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Rustic, All-Wood Sierra Cabin in the Woods Near Arnold/Bear Valley

Lakefront cabin with kitchen and patio

Photo gallery for Rustic, All-Wood Sierra Cabin in the Woods Near Arnold/Bear Valley

Great Room with 24 foot ceilings
Deck area of cabin with chairs
Main entry with wood stove, new flooring, couches, dog (optional). Deck on right
Mountain House cabin after a bit of snow
Cabin entry with new deck

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 10148.6 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Pet-friendly
  • Fireplace
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

View map
Camp Connell, CA
  • Place, Calaveras Big Trees State Park
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Place, Sequoia Woods Country Club and Golf Course
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • Place, Sierra Nevada Logging Museum
    ‪12 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom Loft 3

+1
1 Single Bed, 2 Double Beds, 1 Double Sofa Bed and 1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Shampoo

Bathroom 2

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Kitchenette
Outdoor play area
Dining area

About this property

Rustic, All-Wood Sierra Cabin in the Woods Near Arnold/Bear Valley

Mountain House is located at 5,200 feet only minutes from the Stanislaus River, Lake Alpine, and the Bear Valley Ski Area. Nestled on a 1/2 acre lot with large cedars and fir trees you in the forest overlooking the woods yet only minutes from recreation that includes downhill skiing in the winter, kayaking, and canoeing in the summer, swimming, and always great hiking.

Our wonderful cabin has high ceilings, an all-wood interior, and new wood-like laminate flooring and carpeting throughout the bedrooms and loft. This is our family cabin for the last 30 years. And has 80-year-old snow shoes on the wall. My kids grew up coming here and now my grandkids love it. It's beautiful and quiet and the season changes are amazing.

Please, do not expect a five-star hotel here. We keep it rustic, basic with a few amenities. If you love old California, this place is for you.

The peaceful and beautiful surroundings of the Mountain House cabin make it a great retreat from the San Francisco Bay Area only 3 hours away off Hwy 4.

There is also the historic gold mining towns of Murphy and Angels Camp only just 20 minutes down the hill and of course the Big Trees State Park with it's towering 1000-year-old redwoods.

Come and enjoy a weekend away in the summer or winter for a great retreat back to nature.

Snow parks and Bear Valley ski area: We can access Winter recreation areas easily. The Bear Valley ski area which includes downhill skiing, cross country, and events through the winter is only 16 miles or 20 minutes from our cabin. In addition, there are two Snow Parks monitored by the State of California nearby. The Stanislaus Snow Park, only 15 minutes up Hwy 4, and The Lake Alpine Snow Park. You need to purchase a daily pass and can park your vehicle in the plowed parking lot. Cross country, snowshoeing, and sledding are available at these two locations.

Summer fun with rivers, lakes, and hiking: Our cabin is perfectly located for local recreation by rivers and lakes. The Stanislaus River is only 15 minutes away, Lake Alpine is 16 miles east past Bear Valley and the wonderful Utica and Spicer Reservoirs that are perfect for kayaking are about an hour away. And for our 6-year-old, we go to White Pines Lake near Arnold a great, simple place to be in the afternoon with family just down the road. For hiking, the options are endless as you get up into the national forest.

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 2:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
We do expect parents to be responsible safety
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 23 kg per pet (limit 2 pets total)
We insist you do not leave pets alone in the cabin
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No smoking within the house at any time

Important information

You need to know

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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
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, a first aid kit and a deadlock
Property Registration Number TOT-0224

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Arnold

Located in Arnold, this cabin is in a rural area and on a lake. Sierra Nevada Logging Museum and Murphys Creek Theatre are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Sequoia Woods Country Club and Golf Course and Meadowmont Golf Course. Leland Meadows and Twain Harte Miniature Golf are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
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Map
Camp Connell, CA

What's nearby

  • Calaveras Big Trees State Park - 5 min drive - 5.8 km
  • Arnold Rim Trail - 10 min drive - 13.0 km
  • Sequoia Woods Country Club and Golf Course - 11 min drive - 13.7 km
  • Sierra Nevada Logging Museum - 12 min drive - 14.8 km
  • Bear Valley Ski - 35 min drive - 41.8 km

