Southwest Colorado Plain and Simple! This unique 2100 square foot home is nestled in a secluded mountain meadow, adorned with wildflowers, and surrounded by forests of Aspens and Spruce. The home sits on 11 acres directly bordering the San Juan National Forest and features a Private Fishing Pond, Hiking Trails, Mountain streams, and Mountain Views. With a proximal location to Vallecito Lake, it's a perfect place for a back to nature vacation where you can relax on a covered deck, paddle a canoe and fish on your own glassy pond, encounter a variety of wildlife, gaze into an endless starry night, and enjoy the crystal clear water and cool fresh air of Colorado mountain living.
The two-story house has 4 bedrooms/2.5 bathrooms, along with a comfortable living room with an incredible floor-to-ceiling rock fireplace with plenty of firewood. A large deck wraps around the home with a shaded sitting area looking out over the pond, meadow, and trees. There is a gas bbq grill on the deck.
Fishing is available directly on the property. The pond is stocked with Rainbow Trout and guests are welcome to fish to their hearts content. In order to provide this activity for all of our guests, anglers may only keep 1 fish per nightly stay (ex: 4 night stay = 4 fish). Any additional fishing must be catch and release. **Bring your own fishing gear**
Additional activities include canoeing, hammock area, piano, and a trampoline.
NOTE: The 1/2-mile road up to the home is a a well maintained dirt/gravel road. It is not heavily rutted but climbs steadily. A 4-wheel drive is not necessary but is helpful. A minimum of 6.5 inch ground clearance is recommended.
The cabin sits at 9500' elevation and is off-grid. The homes solar-panel and battery system is design to power the regular needs of our guests while staying at the cabin. The property does not have a Microwave, TV, or Dishwasher. The washer & dryer on site are strictly for use by our property manager.
Please note the property counts with 4 security cameras: 1 overlooking the deck/pond area. 1 overlooking the front gate. 1 overlooking back side of house 1 monitoring garage.
AVAILABLE MAY - OCTOBER. NOT ACCESSIBLE DURING WINTER.
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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
Parties and events (including family gatherings and weddings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 50
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
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
About the area
Bayfield
Located in Bayfield, this holiday home is in the mountains and on the waterfront. Purgatory Resort and Cliffs at Tamarron are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those looking for area attractions can visit James Ranch and Eagle Park. Kayaking and canoeing offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with horse riding and mountain biking nearby.
Altitude ATV & Side-by-Side Rentals - 16 min drive
The Lake House Bar & Grill - 21 min drive
The Rusty Shovel Saloon - 20 min drive
Virginia's Lodge and Cabins - 20 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Vallecito Mountain Refuge pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Vallecito Mountain Refuge?
As of 19 Oct 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Vallecito Mountain Refuge on 20 Oct 2026 start from AU$2,021, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Vallecito Mountain Refuge?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Vallecito Mountain Refuge?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Vallecito Mountain Refuge?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Vallecito Mountain Refuge located?
Situated on the waterfront, this holiday home is 5.3 mi (8.6 km) from Vallecito Lake and 11.4 mi (18.4 km) from Los Pinos River. Lake SImpatico Trailhead and Lemon Reservoir are also within 25 miles (40 km).
Reviews
9.8
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
If you’re looking for a cabin of convenience this is not it. However, if you’re looking for a quiet peaceful breath of fresh air, then you’ve found your place. Check-in was a little bumpy as the cleaning company had dates wrong. The owner was quick to respond and resolve the problem. There is no TV and no microwave which most definitely was not a problem for us, just letting others know. From town to the cabin takes roughly 25 mins. The trek up (as stated in the cabin details) you will need a high clearance vehicle. We have a bronco and had no issues. We greatly enjoyed fishing, watching the chipmunks and hummingbirds. The beds were comfortable and the cabin was clean. It’s definitely a place we would return to in the future and recommend to our friends.
If you want to pull your family away from the daily grind and enjoy some time together this is place. Owner was very helpful and friendly. Awesome place!
We truly enjoyed our stay! It is very secluded and quiet. Great home for the family and our small dog. It is a little distance from the main road up the mountain, but all in all, a great time.
We had a great time at this property. The grandkids had fun fishing, playing on the trampoline and playground. And we spent a lot of time on nature walks and making s’mores at the campfire. The cabin is very remote which allows for some amazing star gazing. This is a great place for family gatherings.
Absolutely breathtaking views and very relaxing place to stay. Plenty of unplugged activities to keep the kids busy, as well as the adults. I was very happy with our stay.
Beautiful experience all the way around. Will be back to enjoy the serenity of this little getaway and I’m very thankful for the opportunity!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2021
Archival
10/10 Excellent
20 July 2012
Great Time
My Family and I had such a great time at the cabin. Wish we would have had a few more day to stay. We will for sure be going back when we find time. Everything was super. Thanks for letting us stay.
We thoroughly enjoyed staying in this property. It is the complete antithesis to life in the city. So quite and peaceful. We already want to return! Thank you for hosting us.
Awesome way to disconnect and take a break from life!
Such a relaxing break from our day to day. Wildlife, storms, and a restful property were just what we needed, and Greg delivered. Highly recommend!!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Billy P.
3 Aug 2012
Bit of Heaven
The mountain cabin was great! Just as stated, the place was extremely secluded and peaceful. The accomodations were superb. We had lots of time to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature. If you want to get away from it all and your main goal is to JUST RELAX, this is your place.
If your looking for a location that is quiet and away from the noise, this is the right place for you. Beautiful cabin at 9500 feet with nothing but quiet and beauty. Loved it!!
Our second year in a row to spend a week in this off the grid getaway. If you like the remote, unplugged type of experience this is the place. Great, responsive owner/manager. Fully equipped and very comfortable.
This cabin exceeded all of our expectations. We were looking for a remote get away and this was perfect. The cabin had much more space and was much nicer than the photos portray. Vellecito lake was a wonderful time as well. Thank you for sharing your special home with us.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2020
Verified review
8/10 Good
Shayli W.
6 Sept 2024
Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Gem in the woods
This property was absolutely perfect for my daughters intimate wedding ceremony! Its so private and very remote! The road leading to the property is a bit sketchy, 4 wheel drive is a good idea. We will definately go back!
We enjoyed our stay at this cabin up above Lake Vallecito. The property and surrounding forest were beautiful. We loved the seclusion and being high up on the mountain. We spent most of our time hiking around the property in the National Forest. The cabin was amazing, very clean, and communication with Greg was excellent. This was one of our favorite rentals and we can't wait to go back!
The property is a beautiful place surrounded by Forest up in the mountains it is a bit of a challenge to get to the place on a dirt road with some bumpy gravel road to get to the cabin but it is manageable and well worth the trip.
The kids were a little wary at first, but they never said one word about no tv after we got settled in.
This is the most relaxing places we have stayed in the 20 years we have visited the area. Very quiet, very remote, and very private. We had a blast! Best bring your 4x4 if you’ve got it!
So nice to get disconnected from daily life and enjoy great friends. Cabin was awesome. Did some hiking on nearby trails and caught fish on Vallecito Lake. Evening campfires and a challenging game of croquet were so much fun. Definitely recommend this place. Bring an suv because it’s up the mountain!