The only Bear Valley lakefront + beachfront cabin with ski in-out access
This is the only Bear Valley cabin for rent with a lakefront + beachfront location, making it perfect for summer/water fun.
WINTER ACCESS: When snow closes Bear Valley's village roads to vehicles, the final mile to The Lake Chalet is car-free. Guests park near Bear Valley Lodge and continue via a snowmobile taxi arranged in advance, or by skiing, pulling gear on a sled, or walking. Road status, snow conditions, and taxi availability vary. By booking a winter stay, you confirm everyone in your group understands and can manage this access.
Designed by San Francisco Bay Bridge architect Don McDonald, the Lake Chalet is ideal for relaxation and outdoor adventures for up to three families.
Come discover this charming, two-story cabin with three private bedrooms, a large sleeping loft, two bathrooms, a Vermont Castings wood stove, decks, a pellet grill, and lake views.
Know before you book: the cozy loft is accessed by a vertical ladder (please see the photo with our 3 yr old climbing it; best for kids/ladder-comfortable adults; not recommended for seniors or those with mobility concerns). Our scenic mountain neighborhood includes a steep driveway typical of the area; standard/AWD vehicles handle it well. We welcome dogs at the cabin, and around Bear Valley, but the community beach and lake have HOA rules that do not allow dogs on the sand or in the water (this is a community policy that applies to all homes on the lake).
LAKE and BEACH
During summer, swimming, fishing, paddleboarding, and non-motorized boating are popular. The cabin is located just above a small community beach. Bear Lake is open water with no lifeguard; depth, temperature, shoreline conditions, and weather can change. Children, non-advanced swimmers, and non-swimmers require active adult supervision. We do not provide boats, paddleboards, or life jackets.
SLEEPING:
This cabin was designed to comfortably accommodate three families with children. The cabin is approximately 2,000 sq. feet and total sleeping capacity is twelve (12) people. The three (3) downstairs bedrooms feature two king size beds and one queen. The mattresses are new and high quality (eg Tempur-Pedic, Purple). The three downstairs bedrooms can suitably accommodate six (6) adults in total.
The upstairs sleeping loft can accommodate at least 6 children (or 5-6 adults) on two high-quality queen size mattresses, and two stackable Ikea single beds. The loft is accessible via dual ladders located on either side of the living room wood stove and feature trap doors that can be lowered for added safety.
BATHROOMS:
Two (2) separate bathrooms, each featuring a toilet, sink, and shower.
KITCHEN and DINING:
Kitchen includes the following features and appliances:
Electrolux electric induction stovetop and oven, full-size Summit refrigerator, Asko dishwasher, coffee machine and French press, microwave, toaster, mixer/blender, ice cream making machine, stovetop tea kettle, etc. Off the kitchen are an Asko washer & dryer.
The lakeside deck features a new Z Grills 2025 Smoke Beast 10502B Pellet Grill and BBQ tools.
The indoor dining table can accommodate ten (10) people. There is a breakfast bar and stools and additional table seating on the outside decks.
EV CHARGING, INTERNET, TV and BACKUP POWER
A Wallbox Pulsar Plus Level 2 EV charger provides a 48-amp, 240V J1772 connection. We keep a J1772-to-Tesla/NACS adapter at the cabin, but Tesla drivers should bring their own adapter as a backup.
The cabin features high-speed/low-latency Starlink satellite internet service, suitable for video work calls, gaming, TV streaming, etc. The cabin also has a Tesla Powerwall 3 whole-house backup battery that should be able to provide Internet/electrical for approximately 24-48 hours (depending on use) during a grid outage. There is an additional Jackery Explorer 700 Plus Portable Power Station backup battery as well.
Two internet-connected LG TVs are available: a 48-inch OLED 4K TV in the loft and a 32-inch 4K TV in the bedroom off the lakeside deck. Guests may use the existing Amazon Prime Video and Plex services and sign into their own apps.
WOOD BURNING STOVE and HEATING
We have a Vermont Castings wood burning stove, which utilizes all the renewable and freely available firewood sourced from Bear Valley’s fire risk mitigation efforts. The wood stove is capable of generating sufficient warmth to heat the entire cabin throughout winter nights.
We also have central heating as well as heating options available in each bedroom to ensure a comfy night of sleep.
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Pets allowed: dogs less than 453 kg per pet (limit 2 pets total)
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Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Check-out instructions
The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Load and start the dishwasher
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights, lock the doors and return the keys
Turn furnace thermostat (on wall by kitchen) off. Close air/damper/ash drawer on wood burning stove. Unplug 3 space heaters. Turn off baseboard heaters in SE bedroom and dining room and wall heaters.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
No outdoor fires or guest fire pits/devices (wood, charcoal, propane or gas). Only the host-provided pellet grill may be used for cooking.
Community beach and lake follow HOA rules: no dogs on sand or in water. Dogs welcome at the cabin and throughout the rest of Bear Valley
Loft accessed by vertical ladder; not recommended for seniors/guests with mobility concerns. Children must be supervised.
Important information
You need to know
Property # 3953123vb
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
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
Arnold
Located in Arnold, this cabin is in the mountains and on the beach. Bear Valley Cross Country and Adventure Company and Bear Valley Ski are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Lake Alpine and Stanislaus Meadow Trailhead. Enjoy the area's slopes with cross-country skiing and snowboarding, and don't miss out on the sledging and snowmobiling.
Bear Valley Cross Country and Adventure Company - 18 min walk - 1.5 km
Lake Alpine - 10 min drive - 8.3 km
Bear Valley Ski - 10 min drive - 8.3 km
Calaveras Big Trees State Park - 43 min drive - 43.1 km
White Pines Lake - 54 min drive - 54.3 km
Getting around
Lake Tahoe, CA (TVL) - 122 min drive
Restaurants
Monte Wolfe Saloon - 11 min drive
Lake Alpine Lodge - 7 min drive
Ebbetts Grill - 11 min drive
Kofi Haus - 12 min walk
Sunrise Cafe - 11 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is The only Bear Valley lakefront + beachfront cabin with ski in-out access pet-friendly?
Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 453 kg per pet.
How much is parking at The only Bear Valley lakefront + beachfront cabin with ski in-out access?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at The only Bear Valley lakefront + beachfront cabin with ski in-out access?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at The only Bear Valley lakefront + beachfront cabin with ski in-out access?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is The only Bear Valley lakefront + beachfront cabin with ski in-out access located?
Nestled on the beach, this Arnold cabin is 0.9 mi (1.4 km) from Bear Valley Cross Country and Adventure Company and 2.3 mi (3.8 km) from Bear Valley Ski. Lake Alpine and Balancing Rock are also within 6 miles (10 km).
About the host
Hosted by Molly
We love Bear Valley and are excited to share our cabin for newcomers or those already familiar with this still realatively hidden Sierra gem.
Why they chose this property
This cabin is one of approximately a dozen cabins situated right on Bear Valley Lake. It also located right above a beach that is perfect for all ages. Swimming, boating, fishing are some of our favorite summer activities.
In the winer you can ski in/out and never have to get in your car until it is time to leave.
What makes this property unique
The property was designed and built in 1968 by legendary San Francisco Bay Bridge architect of record, Donal McDonald, who as of 2024 is not only alive and but still working at the young age of 87! In the photos we've included a magazine profile of the cabin, and we have all of Donald's books in the cabin library.