Blue Lake Springs Family Cabin - Excellent Location Near the Lodge!
- Minimum stay:N/A
- Internet:Yes
- Pets allowed:No
- Wheel chair accessible:No
This family friendly vacation home is in a great location and is perfect for a fun get-away in all seasons. Call me if you like: 408-828-5019 (owner from 7am-9pm).
The Cabin is at 4,300 foot elevation in the Blue Lake Springs neighborhood in the town of Arnold, which is about a 2.5 to 3 hour drive from San Francisco or San Jose. The cabin is only a 2-3 minute walk to the pool / pond at Snow Flake Lodge and ~30 minutes to Bear Valley Ski Resort! Cabin is one of the first roads plowed and easy Hwy 4 access to Bear Ski Resort.
This home is called “The Dancing Bear at the Lodge” and is decorated with many bears. One family counted and reported finding 101 bears! The Cabin backs up to Calaveras Big Trees State Park where kids enjoy playing on the hillside looking for treasures (the perfect pinecone!), hiking, sledding or climbing in the small club house.
This comfortable, clean and spacious ~2000 square foot house is very family-friendly with many games, movies, books for all ages, and for the little ones, a baby gate (for the stairs), playpen, a highchair, booster seat, stepstool and a baby monitor all available for your use. In addition, you will find free wireless DSL (no extra charge), television, DVD/CD player, VCR, and telephone for local calls.
On the main level there are 2 bedrooms with a queen bed in each, 1 full bathroom, and a great room - with foosball - open to the remodeled kitchen with granite counters. The upstairs loft has 2 double beds, a fold-out sofa and a 2nd bathroom with a shower. The laundry room is downstairs where you will also find the tire swing to clip on the big tree out front.
In the winter you can enjoy building snowmen, snowball fights and sometimes – if you’re lucky - just watching the snow drift down to blanket the deck and trees in pure white. There are snow-parks nearby for sledding, and Bear Valley is a very family-friendly resort for downhill and cross-country skiing.
There are endless options for outdoor recreation, such as hiking at Calaveras Big Trees State Park and swimming, fishing and boating at Lake Alpine, Spicer, Utica and New Melones reservoirs.
For a small entrance fee, the Snowflake Lodge (across the street) offers fantastic recreation, including a pond, heated pool, snack bar, play yard, basketball courts, horse shoes and tennis courts. As a parent, my favorite aspect of the cabin’s location is that we can walk to the lodge in just 2-3 minutes, or even watch the older kids walk to the lodge themselves as we relax on our sunny deck and smell the sweet forest.
Proximity to the lodge is very convenient for carrying rafts and pool toys for the kids or going up to the house to get snacks and cocktails to enjoy by the pond. The Lodge also offers children’s entertainment, such as “cubby bear time” with arts, crafts, and stories, bingo, swimming lessons and tennis lessons. In the summer months, you can walk down to the Blue Lake Springs outdoor amphitheater to watch movies with the whole family.
Enjoy all of the comforts of home in our well-stocked kitchen while watching your children play in the great room. There are portable speakers for the deck where you can enjoy your meals and a glass of wine while gazing at the stars. The house accommodates up to 8 people most comfortably and we prefer to rent to families (not youth groups or ski clubs). If using the foldout sofa, the house can accommodate a maximum of 10 people.
There is also plenty of fine dining in the area, including the private restaurant at the Snowflake Lodge, Sarafina's Italian Kitchen in Arnold (you’ll need reservations for both), and lots of quaint, yummy places in Murphys, a gold-rush era, upscale town where you’ll enjoy shopping and wine-tasting (about 15 minutes away).
There are numerous wineries nearby, including Ironstone Vineyards, which also offers a series of summer concerts in their beautiful outdoor amphitheater. Columbia State Historic Park is not too far away and is a restored old West town right out of the 1800s with gold panning and a unique blend of museums, town tours, live theater plays, shops, restaurants and attractions.
Most of all, we wish you a wonderful stay in the mountains - enjoy!
