Entire home

Spectacular view over San Diego County to Mt. Laguna, downtown, Catalina Island.

Holiday home in Palomar Mountain with water park and sauna

Photo gallery for Spectacular view over San Diego County to Mt. Laguna, downtown, Catalina Island.

RW, new moon, 4 9 2019. WOW!
Sunny days after snows....the best!
Sunset into the ocean- happy hour!
dining area
Small but functional kitchen is open to the main cabin and ocean view.

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6148.6 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Fireplace
  • Air conditioning

Explore the area

View map
  • Place, Palomar Mountain
  • Place, Palomar Mountain State Park
  • Place, Harrah's Resort Southern California
  • Airport, Carlsbad, CA (CLD-McClellan-Palomar)

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Double Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Dining area

About this property

Spectacular view over San Diego County to Mt. Laguna, downtown, Catalina Island.

Please note, 3 night minimums for Tgiving, Xmas, New Year's.

Private cabin in the trees built in the early 1900s has been upgraded but retains all its rustic original charm. Watch eagles fly at eye level, clouds roll in, sunsets and moonsets in the ocean. Bobcats, wild turkeys, and deer regularly walk through the property. Decorated by owner with antiques and comfortable furniture (not all in pristine, new condition!) , large view deck for grilling and sitting in the sun, sauna. Dramatic infinity deck on mountain edge for sunset cocktails, morning yoga. Fully equipped kitchen, propane grill, tv, dvd player. Three bedrooms each with a queen or full bed, two couches could accommodate kids. Short drive from hiking, the Palomar Observatory, fishing at Lake Henshaw, entertainment at Harrah's Rincon Casino. Wonderful place to spend a snowy weekend, but 4 wheel drive and chains are needed on the few occasions when snow is deep. Some guest complaints: cluttered [cluttered with board games, coloring materials, telescopes, astronomy, bird, Palomar history books, maybe cluttered just a little]; cobwebs [if you search, you can probably find one or two, cleaned thoroughly after every guest]; feels like we're housesitting [hmmmm- this is a complaint?]. Best guest comment ever: 'It's clearly a well-loved and special place.' BINGO. Thanks, Emily. No dishwasher, I'm afraid.

Note: 3 night minimum for Xmas, New Years, Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day weekends.

CONTACT OWNER FOR EXTENDED STAY (more than 3 nights) RATES.

WINTER BOOKING ADVISORY!!!

Winter is snow time, which is good and bad. Caltrans has a station up on the mountain and they start plowing the paved roads very quickly when snow starts. Unfortunately, there is nobody up on the mountain who plows private drives, and my cabin is about 500 feet up a dirt branch road that is not plowed. If you plan to be there at a time when snow is predicted, your options are to park near the paved road (but be sure not to park right on side of the road where your car will interfere with plowing or be covered by snow pushed aside by the plow), or plan a long day of shoveling yourself out by hand. I’ve done this shoveling myself before, and it takes a good while. One guest last winter took 8 hours to do this, and they were not happy campers by the end of the day. If you have long time existing reservations and there is a massive storm predicted to hit just before or during your stay, I will of course promise a no penalty cancellation if you chose not to go. Being up there with snow is a wonderful experience, as long as you have supplies and can relax and enjoy.

House rules: treat this old place with courtesy and common sense: recycle, clean up reasonably after yourself, turn off lights and cooling/heating when not needed and on departure, close and lock doors and windows when leaving- sometimes I don't get up to clean for several days.

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Flexible check-in available (contact host in advance of arrival)
Flexible check-out available (contact host to arrange)
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
No parties or events.
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Pets

Pets allowed: limit 2 total
Well behaved dogs ok. Big deck has gates.
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No smoking inside or out.
3 night min major holiday weekends. Cleaning fee included in price, 6 or fewer. $100 supplemental cleaning fee for parties larger than 6.
Treat this old house with respect- leave kitchen, house, grill in reasonably clean shape. Consolidate trash and leave in large bin on back deck.
Be green- outside lights off in the daytime, use provided recycling bins, use sauna, heat, ac in moderation, responsibly.

