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

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Cabin

Main entry with wood stove, new flooring, couches, dog (optional). Deck on right

Mountain House cabin after a bit of snow

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

Wonderful

3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 10148.6 sq m

Popular amenities

Dryer
Parking available
Washer
Fireplace
Kitchen
Pet-friendly

Explore the area

Camp Connell, CA

Calaveras Big Trees State Park
‪6 min drive‬
Arnold Rim Trail
‪12 min drive‬
Sequoia Woods Country Club and Golf Course
‪15 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom Loft 3

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

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.

Property manager

Steven Donaldson

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Pet-friendly

Free WiFi

Outdoor space

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Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly

House Rules

Check in after 2:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 25

Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

We do expect parents to be responsible safety

Events

No events allowed

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

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.

Camp Connell, CA

What's nearby

Calaveras Big Trees State Park - 6 min drive - 4.7 km
Arnold Rim Trail - 12 min drive - 10.6 km
Sequoia Woods Country Club and Golf Course - 15 min drive - 12.7 km
Sierra Nevada Logging Museum - 16 min drive - 13.1 km
Bear Valley Ski - 64 min drive - 29.7 km

Getting around

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

Restaurants

‪The Lube Room Saloon - ‬5 min drive
‪The Restaurant - ‬15 min drive
‪Snowflake Lodge Restaurant - ‬13 min drive
‪Fairway View Lounge - ‬15 min drive
‪Snack Bar - ‬13 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.

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).

9.0

Wonderful

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

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

10/10 Excellent

Alejandra B.

27 Dec 2024

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

10/10 Excellent

Erin K.

11 Jan 2023

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

Laurie F.

6 July 2021

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

Great location

Centrally located to do so many things in a beautiful neighborhood.

Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Nina M.

26 Jan 2023

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

david l.

10 Mar 2020

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

Great place

Great stay, great location, a lot of space. Will be back

Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2020

10/10 Excellent

Bill E.

31 July 2022

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

8/10 Good

Katie H.

8 Mar 2023

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

8/10 Good

jeanine c.

13 June 2023

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

Kiki Z.

30 Nov 2022

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

10/10 Excellent

ELLEN H.

17 Jan 2023

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

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Steven D.

10 Apr 2015

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

Sang P.

18 Jan 2023

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

8/10 Good

Jen S.

3 Jan 2019

Warm family cabin

It was a great peaceful place. The only bummer was the wifi stopped working on our last night there because the bill wasn't paid according to the notification. This was a big deal since we didn't have any cell reception and the wifi was the only way to communicate with anyone. Either way my family and I really enjoyed our stay and would come back for a fun family vacation again and again! Thank you for a wonderful stay.

Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2018

10/10 Excellent

Michelle P.

4 July 2023

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

8/10 Good

Patrick B.

22 Aug 2022

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

Maricel O.

24 Sept 2021

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

Great Location

This is a great location if you want to get away from the city. We had a good and relax time during our stay. Very rustic which is awesome and toys for the kids and wifi is strong, kitchen well equipped. We visited lakes nearby and state park. Do not expect it will perfectly clean its a cabin expect some dust and spider web. Kitchen carpet is old. Overall we are happy and have a chance to relax which is that's our goal. Thank you Steve for letting us to stay in your beautiful cabin. >18 mins drive away to garbage disposal.

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2021

2/10 Terrible

Gail P.

17 Mar 2022

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

Eric H.

4 Apr 2023

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

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

6/10 Okay

Amanda G.

28 July 2016

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

8/10 Good

Jessika H.

7 Apr 2019

Old homey cabin

Over all we are happy with the cabin. It was very quiet, peaceful, conveniently located and priced well with pleanty of beds for us to sleep comfortably. Having to cleanup (wash & put away dishes, wash & put away towels, haul out trash and vacuum) was fine with us but I am wondering why I am still being charged a cleaning fee if there are no house cleaners. We left the house cleaner then when we got there. Besides the coffee pot not working (we are coffee addicts, that was a big bummer), there not being any dry firewood or kindling to make a fire, and the downstairs toilet leaking, we enjoyed our stay in this old homey cabin. Thank you.

Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2019

10/10 Excellent

Erik S.

16 Jan 2018

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.

18 Jan 2017

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

2/10 Terrible

Dawn S.

22 Mar 2018

CHEAP RATE FOR A FILTHY CABIN......BEWARE

Received the “welcome” packet with the key a few weeks prior to our weekend getaway. I noticed it stated renters to clean prior to vacating.....dusting, vacuuming sweeping, moping, bathroom sinks, toilets, washing all towels....even though there's a cleaning fee. Most cabins call for the standard straightening up, removing trash, and leaving dirty towels in the laundry room. I also read that we would have to take our trash to a nearby trash facility which is about 20 min away so I contacted the owner and his response was that this was on his posting clearly noted and actually it’s not otherwise I would have never rented this place. He apologized for the misunderstanding but what could I do, it was already too late to cancel.....then he tells me that the dishwasher is broken and that a door seal is on order but won’t be in until March so we would also have to wash dishes!! On our way, the owner texts me and ask me could I dispose two bags of trash that was left by the previous renter, that his cleaning lady doesn’t dispose trash of and that he apologizes for the inconvenience.....I said sure. Now the check in.....we get there around 8:30pm and walk in to yes, it’s an old cabin but that wasn’t the problem. I love old and rustic but what I don’t like is a filthy cabin. Nothing had been cleaned. Dust everywhere, dirty kitchen & bathrooms down to urine and pubs on the seats, pennies and debris all over the carpet, dirty tissue on the floor, old food in the fridge and no sheets on the beds even though the listing shows "linens provided". I called the owner and was sorry and said the listing was inaccurate about the sheets. I told him we would clean but I wanted the cleaning fee refunded and fire his cleaning lady....he agreed to the refund. So after hours of cleaning and finding a few flat sheets to wash, we covered the stained urine and old blood mattresses and crashed. Beds, by the way, are horrid. We left the next day after a few hours of snow play even though we were paid up for the weekend. We cleaned our messes, even vacuumed and removed all trash from the cabin but we left the trash at the curb with the previous renter's trash. The cabin looked better than we found it. The security deposit was refunded quickly but not the cleaning fee.....surprise surprise. ***Oh read all the reviews, the owner left himself a glowing review....HILARIOUS! I bet the other "glowing" reviews are family/friend related as well.***

Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2018

8/10 Good

Nick

4 Apr 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication

Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Carla R.

18 Aug 2022

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

About the host

Hosted by Steven Donaldson

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

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

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

Reviews

Popular amenities

Explore the area

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 2

Bedroom Loft 3

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathroom 2

Spaces

About this property