Getting around

  • Sacramento, CA (SMF-Sacramento Intl.) - 144 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Lube Room Saloon - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Snack Shack - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Camp Connell General Store - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Fairway View Lounge - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪The Restaurant - ‬14 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Rustic, All-Wood Sierra Cabin in the Woods Near Arnold/Bear Valley pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

How much is parking at Rustic, All-Wood Sierra Cabin in the Woods Near Arnold/Bear Valley?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Rustic, All-Wood Sierra Cabin in the Woods Near Arnold/Bear Valley?

Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Rustic, All-Wood Sierra Cabin in the Woods Near Arnold/Bear Valley?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Rustic, All-Wood Sierra Cabin in the Woods Near Arnold/Bear Valley located?

Situated on a lake, this cabin is 3 mi (4.8 km) from Calaveras Big Trees State Park and within 9 miles (15 km) of Arnold Rim Trail and Sequoia Woods Country Club and Golf Course. Meadowmont Golf Course and Sierra Nevada Logging Museum are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

7.8/10

Cleanliness

8.0/10

Amenities

8.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.8/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.2/10

Listing accuracy
Rating 10 - Excellent. 64 out of 95 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 21 out of 95 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 4 out of 95 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 95 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 5 out of 95 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Nina M.

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

Great spot to relax in the snow!

Super cozy cabin with all you need for a weekend away
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kiki Z.

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

Nice Vacation

We had a great holiday in the property here very chose to the ski resort. Kids so happy to play snow at outside the house. It is recommended to increase the brightness of the living room.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2022
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Steven D.

Wonderful! Woods! Nice Deck Too!

We couldn't have had a nicer time. My husband and kids just loved every minute. And, thank the gods for Netflix at night. Was so easy to be here. Felt like our other home in the mountains!

10/10 Excellent

Michelle P.

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

Convenient location to the lake and near by attractions.

We stayed for 5 days four nights. The place was as described. Good direction to get to, and close proximity to many local attractions. The owner was very responsive to questions. All in all, great location and value. One suggestion: it was summer and it was rather hot and stuffy in the house. We wanted to open all windows to let the cool air in, but was limited to those windows with screens to prevent mosquitoes from coming into the house. If possible, install screens on doors and windows to facilitate airflow.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

6/10 Okay

Amanda G.

Great location, helpful host, cabin in need of a little TLC

The location of this cabin couldn't be better. We loved being under 30 minutes from hiking, lakes, fishing, swimming, and groceries. The area is beautiful and not overly crowded- even the weekend of the 4th of July. Our host was responsive and prompt. He replied to questions quickly and sent lots of information ahead to make our stay better The cabin itself was spacious enough to accommodate 6 adults and a toddler. We were able to prepare meals easily in the kitchen. However, it is in need of a little TLC. Carpets and closets could use a deep cleaning to rid the place of some long seated dust and cobwebs. Mattresses and sofas could use some updating to make the place cleaner and more comfortable.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2016

10/10 Excellent

Erik S.

Good cabin, maybe needs some updates

I personally loved this cabin, however there where a few quirks, quite a few of the chairs had been repaired several times, and at best feel a little precarious. One was broken when we arrived at the cabin. The twin bed upstairs was in a sad state and should probably be replaced. Along with that the downstairs bedroom I was in the blinds still let the light in during the morning, I am a light sleeper so this was a bit of a nuisance. Still despite all this I would heartily stay here again. It's a comfortable cabin that has a lot of rustic charm. The upstairs would be great if you have a lot of kids and need to get rid of them. Also I can confirm this cabin does in fact have smoke detectors.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2017
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

4/10 Poor

yaron y.

