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YALE House -Mt St Helens / Yale Lake Retreat

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Property grounds
Exterior
Exterior
Exterior
Terrace/patio

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 20

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Pet friendly
  • Air conditioning
  • Outdoor Space

Explore the area

View in a map
Cougar, WA
  • Place, Lewis River
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Place, Ape Caves
    ‪13 min drive‬
  • Place, Ape Cave Lava Tubes
    ‪16 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 20)

1

2 Twin Beds and 2 Queen Beds

2

1 Queen Bed

3

2 Twin Beds and 2 Double Beds

4

1 Twin Bed and 2 Double Beds

2 bathrooms

1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

2

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

YALE House -Mt St Helens / Yale Lake Retreat

12+ Beds Heart of Cougar. Great location / Accommodations for large family/Group. In the heart of Cougar WA. Previously Monfort's BNB.
Central to the best variety of year round recreation the PNW has to offer. From the comforts of this cozy retreat access all your favorite outdoor recreational activities within minutes. If you want to do it…. This is where to find it!
Walking distance to Bar & Grill, stores and Yale Lake / Cougar Park.
Full basement REC room. Pool table, poker table, foosball, darts, Hoops, Ring Toss, and more.
Best Fire Pit you will find. shaped like Mt St Helens

Gifford Pinchot National Forest, there are almost 1,500 miles of trails on the forest open to hiking, biking, ect.
Mount St. Helens Nation Volcanic Monument, open for climbing year round and offers some of the most popular snow-parks for snowmobiling/cc-skiing enthusiast. Be sure to visit Lava Canyon!
Ape Cave lava tubes (10 miles), which formed about 2,000 years ago and is open year round.
Marble Mountain Snopark (4.5 miles) The trip to June Lake is one of the most popular ski tours from the Marble Mountain Snopark. If the snow is good, the skiing is easy. Other skiing and snowshoeing options are available, and the snopark also serves as a base for hiking and climbing trips. Marble Mountain Snopark is the hub for snowmobilers, cross-country skiers, and snowshoers on the southern slopes of Mount St. Helens. Adequate snow cover for skiing can usually be found from December through March most years. The snow at the snopark is seldom very dry and often changeable, so it’s generally best to be riding on no-wax skis. Most days are skiable here if you’re prepared for the conditions.
The Falls (34 miles) Lower Lewis River Falls, the Middle Falls, and the Upper Lewis River Falls.

Local Fish
Variety of trout, Bull Trout, Dolly Varden, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Silver Salmon, Kokanee, Northern pike minnow, Sculpin & Tiger Muskie, Coastal Cutthroat, Steelhead.

Boat Ramps & Recreation
YALE LAKE RESERVOIR
Cougar Camp (1 mile), restrooms and showers, parking for 180 vehicles, 15 picnic tables, and a one-lane boat ramp.
Beaver Bay (3.5 miles), restrooms and showers, parking for 40 vehicles, 6 picnic tables, and a one-lane boat ramp.
Yale Park (2 miles), restrooms, 30 picnic sites, parking for 130 cars and 80 trailers, a four-lane boat ramp and a beach swim area.
Saddle Dam (9 miles), restrooms, parking, picnic tables, swimming area and boat launch ramps.
LAKE MERWIN
Cresap Bay (8.5 miles), restrooms and shower, 20 picnic tables, a two-lane boat ramp and a beach swim area.
Speelyai Bay (8.5 miles), restrooms, 25 picnic tables, parking for 250 vehicles, a two-lane boat ramp and a beach swim area.
Merwin Park (20 miles), restrooms, 135 picnic tables, parking for 250 vehicles, and a beach swim area.
SWIFT DAM RESERVOIR
Power Canal (7 miles), parking to fish at canal and two developed recreation facilities at the east end of the reservoir. Swift Forest Camp has restrooms a two-lane boat ramp with parking spaces and a day use beach swim area. Eagle Cliff Park has restroom, parking and is a walk in park with picnic tables and is a cool place with secluded feeling.
MERRILL LAKE
Merrill Lake Camp (6.5 miles), restrooms, parking, boat launch, catch and release fly fishing.
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet friendly
Air conditioning
Outdoor Space

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Exterior
St. Helens House ~ Yale Lake/Mt St Helens Retreat.
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  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Pet friendly
9.2 out of 10, Wonderful, (14 reviews)
St. Helens House ~ Yale Lake/Mt St Helens Retreat.

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0-17
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Events

Events allowed: family gatherings and birthday parties
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Pets

Pets allowed: limit 2 total
House trained, never unattended, clean up after
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Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas
your pet must be house trained . Your pet must not

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
Parties and events (including family gatherings and birthday parties) are allowed on site; maximum attendees: 20
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

Cougar

Located in Cougar, this vacation home is in the city center and on a river. Ape Caves and Gifford Pinchot National Forest reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Johnston Ridge Observatory and Pomeroy Living History Farm. Enjoy the area's slopes with cross-country skiing and snowboarding, and don't miss out on the sledding and snowmobiling.
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Map
Cougar, WA

What's nearby

  • Lewis River - 3 min drive - 4.7 km
  • Ape Caves - 13 min drive - 18.5 km
  • Ape Cave Lava Tubes - 16 min drive - 21.8 km
  • Marble Mountain Sno-Park - 17 min drive - 24.5 km
  • Mount St. Helens - 23 min drive - 33.3 km

Restaurants

  • ‪Cougar Bar And Grill - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪The Lone Fir Cafe - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪Red's espresso - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Bigfoot’s Lodge - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪Frosty's Broasted Chicken & Burgers - ‬7 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is YALE House -Mt St Helens / Yale Lake Retreat pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows pets (limit 2 total). Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

How much does it cost to stay at YALE House -Mt St Helens / Yale Lake Retreat?

As of Apr 4, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at YALE House -Mt St Helens / Yale Lake Retreat on May 17, 2026 start from $367, 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 YALE House -Mt St Helens / Yale Lake Retreat?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at YALE House -Mt St Helens / Yale Lake Retreat?

Check-out is at 11:00 AM.

Where is YALE House -Mt St Helens / Yale Lake Retreat located?

Located on a river, this family-friendly vacation home is within 12 mi (20 km) of Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Ape Caves, and Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Ape Cave Lava Tubes is 11.9 mi (19.2 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. 31 out of 37 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 37 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 37 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 37 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 37 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.6/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lynne O.

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

Great for family

The house was well-equipped for our family gathering. We loved the outdoor dining option and the cool rec room downstairs.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

jerry h.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful place, great host and very comfortable. We will be back.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Dan F.

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

Great spot with a ton of character!

Stayed here with 12 people for a bachelor party. Incredibly vibey house with tons of beds and great location– we found the place very clean when we arrived! The firepit is awesome. The lake is beautiful. The hiking around the area is incredible. 10/10 would definitely recommend!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Wayne B.

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

Place to gather

Had a wonderful time staying in the yale house. The game room was excellent!! Definitely recommend the house.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ashley M.

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

Relaxing and Responsive

The property itself was beautiful with plenty of things to do and the host, Troy, was so responsive and helpful the entire time, even with some unexpected hiccups. Truly enjoyed ourselves, will definitely be back!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Erynn M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Check in was super easy! We ended up having a leak in our roof and Troy was over there within the hour to fix it! The game room was a hit with the entire family! Kids and adults! Yale lake is my favorite place to be so being only a 4 minute drive made the vacation that much better! We are already talking about next summers vacation!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Polly S.

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

Great for a large family

Lots of room for everyone & every amenity necessary. Close to the store, restaurant & many sightseeing destinations. Very clean and very comfortable. Thanks Guys!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

christian r.

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

Great stay

Stayes there for my brothers bachlor parry with 15 others and had a wonderful time. The house and yard were cleaned and orginized when we showed up. Spent a lot of time in the game basment. Even didbthe ape caves hike
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

6/10 Okay

Jan S.

Liked: Check-in
Disliked: Location, listing accuracy
The house was very musty. We could not even go to the basement. Would not recommend.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Linda W.

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

Family memorial weekend

House was clean and well-stocked. The decor in every room was extremely interesting and fun. Small problem getting keypad to work but Troy responded immediately. Beautiful area! We want to come back!!
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Susan B.

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

Women’s gathering

Fun property. Beds a bit tough for our generation but we worked it all out. Some of us not a big fan of the animals but they were in the pics. Troy made it easy to check in. Great weekend for our women’s group that has been together now for 48 years!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023
Verified

6/10 Okay

Makenna B.

