Cabin

Legendary Exploration Cabin near Downtown and RMNP

Photo gallery for Legendary Exploration Cabin near Downtown and RMNP

Exploration Cabin is tucked between L'tl Prospect Mtn. & the Big Thompson River.
Exploration Cabin is fit for king and queen.
Living Room
Front entrance.
Interior

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 479.0 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Outdoor space
  • Fireplace
  • Barbecue grill
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

View map
Estes Park, CO
  • Estes Park Aerial Tramway
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Historic Estes Park
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • The Stanley Hotel
    ‪16 min walk‬
  • Fort Collins, CO (FNL-Fort Collins-Loveland Municipal)
    ‪66 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bunk Room

2 Single Beds

Master Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Garden

About this property

Legendary Exploration Cabin near Downtown and RMNP

EXPLORATION CABIN is a completely restored riverfront cottage perfectly set in the sublime Estes Region of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. STR #3236. Here you can experience a trip of a lifetime. You'll have the perfect location for exploring the area with luxury creature comforts for wellness and revival. You'll enjoy stellar mountain and riverside aesthetics, easy walking to and from Downtown Estes Park, and a simple relaxed style. It's the ultimate mountain oasis and private riverside retreat.

Tucked between Little Prospect Mountain and the Big Thompson River, just two blocks from historic downtown Estes Park, Exploration Cabin is a living piece of Rocky Mountain history. Originally built in 1928, this beautifully restored mountainside guesthouse blends old-world charm with modern comfort, offering an unforgettable retreat for up to four guests.


 Why Guests Love Exploration Cabin and This Mountain Life

Unbeatable Location – A scenic 2-minute stroll to downtown Estes Park and just 2 miles to Rocky Mountain National Park.


Sparkling Clean & Impeccably Restored – A harmonious blend of rustic charm and first-class finishes.

Flexible & Hassle-Free Stays – 2 to 4-night minimums with a 30-day no-hassle cancellation policy. Extended stays welcome!


Exclusive Amenities – Fully stocked kitchen, Map Room, Coffee Bar, premium linens, hiking maps, books & guides.


Free Parking & Fast WiFi – Right at your front door for seamless convenience.

Immerse Yourself in This Mountain Life

At This Mountain Life's basecamp, we’ve restored three extraordinary guesthouses, each with its own unique character, all by the river:


Exploration Cabin – A picturesque craftsman cottage.
 Vrbo
#1008227
Redemption Cabin – A classic frontiersman’s mountainside log cabin.
 Vrbo #467865
Reflection Cabin – A peaceful fireside studio. Vrbo #1861624

Every detail has been thoughtfully curated to honor their history while ensuring a luxurious experience. Our cabins are perfect for adventurers, festival-goers, nature lovers, and those celebrating special occasions.

The Perfect Base for Your Rocky Mountain Adventures

Wake up to golden sunrises and crisp mountain air, and fall asleep to moonlit skies and the distant sounds of the river. Exploration Cabin is nestled at the gateway to a world of adventure—hiking, fishing, climbing, and wildlife watching await just outside your door.

Walk to Downtown Estes Park – Stroll past historic cabins and the riverbank to discover charming cafés, coffee shops, craft breweries, restaurants, outdoor concerts, and boutique shoppes.


Quick Access to Rocky Mountain National Park – Just a 2-mile drive to breathtaking scenic trails, alpine lakes, waterfalls, and rugged mountain peaks.


Big Thompson River – Steps from fly fishing, kayaking (seasonal), and peaceful riverside walks.

Book Early – Our Peak Season Sells Out Fast! So book early.

Planning Your Stay? Here’s What You Need to Know:

RMNP Timed Entry Permits – If visiting Rocky Mountain National Park between 9 AM – 2 PM during the summer months, you’ll need an advanced $2 permit.

Arrival & Access Info – A few days before your stay, we’ll send you all the details to ensure a smooth arrival.


