Cabin

Private Nature Retreat. Dog-Friendly. Fenced Yard. Hot Tub. Walk/Bike to Trails

Riverside cabin with kitchen and patio

Photo gallery for Private Nature Retreat. Dog-Friendly. Fenced Yard. Hot Tub. Walk/Bike to Trails

A bluebird day!
A beautiful November afternoon.
Private setting surrounded by winter serenity.  Convenient access to side yard.
Waiting for your arrival.  Easy covered access from parking pad.
Nestled in a winter wonnderland, the epic winter of 22-23

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 61176 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Fireplace

Explore the area

View in a map
South Lake Tahoe, CA
  • Place, Lake Valley State Recreation Area
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Place, Heavenly Gondola
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • Place, The Shops at Heavenly Village
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • Airport, Lake Tahoe, CA (TVL)
    ‪5 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 2

1 King Bed

Den

1 Queen Bed and 1 Single Bunk Bed

Master Bedroom

1 King Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Bathroom 2 Master

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Private Nature Retreat. Dog-Friendly. Fenced Yard. Hot Tub. Walk/Bike to Trails

Escape, Unplug & Unwind at Muskwaki Pines

Welcome to Muskwaki Pines, your serene Lake Tahoe getaway tucked away in one of South Shore’s best-kept secret neighborhoods. Escape the everyday and reconnect with nature in this peaceful retreat—nestled off the beaten path, yet just minutes from all Tahoe has to offer.

The Perfect Blend of Privacy & Proximity

Set just off Pioneer Trail, Muskwaki Pines backs up to open forest and meadowland along the Upper Truckee River—only a ten-minute walk from the front door. The home’s tranquil setting offers meadow, forest, and mountain views, along with regular visits from Tahoe’s local wildlife, including bears, coyotes, migratory birds, and the occasional raccoon. Though you’re only fifteen minutes from Lake Tahoe’s beaches, trails, and attractions, you may never want to leave.

Experience Tahoe Year-Round

Every season has its magic here.

Spring: Rivers and creeks brim with snowmelt, meadows burst with wildflowers, and birds migrate north.

Summer: Long sunny days invite mountain biking, hiking, and lakeside lounging.

Fall: Cooler air, vibrant foliage, and peaceful trails make this a local favorite time of year.

Winter: Step out the front door for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing through the Upper Truckee River meadow, or hit one of three world-class ski resorts—Heavenly (15 min), Sierra-at-Tahoe (20 min), or Kirkwood (30 min).

Outdoor Adventure Awaits

Bring your mountain bike and hit legendary Tahoe trails like Powerline, Fountain Place, Hawley Grade, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, and Angora Ridge—all within pedaling distance. In warmer months, set up a game of bocce or croquet on the lawn; in winter, build snowmen or relax in the four-person hot tub under a starlit sky with minimal light pollution.

Your Mountain Home Away from Home

Lovingly maintained by its longtime owners for over 30 years, Muskwaki Pines is fully stocked for comfort and convenience. The cozy interior features lodge-style furnishings, Tahoe-inspired artwork, and large windows that frame the surrounding nature.

3 Bedrooms / 2 Bathrooms: Two king bedrooms with plush pillow-top mattresses, and a third bedroom with a twin-over-queen bunk.

Kitchen: Well-equipped with appliances, cookware, and essentials—plus a hard-wired natural gas BBQ (no propane tanks needed).

Living Area: Spacious and inviting with a large Smart TV and a fireplace perfect for cozy nights in.

Laundry Room: Fully stocked and conveniently located off the kitchen.

Work Ready: High-speed WiFi and office supplies for guests who need to stay connected.

Step outside to your private fenced yard—ideal for pets—and take in the mountain air from the deck. Catch a spectacular sunset or unwind in the hot tub as the stars emerge overhead.

Guest & County Info

Sleeps up to 7 guests (El Dorado County limits occupancy to 6 guests over age 6; a 7th guest under age 6 is permitted with an additional fee).

Quiet hours: 10:00 PM – 8:00 AM

Please observe county parking, trash, and leash regulations.
For details, visit El Dorado County Vacation Rental Guidelines
.

Permit #: 073774

Owner is a licensed California DRE Real Estate Broker.

Stay With Us Again

Many of our guests return year after year to make Muskwaki Pines their Tahoe tradition. And if your travels take you south of the border, visit us at the Lucky Tree Ranch near Ensenada, Baja California—featuring the fully equipped Casita de Caballos (Vrbo #2784687) and the romantic Stargazer Glamping Suite (Vrbo #3602633).

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Hot tub
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Property is not child proof.
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs (limit 2 total)
2 Well Behaved attended dogs welcome. Leash law.
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
$300 fine for smoking
Winter parking maximum is two vehicles, no street parking allowed. Inquire with owner for more details.
Guest must read and sign rental agreement, provide photo ID prior to release of access info. Only 6 person over age of 6. Contact host to add people.
Quiet hours between 10:00 PM and 8:00 AM, including no hot tub or outside deck use during those hours as mandated by El Dorado County Ordinance.

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
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, a first aid kit and a deadlock
Property Registration Number El Dorado County VHR Permit #073774

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

South Lake Tahoe

Located on a river, this cabin is in Pioneer Trail, a neighbourhood in South Lake Tahoe. Heavenly Ski Resort and Heavenly Gondola are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Emerald Bay State Park. Magic Carpet Golf and Heavenly Village Ice Rink are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
South Lake Tahoe, CA

What's nearby

  • Lake Valley State Recreation Area - 4 min drive - 3.2 km
  • Heavenly Ski Resort - 10 min drive - 9.7 km
  • Lakeside Beach - 11 min drive - 11.2 km
  • Heavenly Gondola - 11 min drive - 11.2 km
  • The Shops at Heavenly Village - 11 min drive - 11.2 km

Getting around

  • Lake Tahoe, CA (TVL) - 7 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Cascade Kitchens - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Bert's Cafe - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Crazy Good Bakery Cafe - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Lake Tahoe AleWorX - ‬9 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Private Nature Retreat. Dog-Friendly. Fenced Yard. Hot Tub. Walk/Bike to Trails pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total).

How much is parking at Private Nature Retreat. Dog-Friendly. Fenced Yard. Hot Tub. Walk/Bike to Trails?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Private Nature Retreat. Dog-Friendly. Fenced Yard. Hot Tub. Walk/Bike to Trails?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Private Nature Retreat. Dog-Friendly. Fenced Yard. Hot Tub. Walk/Bike to Trails?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Private Nature Retreat. Dog-Friendly. Fenced Yard. Hot Tub. Walk/Bike to Trails located?

Located in Pioneer Trail, this cabin is within 3 miles (5 km) of Lake Valley State Recreation Area, Lake Tahoe Golf Course and Washoe Meadows State Park. Magic Carpet Golf is 2.8 mi (4.5 km) away.

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 219 out of 292 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 60 out of 292 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 9 out of 292 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 292 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 3 out of 292 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Nancy K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The house met all our needs, description is accurate. The place is homey and the enclosed yard is great for dogs. We enjoyed the nearby trails. The owners are super communicative and readily available.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Randall M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Phillip H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We’re trying to make it a habit of going with our same friends every year or two Lake Tahoe, and we want to stay here every time!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Lorabeth B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Overall good stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Abbye M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a great time at this home! It was in a great location that was close to town and the perfect size for our family. The check in process was nice as well. We could’ve used more fans in the back bedrooms but other than that it was great!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Christopher V.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy
House was perfect for our stay, back deck was very enjoyable, house across street needs some TLC, and neighbor to the right seems to be passive aggressive by storing a bunch of building materials right next to the deck of the rental causing a bit of an eyesore. Owners were very easy to work with and property was as presented.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kelly M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great place, very peaceful and nice big yard for my pups to play. Big comfortable beds. Nice antique furniture pieces throughout the house. The best for us was the tip on taking a trail walkable from the house, down to the upper Truckee river. Beautiful weather helped make it a great stay.
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Meredith G.

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

Great place to stay

The property was great. Lots of space for our family and small dogs. The backyard and deck were great and so quiet. Would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Kristi I.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The hot tub was great. It was nice to have a fenced back yard.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Randy S.

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

Great birthday

Brought my dog Rose with me for a birthday weekend a day or two. We had a wonderful time, great location, really nice home, well stocked kitchen and owner super responsive and helpful. We will definitely be back, highly recommend.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Misty M.

