Cabin

Thoreau's Cabin: Back to the Basics, Beautifully.

Photo gallery for Thoreau's Cabin: Back to the Basics, Beautifully.

A log cabin with a triangular window offering a mountain view.
A log cabin interior with a leather sofa, wooden dining table, and a stone fireplace.
A log cabin with a stone fireplace, leather sofa, wooden table, and a view of mountains.
A wooden cabin with a stone pathway leading to a porch overlooking a mountainous landscape.
A cozy log cabin bedroom with two beds, a small table with pinecones, and a view of a green landscape through a large window.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Firepit available
    One of the few properties with a dedicated outdoor firepit.
  • Unmatched views, unforgettable moments
    Guests like the location for the scenic views.

Popular amenities

  • Patio
  • Dog-friendly
  • Barbecue grill
  • Refrigerator
  • Internet
  • Fireplace

Explore the area

View in a map
Lake City, CO

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Living Room 1

1 Queen Sofa Bed

Loft Level - Two Queens

2 Queen Beds

Main Level - Queen

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Number of living rooms
Outdoor play area
Garden

Add dates for prices

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riverside view from the deck
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About the neighborhood

Lake City

Lake City is home to this cabin. Ouray Hot Springs Pool and Silverton Mountain Ski Resort are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Animas River and Bear Creek Falls. Take in the nearby slopes with snowboarding and skiing, or check out other outdoor activities such as snowmobiling and sledding.
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Map
Lake City, CO

Frequently asked questions

Is Thoreau's Cabin: Back to the Basics, Beautifully. pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 50 lbs per pet.

How much does it cost to stay at Thoreau's Cabin: Back to the Basics, Beautifully.?

As of Nov 11, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Thoreau's Cabin: Back to the Basics, Beautifully. on Jun 18, 2027 start from $1,072, 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.

What time is check-in at Thoreau's Cabin: Back to the Basics, Beautifully.?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Thoreau's Cabin: Back to the Basics, Beautifully.?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Thoreau's Cabin: Back to the Basics, Beautifully. located?

Situated in Lake City, this cabin is 7.3 mi (11.7 km) from Animas River and 7.9 mi (12.7 km) from Animas Forks. Bear Creek Falls and Hard Tack Mine are also within 16 mi (25 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labeled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 8 out of 9 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 9 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 9 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 9 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 9 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great place!!!One of a kind Would love to stay again next year!!!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2026
Response from VrboOwner on Sep 7, 2026
Thank you for staying with us! We are so happy to hear you had a great stay! We look forward to hosting you again next year!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
It was a very quiet and nice cabin , the views were spectacular! The host was helpful, . It’s a good ways to town , we brought groceries with us . We will definitely stay here again . Tammy and Branson
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2026
Response from VrboOwner on Sep 27, 2026
We are so happy to hear that you had a quiet and peaceful stay at the cabin! The views never get old. We look forward to hosting you again in the future.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The nicest VRBO we have visited. The location is amazing and the views from inside and outside the property are breathtaking. Your blood pressure will drop, your mind will clear, and all of your worries will disappear once you cross the bridge onto the property. The beds are very comfortable and the kitchen is very well equipped, the best of any stay so far. Communication with the host was excellent both before and during the stay. The nightly price may seem high but I can assure anyone considering renting Thoreau’s Cabin that it is more than worth it. This will be on our calendar for an annual visit.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2026
Response from VrboOwner on Sep 15, 2026
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled that you enjoyed Thoreau’s Cabin, the peaceful setting, beautiful views, and all the little details that make a stay special. It was a pleasure hosting you, and we would be delighted to welcome you back for your annual visit!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This was the perfect cabin for a jeeping weekend with friends.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on Aug 9, 2025
We’re so glad the cabin was the perfect base for your Jeeping weekend with friends! Sounds like a fun adventure — we’d love to host you all again for your next mountain getaway
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The perfect cabin in the perfect location, amazing Mountain View’s and Henson Creek runs through the property, the same creek that follows the Alpine Loop into Lake City. The creek and its waterfalls create the ultimate ambiance for a relaxing day and night while glamping in the mountains. Tons of wildlife, we brought a Maven spotting scope for wildlife viewing. Thoreau’s Cabin brings the book Walden, written by Henry Thoreau in the 1800s to life. It’s everything you need in an epic mountain setting, Nestled along the border of the Uncompahgre Wilderness, it doesn’t get better in God’s country! Toni is the best host these world travelers have had the pleasure to communicate with, every detail is provided for super simple check in and out, not a single thing missed. Thank you Perry for sharing this experience!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2026
Response from VrboOwner on Aug 30, 2026
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! We’re thrilled that you enjoyed Thoreau’s Cabin and took the time to appreciate all the little things that make this place so special—the creek, waterfalls, wildlife, and incredible mountain setting. It was truly a pleasure hosting you, and we’re especially grateful for your kind words about the care we put into making each guest’s stay easy and memorable. We love hearing that the cabin brought a little bit of the spirit of Walden to life for you. Thank you again for staying with us and for sharing your experience. We’d love to welcome you back to the mountains anytime!
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Excellent place near Engineers Pass. For anyone wishing to truly get away this is the place to go. But make sure you have a true 4x4 vehicle and/or the experience to get there. The one downside, however, was the lack of communication during the second half of our stay as a new wildfire began relatively close to the cabin and particularly close to one of only two routes out of Lake City. Given the circumstances, it would have been the right thing to reach out to us and make sure we were informed of the situation. I have also not heard from the host(s) since informing them of leaving the cabin two days early because of the previously mentioned wildfire. Overall, this was still a great experience, but make sure if you go, know that you are truly on your own.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2026
Response from VrboOwner on Aug 30, 2026
Thank you for sharing your experience. We’re glad you enjoyed the cabin and its beautiful, remote setting near Engineers Pass. We’re sorry we fell short in communication during your stay. The wildfire had just started, was a significant distance from the cabin and there were no road closures so there was no immediate danger to our guests. However, we agree that we should have reached out to keep you informed. We appreciate your feedback and will do a better job of communicating proactively should a similar situation arise in the future. We’re glad you otherwise had a great experience.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We stayed at this cabin for four nights in mid-July with our 14-year-old triplet boys, and it was one of our all-time favorite family trips.The setting is stunning—remote, peaceful, and surrounded by jaw-dropping mountain views. The cabin itself is cozy, clean, and thoughtfully equipped. We loved that there was no TV, which helped us unplug, but also working Starlink Internet when needed.We explored the San Juan Mountains, drove over Engineer Pass, visited Silverton and Animas Forks, and took our rented UTV up to the Golconda Boarding House, a beautiful old mining site just up the mountain. The boys loved roasting s’mores by the creek, and we all enjoyed being surrounded by such natural beauty. Every now and then, we’d see old mining relics—quiet reminders of the early pioneers who once lived here.One afternoon, we spotted a bear across a ravine from the living room using the spotting scope. Don’t worry—it was over a mile away—but unforgettable! The big windows and morning coffee views made us feel like we were part of the landscape.The owner was extremely responsive and helpful when we had a question about one of the appliances. And don’t let the suspension bridge scare you—the wagon made it easy to get everything across.Highly recommend for anyone looking to disconnect, explore, and make memories.
Incredible location!
Bear we spotted on an afternoon drive!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on Aug 9, 2025
We’re so glad your family had such a memorable stay and enjoyed everything from mountain adventures to s’mores by the creek! It’s wonderful that the cabin’s setting, wildlife sightings, and unplugged atmosphere helped make this one of your favorite trips. We’d be delighted to welcome you back for more San Juan memories!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025
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