Cabin

Elk Surprise Hillside Hideaway

Photo gallery for Elk Surprise Hillside Hideaway

A wooden deck with a view of a mountainous landscape.
A log cabin with a stone pathway leading to the entrance, surrounded by natural landscaping and trees.
A stone patio with a rustic design, surrounded by rocks and a small water feature.
A kitchen with wooden cabinets, a black refrigerator, a stone island, and two bar stools.
A cozy living room with a fireplace, leather sofas, a ceiling fan, and wooden walls.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • The great outdoors
    Guests love the outdoor space here.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Close to Tonto National Forest

Popular amenities

  • Patio
  • Barbecue
  • Air-conditioning
  • Pet-friendly
  • Refrigerator
  • Internet

Explore the area

View map
Payson, AZ
  • Place, Tonto Natural Bridge State Park
    ‪26 min drive‬
  • Place, Green Valley Park
    ‪38 min drive‬
  • Place, Mazatzal Casino
    ‪40 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 5)

Guest Bedroom

1 Single Bed and 1 Queen Bed

Master Bedroom

1 King Bed

1 bathroom

Main Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Dining area

Add dates for prices

Similar properties

Private kitchen
Cozy Starlight Cottage/Boho/Dog Friendly
Pine
  • Kitchen
  • Pet-friendly
  • Air-conditioning
  • Outdoor space
10.0 out of 10, Exceptional, (10 reviews)
Cozy Starlight Cottage/Boho/Dog Friendly

About the area

Payson

Located in Payson, this cabin is in a rural area and in the mountains. Pine-Strawberry Museum and Rim Country Museum are cultural highlights, and some of the area's attractions include Rancho Tonto Catch-A-Trout and Tonto Creek Fish Hatchery. Discover the area's water adventures with nearby fishing, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking.
View more Cabin rentals in PaysonOpens in a new window
Map
Payson, AZ

What's nearby

  • Tonto Natural Bridge State Park - 26 min drive - 18.0 km
  • Rancho Tonto Catch-A-Trout - 36 min drive - 34.8 km
  • Green Valley Park - 38 min drive - 36.3 km
  • Mazatzal Casino - 40 min drive - 37.1 km
  • Payson Golf Course - 41 min drive - 38.2 km

Getting around

  • Phoenix, AZ (DVT-Phoenix Deer Valley) - 146 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Old County Inn - ‬23 min drive
  • ‪Pinewood Tavern - ‬24 min drive
  • ‪The Early Bird Cafe - ‬24 min drive
  • ‪Old County Burger - ‬25 min drive
  • ‪The Local Pizza Shop - ‬25 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Elk Surprise Hillside Hideaway pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Elk Surprise Hillside Hideaway?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Elk Surprise Hillside Hideaway?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Elk Surprise Hillside Hideaway located?

Situated in the mountains, this cabin is steps from Tonto National Forest and within 9 mi (15 km) of Bishop Park and Pine-Strawberry Museum. Isabelle Hunt Memorial Library and Tonto Natural Bridge State Park are also within 12 miles (20 km).

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. 71 out of 75 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 75 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 75 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 75 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 75 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Everything was great, lovely outdoors areas!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great remote cabin. Loved this place will visit again. Communication was easy. If your looking for peace and quiet this is the place.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy
We had a great weekend stay at the Elk Hideaway, the cabin was nicely equipped where we were able to comfortably hang out and simply admire the peace and quiet the entire weekend. The location is incredibly remote, which is exactly what we needed!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The Elk Surprise Hideaway was just that... a hideaway. It was far enough from the rest of the world to enjoy peacefully but close enough to have some adventures. The views were perfect! We enjoyed our stay! Thank you for a great peaceful week.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Absolutely beautiful home. All the amenities, very friendly owners, couldn’t ask for a better place to stay to get away from it all.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
God's beautiful mountains. Great views from the property.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Gorgeous property in the mountains along the Mogollon Rim of Payson. Peaceful and relaxing. Saw lots of elk at dusk. Highly recommend! LJ
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful scenery, quit location. Very comfortable accommodations.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful property! Very private, great outside area, saw elk everywhere, highly recommend!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This place was wonderful! The hosts were very thoughtful and welcoming. The home is cozy and was perfect for our family holiday getaway. The location was even better than we could've hoped for. We hope to stay again in the future.
Beautiful views
Lots to see
Excellent place for roasting marshmallows and getting away from the city.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Perfect weekend getaway

Everything was as expected - views are beautiful and it’s super quiet!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Was a beautiful cabin. Very calm and relaxing weekend.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The hideaway is very well equipped, very comfortable. Great place to unwind: many seating areas, beautiful night skies. Gas burner for unforgettable star gazing while staying warm. Isolated an quiet but road is well maintained. Felt bad having to leave this beatifil cabin. Hope to return there soon.
night sky
sun rise
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Beautiful Getaway

My husband and I rented this quaint cabin for our Christmas holiday. The remote location offered a peaceful retreat and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Enjoyed our stay

The home and stay was wonderful! It is a hike to get to the property but the peacefulness is worth it! The owner was also very helpful and communicative.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great vacation!

We had a great stay at Elk Surprise. It is apparent that Dan and Alexis ensure the cabin is well taken care of. We plan on staying here again in the future!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great get-away with our pup!

Everything was wonderful! It was very dog-friendly, had a large and enclosed deck for our furry kid, and had amazing views! It was the perfect escape!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

We loved our time here! Can’t wait to return!

Very easy, painless process. Hosts were very helpful.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Amazing!

We had the best stay here. Everything was exactly what we wanted and needed. We are big view people and the views were amazing. It was also a great place for our pups with the fenced in deck.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Quiet & Enjoyable

We really enjoyed the stay at Elk Surprise. We were looking for a place to get away relax with no agenda we got that at Elk Surprise. Definitely would like to go back!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Perfect Peaceful Escape

This was our second time staying at this property, and it lived up to our expectations once again. We love the peaceful "get away from it all" vibe, and it’s the perfect spot to relax and enjoy some quality time with our pup. Looking forward to our next visit!
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Cabin Getaway

This was the perfect remote getaway! Beautiful cabin and location in the mountains with gorgeous views. I highly recommend it!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Beautiful and remote cabin

We enjoyed our stay at Elk Surprise. It was beautifully decorated, well stocked for our comfort and peaceful. The hosts were easy to communicate with and answered all our questions. Thank you
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Fabulous, loved it!!!

Beautiful views and great cabin, very well stocked with everything you’ll need, had so much fun, thank you!
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2021
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Had a great stay! So peaceful and quiet which was exactly what we were looking for. Our fur baby loved laying on the porch. So glad we were able to bring her with. We did lots of hiking and exploring during the day nearby. Cabin was beautiful and had everything needed for an enjoyable stay. Host was very responsive and great to work with the entire time. Hoping to stay here again soon!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025
Tell us how we can improve our siteShare feedback