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

Great hosts

Sue and Neal were great host very accommodating even offered us a cheaper extra day rental if we didn’t want to drive back home in bad weather! Place was perfect for a quiet get away in the mountains! Will definetly be back again!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

8/10 Good

Jamie W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The home is cute and very clean. Older furnishings and carpet but well kept. The beds were comfy and enough for what we needed. The hallway bathroom door did not shut well or lock which could be an issue for some, but being it was just our family staying there it was not an issue for us. Our dog loved it there and the enclosed back yard was great. The short walk to the trail and river was so beautiful and was dog heaven. We went oh a hike there everyday we were there.The hosts were exceptional and very responsive. When arrivedthe hotub looked less than inviting. The water looked cloudy and dirty. After contacting the owner they arranged to come out the next morning to empty the hotub, clean it and refill it with water. After that we felt comfortable using the hot tub later that night. Thank you to the owners for taking care of tge issyes that came up during our stay. It was quiet and a great place to star gaze at night. We enjoyed oyr stay. Thank you.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Shannon C.

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

Relaxing

Great place. Simple, clean, and peaceful. Love the area. Beautiful views and surroundings.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tom M.

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

Very nice, spacious, quiet place

We really loved the cabin and neighborhood. It's especially beautiful in the snow. It's very clean and well maintained and the fireplace makes it a very nice cozy place.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

dane e.

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

Relaxing and Quiet Getaway

Beautiful and quiet. A great place to get away from everything for a while and enjoy the peace and scenery of the Tahoe area, but only still minutes away from South Lake.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kandi F.

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

Nice place

We had a great time, would definitely stay again.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Miguel C.

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

Cozy winter stay

This was the second time my husband and I have stayed at this cabin. We brought our dogs to enjoy the snow with us. The hot tub was really nice to be in at night to see the beautiful stars. Inside was cozy and easy to make yourself feel at home. Owners are quick to respond and communicate well. Will definitely be back in the future!
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ashley R.

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

Tahoe trip

The house was perfect for our group of 62 dogs. Great to have a friend in backyard for the dogs to play. Hot tub was wonderful. Great communication with the owners, particularly when we had an issue with one of the heaters. They were very responsive and sent someone out the next morning to fix the problem
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

8/10 Good

Lindsay H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

South Lake Getaway

I booked this place because it was pet friendly, had a hot tub, and looked private. The space itself is pretty dated, but has some modern updates with a nice kitchen. The location is great! The house was very clean. We did have someone who said they worked for the property stop by unannounced to look at a camera. That was a little weird since I was in the hot tub. Overall a positive experience and very comfortable.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Daniel K.

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

Great Stay

We had a terrific time! Great spot for the dogs. The hosts were kind, responsive, and generous. Would definitely stay again!
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2024

8/10 Good

Arelys M.

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

Stay in Tahoe

Comfortable and central but small. Host very communicative. Would stay again.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Richard F.

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

Great and comfortable

Very relaxing didn’t want to leave
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Vincent P.

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

Weekend Getaway

I love the location and the cleanliness. It’s my 3rd time staying here.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Nina G.

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

Amazing 4th

We had a great time. The house had everything we needed. It was very homey
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Casey R.

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

Comfortable and that hot tub!

Very clean and relaxing stay. The hottub was highly utilized, it made the stay so nice. Then inside to a roaring fire and games. The host was amazing and everything was just taken care of.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

About the host

Hosted by Sue and Neal

Host profile image
Lake Tahoe is a special place. We have lived in Tahoe for over 40 years. Once you plant you feet you never want to leave. Max and Riley, our dogs, loved to go to the Upper Truckee River and splash in the water. As scuba divers, we have explored all around the shores of the lake. As boaters, we enjoy our outings in the summer and fall on the big blue.

Why they chose this property

Anytime of year is paradise here. This area is one of South Lake Tahoe's best kept secrets. It is off the beaten path with open space and fewer homes than most areas. The property is bordered by meadow and forest on 3 sides. The natural world is at your fingertips. The Upper Truckee River meadowland is a 10-minute walk out the front door. You can hop on your bike and hit world-class mountain bike trails in minutes.

What makes this property unique

Private setting, Fresh Mountain Air, tall pines and a beautiful lake. The river and flower studded meadow is a short walk from the front door. Wildlife cruises right through the property.

Languages:

English, Spanish

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests