Rustic mountain retreat - escape to a hand-built cabin in the woods

Photo gallery for Rustic mountain retreat - escape to a hand-built cabin in the woods

A rustic cabin with a wooden deck, a covered porch, and a window overlooking the forest.
A rustic cabin with a wooden deck, large windows, and a small outdoor seating area.
A rustic kitchen with wooden walls, a wooden countertop, a water dispenser, a refrigerator, and a broom leaning against the wall.
A rustic wooden cabin interior with a large wooden table, benches, and a decorative plate on the wall.
A rustic cabin kitchen with wooden walls, a central island, and a large window overlooking a forest.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Firepit available
    One of the few properties with a dedicated outdoor firepit.
  • Your private hideaway
    Guests love the secluded location for peace and quiet.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Near Tahoe National Forest

Popular amenities

  • Patio
  • Kitchenette
  • Barbecue
  • Refrigerator
  • Internet
  • Onsite parking available

Explore the area

View map
Nevada City, CA
  • Place, Tahoe National Forest
    ‪1 min walk‬

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 3)

master

1 Queen Bed and 1 Single Bed

1 bathroom

guest bath

Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Kitchenette
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

Add dates for prices

Similar properties

About the area

Nevada City

Located in Nevada City, this cottage is in a rural area and on a river. Double Oak Vineyards and Winery and Scotts Flat Lake are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Sierra Nevada Conservancy and South Yuba River State Park. Miners Foundry Cultural Center and Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum are also worth visiting. Swimming offers a great chance to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hiking/biking trails, ecotours and mountain biking nearby.
Map
Nevada City, CA

What's nearby

  • Tahoe National Forest - 1 min walk - 0.0 km

Getting around

  • Sacramento, CA (SMF-Sacramento Intl.) - 115 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Rustic mountain retreat - escape to a hand-built cabin in the woods pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Rustic mountain retreat - escape to a hand-built cabin in the woods ?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Rustic mountain retreat - escape to a hand-built cabin in the woods ?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Rustic mountain retreat - escape to a hand-built cabin in the woods ?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Rustic mountain retreat - escape to a hand-built cabin in the woods located?

Situated on a river, this cottage is steps away from Tahoe National Forest and Sierra Nevada Conservancy. Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park is 2.7 mi (4.3 km) away.

Reviews

10

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. 13 out of 14 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 14 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 14 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 14 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 14 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
An absolutely gem, enjoyed a few quiet days in the wilderness
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 29 September 2026
Thank you kindly Anders for you wonderful review and remember you are welcome back anytime we would be glad to have you.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Adam was quick to respond to any questions and gave very detailed answers. The cabin was great and the property around it is very nice as well
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 28 September 2026
Thank you kindly for your review response and we do hope you have a chance to come visit us again. You will always be welcome
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Amazing Stay

It's far away from everything and the setting is just gorgeous. The cabins are comfortable, well equipped and charming. It was our 4th stay at Adam's cabins and we will come back.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 2 June 2022
It is always good to see you Charles and you and your group are always welcomed back. Have a great day
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fabulous. Serene. Quiet.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 5 November 2025
Thank you Kristen for your wonderful review and visit. We hope you had a good walk and we do hope you have a chance to come visit us again sometime soon. At Christmas time we're offering people the option for a free Christmas tree that they will cut off of the vast property which is becoming overgrown with various types of pines and furs.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Absolutely magical!

We had the most amazing time on Adam’s property. It is a true getaway for those that enjoy the outdoors and rustic accommodations. We are already planning our next trip back!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 24 March 2020
It was glad to see and meet you both during our first snow storm- glad you enjoyed yourselves and look forward to your return
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Cabin In The Woods

Had a great time
Stayed 4 nights in May 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 17 June 2021
It was great to have Rebecca visit with her group and we hope she visits again
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Very serene

Serenity was a comfortable and peaceful stay. We really enjoyed it and the listing is very accurate. The things I think someone might want to know are: 1) If it is cool, you'll need to light the wood burning stove. They have lots of kindling and it is pine, so it isn't super hard. 2) The walk to the bathroom isn't too far, but far enough to make it something kids wouldn't want to do at night by themselves. 3) It might be 17 minutes to the nearest store, the country store that is closer was closed the whole time we were there.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 23 June 2022
Thank you kindly for visiting Philip and we do hope you visit us again
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Beautiful location close to nature