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
Note from host: No parties or events.
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock

About the area

Palomar Mountain

Located in Palomar Mountain, this holiday home is near theme parks. Palomar Mountain State Park and Palomar Mountain reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Palomar Observatory and San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Palomar Mountain, CA

What's nearby

  • Palomar Mountain State Park - 8 min drive - 4.5 km
  • Sengme Oaks Water Park - 10 min drive - 12.7 km
  • Harrah's Resort Southern California - 13 min drive - 18.6 km
  • Valley View Casino - 20 min drive - 27.2 km
  • Palomar Observatory - 21 min drive - 10.8 km

Getting around

  • Murrieta, CA (RBK-French Valley) - 85 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Jilberto's Taco Shop - ‬21 min drive
  • ‪Mother's Kitchen - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Otans BURGER - ‬29 min drive
  • ‪Higher Grounds Coffee Cart - ‬17 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Spectacular view over San Diego County to Mt. Laguna, downtown, Catalina Island. pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows pets (limit 2 total).

Where is Spectacular view over San Diego County to Mt. Laguna, downtown, Catalina Island. located?

Situated in Palomar Mountain, this holiday home is 3 mi (4.8 km) from Palomar Mountain State Park and within 9 miles (15 km) of Palomar Observatory and Palomar Mountain. Harrah's Resort Southern California and Casino Pauma are also within 20 miles (32 km).

Reviews

9.6

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. 154 out of 189 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 24 out of 189 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 6 out of 189 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 189 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 3 out of 189 reviews

8.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

8/10 Good

Ken H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great place and great getaway spot.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Zoia H.

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

Great views and location

Enjoyed our time at the cabin.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2022

10/10 Excellent

Rick W.

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

Amazing tranquil getaway above the clouds

No better place to just sit, reflect, and be.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lisa G., La Mesa, CA

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

Incredible views

Views are amazing. Enjoyed our stay. Nature all around and a lot of pine trees. Very cozy. Host was fantastic!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Alexander M.

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

Palomar getaway

Had such an awesome time at this perfect cabin at the top of Mt Palomar. The views here are better than any other point of Palomar and you get them from all around the wrap around deck on the house as well as the small deck on the pad below the home. We will definitely be coming back to this one
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Erica R.

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

Best views around

To start, Chuck has the quickest, clearest communication I have ever experienced as a guest. This cabin is definitely a rustic cabin that feels like grandmas house and is very welcoming. I say that as someone who spent summers at her grandmas cabin in Julian and has the best memories of those times. Not only was the cabin easy to use, we spoke with the neighbors who were all friendly and well humored. It was a wonderful trip.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

8/10 Good

Scott T.

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

Mountain cabin

The cabin is not your typical vacation rental flip job. It’s obviously “lived in” which can be part of the charm if you accept that. We liked it. Great views. Do not try to get to it if there is any real snow and you dont have 4wd.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024

8/10 Good

MARY D.

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

Amazing views worth more than the price

Chuck’s place was a comfortable haven for my family to enjoy home cooked meals, mountain top views and star gazing at night. The sauna was a unique and delightful experience. Chuck was very responsive to all my questions. We had no issues during our stay. Would definitely recommend his place to anyone.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2021

10/10 Excellent

Anton P.

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

I come here multiple times a year

This place is special and feels like a little bit of magic. It's rustic feel, careful touches, and incredible location means I have found it tough to be beat. The road to palomar itself is even transportive - the desert dust gives way to switchback roads, the smell of pine - crisp, mountain air. We love it, and this property makes use of the space and view amazingly. Once you've enjoyed the view, the main event starts - the night sky. Palomar has some of the clearest skies in America and the wraparound deck really makes stargazing easy. The kitchen is well stocked, beds are very comfortable and Wifi is great (if you even need it). I have no doubt we'll be back soon - we come back multiple times a year from New York, and we love it.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2024
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Jill O.

Beautiful cabin - perfect weekend getaway

My friends and I booked this cabin to enjoy the Perseid Meteor Shower. We had the best time! The cabin is absolutely perfect. The deck that wraps around the entire 2nd floor is spacious and perfect for star gazing at night, watching the humming birds feed during the day, and overall just relaxing. There are 3 bedrooms, all very clean and decorated perfectly for a cozy cabin. The upstairs living room area and kitchen are both spacious. You will not feel crowded in this cabin. There are Windows wrapping around the entire cabin so you always have a view. We didn't use the sauna downstairs, however it's really cool that it's there!!! Cabin also has a full washer and dryer. I highly recommend staying here. My friends and I definitely will be booking another trip here sooner than later.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2016
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Rose C.

