An outdoor lover's dream

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Perfect spot for afternoon naps, games, happy hour, or just relaxing by the fire

Light-filled living room with plenty of CO sunshine.

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

3 bedrooms1+ bathroomSleeps 61440 sq ft

Popular amenities

Pet friendly

Fireplace

Kitchen

Barbecue grill

Free WiFi

Outdoor Space

Check-in time

4:00 PM

Check-out time

10:00 AM

Explore the area

Hesperus, CO

Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad30 min drive
Fort Lewis College33 min drive
Cortez, CO (CEZ-Montezuma County)61 min drive
Purgatory Resort102 min drive

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom "nook" in loft

1 Double Bed

Loft bedroom

2 Queen Beds

Master bedroom

1 King Bed

1 bathroom, 1 half bathroom

Full bathroom

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Half bath

Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio

Kitchen

Outdoor play area

Garden

Dining Area

About this property

Designed and built by a local, award-winning builder, La Plata Canyon Cabin has been a second home and unforgettable retreat for guests for over five years. From engagements to honeymoons, from family reunions to family memorials, the off-grid cabin has provided a unique backdrop to some of life’s most magical and significant moments. As guests, you and your family/ friends will find yourselves completely surrounded by national forest—even though Durango is a short 25 minute drive away. You'll also find the highly rated Kennebec Café just 5 minutes down the road and the UNESCO-recognized Mesa Verde National Park 40 minutes away. You’ll wake up in the morning to views of 11K foot peaks and hear the river running less than a hundred feet from the cabin. If hiking is on your to-do list, there’s a network of old mining roads and trails that you can access directly out the front door. You can also drive a few miles up the county road to the stunning Kennebec Pass and Colorado Trail, where thru hikers put in their last miles and outfitters from all over the Southwest bring their guests for some epic mountain biking. Make sure you have 4WD for the last section of road! The 1,440 square foot cabin is powered and heated entirely by solar, propane, or wood, giving you the chance to see a modern and sophisticated off-grid system at work. It has two bedrooms (a master bedroom and loft with queen bunk and a full bed in a side nook), a full bath with soaking tub and shower with pebble floor, and a half bath. Guests often describe the kitchen as the highlight of the house, with a Jenn Air stove, quality cookware and dinnerware, and a full spice rack that someone with a true love of cooking will appreciate. Chances are you'll feel right at home with the most ambitious recipe (and without having to lug bags and boxes full of utensils and supplies from home). And if you have a hard time breaking away from the spectacular views, you can fire up the Weber bbq and cook dinner outside on the deck. The entire team that looks after this cabin takes your experience very seriously, and our guest book is full of reviews, drawings, pressed wildflowers, and other thoughtful gestures that are testament to the uniqueness of this place. Our wonderful guests make it easy to keep opening the door to others who want to enjoy this special place. Read more about the cabin on Insta @laplatacanyoncabin.

Property manager

Shelley

Languages

English, French

Amenities

Kitchen

Pet friendly

Free WiFi

Outdoor Space

Barbecue grill

Mountain view

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Pet friendly

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 21

Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0-17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

Pets allowed: dogs and cats (limit 1 total)

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

If you have more than one pet, please contact the owner.

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

Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited

This property uses solar energy, plus eco-friendly cleaning products

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

We should mention

A car is required for transportation to and from this property

About the neighborhood

Hesperus

Located in Hesperus, this vacation home is in the mountains and on a river. Ski Hesperus and Animas River Trail are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those looking for area attractions can visit Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and Historic Tram Park. Enjoy the area's slopes with cross-country skiing and snowboarding, and don't miss out on the snowmobiling and sledding.

Hesperus, CO

What's nearby

Animas River Trail - 29 min drive
Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad - 30 min drive
San Juan National Forest Supervisor's Office - 31 min drive
Fort Lewis College - 33 min drive
Purgatory Resort - 102 min drive

Getting around

Durango Narrow Gauge Railroad Station - 33 min drive
Durango, CO (AMK-Animas Air Park) - 41 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is An outdoor lover's dream pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 1 total).

What time is check-in at An outdoor lover's dream?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at An outdoor lover's dream?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is An outdoor lover's dream located?

Situated on a river, this vacation home is 8 mi (12.8 km) from Ski Hesperus and within 20 mi (32 km) of Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and Twin Buttes. Historic Tram Park and San Juan National Forest Supervisor's Office are also within 20 mi (32 km).

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labeled.

Learn more

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Abbie D.

Aug 21, 2023

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

Just like commercial

This stay reminded me of the VRBO commercial. Me exploring the creek with my sleeping bag poncho, my 130 pound Cane Corso splashing his way upstream. My husband laughing as he pans for gold! Perfect vacation and will return!!

Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Robert M.

Oct 1, 2022

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

The “Best” vacation!

Wonderful cabin in the woods, private and serene! The Hostess was very helpful and we had a ball! We recommend this property for a week or longer! Bring slippers!!

Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kayla R.

Jul 31, 2022

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

Amazing stay with everything we needed

Such a great stay at Shelley's place. She's a wonderful host and the cabin is fantastic. Best stocked kitchen I've ever had in a rental and our kids loved the toys and kids books. Beautiful surrounding area too! Views were top notch

Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

cynthia k.

Jun 10, 2022

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

Lovely!

Beautiful cabin home, wonderful furnishings, cookware, dishes, bed, linens, decor. Everything first rate. Owner very responsive.

Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kate F.

Sep 10, 2020

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

Wonderful mountain getaway

This is a wonderful mountain getaway. The property owner is very quick with responses, knowledgeable, and a pleasure with which to communicate. The property is sooo nice - beds are comfy, furniture and furnishings are lovely and high end, the view is gorgeous, the kitchen is well stocked, and the river is close by and can be heard from the house and the deck. The owner has thoughtfully included many amenities such as plenty of blankets and towels, board games, emergency lights, a backup generator, lots of cut wood, a wood stove with glass front, marshmallow roasting sticks, and more. It was an added bonus to be able to bring our dog along too. There was plenty of room to spread out indoors and outside. We are locals and thoroughly enjoyed staying at this cabin and had fun hiking in the Canyon. There is a waterfall not far from the property. We hope to come and stay again soon.

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2020

About the host

Hosted by Shelley

On sabbatical a few years ago, I spent time in SW Colorado and fell in love with the area. After one of these trips, I decided to look online for real estate listings in Durango and the cabin was one of the first properties I saw. I completely fell in love with it. The cabin and La Plata Canyon are very unique places full of history and stories, and I hope you enjoy spending time there as much as I do.

Why they chose this property

The Canyon is considered a local's secret by many, even though the La Plata Mountains are one of the first things you see flying into Durango airport and driving east from Utah, Arizona, and other Western states. The Canyon is rich with mining history and backcountry adventures, with many mining ruins to explore up in the high-country basins and along the main road. You can hike, bike or trail run directly from the front door by following either old mining roads or single-track trails. Feeling up for an all-day adventure? You'll find plenty of options that take you deep into the backcountry and to the top of the surrounding peaks. In the summer, the canyon explodes with wildflowers and (when we're lucky!) mushrooms. There's a small waterfall less than 1/4 mile up the road and the La Plata River runs less than 100 feet from the cabin, with fishing options available. The closest neighbors (seasonal, second homes) are approximately 1/4 mile away, and the cabin is surrounded by national forest.