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A quiet, private retreat along a babbling brook in the Adirondack High Peaks

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A cabin with a wooden deck, large windows, and a green roof, surrounded by dense forest.
Property video
A cabin surrounded by a forest with a stream running through.
A cozy interior with a wooden ceiling, a dining area with a table and chairs, a rocking chair, and a staircase leading to an upper level.
A rustic cabin with a steeply pitched roof, a front porch, and a small staircase leading to the entrance.

Reviews

10 out of 10, Loved by Guests
Top 10% of guest reviews in this area

Highlights

  • Garage parking available
    Enjoy the convenience of garage parking - a rare offering in the area.
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 5

Popular amenities

  • Patio
  • Barbecue grill
  • Air-conditioning
  • Refrigerator
  • Garage parking available
  • Washing machine

Explore the area

View in a map
Elizabethtown, NY
  • Place, Hurricane Mountain Wilderness
    ‪21 min walk‬
  • Airport, Lake Placid, NY (LKP)
    ‪36 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 5)

First Floor Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

Loft

1 Single Bed and 1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden

About this property

A quiet, private retreat along a babbling brook in the Adirondack High Peaks

Private 40-acre retreat directly surrounded by the 23,100-acre Giant Mountain Wilderness Preserve. A babbling brook runs behind the cabin; the Owl's Head Lookout trailhead is steps away, with the High Peaks further down the path. Gather at the fire pit each night, wake to the sound of a mountain stream. Fully stocked: wood stove, screened porch, firewood, games, library, full kitchen. Guests call it "food for the soul." Four seasons.

Owl's Head is our family's personal vacation home — and it shows. Everything here reflects how much we love this property, from the curated library and game dresser to the firewood stacked and waiting. As one guest put it: "When we visit it truly feels like we are staying at a friend's cabin. Hands down our favorite place in the ADK."

Outside: A brook runs behind the cabin — audible from the screened porch, the open deck, and through the windows at night. The fire pit sits right at the water's edge. The Owl's Head Lookout & Giant Mountain trailhead is steps from the driveway, with the 23,100-acre Giant Mountain Wilderness Preserve surrounding the property on all sides. If you want a shorter hiking adventure, we have our own marked private trails for you to explore.

Inside: Queen bed downstairs. Upstairs loft with one queen and one single, plus a reading corner and DVD collection. Full bath with shower downstairs. Fully equipped kitchen. Screened-in porch with futon — usable as a guest bed in warm weather. Open deck with gas grill, table, and chairs.

Everything included: Linens for all beds, towels, firewood and kindling, coffee and cooking essentials, bath products, first aid kit, binoculars, trail guides, board games, and a full DVD library. Bring food and clothes. That's it!
Guests have full access to the entire house, garage, and all 40 acres. Explore the private nature trails, follow the brook downstream, cross the 40-foot suspension bridge, or simply relax by the fire. The driveway is mostly flat — no four-wheel drive needed in normal conditions. In winter, the driveway is plowed by our local property manager.

We don't live on the property but we're actively involved in every stay. We respond quickly by phone and email, and a local caretaker is nearby if anything needs attention on-site. A few days before your arrival, we'll send you full check-in details via email. The cabin is thoroughly cleaned and all linens freshly laundered after every stay.

Fully unplugged: There is no WiFi and no cell service on the property. A land line is available for phone calls, and cell service returns about five minutes toward Elizabethtown if needed. Our guests consistently tell us it's one of their favorite things about staying here.

Summer booking structure: Summer stays run Saturday to Saturday, 7 nights minimum. This reflects the rhythm of the High Peaks season and allows our crew to properly prepare the cabin between guests. Two-week summer stays are available at a discount with the same Saturday cadence. Off-season bookings are flexible with a 2-night minimum.

House rules agreement: Because this is our family's personal home — fully outfitted and cared for — we ask all guests to review and sign a house rules agreement before arrival. It's straightforward and simply reflects the standard of care we put into the property.

Essex County, NY Certificate of Occupancy Number: OCC-000189

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
No exceptions.
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Pets

No pets allowed
No exceptions.
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No exceptions.
Guests must agree to a House Rules Agreement that is available for review upon request, and will automatically be emailed to the guest upon booking.

Important information

You need to know

Property Registration Number OCC-000189
Property # 1558555vb
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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Note from host: No exceptions.
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

About the area

Elizabethtown

Located in Elizabethtown, this cottage is in a rural area. Cobble Hill Golf Course and Ledge Hill Brewing Company are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Jay Mountain Wilderness and Hulls Falls. Adirondack Reflections and Dartbrook Rustic Goods are also worth visiting. Enjoy the area's slopes with cross-country skiing, snowboarding and skiing, and don't miss out on the sledging.
Map
Elizabethtown, NY

Getting around

  • Westport Station - 18 min drive
  • Lake Placid, NY (LKP) - 26 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Stewart's Shops - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Noon Mark Diner - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Pleasant Valley Café - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Ausable Inn - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Counter Space - ‬7 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is A quiet, private retreat along a babbling brook in the Adirondack High Peaks pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at A quiet, private retreat along a babbling brook in the Adirondack High Peaks?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at A quiet, private retreat along a babbling brook in the Adirondack High Peaks?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at A quiet, private retreat along a babbling brook in the Adirondack High Peaks?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is A quiet, private retreat along a babbling brook in the Adirondack High Peaks located?

Situated in a rural location, this cottage is within 6 miles (10 km) of Cobble Hill Golf Course, Elizabethtown Community Hospital and Elizabethtown Town Hall. Adirondack History Museum and Elizabethtown Circulating Library are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 19 out of 19 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 19 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 19 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 19 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 19 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Marty and Nancy have a beautiful cabin and piece of property on an idyllic brook which is wonderfully maintained. Our stay here met and exceeded expectations. We hope to stay here again in the future.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A comfortable house which has been exceedingly well maintained. Special features are a covered porch on three sides with a screened in porch on the fourth side - plus a roomy open deck. The property has a well built bridge across the brook and a blazed private trail that leads to the Owls Head / Giant Trail. Loved it.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Everything was great
Climbed Dial and Nippletop mountains
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful quiet cottage with excellent furnishings and opportunities for campfires. Particularly liked the private trails in the back and fire-ring by the creek.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Idyllic Adirondack cabin in a gorgeous setting

Our family’s stay at Owl’s Head cabin was the perfect ADK weekend. Marty and Nancy are delightful hosts who thought of every last detail. The cabin and property are breathtaking and made for a beautiful, private respite — we would love to stay again soon!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Fantastic

Stayed here with my husband, my mom, and my two kids, ages 6 and 9. The property is beautiful and secluded and the brook running behind the house is perfect for the kids to play in. The photos don’t really do it justice! We went to The Wild Center in Tupper Lake, Ausable Chasm, Whiteface Veterans Memorial Highway and Lake Placid, so this property is not too far from some great attractions. There are fans and AC, so we were very comfortable. Perfect stay!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Owl’s Head Cabin is nestled into the forest, next to a cold mountain stream. Nothing but beautiful trees, plants, and flowers to be seen from cabin. You hear the stream rippling over rocks the whole time. The cabin is cozy, very clean, and rustic, yet contains all necessary modern comforts. The linens are all really nice. My favorite bed was the futon on the screened porch. The stream provides true nature sounds. The sun and birdsong woke me early. We enjoyed campfires, playing in the water, and some total relaxation, even with a 3 and 1-year-old. We did some day trips, but my favorite days were spent right there by the stream. No cell service! Glorious! If you are squeamish about a few ants in your home…well, you probably aren’t vacationing in the Adirondacks. Five stars for Owl’s Head. We can’t wait to stay there again!
Short hike on trail nextdoor
Creekside, looking up at cabin
Screened porch nestled among plants
Morning view from futon bed - picture does not capture the beauty
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 15 Jul, 2025
We are happy to hear you enjoyed your stay at our family’s ADK high peaks home! Also, thank you for the heads up seeing a few ants inside. Our cleaning crew and property manager have both already addressed the issue.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Owl’s Head Cabin was the perfect vacation spot for us. The cabin is beautifully furnished with carefully curated ADK furniture. Everything in this vacation home is of high quality, and the owners have very thoughtfully supplied everything a guest could wish for -- fluffy bath towels, shampoo and extra personal products, LLBean-type bedding, cables to charge various devices, extra batteries, large collection of books DVDs & games, matching dishes, commonly-used kitchen items, dry firewood …the list is endless. The cabin has a porch wrapping around all 4 sides, half of which is screened in – the perfect place for reading on rainy days and for bug-free enjoyment of the surrounding forest, including a plethora of hummingbirds at the feeders. The staircase to the loft is VERY STEEP, but there are hand rails on both sides. A babbling brook with a well-developed shoreline is just steps from the cabin, and there are plenty of outdoor chairs around the fire pit. Private well-marked hiking trails lead from the cabin into the woods, and 1 connects with a public trailhead. Awesome biking on the ADK Rail Trail is just a short drive away. The owners provided in advance a very detailed welcome guide which answered all our questions. There is no cell service or internet at the cabin, so we were truly unplugged; but could connect after just a short drive to Elizabethtown. The owners’ amazing attention to detail makes this cabin a real gem. Perfect! We give it 20 stars!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great Secluded Getaway

Great property. Easily accessible. Very secluded. This was a great property in the woods and is very quiet. If you are looking for a relaxing great place this is it! The property was clean, up to date amenities and a great place!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

It's all about the brook

Such a sweet spot! My son and I really appreciated unplugging, hiking from the house and driving just short little trips for a dinner out in Keene.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great Get Away

Everything about this trip was perfect. Starting with the in depth directions and owner guide, this secluded little slice of heaven was all that we could ask for. The owners make it very easy to locate and simple to check in. The property is the epitome of the Adirondack experience, minutes away from Lake Placid and many high peaks.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2021
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Valentine’s Day getaway

Wonderful stay and highly recommended. The owners keep a beautiful cottage and my partner and I hope to visit again someday during the warmer season. Owl’s Head Cabin was cozy, clean, and well accommodated. Thank you Marty and Nancy!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2021
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Owl's Head Cabin

What a great, well appointed cabin in an ideal location for nature lovers. The cabin has beautiful traditional Adirondack furniture, a wide range of reading materials (especially some awesome trail guides and local points of interest), a well appointed kitchen, and a great wood stove for winter nights.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2021
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Epically relaxing!

My wife and I stayed at the cabin for two nights. We were able to kick our shoes off and relax immediately after arriving. Everything was ready for us when we got there. The provided firewood was easily accessible and extremely plentiful. We took full advantage of the fire ring by the brook and the stove in the cabin. I thought for sure we'd burn through it all but boy was I wrong. There was so much there. We had fun sipping on our drinks and taking little hikes around the trail on the property and then back to the fire ring to warm up before our next lap. Made dinner both nights which was super easy due to all the supplied dishes and utensils. Bed was cozy too. Was an extremely peaceful spot to be at for 2 days. Our only complaint was that we didn't book it for an additional night. We won't make that mistake next time. :)
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Oasis

Super charming and relaxing spot with chances to dunk in the cool brook, hike up Owl’s Head Lookout with terrific views and wonder firefly evening displays. It was a much needed unplugged vacation after a grueling three months of online school and work. We will most definitely be coming back. The cabin became a home❤️
Stayed 13 nights in Jun 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

The home I would want in the Adirondacks

Our stay at Owl's Head cottage was more than we could have imagined. The property was immaculate and full of Adirondack charm, from pictures on the wall to the local magazines & guides available. We all remarked on how comfortable the rustic furniture was. Everything was in perfect working order and everything you would need was easily available. The kitchen was well stocked as was the bathroom. Plenty of wood was available to enjoy the wood stove, which was a real treat after long days of winter hiking. The proximity to different trailheads was ideal (you can see one through the trees) for our stay. The place is set far enough away from the road that you enjoy your privacy, yet are just a short drive away to Keene, Keene Valley, and Elizabethtown so you can stock up on provisions. This is exactly the type of property in the Adirondacks we would have wanted to own for ourselves!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

What The Doctor Ordered

Arrived and everything is ready to go - heat is on, wood for the stove is cut, and there is plenty of it. Nothing to do but let the relaxing begin - a quick walk across the property to a trailhead up the mountain, the sound of a mountain stream when you open the back door, a 25 minute ride to Lake Placid - and about the same to the Essex Ferry across Lake Champlain. Great communication between myself and the owner, and a property manager available for emergency service. The seven year old referred to our trip as "epic". Pretty sure that means he had as good a time as the adults did. We plan on returning in the spring.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2019
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Idyllic Adirondacks Setting

My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Owl's Head Cabin. The property is beautiful and relaxing. We highly recommend this rental.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2019
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Relaxation tucked into a perfect corner of the forest

Spent an amazing week here for family vacation. The location is great for privacy and relaxation in the forest. Lake Placid is a drive, but close enough to make the trip to spend the day exploring the Olympic sights or for dinner. Plenty of nearby hiking. The cottage was clean and well cared for. We spent time enjoying the spacious deck, the screen porch and the backyard creek. Great place to relax in the Adirondacks.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019

About the host

Hosted by Marty & Nancy Krebs

Host profile image
Live in Upstate New York with my wife Nancy and our two sons. We love all things ADK: hiking, mountain climbing, camping, canoeing, skiing, snowshoeing, relaxing by the fire or reading by the babbling brook.

Why they chose this property

We have been visiting the ADK park our entire lives. When we first rented this cottage a few years ago, we fell in love with it. If you are looking for a cozy, quiet, retreat that is a great launch point for high peak hikes, we think you will love this place too.

What makes this property unique

This property is nestled in a private 40 acre plot right in the Giant Wilderness Area. Aside from a peaceful babbling brook out the back door, the Owls Head Lookout and Giant Mountain trailhead is right out the front door.

Languages:

English
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