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

Birthday Weekend

A great house in a beautiful location. The game room was perfect for our group and we really enjoyed using the kitchen space as well. Unfortunately Cougar Park was closed while we were there but Yale Park was a nice place to go swim. For the check in process we realized that we were not given the code in advance and when we tried to contact the owner about it he was unreachable through text, phone call, and VRBO messenger. Fortunately some of the neighbors were able to help us or otherwise we would not have been able to get in at all. Unfortunately there was a burn ban preventing us from using the outdoor fire area so make sure to check the weather before planning to use that. Other than our check in difficulties we really enjoyed the house and our time there.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Michelle Caroline L.

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

!!!!HAPPPY NEW YEARS!!!!

Wow! Such a gem of a spot! Couldn't ask for better communication and flexibility from Tony! Immediately upon arrival he was already lighting the fire for us, letting us know that we don't have to worry about the noise and to just communicate with him which was such an amazing welcome! The space was clean, but also had an immense amount of character that complemented our New Years vibes. The fire pit was amazing, the grill was a plus, the pool table and the basketball hoop kept us entertained and the cold plunge at the dock kept us sane. The highlight of the weekend were the New Years fireworks that left us all with our jaws on the floor. Yale house was truly special, do not hesitate to book. We all left the weekend hoping we could stay longer. We will be coming back! Thank you so much Tony! You da best:)
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

jacob k.

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

This place was perfect!

Everything about this place was great! Everyone had a place to sleep and was comfortable. The decor upstairs and downstairs was perfect! Only thing that could be improved would be the BBQ.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022
Verified

8/10 Good

Hank B.

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

Enjoyable

One of the two air conditioners was inoperative, so the first evening and day, which were very hot, were somewhat uncomfortable in the house. Other than that, the facility is quite enjoyable, with a great basement and game room.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sherri H.

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

Great Space

Thank you Troy and Cody! This layout and space of your home was perfect for the needs of our two families (9 children). We greatly appreciated the outdoor space for eating and the multiple bunkbeds.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Steve F.

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

We had a wonderful time. Troy is a great host and very accommodating. The house was perfect for us.

Awesome experience! We’d definitely rent this house again for our big family.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Joy C.

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

It was a great place to spend Christmas

We had all items we could need. Made a full Christmas dinner and had up to 8 adults and 4 kids. Everyone had something to do! The Buffalo was a big hit and the dogs couldn’t get passed the kitty cat!!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

David D.

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

Bachelor party was a success

Just a great place with good neighbors!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jodie W.

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

Labor day fun

We had a really great time. The property is located within 2 blocks of the convenience store and walking distance to cougar park. We played at the lake and loved the fireplace and pool table. Thanks again Troy for the wonderful time.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Donna E.

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

Family Friendly Property

The kids (and some adults) loved the game room. Found out my 13 year old grandson is a pool shark! The location was great for going to Ape Caves, and Yale Lake. We also took a day trip to the Johnston Ridge Observatory in the Mt. St. Helens National Monument. We all enjoyed our stay. The kids had lots of questions about the decor!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Walda C.

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

Peaceful, wonderful memories

Everything from first questions to final good bye was so easy, informative and friendly. This place was an oasis of calm, peacefulness, games and things to do. I am so grateful I found this place and dealt with Troy through the whole experience. Would highly recommend for any type of getaway or get together.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Maggie H.

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

Fun property for a big gathering

Lots to do around Cougar and the house is very accommodating for big groups.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sergey B.

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

Beautiful house in Cougar

It was unfortunate that weather did not cooperate: it was raining one of the days. But the house offers a lot of activities that made the day even in spite of the rain. Thanks a lot!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Tonya R.

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

33rd birthday week

Me and my family came here for my 33rd birthday and it was perfect. With 7 kids and all us adults we were never bored. The neighborhood is so quiet and the neighbors are very friendly. The kids got creeped out by the mannequins but the kids had fun naming them. We will definitely be coming back for another family trip soon. Thank you for having us.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2021

About the host

Hosted by Troy S Zuercher

Host profile image
Brothers, Best Friends, Partners

Why they chose this property

This is the best and closest property to everything around Cougar.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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