Not recommended - Look for other alternatives

The cabin does have a lucrative rate, however this is what we got for this price - * Upon arriving Found that all the sheets and towels , including the blankets were all dirty and haven't been washed. We had to start wash all of them. The owner's response? "really sorry" . It is adequate to offer a compensation, as cleaning fee was included in the price of the cabin * Some mattresses are Old metal spring mattresses in a really bad shape. It was so bad our kids refused to sleep on that claiming it hurts their back. And kids do not have too high standards when it gets to mattresses * You have to drive 15 miles to the closest trash dumping station. This should be clearly mentioned. A party of 8 generates a good amount of trash in 3 days. * There is no smoke detector (there's one broken in the drawer). This is a wood cabin to remind you * There is a pretty thick layer of dust everywhere - the owner does say "there is a lot of dust in this area" but I don't think anyone is opening windows in December when it 25 degrees outside. This looks more like really not cleaning the cabin at all * Last one - took the owner 3 weeks to return the damage deposit (we got a message from him he was satisfied with how we returned the cabin , so it was clear it was not due to him assessing damage), including us needing to call Homeaway to try and get him to process the deposit back. This is not how you treat your clients On a positive note, the cabin is quite roomy and we loved the flat screen tv and Netflix. Great location if you targeting a ski vacation in the nearby bear valley ski resort (about 25 mins drive) Bottom line - would not recommend staying here. Look for other alternatives
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2016

10/10 Excellent

Alejandra B.

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

Christmas

We loved our stay! Super cozy and so much fun we got to see the snow from the comfort of the living room! Definitely made memories with my family.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

jeanine c.

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

Lovely relaxing cabin in the trees

We’ve been coming back year after year bc we haven’t found another cabin as nice in this area. The downstairs has plenty of space, the loft is really spacious and it is very quiet and peaceful. Plus, the owner was very helpful when we initially couldn’t get the lockbox open.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Eric H.

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

Cozy stay

This was a very cozy cabin with all the amenities we could ask for. We did have a few issues - we had to shovel a path to the door, and the cleaners hadn't come after the last residents, but the owner warned us about the snow and offered a full refund if we didn't want to go. It turns out the cleaners hadn't come (probably because of the snow) and didn't tell him, so we had to do some of our own cleaning, but he refunded us the cleaning deposit. Overall excellent communication, service, and a very nice place. I'm sure our experience was also a one off due to the unprecedented amount of snow this winter. Would recommend!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023

8/10 Good

Katie H.

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

Stay

Stay was perfect for the weather, lots of snow at the house.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sang P.

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

great winter getaway

The cabin had a nice slope and large backyard for 5 kids from 6-11 to sled and play in the snow all weekend. The experience mas of course differ depending on the amount of snow on the ground and the new snow falling, but we had steady snow fall the entire time we were there. We never made it out to the sno parks near Bear Valley. And when the kids were tired, they came in for hot chocolate and TV. It was a great stay overall!
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

ELLEN H.

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

Cozy getaway near Bear Valley

We very much enjoyed our stay at Mountain House over the holidays. The property is warm, spacious, and has premium TV channels and laundry facilities. We never lost power during the historic snowstorms in 2022-23. The owner is kind and accommodative. Dog friendly and reasonably priced. We would definitely return!
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Erin K.

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

Great cabin

Stayed here with a group of 9 and we had a great time , all fit comfortably would def stay here again
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2023

8/10 Good

Patrick B.

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

Pleasant

It was exactly as described. Actually a little better. Only one mishap. One of the entry steps broke during the stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Carla R.

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

Cabin Retreat

My family and best friend really loved this cabin! The set up was awesome because the adults could send the kids up stairs to play in the loft area while preparing meals. The deck was a great place to relax and have coffee in the morning. Steven sent really specific instructions before check in. Although I did not need to contact him he seemed to be available, if needed. Other friends who saw our pictures really want to stay at this same location because it was such a cozy fit.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022

8/10 Good

Kathy K.

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

Long Weekend with Friends and Dogs

We stayed here with another family for a long summer weekend. The cabin and yard were spacious and easily accommodated our party of 4 adults, 4 kids, and 2 dogs. It was a good location for exploring Lake Alpine, White Pines Lake, and Calaveras Big Trees State Park and nice for relaxing in the evening among the trees. The kitchen, bathrooms, and carpets are outdated, but all in working order. The two issues that should be addressed is the ability to cool the bedrooms at night during the summer (there was only one, partially working fan in the cabin and it was not possible to let any fresh air in upstairs since there was only one sliding door without a screen) and the huge ants that kept coming into the upstairs bathroom.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Bill E.

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

Great location for adventure

Quiet and comfortable. Close to amenities, but far enough away for a peaceful stay.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Beautiful surroundings, plenty of room, sleeping accommodations and a nice kitchen

A very charming mountain retreat. A fine place to rest, relax and enjoy nature.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Summer H., Stockton, California

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

Even better than we expected

This cabin was awesome and the area is absolutely beautiful! It was nice and clean and fully stocked with everything we needed besides food. There were toys for my son and plenty of books to read if you're looking to relax in peace and quiet. We had such a nice vacation! I just want to say thank you to Steve, for allowing us to rent your cabin for the weekend, we loved every second! We will definitely be back for a winter trip!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2022

6/10 Okay

Gayle D.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness

Nice but not clean

Cute cabin, but not well maintained. There was rotting food in the fridge, mold in the bathroom, broken screen door, broken microwave panel, and a very poopy mouse leaving its business everywhere. The cabin has a list of cleaning requirements, however not enough cleaning supplies were made available to complete the list. The owner explained they hired a new cleaning service, that’s why everything was in bad shape. If that is true, I hope they are able to negotiate a refund, because the place was very messy… but also why are we tasked with cleaning if there’s a cleaning service…
Stayed 2 nights in May 2022

8/10 Good

ron a.

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

a bit dusty

A bit dated but very quaint and would stay again....
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2022

6/10 Okay

Mitchell G.

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

Wedding stay

The inside looked as if no one had been there for some time. A lot of spider webs through out the house. Food left in the fridge, but other than that I enjoyed the house and the kids loved it as well
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2022

2/10 Terrible

Gail P.

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

Mountain ccabin Dorrington

The cabin had not been cleaned & was horribly dirty not only with dust but lots of food in the refrigerator & sticky handles & food crumbs & personal items left The owner responded quickly & said he had paid to have it cleaned. Be careful on the stairs coming down from 1 bedroom. It has has a loose board . It is quiet & has a beautiful view.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Eva M.

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

It was nice and very cozy

It was my first time going thought Vrbo and it was so easy. And the owner sent me detail directions to the cabin and instructions. I would Definitely rent this cabin again.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2022

About the host

Hosted by Steven Donaldson

Host profile image
We've co-owned Mountain House our large rustic cabin for almost 30 years now with one other family that are good friends of ours. We love the Sierras and found our cabin, which is located on a half acre amongst tall cedars and pines, a perfect place for relaxing and as a base camp for swimming with our kids, now grandkids, and for hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, and in the Winter, cross country skiing. And of course, it's a perfect place for our dog. We love it up here, hope you can too.

Why they chose this property

We love the Sierras. We're native to California and know the mountains well. I'm a 4 generation Californian. My grandfather was born in Grass Valley and spent every summer in the Sierras. We particularly like the Hwy 4 area near Dorrington and Bear Valley. It's never too crowded as the Lake Tahoe area often is. And, it's only a 3-hour drive from the Bay Area. It's easy to get around and spectacular views here. It's also unique, and wonderful up in the mountains where you get all four seasons of weather in a great wooded environment.

What makes this property unique

It's rustic and traditional, not a modern place. We have a large deck facing out into the woods with massive pines and fir trees. It's a totally quiet location, very peaceful. Our cabin's interior has high ceilings that are all wood. The interior is a lot of hand-done woodwork, a wood stove, and a cozy comfortable feeling. This isn't a fancy place. It's a cabin...lots of wood and a great location! And now we've installed all new wide-plank flooring and new carpeting in the bedrooms and loft.

Languages:

English