time! This started before we even arrived.
Secondly, the location of the house is heavenly. The views and getaway were just what I needed. I look forward to my Colorado getaway every year (rafting, aerial rope course, mountain views, etc.), and this house was the cherry on top. The views are spectacular, and I can't wait until next year. Missing scenic Colorado already!!
Elizabeth F.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022
About the host
Hosted by Kate
We are both engineers trying to make it by in this world. Rick is a water treatment engineer, and Kate is a construction manager/civil engineer. We purchased this property with our family to use as a vacation home and a meeting place. The location is perfect as we live in western CO (formerly Denver) and have family in Santa Fe/Northern NM. We are just looking for a few odd rentals here an there to help cover maintenance and expenses, and because we think the place is so awesome it should be shared when we can't use it.
Why they chose this property
Perfect location for outdoor adventures. Located at the end of a private dirt road for privacy, yet only a 5 minute drive from the main arterial (US 50). Hiking/camping is a possibility too on the 40 acres surrounding the property, or on BLM which adjoins the property on 3 sides.
Did we mention the views?
What makes this property unique
Space Views Horseshoe Pits Mountain access
Languages:
English, Spanish
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests