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Bears Den: Year-round Comfortable 4-bdrm house on Lake Ripley in Cambridge WI

Photo gallery for Bears Den: Year-round Comfortable 4-bdrm house on Lake Ripley in Cambridge WI

Exterior view facing lake
Exterior Front
Back Yard view to lake
Dock - Fall
Family room and fireplace facing lake

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
4 bedrooms2+ bathroomsSleeps 103000 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
  • Outdoor Space

Explore the area

View in a map
Cambridge, WI
  • Place, Lake Ripley Park Beach
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Place, Lake Ripley Lanes
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Place, Cam-Rock Park Area
    ‪8 min drive‬
  • Airport, Madison, WI (MSN-Dane County Regional)
    ‪39 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

Bedroom 2 (2nd Floor)

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3 (1st Floor)

1 Twin Bunk Bed

Bedroom 4 (1st Floor)

2 Double Beds

Master Bedroom (2nd Floor)

1 King Bed and 1 Crib

2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1 (1st Floor)

Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Hair dryer

Bathroom 2 (Master)

Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Hair dryer

Bathroom 3 (Bedroom 2)

Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shower only · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Dining area

About this property

Bears Den: Year-round Comfortable 4-bdrm house on Lake Ripley in Cambridge WI

Looking for a lake vacation and don’t want to travel 6 hours? The Bears Den on Lake Ripley is a Beautiful lake house overlooking a very clean spring feed lake. You will find a large family room for your comfort and relaxation with 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, kitchen, and dining room for up to 10 guests. The Bears Den features a spacious open floor plan with beautiful views of the lake. Use the large deck for outdoor grilling and dining and chat by the firepit at night. Enjoy the lake front yard with your own dock and boat lift. Bring your boat and have it ready to go fishing or skiing.

Cable TV, Wifi, washer/dryer, baby crib and high chair are provided and the kitchen is well-stocked with – Dishwasher, microwave oven, coffee maker, toaster, pots and pans, dishes, utensils.

You will need to make your reservations early to rent this great lake home. Our place is equipped for both long or short stays year round to make your visit one to remember.

The Bears Den rental is lucky to be on one of the cleanest spring fed lakes in southern Wisconsin! Lake Ripley is 423 acres and has a public beach too. Your Lake Ripley shore lunch might include Bass, Northern, Walleye, and Bluegill. Enjoy your days swimming, fishing, water skiing and boating. Spend an entire afternoon at Lake Ripley Park (Memorial Day to Labor Day). Enjoy the pavilion, beach, 2 tennis courts, basketball court, playground, volleyball courts, and a disc golf course.

Cambridge is famous for salt-glazed pottery, a historic Main Street, and hiking or biking on the CamRock trail system. The quaint shop owners and local artists are eager to tell you all about Cambridge, Wisconsin. If you can make it here in early August, you’ll be treated to sidewalk sales and activities during Maxwell Street Days (city wide garage sales too). Like community theaters? The Fireside Dinner Theater (Fort Atkinson) and Cambridge-Deerfield Players Theater stage is always filled with local talent and maybe the next big thing!

Madison is 25 miles away so try the Madison Farmers market during the summer, Badger football, or Henry Vilas Zoo. Also try the Wisconsin Dells for feature water and amusement parks. Unique location to: Chicago 120 miles; Milwaukee 60 miles; Wisconsin Dells 70 miles.

Things to remember: Bring charcoal & lighter fluid for grilling out!
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor Space

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 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

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
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

This property does not have elevators

About the neighborhood

Cambridge

Located in Cambridge, this vacation home is on a lake. Cambridge Historic School Museum and Hi-Way Outdoor Theatre are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Lake Ripley Lanes and Cambridge Winery. Traveling with kids? Consider Busy Barns Adventure Farm and Hinchley's Dairy Farm. Motor boating and fishing offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hiking nearby.
View more Vacation Homes in CambridgeOpens in a new window
Map
Cambridge, WI

What's nearby

  • Lake Ripley Park Beach - 5 min drive - 2.9 km
  • Lake Ripley Lanes - 7 min drive - 4.3 km
  • Cambridge Historic School Museum - 7 min drive - 4.0 km
  • Cam-Rock Park Area - 8 min drive - 4.3 km
  • Cambridge Winery - 9 min drive - 6.8 km

Getting around

  • Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) - 31 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Cambridge Taphouse - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Kilt Man's Smoke House - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Cambridge Winery - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪rockdale bar - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Hering's Lake Ripley Inn - ‬4 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Bears Den: Year-round Comfortable 4-bdrm house on Lake Ripley in Cambridge WI pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Bears Den: Year-round Comfortable 4-bdrm house on Lake Ripley in Cambridge WI?

As of Mar 9, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Bears Den: Year-round Comfortable 4-bdrm house on Lake Ripley in Cambridge WI on Mar 15, 2026 start from $298, 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 Bears Den: Year-round Comfortable 4-bdrm house on Lake Ripley in Cambridge WI?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Bears Den: Year-round Comfortable 4-bdrm house on Lake Ripley in Cambridge WI?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Bears Den: Year-round Comfortable 4-bdrm house on Lake Ripley in Cambridge WI located?

This family-friendly Cambridge vacation home is located on a lake, within 3 mi (5 km) of Lake Ripley Park Beach, Lake Ripley Lanes and Cambridge Historic School Museum. Cam-Rock Park Area is 2.7 mi (4.3 km) away.

Reviews

9.6

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. 16 out of 19 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 19 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 19 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 19 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 19 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Mary A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Lovely home with lovely lake view and access. Everything clean and comfortable!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kimberly C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Lovely location and house. Could have been better stocked with hand soap, paper towels, etc but regardless had a great stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Chet H.

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

A nice stay

It was a nice accommodating place with easy to use immenaties.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

christine h.

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

Great Stay!!

The home was perfect for our large family. Fully stocked for all your cooking needs! Views were beautiful! Owners took great care of us during our stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Marian A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful property and the neighbors were nice too. Easy access to Madison and other areas for a wedding.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Julia N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Everything was excellent. The owners communicated that the drive and walkway were shoveled and the house was ready. The view was amazing. The layout is perfect. And it was SO SO quiet! Just lovely.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Steven S.

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

Lake Ripley

Thanks for hosting our family. We had a really nice holiday!
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

steven s.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great property. Excellent location. There was plenty of room for us and we were a party of 5. A couple of very large areas in the house for us to gather. I would recommend to anyone wanting to be directly in the water.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Michael H. S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Spacious and well appointed lake-front house (no swimming here, however)
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kurt S.

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

A great location!

We were in the area for a bike race with a team of 5 athletes. This was the perfect place for us to stay: close enough to be where we needed to be without a lot of driving, but remote and relaxing enough to reset at the end of each day. There was plenty of space to spread out, and everyone was very comfortable. We'll be back again next year!
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Susan W.

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

Knitter’s Getaway

My friends are I stayed here while attending Wisconsin Sheep and Wool. We came from four states. We enjoyed how clean and comfortable the cabin was. Very quiet and peaceful. Interesting places to eat nearby too!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jacquelyn R.

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

Loved Bear Den

Family stay to celebrate my daughter’s wedding. Every thing was top notch! Great cabin. Clean and well organized. The owner was available and very helpful.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

8/10 Good

Kelly S.

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

Beautiful Property

We enjoyed the view and the space. We were disappointed in the number of towels available. The property sleeps 10. We only had 7 and still didn’t have enough bath towels for everyone.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Theresa O.

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

Beautiful location

Beautiful location and wonderful spacious house. Owner was very great at communicating with us and even sent me information about potential auroras that may occur. They were always very responsive to any questions I had. I also had the opportunity to learn about the history of the house, which to me is always very interesting! Decor is very warm and cute!
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Fawn H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The place was AMAZING!!! Host was amazing. We have a jig family and the space was great. Had everything we needed i just loved it. Would definitely do it again.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2026

10/10 Excellent

Tom M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Really nice home and property! Bedrooms annd beds are very comfy; master bedroom and the other 2nd floor bedroom are very spacious. We really enjoyed the kitchen and dining room. Played some board games at the dining room table. The fishing dock was just big enough for 2 casting ; and we caught several bass and crappies. Also caught a few small catfish. Easy access in and out of the kayaks that we brought. House and rooms were all clean and tidy. All necessary kitchen appliances and utensils were available.Great location on a nice size lake!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2025

6/10 Okay

Caroline W.

Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mike M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Sandra C.

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

About the host

Hosted by Brian Washko

Host profile image
Hi, we are Brian and Kathy Washko and we have owned and rented this vacation home since 1999. This home has changing a lot over that time going from a small 3 bedroom lake house to the current 4 bedroom, 3 bath, dining room and beautiful oversize family room. We have also added the floating dock and full length lakeside deck. This is our first year using Vrbo and we look forward to serving as your host.

Why they chose this property

Growing up (1970s) , Kathy and her family started vacationing on Lake Ripley and stayed at Shore Place. She told stories about what a great place it was. In 1988 we started our vacations to Lake Ripley. All of our stays were at Alpine Village and we were hooked by the beauty of this wonderful lake. Over time it became more difficult to find a place to stay and we were passed through Cambridge from an upper Wisconsin vacation and found the Bears Den. We were sold on the little 3 bedroom lake house. We love the quiet and private neighborhood and the fact that sometimes we only shared the lake with 3 or 4 other people. Another offering of the lake is the No Wake times in the morning so we can fish peacefully without boats speeding by.

We hope you find our house as comfortable as we do.

Languages:

English

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