Your Hosts – Rick & Cheryl

We are passionate about sharing the charm of our basecamp, the magic of Estes Park and the adventure of the Rocky Mountains. We will ensure your stay is truly special. As Superhosts and trusted local guides, we’re happy to provide recommendations and insider tips for an unforgettable mountain getaway.

Discover the soul of the Rockies. Experience a dream vacation home you’ll always remember.

Book now!

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Amenities

Kitchen
Free WiFi
Outdoor space
Parking available
Barbecue
Mountain view

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
May smoke outside.
Guest is required to sign a RenterAgreement within 48 hours. Security Deposit (via cc hold) of $500. Minimum Age to rent is 21.
NO Smoking. NO pets. NO parties/events. Quiet Hours are from 10:00 PM - 7:00 AM.

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
This property uses eco-friendly cleaning products
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 Estes Valley Vacation Home Registration #3126

We should mention

A car is not required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Estes Park

Located in Downtown Estes Park, a neighbourhood in Estes Park, this cabin is near theme parks and on the waterfront. Historic Estes Park and The Stanley Hotel are notable landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Rocky Mountain National Park. Trout Haven Fishing Pond and Tiny Town Miniature Golf are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Estes Park, CO

What's nearby

  • Estes Park Aerial Tramway - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Historic Estes Park - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
  • The Stanley Hotel - 16 min walk - 1.4 km
  • Stanley Park - 3 min drive - 2.2 km
  • Estes Park Golf Course - 6 min drive - 4.4 km

Getting around

  • Fort Collins, CO (FNL-Fort Collins-Loveland Municipal) - 59 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Claire's Restaurant and Bar - ‬7 min walk
  • ‪Rock Cut Brewing Company - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪Full Throttle Distillery - ‬7 min walk
  • ‪Estes Park Sugar Shack - ‬7 min walk
  • ‪Himalayan Curry & Kebob - ‬7 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Legendary Exploration Cabin near Downtown and RMNP pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Legendary Exploration Cabin near Downtown and RMNP?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Legendary Exploration Cabin near Downtown and RMNP?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Legendary Exploration Cabin near Downtown and RMNP located?

Located in Downtown Estes Park, this cabin is within a 10-minute walk of Estes Park Aerial Tramway and Historic Estes Park. Rocky Mountain National Park and The Stanley Hotel are also within 2 miles (3 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy
Rating 10 - Excellent. 131 out of 134 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 134 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 134 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 134 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 134 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Chris M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great hosts and great cabin!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jenn T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful cabin! So cute and comfortable. Great service by managers
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Leasa C.

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

Rocky Mountain NP Base Camp

Unique well appointed cabin which was a great base camp for our national park adventures!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Brian W.

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

Cozy, Rustic, and Just Right

We loved our stay in the Exploration Cabin. It was just what we were looking for: Excellent location, well-appointed, EXTREMELY clean, and felt good to be in. The proximity to everything in Estes was great, as we could walk to everything in town and easily get in and out without having to wait much for traffic. Definitely recommended.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Dawn A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful cabin with attention to details.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Maggie D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a great stay! The cabin was bigger inside than expected and had plenty of room for myself, my husband and a friend. It was very clean and had everything we needed. The cabin was perfect walking distance to downtown. Will stay here again and would highly recommend to others!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

WELDON L.

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

Sweet setup

Cozy little place. Walking distance to town. Cute creekside sitting area.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Heather C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great little property with lots of thoughtful appointments! It’s in a perfect location for walking everywhere in Estes Park. The hosts were so friendly and even brought my son a birthday cake after I mentioned it was his birthday! It made his day! We loved our time here.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ashley P.

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

Cute Cabin

Great place to stay when visiting Rocky Mountain National Park. It was also walking distance to downtown Estes Park!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Bryan B.

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

Stay in the Mountains

Cabin was perfect for exploring Estes Park and RMNP. Loved it.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kelly H.

