Alder Falls: Olympic NP | Firepit | Lake Access

Highlights:
-- 1 bedroom with California king, 1 queen sleeper sofa, 1 full bath, 500 sq ft. Sleeps 4 comfortably
-- Dog friendly (max 1, any size, no fee)
-- Lounge on the creek-side deck where you can launch your kayak into Lake Isabella or tube downstream (Private access - no neighbors)
-- Easy WDFW drive-in boat/kayak access 1.5 mi away

-- Privacy-fenced backyard with dog igloo
-- Stainless steel commercial-grade propane grill
-- Propane-fueled stone fire pit with shimmering blue fire glass and half-moon stone seating
-- 650 sq ft paver patio with Adirondack chairs and 6-person dining table

-- Living room with 40” smart tv/cable (Sling TV)
-- High thread count cotton linens
-- Fully-stocked kitchen with stainless steel cookware and dishwasher
-- Cooking staples are provided (see below for full list)

-- Modern finishes in a peaceful, wooded setting
-- Gig speed symmetrical fiber internet. Wifi throughout the home
-- In-home washer, dryer, and iron
-- Pack-n-Play and baby dishes / linens for our youngest guests
-- EV charger available for a separate daily fee – inquire upon arrival

-- Check-out is a snap: simply close the blinds, turn off the lights, and lock the door


-- Explore Mason County:
17 mins to Hood Canal
20 mins to High Steel Bridge
30 mins to Lake Cushman
50 mins (33 mi) to the Staircase Entrance of Olympic Nat’l Park
Dog-Friendly Hikes: Mt. Ellinor, Mr. Rose, Mt. Washington (trailheads at Lake Cushman)



Detailed Description
Modern woodland retreat in Mason County. This stylish 1-bedroom getaway sleeps 4 and features natural quartzite countertops, wood-look tile flooring, beautifully tiled shower, stainless appliances, full kitchen with cooking implements, SmartTV, fireplace, AC, and in-home washer/dryer. Relax on the large patio, enjoy the peaceful forest surroundings, kayak to Lake Isabella, roast S’mores over shimmering fire glass, and explore nearby Hood Canal and Olympic Nat’l Park. Gig speed fiber internet, EV charging available.

Enter the cottage into the open kitchen and living room featuring a large queen size sofa sleeper, 40” Smart TV with cable (Sling TV), and electric fireplace to provide ambiance while large windows open the room to the dense surrounding wetland forest. Photographs highlight local hiking destinations. French doors access the 650 sq ft paver patio.

Step through the French doors to lounge in the Adirondack chairs, surrounded by camellias, Lenten rose, huckleberry, and Astilbe, with the towering Alders, Cedars, Hemlocks, and Big Leaf Maple beyond. A stainless-steel commercial-grade infrared propane grill (propane provided) allows for summer cookouts. An aluminum dining table seats 6. To the side, a privacy-fenced side yard with dog igloo offers a safe place for Fido to play when his owners are dining out or tackling hikes too daunting to bring pets.

Use the sliding glass door on the right to re-enter the home and you will find yourself in the bedroom. The highlight is a California King bed with firm mattress and memory foam topper. Linens are high thread count cotton for comfort and durability, with robes, plush pillows, and white cotton blankets to help you settle in. Choose between firm or soft pillows to find your Goldilocks zone. A pack-n-play is available for our youngest guests, and Fido will enjoy the round dog bed and insulated dog bowls. A full closet with built-in organizer invites longer stays.

The ensuite boasts a lighted mirror, towel warmer, and plush white cotton towels. A pull-down sprayer makes it easy to rinse the sink. An Italian onyx-inspired walk-in shower features 3 shower heads – standard, rain, and handheld – creating a spa-like atmosphere.

Back at the full kitchen you will find all major appliances, including a dishwasher for easy clean up. We have place settings for 4, wine and cocktail glasses, an 11-pc stainless steel cookware set for a pristine cooking experience, and a wide assortment of utensils and bakeware. Hand appliances include a mixer, blender, coffee maker, espresso maker, coffee grinder, and toaster. Cooking staples are provided, to include: 20 common spices, flour, sugar, coffee beans, vegetable and olive oil, cornstarch, baking soda and powder, vanilla extract, saran wrap, and tin foil. Major supermarkets are just a 6-min drive for any last-minute needs. A bistro-style dining table seats 4 and doubles as a workstation for those wishing to work remotely.

Off the bedroom is a small laundry room with full-size stacked washer and dryer, iron and board, detergents, and whole-home water filtration. Central heating and air maintain a comfortable temperature year-round. Alternatively, a whole-home fan allows for a quick exchange of air when the temperatures cool in the evening for those who wish to open the windows and enjoy the fragrance of the towering cedars.

A trailhead departs the west edge of the patio, entering the forest and quickly intersecting the property-wide trail system. Following the signs beckoning you to the shores of Mill Creek, you will pass through upland wetland buffer consisting of Doug Fir, Grand Fir, Western Red Cedar, Hemlock, Alder, and ferns before plunging into the wetland itself, demarcated by sedge grasses, Oregon Ash, and Red Osier Dogwood. If you pause along the trail, wildlife will begin stirring from their hiding places. Song birds, rabbits, deer, voles – yes. But also river otters, beavers, ducks, owls, and coyotes -- with mountain lions possible and rumors of the occasional black bear across the creek. Our property is the southernmost residential property, abutting hundreds of acres of conservation land surrounding the outlet of Lake Isabella, which gives rise to Mill Creek and supports seasonal salmon runs. The lower stretches of the trail are historic to the property, and if you look carefully you will find remnants of fallen barbed wire fences, an abandoned electrical post from nearly 70 years ago, and a 1960’s sedan, all taken back by the forest and required to remain in the protected wetlands.

A permitted wetland boardwalk ushers you to a private creek-side deck where Mill Creek emerges from Lake Isabella. A birdwatcher's paradise, from here you can launch your kayak into Lake Isabella or tube downstream. This is private access -- the expansive wetlands prevent neighbors along this stretch of creek and the northern reaches of the lake. You will only share this special space with the occasional kayaker passing by. There is a beaver dam just upstream, and if you remain by the creek at twilight you will hear them stir from dens along the bank. Kayakers can usually pick their way over the beaver dam. There is easier access to the lake 1.5 miles away via a WDFW public boat launch, though the benefit to launching from our shoreline is access to a stretch of the creek and lake filled with Spatterdock Lily and rarely seen by man.

When hunger stirs you from your creek-side paradise, gather supplies and the picnic plates from the kitchen and stroll northward along the trail system to a secluded upland clearing. Here you will find a table underneath a multi-trunked Big Leaf Maple where you can dine surrounded by birds, woodland creatures, and the occasional curious owl.

Follow the trail back to the homesite for the evening. Cross the driveway circle, traverse the path of creeping thyme and flowering crocosmia, and light the 50” stone propane firepit. Rest on the half-moon stone seating and watch the flames dance across the shimmering blue fire glass as our landscape lighting slowly turns off for the night, revealing a star-filled night sky remote from city lights.

Alder Falls offers the privacy and serenity of a creek-side nature retreat coupled with the convenience of modern finishes and thoughtful amenities for a relaxing Pacific Northwest stay.
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Key Notes:
-- Persons with mobility concerns should note there is a platform deck at each entrance to the home requiring a single step. The home is single story, and the shower is walk-in (with a standard shower curb). Please review the photos for more details.

-- As with any hotel, this home is equipped with exterior security cameras covering all outdoor areas. Cigarette smoke detectors maintain a smoke-free interior. These tools improve the experience for the vast majority of our guests by maintaining good neighbor relations and keeping the home smoke-free: happy neighbors = happy guests = great vacations.

-- Fully licensed through the State and permitted through the County.

-- Level 2 EV Charger (J1772) available from our property manager for an additional fee – please inquire separately or upon arrival