Comfortable Dog-Friendly Home within Walking Distance of Lake - Wooded Setting
The Better House
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Come to Vallecito Lake for your next mountain getaway and stay in this welcoming two-bedroom (plus loft) home for 10, which boasts walking distance to the lake and easy access to hiking trails and dining. This home is ideal for a couple of families vacationing together or hunters and anglers looking for a budget-friendly accommodation in a stunning mountain setting. Dogs welcome.
You'll be situated near the shores of Vallecito Lake, so you can easily walk to boating and fishing. Hiking trails are plentiful around the lake and are perfect for communing with nature on foot or horseback. Durango is about 23 miles away, and Purgatory is about 47 miles away for skiing in the winter and mountain biking and various festivals in the summer. Take a day trip to Mesa Verde to explore ancient dwellings of the Anasazi, or ride the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.
Get a fire going in the wood stove, then settle in and relax in the living room with free WiFi or a TV show, or simply enjoy the company of family and friends. The in-house washer/dryer allow you to pack light, and a gas grill is a great option for quick, easy meals, which you can enjoy together on the sun-drenched deck.
Book this Bayfield rental today and come immerse yourself in peaceful mountain living!
If you are bringing a dog on your trip, the pet fee is already included in your quote when selecting ‘Yes’ to pets. No more dogs are allowed. Parking notes: There is free parking available for 2 vehicles.
Damage waiver: The total cost of your reservation for this Property includes a nightly damage waiver fee, plus tax if applicable (the “Damage Waiver”). (A discount may be applied for stays of 28 nights or longer, if permitted.) The Damage Waiver covers you for up to $3,000 of accidental damage to the Property or its contents (such as furniture, fixtures, and appliances) as long as you report the incident to the host prior to checking out. The Damage Waiver fee eliminates the need for a traditional security deposit. More information can be downloaded from the "Rental Agreement" on the checkout page.
Due to local laws or HOA requirements, guests must be at least 21 years of age to book. Guests under 21 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian for the duration of the reservation.
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.
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Smoking is not permitted anywhere on the premises.
For information about quiet hours, please refer to the listing description.
Important information
You need to know
Property # 1183572
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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock
About the neighborhood
Bayfield
Located in Bayfield, this cabin is in a rural area and on the waterfront. Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and Animas Museum are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Dalton Ranch Golf Club and Durango Hot Springs Spa. Eagle Park and James Ranch are also worth visiting. Enjoy the area's slopes with cross-country skiing and snowboarding, and don't miss out on the snowmobiling and ice skating.
Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad - 36 min drive - 45.5 km
Cliffs at Tamarron - 56 min drive - 70.0 km
Getting around
Durango–La Plata County Airport (DRO) - 46 min drive
Restaurants
Weminuche Woodfire Grill - 8 min drive
The Lake House Bar & Grill - 7 min drive
The Rusty Shovel Saloon - 8 min drive
Virginia's Lodge and Cabins - 8 min drive
Vallecito Cafe - 3 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Comfortable Dog-Friendly Home within Walking Distance of Lake - Wooded Setting pet-friendly?
Yes, pets are allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Comfortable Dog-Friendly Home within Walking Distance of Lake - Wooded Setting?
As of May 11, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Comfortable Dog-Friendly Home within Walking Distance of Lake - Wooded Setting on Aug 21, 2026 start from $244, 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?
Onsite parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Comfortable Dog-Friendly Home within Walking Distance of Lake - Wooded Setting?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Comfortable Dog-Friendly Home within Walking Distance of Lake - Wooded Setting?
Check-out is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Comfortable Dog-Friendly Home within Walking Distance of Lake - Wooded Setting located?
Situated on the waterfront, this cabin is steps from Vallecito Lake and 1.5 mi (2.3 km) from Los Pinos River. Lake SImpatico Trailhead and Lemon Reservoir are also within 12 mi (20 km).
Reviews
9.2
Wonderful
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labeled.
The house is wonderful and served the needs for our trip to the lake. I did have to ask for an early check-in as the 4 pm check-in is very inconvenient. This time is later than most hotels. We are coming in from different states and traveling by car and airplane to get there. We would like to get in and freshened up. Since this is a house rental we also need to unload groceries for the stay. This should be changed to allow for the reasons stated. The dishwasher did not work. Thank you for sending a maintenance person to check on it. He stated the part needed, a control panel was not readily available. This meant I had to wash dishes by hand this weekend. This was not what I wanted to do on my vacation. There was one glass cup that was cracked and did break. It was thrown away. The upstairs tv was not working. It powered on but all of the inputs said “no signal”. We hope to stay again in the future.
Donna F.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2026
Verified
10/10 Excellent
John
Sep 26, 2022
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
This property was really nice, quiet and comfortable.
John
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Andy S.
Jul 3, 2025
much better than a hotel.
We spent 2 nights and it was wonderfully relaxing. It was a relatively close to durango, The purpose of our trip. The only down side was no cell service. Wifi worked well with multiple devices, so we survived.
Andy S.
Response from VrboOwner on Jul 4, 2025
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We’re delighted to hear you had a relaxing stay close to Durango and that the WiFi connectivity met your needs. We understand that limited cell service can be inconvenient for some guests, and we appreciate your understanding. We look forward to welcoming you back in the future!
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Emerenciana
Jul 3, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Beautiful cabin with amazing views! It had everything we could need. We enjoyed our stay!
Had a great time.. the cabin was everything I expected and more..
John O.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2019
From a partner site
8/10 Good
Adam L. K.
Oct 29, 2024
Nice home but not close to anything
Nice view of the reservoir and away from civilization.
Adam L. K.
From a partner site
6/10 Okay
Elisha R.
Aug 27, 2024
Decent
It was a nice home in a nice area
Elisha R.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Emerenciana C.
Jul 16, 2024
Beautiful cabin with beautiful views
The location is perfect! It has everything you need plus more. We travelled with family, and it had more than enough space for us all. The balcony views from every angle were a plus! I do wish the lake was more accessible from the home, but the drive to swimming and fishing have great views. Loved our stay!
The cabin was everything it advertised. We were pleasantly surprised. The owners were quick to communicate. Beds were super comfy. Loved everything about it. Would definitely stay again.
Jock'Lene S.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Jared K.
Jul 9, 2023
Second year. just as great
This house has a great layout for both group family time and separate spaces to relax. Good foodie kitchen and good stock of everything you need. This was our second year staying in this house and it is being well maintained
All the high tech gizmos you could want! Maybe too many cameras? Felt like you were being watched the whole time . Not the best location for pets as you are right next to a busy road with no fences ,but we made it work. Really cool listening to the ice on the lake reverberate up and down the whole lake at night!
Chris J.
Stayed 6 nights in Jan 2025
Response from VrboOwner on Mar 4, 2025
Thank you for sharing your thoughts about your recent stay. It sounds like you had quite the experience with all the high-tech features, even if the number of cameras made you feel a bit watched. We ensure that we respect our guests' privacy. We appreciate your feedback on the pet situation as well; we understand that being near a busy road can be a concern for pet owners. On a brighter note, it’s wonderful to hear that you enjoyed the unique sound of the ice on the lake at night. We’re always looking to improve our guests' experiences. We hope to welcome you back for another stay in the future.
Loved this little getaway with my family! Everything was great but we could not find any area of the lake that was within walking distance like the title says. The house is also not toddler friendly (which is no ones fault but ours for not looking more carefully!!) but with makeshift baby gates we had a great time 😊 other than that, the house was very clean, cozy and perfect for a relaxing getaway!
Becca E.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2020
Response from VrboOwner on Jun 21, 2023
Becca, thank you for your review. We are happy to hear that you had an enjoyable stay. To clarify, there are multiple hiking trails around the lake which allows you to easily commute from the home to the lake. We apologize for any confusion regarding this. We also have a 24/7 guest services line that is available for our guests to use with any questions that may come up. We hope to have the opportunity to host you again!