We had a wonderful stay at the Wisdom Retreat. It was exactly what we were looking for: a remote cabin in a beautiful forest where we could escape the hustle and bustle of city life. Adam was a great host. He quickly responded to messages and stay made sure we were comfortable during our stay (and he's fun to talk to!). For three days we replaced our TV with a fireplace and loved every minute of it. We saw two bears on our way in which was really cool. There are some great walks you can do without leaving the property. When we went in late November, there was snow on the ground in places (needed good, warm boots). The Yuba River is a short drive. We went to Malakoff Diggins State Park which has some great hikes as well. Things to know: This rental is for people who enjoy being close to nature. The cabin is very rustic and has limited amenities. There was no hot water and the nearest bathroom is a composting outhouse (hot water may be available in the future). There is a flushing toilet and hot shower available at the main house. So why the price? The beautiful, remote, private location makes it worth it. I also appreciate the difficulties and expenses associated with running a remote off-grid property. In my experience, being closer to nature means giving up some modern conveniences. Also note: Firewood for the cabin is included. Firewood for outdoor fires is an additional cost (at the time of this writing). So if you're looking for a remote, beautiful place to unplug, and you appreciate the simplicity of a rustic (limited amenities) cabin, this place is great. My son and I made some great memories here.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 25 November 2022
Hello Craig I want to thank you kindly for your very insightful and wonderful appreciative Review of our off-grid cabins. I also appreciate you going into detail explaining the pluses and and minuses of having a cabin fall from city life and we do hope you come again and visit there was a nice meeting you and it was nice speaking with you
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Such a treat!

Such a wonderful location! The views and the area just took my breath away. We had such an amazing time we extended our stay. The location has such a healing feel to it. Definitely will come and stay there again! We booked the serenity cabin and loved it so much! The privacy was wonderful, the trails are wonderful, and the owner is very accommodating & nice! We just left and are already talking about the next time we go up. Book here for a wonderful trip in the woods & be healed by the powers of nature.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 23 May 2022
Thank you so much Kayla- we do appreciate meeting you all and are totally appreciative of having you visit and look forward to you coming again. Adam
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great experience

This is an awesome place. Great for people like me who think they wanna go camping til they get there. Quiet and peaceful. We loved it!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2021
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Peaceful retreat to get away from it all

The Serenity cabin was a perfect place in which to unwind and relax. The distance away from the other cabins means that it's very quiet and private. The space is cozy and well-designed and we loved watching deer stalk across the meadow from the front porch. The back porch is perfect for a morning coffee! Adam is a great, low key host full of suggestions for special places to go and trails to explore. Definitely bring a torch or head lamp for trips to the bathroom at night ;)
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 18 August 2020
I could feel you guys fit that cabin and I can tell the cabin enjoyed your company as well- Happy Trails and see u next time
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Serene, secluded, back woods retreat

We were challenged and invigorated by the isolation of Serenity Cabin. The silence was powerful. Having a forest all to ourselves and the canopy of stars at night. It was dry in mid summer and hot so we didn't explore the land as much as we would have in the other seasons. A very special place. The cabin is glamping in a very beautiful Western aesthetic raw wood, kick your cowboy boots (Teva's actually) up on the porch. And few mosquitoes. All the firewood and propane you need. Boil the water and you have all you need. We spent our days at Purdon and Hoyt's Crossing on the Yuba about 30 minutes away. Evenings and mornings we had all the privacy and quiet we could ask for. I recommend this place if you've got some Thoreau in your soul.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 4 August 2020
Thank Keith for describing one of our favorite cabins so aptly. it is all you said it was and we are glad and fortunate to have visitors such as yourselves. Do come agian. thanks Adam
Verified review

8/10 Good

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

Beautiful stay for a vacation off the grid!

Serenity is a beautiful cabin in the middle of the Sierra. Be prepared to be really in the middle of nowhere, no signal, no distractions! It s just you and the nature, and this is exactly what we wanted from this vacation!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

The peace of a camping trip without the hardships

Staying at the eco-preserve was so magical for us! Our cabin was very cozy, we loved having electricity and the option to use the bathroom in the main house while still feeling close to nature. A deer literally stepped out of the woods to greet us when we arrived. Our favorite part - the woodstove! So nice. Adam is a super generous host, he helped make sure the internet was working and gave us tips on where to find good hiking trails in the area. He is incredibly responsive to messages. I hope we can visit again soon!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 14 May 2020
We want to thank Katie and her partner for their visit. We put our heart into building our newest Serenity cabin and built it off by itself and in a most beautiful part of the edge of the woods near our Arapaho meadow. While our other 3 cabins have their own temperament and motif, Serenity has something special all that come seem to enjoy and love. do come again.
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