Keywords: cabin, house, retreat, mountain home, ski, swim
Property Type
- House
Accommodation Type
- Vacation Rental
Suitability
- Children Welcome
- Non Smoking Only
- Pets Not Allowed
Bedrooms
- 2 Bedrooms, Sleeps 10, Beds for 8-10
- Bedroom 1
- Bedroom 2
- Loft
Bathrooms
- 2.0 Bathrooms
- Bathroom 1
- Bathroom 2
Kitchen & Dining
- Refrigerator
- Ice Maker
- Microwave
- Dishwasher
- Cooking Utensils
Amenities
- Wood Fireplace
- Parking Off Street
- Wood Stove
- Washing Machine
- Clothes Dryer
Entertainment
- Television
- VCR
- Video Library
- Stereo
- CD Player
- Satellite / Cable
- Music Library
- Foosball
- DVD Player
Communications
- Telephone
Pool & Spa
Outdoor Features
- Outdoor Grill
- Deck / Patio
Location & View
Activities
- Health/Beauty Spa
- Kayaking
- Spelunking
- Snowboarding
- Rock Climbing
- Tennis
- Cross Country Skiing
- Hiking
- Jet Skiing
- Sailing
- Golf
- Mountain Biking
- Basketball Court
- Skiing
- Hunting
- Rafting
- Cycling
- Fishing
- Snowmobiling
- Antiquing
- Sledding
- Sight Seeing
- Horseback Riding
- Boating
- Horseshoes
- Shuffleboard
- Wildlife Viewing
- Shopping
- Live Theater
- Restaurants
- Swimming
- Water Skiing
Other Activities
Reviews
Write a review-
Review from the cabin Guestbook
Guest comment entered by ownerReview from the cabin Guestbook
- Guest Courtney S.
- Date of stay 07/04/06
- Review Submitted 01/29/12
We had a great time at the cabin! Yesterday we went to the pool and all the kids played inner-tube waterpolo! That was awesome. We really had a fun time and it was our first time not staying in a hotel and I am so glad we got to experience the outdoors in a cabin. We wish we could have stayed longer! Thank you, CourtneyDid you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0
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Review in the cabin guestbook
Guest comment entered by ownerReview in the cabin guestbook
- Guest Anja H.
- Date of stay 02/05/05
- Review Submitted 01/29/12
Dear Dancing Bear, I came all the way from Germany to have a wonderful year of adventurous experiences in the USA. I am very happy to count as one of these adventures my visit here in your cozy walls and the peaceful and fun atmosphere filled with very interesting and great people. I am always amazed at the hospitality of Americans. Thank you for skiing tomorrow which I am just burning to do! I hope I will visit you again, maybe in the summer and make a safari in the beautiful nature. -A.H.Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0
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Review signed in owner's Guestbook
Guest comment entered by ownerReview signed in owner's Guestbook
- Guest Norman Family, Newbury Park, CA
- Date of stay 07/10/11
- Review Submitted 01/29/12
Thank you for sharing your beautiful cabin with us. We have twin girls who are 21 months old, so they were excited about all the bears and the adorable little kid's bench. Everyday we went for walks and enjoyed the park and pool at BLS. We had a really wonderful time and look forward to our next visit. We LOVED your cabin and hope it's available every time we visit :) The Norman FamilyDid you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0
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Review from our Guestbook
Guest comment entered by ownerReview from our Guestbook
- Guest Michael R.
- Date of stay 04/17/11
- Review Submitted 01/29/12
Thank you for the wonderful time @ your cabin. Did you know there are 98 bears in the cabin? The extensive selection of CDs kept the fun all weekend. Thank you!!Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0
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Review by Janet in our Guestbook
Guest comment entered by ownerReview by Janet in our Guestbook
- Guest Janet and Paula
- Date of stay 03/07/11
- Review Submitted 01/29/12
We had a great 4-day weekend. Great cabin with wonderful views. There was 2-3 feet of snow! Loved the Arnold area, went to Big Trees - lots of snow. Had a great Saturday in Murphys, complete with wine tasting. We even spent a day house-hunting up here. Finally, wi-fi was much appreciated and allowed us to send pictures and videos to friends in Northern and Southern California. Thank you! Janet and PaulaDid you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0
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Review by Bollinger Family in our Guestbook
Guest comment entered by ownerReview by Bollinger Family in our Guestbook
- Guest The Bollinger Family
- Date of stay 08/21/10
- Review Submitted 01/29/12
Thank you for sharing your home with us. We enjoyed multiple "family movie nights" while we stayed here. We loved the close proximity to the rec center too! We hope to visit again soon! The Bollinger FamilyDid you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0
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Review written by Rivero Family in our guestbook
Guest comment entered by ownerReview written by Rivero Family in our guestbook
- Guest The Rivero Family
- Date of stay 08/03/09
- Review Submitted 01/29/12
We shared the cabin with our friends. We loved being here. We saw deer and fawn this morning! We loved the huge pine cones found on our daily walks. Our kids (10 and 8) loved the loft, tire swing and the deck. Our youngest child loved cuddling up with all the bears found in every room of the cabin. Thanks! The Rivero FamilyDid you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0
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Review written by Kim in our guestbook
Guest comment entered by ownerReview written by Kim in our guestbook
- Guest Kim and Owen
- Date of stay 08/03/09
- Review Submitted 01/29/12
We had a wonderful time here. We had a reunion of 8 families renting cabins (2 families per cabin) to celebrate 10 years of friendship. The kids loved your loft, tire swing and foos ball. Many frogs were caught in the lake and everyone was tired after a long day of swimming at the lake and pool. Today we are going to Columbia for the day. Thank you for allowing us to enjoy your home as our own for 4 nights. Thank you!! Kim and OwenDid you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0
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Review written by George in our guestbook
Guest comment entered by ownerReview written by George in our guestbook
- Guest Bill
- Date of stay 07/08/09
- Review Submitted 01/29/12
We enjoyed the cabin - thank you! We especially liked the close proximity to the Blue Lake Springs (BLS) recreation facilities and restaurant. I personnally liked the recliner and frosted pint glasses in the freezer and enjoyed watching a few Giants games while on vacation. :) BillDid you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0
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Review written by Bill in our guestbook
Guest comment entered by ownerReview written by Bill in our guestbook
- Guest Bill
- Date of stay 12/06/08
- Review Submitted 01/29/12
Simply put -- this was Simply Wonderful! Thank you, BillDid you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0
Rates
From $187/night based on season
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Before paying contact the owner to confirm payment details.
Call the owner directly to confirm reservation details and pay with an approved method (credit card, check, or bank transfer), to protect your payment up to $1,000.
Location
Owner info
Year Purchased: 2004
About the owner: We are a family of four from the south bay who share our time at the Dancing Bear with friends and family as often as possible. If you have questions, call between 7am-9pm: 408-828-5019
Why the Owner Chose Arnold:
We chose Arnold for a variety of reasons. Top among these is Arnold's convenient proximity to the Bay Area ( 3 hour drive). Arnold is a wonderful Sierra playground that is much easier to access than Tahoe.
Additionally, the Arnold area has golf, wineries, hiking, skiing and a small town feel where passerbys wave and treat you like an old friend when you walk into the hardware store or bakery.
The Blue Lake Springs recreation area seems frozen in time (in a good way). It reminds me of a scene from a by-gone era of a simpler time where people hunted frogs at the pond and played bingo poolside.
The Unique Benefits at this House:
Peace and quiet, mountain air, mixed with as much (or as little) activity as desired.
Contact us
- Primary: 2097956600 ext 107 Property Manager, Arnold, CA
- Secondary: 4088285019 Owner, CA Bay Area, Pacific Std Time
- Click Here to see All My Rental Listings
Photos
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New updated kitchen
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Dancing Bear at the Lodge on a very snowy day!
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From the street view at certain times of the year
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The Reindeer Room
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It's a few minutes walk from the pond to the cabin
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Stanislaus River
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Utica Reservoir (up scenic Hwy 4)
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Sequoia Woods Golf Course is within Blue Lake Springs
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Looking across pond towards the lodge (Cabin is short walk up into those trees)
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Road at Board's Crossing, stopped for a great hike down the river.
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All that cold snow will make your heart melt!
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Bear Valley Ski Resort
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The Bear Room (queen size)
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Wood stove and fooz ball table
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Summer time dinners are on the deck
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The loft with 2 double beds and the sofa sleeper at left
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'Fly-in' pond is ~ 1 mile away. BLS pond is across the street from the house.
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Tire swing is in the boot room and ready to clip on the rope for lots of fun!
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Pond at Blue Lake Springs (just a short walk from the Cabin, a few minutes)
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Spicer Reservoir (off Hwy 4)
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Snow Flake Lodge Recreation Center
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dock at the BLS pond (a few min walk from the cabin)
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This listing was first published here in 2012.
Date last modified - Friday, May 24, 2013
2097956600 ext 107
Property Manager, Arnold, CA