Enjoyed the cabin very much. Was well equiped and spacious. Great outdoor space. Had some door keypad issues.
Owner called the first night to give some instructions. That was nice.
Just some hints for future renters. Understand there is no bedroom on the main floor. No bathroom in the upstairs where there is a bedroom. The mechanical for the cooling, etc. are kind of loud for light sleepers. There is really no way to walk to the lake from the cabin. If you want to fish or just do anything around the lake you need to pay a daily or weekly fee per vehicle. These are not big issues but maybe things people would like to be aware of. Thanks for sharing your great cabin!
Linda J.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023
Verified
4/10 Poor
Santiago C.
Jun 11, 2018
Nice location off main road. Cabin was a bit old, dirty, and full of pet hair!
The cabin is right off of the main road and is easy to find. Once we were in, I was a bit taken aback because the photos make the cabin look bright and well maintained. It was very dark and a bit damp smelling. There were spider webs everywhere. It seems as if the house doesn't get dusted often. The worst part was that there was pet hair on every couch, bed, blanket, and carpet throughout the house. I specifically chose a location that did NOT allow pets, because my child is highly allergic. This property was covered in pet hair.
The downstairs was old and out of date with a small kitchen that could not be used and a pump that ran throughout the night. It was not restful. The cabin seems to still contain contents of the owner. There were clothes in the closet, food in the cabinets and expired food in the refrigerator. Yuck! The light cover on the fan fell off and fortunately did not hit anyone. This place looks as if there has been some remodeling over time. With some more work, cleaning, and the carpets thrown out, this could be a nice place. By the way, the property is more than just a short walk to the lake.
I did like that the electronics were new. The wifi had a strong signal and the games that were provided, the children enjoyed.
Santiago C.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2018
Response from VrboOwner on Jun 21, 2023
We are sorry to hear this guest did not enjoy their stay. This is a rustic lake home that has just been opened up for the summer. We have sent the cleaning team to the home to address the issues mentioned, and will be refunding this guest the cleaning fee.
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Peggy P.
Oct 8, 2022
Quiet lake location
Short hike to the lake, which was beautiful. New stainless appliances, heated floors, comfortable furniture. Perfect for a group; separated spaces for relaxing.
Peggy P.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Althea S.
Aug 10, 2022
Beautiful setting!
Everything was just as described. Clean and welcoming. Other family members were camping in the nearby campground and it was less than a ten minute drive to meet up with them and spend the day on the beach and in the water. Perfect!
Althea S.
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Fermin C.
Jul 18, 2022
Great adventure!!
Perfect lake front vacation home! Best part is the cabin itself! Filled with games and adventurous enough for our children!
Fermin C.
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Mary S.
May 28, 2022
The Better House really is…
This is a beautiful home in a striking location. It is equipped with everything as If the owners just stepped out: linens, spices, Kleenex & paper necessities, etc. The furniture and the beds are very comfortable and the decorations are perfect for a mountain cabin. The yard is well kept and the Fairy Garden is so cute. Both bedrooms are up/down stairs, something a senior might need to consider. Thank you so much for sharing your home with us.
We loved it! It’s quiet and very cozy and homey. The owner is the sweetest and was very welcoming. The cute little details made it rustic but the cabin still has all the amenities. The views are amazing and it’s close to shops and restaurants. We will for sure return in the summer for a longer staycation!!
The listing couldn’t begin to do it justice. The cabin was perfectly balanced between open & spacious, and cozy. The views were incredible and the living space was beautiful— the wood, stone, and lush carpet throughout the place gave a true, nostalgic cabin feel. The architecture and cool light fixtures were just modern & unique enough to separate this cabin from the rest and elevate it a next level stay. Heated bathroom floor was a great bonus!! The hosts went above and beyond to be welcoming and accommodating, and everything we could’ve wanted or needed was right at our fingertips. I wish I could give far more than 5 stars.