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

Perfect little cabin!!

We loved this perfect little cabin! The owners thought of everything when they fixed up this darling 1920’s rustic cabin.Such attention to detail in every space! Perfect for a romantic getaway or for a small family.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Bill R.

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

Cozy Cabin

Everything was fantastic! Being able to walk to the downtown was great as well! Cabin was beautiful with all we needed. Lots of room!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tina and Scott W.

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

Charming Cabin

Our stay at Exploration Cabin was great! Charming cabin, roomy and well-equipped. We will be back.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tina H.

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

Charming Cabin, great location!

Charming, clean cabin. Easy walk to town. Highly recommend, will stay again!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Andrea B.

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

Perfect vacation home

The cabin was perfect, clean, cozy and charming. After a day of hiking and exploring RMNP, the cabin was the perfect place to unwind, make dinner, and share stories about our adventures that day.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Bonnie B., arkansas

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

Exploration canin

Nice clean and easy walking distance to town. Very well redone cabin
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Hailey K.

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

Fabulous Cozy Cabin

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Exploration Cabin. It was just the right size, comfortable and close to downtown Estes. The cabin is beautiful and well appointed and the perfect place for our relaxing adventure in the mountains.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Amber G.

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

First Family Vacation to Rockies

Amazing! This cabin is perfection and the hosts are so helpful and responsive. Would for sure book again and tell everyone we know headed this way, this is THE cabin!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Laura B., Overland Park, KS

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

Charming rustic cabin

We absolutely loved the mountain feel of this cabin, and so close to the river and downtown. Our young grandson was just enchanted by it. We would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Beth S.

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

Mountain Getaway

I cannot express how absolutely perfect our stay was at This Mountain Life. Our entire family loved the coziness of the cabin, and the location can't be beat. Our hosts were kind, prompt in communicating and addressed all of our questions and needs. We had an excellent experience overall and look forward to returning next summer.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Stephanie O.

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

One of a kind.

If you are looking for a
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Carol J.

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

Spring Break

Property was amazing! Cheryl and Rick so helpful and accommodating!
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ronald K., Loudon, TN. USA

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

Cute cozy cabin

We were charmed with the unique appointments of the cabin. It’s location couldn’t have been more convenient, and it fit us perfectly!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Valerie A.

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

Beautiful, cozy cabin!

My family and I had a wonderful time at Expedition Cabin. The hosts are very responsive and greeted us at check-in. The cabin is very comfortable with modern appliances. The proximity to RMNP and the town is very convenient. Highly recommend a stay here!
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Christian J.

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

RMNP

Cheryl greeted us and brought water bottles for the kids - which they loved. Very great communication and helpful tips for hikes with the young ones. A great place to stay!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

About the host

Hosted by Rick and Cheryl Grigsby

Host profile image
Rick & Cheryl Grigsby first discovered the Estes Region in 1980s and returned year after year whenever they could. Some 2 decades later, they became full-time Estes Park. The Grigsbys created and presently direct the This Mountain Life restoration project.

For the past 15 years Rick & Cheryl have been recreating historic downtown property into 3 extraordinary mountaintown vacation traveler cabins. They are situated at the foot of Prospect Mountain and across the Big Thompson River in the heart of Colorado’s sublime Estes Region. Redemption, Exploration and Reflection Cabins (aka This Mountain Life Extraordinary Guesthouses) are fruit of their they adventure story. They love to share it. They are the designers, builders & hosts. They attend to every detail.

Why they chose this property

This Mountain Life property is quintessential Estes Park vacation property with an idyllic mountain & riverside setting. It has an unbeatable private location with a close, quick, easy access.

This Mountain Life property satisfies everybody's needs for beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.

What makes this property unique

Privacy, location, accessibility, walkability, wildlife, mountainside attributes, riverside attributes, rushing water sounds, authenticity, craftsmanship, attention to detail.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests