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Cozy Family Cabin! Lake access, Borders nat'l forest. Hiking & skiing retreat!

Photo gallery for Cozy Family Cabin! Lake access, Borders nat'l forest. Hiking & skiing retreat!

View of cabin from National Forest
Exterior
Front deck and stairs
Driveway
First floor

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 9

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Outdoor grill
  • Deck or patio
  • Free WiFi

Explore the area

View in a map
arnold, CA
  • Place, Sierra Nevada Logging Museum
    ‪10 min drive‬
  • Place, Arnold Rim Trail
    ‪10 min drive‬
  • Place, Calaveras Big Trees State Park
    ‪12 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 9)

Downstairs Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Downstairs Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Upstairs Loft

2 Queen Beds and 2 Twin Beds

2 bathrooms

Downstairs Bathroom

Soap · Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Upstairs Bathroom

Soap · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Dining area

About this property

Cozy Family Cabin! Lake access, Borders nat'l forest. Hiking & skiing retreat!

Ready for a beautiful evergreen getaway? Just an easy 2.5 hour drive from the Bay Area, you can relax, renew, and play at this peaceful mountain retreat and avoid the Tahoe crowds! Bordering the Stanislaus National Forest, the cabin offers plenty of natural beauty while still being less than five minutes from stores and restaurants. Great for couples, a single family, or a small group of friends, it's the perfect place to unwind & explore.

This is our family cabin, and has been loved for four generations. We are ideally seeking folks who want to make this their home away from home for an extended time (with a significant discount for a week or more), but we'll welcome you weekends warriors too. (: We have excellent fast wifi, so you can work remotely and stream to your heart's content.

ABOUT THE SPACE:
*We are a NON-SMOKING cabin.*

The cabin is about 1200 square feet, with comfy chalet-style charm. Downstairs, you'll find the main living area with a kitchen, large dining area, and living room with wood-burning stove and electric heat. There is also a full bath and two downstairs bedrooms, each with a queen bed. Upstairs in the expansive, open loft there are several more beds, a full bath, and an additional sink/mirror outside the bathroom. **You will need to bring your own linens (sheets and bath and hand towels ).**

Outside, you can enjoy the wrap-around deck that looks out onto the forest, tables and chairs, a gas BBQ, and a dirt volleyball/badminton court.

Being on the edge of the national forest, there is plenty to do and see, such as hiking, birding, or just enjoying the quiet. Access to the Arnold Rim hiking trail (including waterfalls, rock climbing locations, and gorgeous expansive views of the whole valley) is literally steps away from the cabin. And from the deck, watch for the family of deer that passes by frequently. We've seen as many as 12 at once!

There is also a lovely little lake with a sand beach, clubhouse with snack bar and beach toys/games/boats during the summer, and kids' play structure available within walking distance down the road.

The kitchen is fully stocked with pots, pans, dishes, silverware, sugar, salt, etc., as well as a 12-cup coffee pot, microwave, oven, stovetop, toaster oven, waffle iron, and hand mixer (NOTE: There is no dishwasher, but everything needed for romantic, old-school hand-washing. Really, it's a great opportunity for conversation with family and friends!) (:

We run a family-style operation – feel free to use whatever is in the cupboards but please replace (or at least notify us) of items that are depleted (such as soap, napkins, etc.)

There is a radio/CD player and speakers with Bluetooth connection, but we don't have a TV or cable. Books and kids' toys and games, as well as various outdoor sports equipment, are available. Beach chairs, sand toys, and snow sleds for the winter are also kept in the garage for your use. We have a volleyball/badminton court with rackets and a net you can set up if desired.

There is a wood-burning stove as well as electric heating. We have a washer and dryer in the garage downstairs.
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 23
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0-17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
- NO smoking anywhere (extreme wildfire risk!).

Check-out instructions

The host requires you complete the following before checking out:
Gather used towels
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks, and take out the trash
Turn off the lights and lock the doors
Hand wash and dry dishes and used appliances such as coffee maker, air fryer and empty crumbs from toaster. Leave kitchen hand towels on counter.
Straiten out bedding and don't wear shoes or sandy clothes on the bedding.
Make sure all garbage fits in the two cans that are placed in bear box. Any additional garbage needs to be taken with you. Garbage needs to be in bear box for garbage day.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
- NO smoking
- NO large groups, parties, or events. Enjoy your time while respecting neighbors.
- Put things back where you found them. -Quiet Hours:10pm-8am PLEASE be considerate of neighbors.

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
Long-term renters welcome
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

Arnold

Located in Arnold, this cabin is in a rural area and on a lake. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Calaveras Big Trees State Park and Calaveras South Grove Nature Preserve, while Sierra Nevada Logging Museum and Murphys Creek Theatre are cultural highlights. Enjoy the area's slopes with cross-country skiing, snowboarding, and skiing, and don't miss out on the sledding.
View more Cabin Rentals in ArnoldOpens in a new window
Map
arnold, CA

What's nearby

  • Sierra Nevada Logging Museum - 10 min drive - 6.5 km
  • White Pines Lake - 10 min drive - 6.5 km
  • Arnold Rim Trail - 10 min drive - 6.9 km
  • Calaveras Big Trees State Park - 12 min drive - 9.4 km
  • Sequoia Woods Country Club and Golf Course - 12 min drive - 8.3 km

Getting around

  • Sacramento Intl. Airport (SMF) - 158 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Bistro Espresso - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪The Red Apple - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Heart & Soul Country Kitchen - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Giant Burger - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Subway - ‬4 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Cozy Family Cabin! Lake access, Borders nat'l forest. Hiking & skiing retreat! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Cozy Family Cabin! Lake access, Borders nat'l forest. Hiking & skiing retreat!?

As of May 5, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Cozy Family Cabin! Lake access, Borders nat'l forest. Hiking & skiing retreat! on May 7, 2026 start from $277, 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 Cozy Family Cabin! Lake access, Borders nat'l forest. Hiking & skiing retreat!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Cozy Family Cabin! Lake access, Borders nat'l forest. Hiking & skiing retreat!?

Check-out is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Cozy Family Cabin! Lake access, Borders nat'l forest. Hiking & skiing retreat! located?

Situated on a lake, this cabin is within 6 mi (10 km) of White Pines Lake, Sierra Nevada Logging Museum, and Arnold Rim Trail. Calaveras Big Trees State Park and Sequoia Woods Country Club and Golf Course are also within 6 mi (10 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labeled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 14 out of 16 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 16 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 16 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 16 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 16 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Leah d.

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

Snow paradise

The cabin is cozy and beautiful and the location could not be better. Very comfortable. We hope we get to stay there again someday.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Raylo W.

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

Peaceful getaway

Wonderful, quiet, and great for littles! The kids loved the lake and activities, I loved the hiking trail, and we all love taco Tuesday, big trees, and the beautiful nature.
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

8/10 Good

Bergen F.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Retreat

We had a great time enjoying the lake. It was unseasonably hot so the lake access helped. We were able to relax in the comfortable home.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ananda Joy H.

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

Home away from home

We love this little cabin in the woods. At the base of the Arnold rim trail and an easy 10 minute walk to the lake. The cabin has everything you’d need and we were so happy and comfortable staying here again.
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ivan L.

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

Family cabin

It’s definitely a family friendly cabin, very cozy & comforting. Property management was very communicative and fast responsive. Family and i will be more than happy to return. Location is great, close to near by hiking trail, lakes & parks.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

LARRY S.

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

Lakemont lodging

Cabin is older but that adds to the charm. Access to the lake was a big plus. Also right next to the Arnold rim trail if you like to hike. Either a plus or minus depending on what you like--no TV.
Stayed 8 nights in Aug 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Daniel H.

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

Great Base for Hikers/Explorers

This location is great, literally 100 ft from Arnold Rim Trail, 10 minutes from Big Tree State Park, Half Hour from many other destinations. The house is simple, nothing special, but sleeps a lot of people, has a great deck, grill, wood stove, etc. If you're looking for a plush vacation home this is not your place, but it is a very solid cabin, at quite a phenomenal price.
Stayed 14 nights in May 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Marco I.

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

Family Getaway

We hand a wonderful stay at this property. Location is great, steps away from a gorgeous hiking trail where the views will take your breath away. Close to a market. Kids played badminton. Even though there was no snow during our stay it was a quick 25min drive to Spicer sno-park. Enjoyed our stay and look forward to booking again…overall awesome experience! Highly recommend
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sara M.

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

Weekend Ski Trip

This place was great for the 5 of us, but there was plenty of room to sleep others. We had a good time even when we weren't on the slopes. We played lots of games and sat by the fire, we especially appreciated all of the wood there. One thing to keep in mind is there is no TV, so be prepared and bring board games or a deck of cards!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ananda Joy H.

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

A sweet spot for a family vacation

We had a wonderful stay in this sweet cabin. Convenient to the lake (the kids wanted to walk all the time but we had too much beach stuff!) and right at the base of the Arnold Rim Trail for excellent hiking and vistas. Cabin had everything we needed and so much more. We had a blast playing badminton and volleyball, and dinners on the deck were our favorite. Our host was easy to communicate with and gave us all the important details we needed to enjoy our stay. We will definitely be back.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Josh I.

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

Amazing month long stay during COVID

We had a wonderful month long stay here in Arnold! The cabin has such thoughtful touches throughout, and in general is super cozy. The wifi is very fast, so working remotely was not a problem. The location is perfect, under 5 minutes from the local grocery store. We were here during late summer, but the house has ample heating options, including a fireplace, so I think staying during the winter would be great too. Couldn't have had a better experience!
Stayed 29 nights in Sep 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

David W.

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

Amazing Getaway

"The Cabin" was a wonderful opportunity for our family to get away, really relax and enjoy the surroundings. Spacious yet cozy, this home has all you'd expect of a classic family cabin: comfy beds; big deck and tons of space. We made good use of the Badminton court; the propane grill and the HOA lake and beach; the latter being our kid's favorite. Plenty of stores, groceries and good food all around and Megan couldn't have been more pleasant. We'll be back as soon as possible!
Stayed 20 nights in Aug 2020
Verified

8/10 Good

Ben P.

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

Great spot!

Such a fantastic location, and everything was exactly as advertised. I was able to work there for the day, and my daughter was able to attend virtual classes (wifi was great). The only thing that keeps it from 5 stars is the power outage (which of course couldn't be helped); the "land line" is a VOIP phone so when the power went out, the wifi went out. Combine that with the lack of cell reception and we were cut off. I was in a meeting and my daughter in class when the wifi went out (this was an inconvenience, albeit a minor one). But the feeling of being "cut off" was a tad disconcerting. I don't mean to sound dramatic. Our main takeaway was that we had a fantastic weekend (sledding just steps from the porch!), and we would definitely like to come back.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Holly H.

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

So peaceful!

Communication with the property owner, Megan, was everything you’d expect from a five star host. She really made us feel at home and anytime we had an issue she was on top of things immediately. The neighbor above came and introduced herself on our first day here, very sweet woman. Let us know about an upcoming storm and told me if I had an emergency or needed anything to reach out. There is a beautiful hiking trail at the bottom of the driveway which can get quite busy on the weekends. The market up the road had everything we needed. The cabin itself is very spacious and there is tons and tons of seating and sleeping room for the entire family. We saw deer, fox, hawks, squirrels, a couple raccoons. It is extremely quiet which is so nice. Kitchen is fully stocked with just about everything you could need. I love to cook, so I brought my trusty crockpot (bring one of you plan on using one while on an extended stay) and le creuset pan because I like cooking with my favorites. The hot water comes out hot fast and there are a ton of blankets to keep you warm. 10/10 would recommend and we absolutely would come stay here again if in the area.
Stayed 42 nights in Oct 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Judy E.

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

A much-needed rest

This property and our stay was just what the doctor ordered. Thank you Megan for your friendly guidance. We will be back.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Katherine M.

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

Cozy and Great Location

Perfect cozy cabin in the woods. Host was friendly and responsive. Location immediately next to Rim Trail access was awesome! We hiked twice a day with our two young kids because it was so accessible. Awesome spot for trail runners.
Stayed 23 nights in Nov 2020

About the host

Hosted by Katie

Host profile image

What makes this property unique

More than 50 years ago, two best friends bought some land in the undeveloped Sierra foothills, and drove up on weekends from their Bay Area jobs and houses to design and build the cabin. In the decades since, the ownership has been passed on to their children, and now lies with their grandchildren. Four generations have now lovingly cared for the cabin at countless family work parties, relaxed in the summer sunshine on the deck together, and enjoyed a crackling fire and a home-cooked turkey dinner together at Christmas.

Your stay with us allows you to enjoy this humble but special place for a little while, and helps us to maintain and keep it for future generations to love as well. (:

Languages:

English
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