Breathtaking views!

​The views from up there are just unbelievable! Chuck was very responsive and ​hospitable. We went up there for a women's retreat, and loved sitting around that big fireplace. This place is rustic, but it had everything we needed. I will say that it could use a good deep spring cleaning. It was very dusty, but maybe he's done a deep cleaning since we've been there. Also, the dirt road isn't great to get up there. The last 100 yards could use grading, and our tires spun out a lot trying to make it up there. If there is snow on the ground, you would likely need chains. I hope this was helpful!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2017

2/10 Terrible

Far T.

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

The house is falling apart

The house was smelling so bad when we entered we had to leave all the doors and windows open to get rid of smell. And since there is no screen we had to turn off all the lights and sit in the dark so mosquitoes and flies wont come in. There were a lot flying insects around the home and in the area which might be related to the season. Toilets and showers were not clean at all in a way that we haven't used a shower once. Unfortunately, we couldn't avoid using the toilet. There we spiders all over the house. The only good thing about this house is the view.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Deborah R.

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

Mountain home stay

Quiet, peaceful, cozy and awesome view
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Nicholas J.

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

Palomar Getaway

Always enjoy staying at this spot. The views are incredible and it is so peaceful. Definitely look forward to our next trip up here.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Julia T.

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

Great little woodsy cabin

We had a great time staying in this little cabinet at the top of the hill. We had two adults and two kids and the kids had lots of time to play in the dirt and we and joyed the peace and quiet immensely.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Andrew M.

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

Beautiful views

The place was rustic. It had some nice features though. Fireplace was nice with plenty of wood. Birds came to deck and eat bird food from the feeder and the views were stunning.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Chris H.

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

Christmas with a view.

This is a special cabin with a spectacular view. Easy to relax and dream.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Noah Z.

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

Charming old cabin, amazing views & location

Title says it all
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

8/10 Good

Linda J.

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

Wonderful views

The views were spectacular from this home in the mountains . Wish we could have stayed longer; due to a safety concern we cut the trip short, and Vrbo/Chuck Black graciously refunded our payment!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jason S.

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

Palomar Mountain cabin 4th of July stay

Absolutely charming cabin - we chose this property for a firework free stay for our doggo and ourselves. so relaxing, amazing views for a wonderful quite couple of days. The property was as described and exactly what we expected. Host Chuck was great and made sure to tell us what to expect for the time of year we were there, also a pleasure to speak with - we called to check in with him on our last morning there. Thank you Chuck!! 10 out of 10!!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Irma H.

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

Just WOW!

While our daily stay was shortened due to weather, I cannot be more a fan of this home and its wonderful views. Thank you, Chuck, for sharing this little slice of heaven.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mohan G.

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

Beautiful property!

Nice and cozy cabin! Had a great family time at the property! Would consider going back again. Communication was quick with the host.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rick W.

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

A place to find quiet

We had a lovely January stay full of hikes, sunsets, hawks, and rain. We'll be back again.
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Peace with forever changing beautiful views and vibes.

Best way to end the year!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Cande R.

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

Wonderful Thanksgiving Break in the Mountains

We had a fabulous time at Chuck's cottage. The house is rustic and loved, lots of interesting things everywhere. It was perfect for our family and our pups. The views are to die for and we spent a lot of time hanging out on the deck enjoying the warm sun or inside playing games and enjoying hot cocoa by the fire. There is a little park near by that we could walk our two Beagles to and just enjoyed watching the birds and the views from the living room. Thanks so much Chuck for sharing your home with us! We loved it!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023

About the host

Hosted by Chuck Black

Host profile image
Biologist in San Diego.

Why they chose this property

Poor old cabin was falling down.... but with incredible view, nestled in big green trees. See the scrapbook of the 2+ years it took to bring back from near-death. Upgraded, but kept as much of the old feel and charm as possible.

What makes this property unique

Clouds and view are always changing. Santa Ana nights after storms, you can see the waves breaking on Catalina Island in the full moon. Moonless nights, you can see the Milky Way even with all the city lights below. Great place to take kids for their first snow.
As many as 20 hummingbirds fight over porch feeder, acorn woodpeckers and band tailed pigeons common at deck feeder.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

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