Entire home
Spectacular view over San Diego County to Mt. Laguna, downtown, Catalina Island.
Photo gallery for Spectacular view over San Diego County to Mt. Laguna, downtown, Catalina Island.





Reviews
9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 61600 sq ft
Popular amenities
Explore the area

Palomar Mountain, CA
- Place, Palomar Mountain State Park8 min drive
- Place, Sengme Oaks Water Park13 min drive
- Place, Harrah's Resort Southern California19 min drive
- Airport, Carlsbad, CA (CLD-McClellan-Palomar)76 min drive
Rooms & beds
3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)
Bedroom 1
1 Queen Bed
Bedroom 2
1 Double Bed
Bedroom 3
1 Double Bed
2 bathrooms
Bathroom 1
Toilet · Shower only
Bathroom 2
Bathtub or shower · Toilet
Spaces
Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Dining area
About this property
Spectacular view over San Diego County to Mt. Laguna, downtown, Catalina Island.
Please note, 3 night minimums for Tgiving, Xmas, New Year's.
Private cabin in the trees built in the early 1900s has been upgraded but retains all its rustic original charm. Watch eagles fly at eye level, clouds roll in, sunsets and moonsets in the ocean. Bobcats, wild turkeys, and deer regularly walk through the property. Decorated by owner with antiques and comfortable furniture (not all in pristine, new condition!) , large view deck for grilling and sitting in the sun, sauna. Dramatic infinity deck on mountain edge for sunset cocktails, morning yoga. Fully equipped kitchen, propane grill, tv, dvd player. Three bedrooms each with a queen or full bed, two couches could accommodate kids. Short drive from hiking, the Palomar Observatory, fishing at Lake Henshaw, entertainment at Harrah's Rincon Casino. Wonderful place to spend a snowy weekend, but 4 wheel drive and chains are needed on the few occasions when snow is deep. Some guest complaints: cluttered [cluttered with board games, coloring materials, telescopes, astronomy, bird, Palomar history books, maybe cluttered just a little]; cobwebs [if you search, you can probably find one or two, cleaned thoroughly after every guest]; feels like we're housesitting [hmmmm- this is a complaint?]. Best guest comment ever: 'It's clearly a well-loved and special place.' BINGO. Thanks, Emily. No dishwasher, I'm afraid.
Note: 3 night minimum for Xmas, New Years, Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day weekends.
CONTACT OWNER FOR EXTENDED STAY (more than 3 nights) RATES.
WINTER BOOKING ADVISORY!!!
Winter is snow time, which is good and bad. Caltrans has a station up on the mountain and they start plowing the paved roads very quickly when snow starts. Unfortunately, there is nobody up on the mountain who plows private drives, and my cabin is about 500 feet up a dirt branch road that is not plowed. If you plan to be there at a time when snow is predicted, your options are to park near the paved road (but be sure not to park right on side of the road where your car will interfere with plowing or be covered by snow pushed aside by the plow), or plan a long day of shoveling yourself out by hand. I’ve done this shoveling myself before, and it takes a good while. One guest last winter took 8 hours to do this, and they were not happy campers by the end of the day. If you have long time existing reservations and there is a massive storm predicted to hit just before or during your stay, I will of course promise a no penalty cancellation if you chose not to go. Being up there with snow is a wonderful experience, as long as you have supplies and can relax and enjoy.
House rules: treat this old place with courtesy and common sense: recycle, clean up reasonably after yourself, turn off lights and cooling/heating when not needed and on departure, close and lock doors and windows when leaving- sometimes I don't get up to clean for several days.
Private cabin in the trees built in the early 1900s has been upgraded but retains all its rustic original charm. Watch eagles fly at eye level, clouds roll in, sunsets and moonsets in the ocean. Bobcats, wild turkeys, and deer regularly walk through the property. Decorated by owner with antiques and comfortable furniture (not all in pristine, new condition!) , large view deck for grilling and sitting in the sun, sauna. Dramatic infinity deck on mountain edge for sunset cocktails, morning yoga. Fully equipped kitchen, propane grill, tv, dvd player. Three bedrooms each with a queen or full bed, two couches could accommodate kids. Short drive from hiking, the Palomar Observatory, fishing at Lake Henshaw, entertainment at Harrah's Rincon Casino. Wonderful place to spend a snowy weekend, but 4 wheel drive and chains are needed on the few occasions when snow is deep. Some guest complaints: cluttered [cluttered with board games, coloring materials, telescopes, astronomy, bird, Palomar history books, maybe cluttered just a little]; cobwebs [if you search, you can probably find one or two, cleaned thoroughly after every guest]; feels like we're housesitting [hmmmm- this is a complaint?]. Best guest comment ever: 'It's clearly a well-loved and special place.' BINGO. Thanks, Emily. No dishwasher, I'm afraid.
Note: 3 night minimum for Xmas, New Years, Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day weekends.
CONTACT OWNER FOR EXTENDED STAY (more than 3 nights) RATES.
WINTER BOOKING ADVISORY!!!
Winter is snow time, which is good and bad. Caltrans has a station up on the mountain and they start plowing the paved roads very quickly when snow starts. Unfortunately, there is nobody up on the mountain who plows private drives, and my cabin is about 500 feet up a dirt branch road that is not plowed. If you plan to be there at a time when snow is predicted, your options are to park near the paved road (but be sure not to park right on side of the road where your car will interfere with plowing or be covered by snow pushed aside by the plow), or plan a long day of shoveling yourself out by hand. I’ve done this shoveling myself before, and it takes a good while. One guest last winter took 8 hours to do this, and they were not happy campers by the end of the day. If you have long time existing reservations and there is a massive storm predicted to hit just before or during your stay, I will of course promise a no penalty cancellation if you chose not to go. Being up there with snow is a wonderful experience, as long as you have supplies and can relax and enjoy.
House rules: treat this old place with courtesy and common sense: recycle, clean up reasonably after yourself, turn off lights and cooling/heating when not needed and on departure, close and lock doors and windows when leaving- sometimes I don't get up to clean for several days.
Add dates for prices
Amenities
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
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9.6 out of 10, Exceptional, (13 reviews)
House Rules
Flexible check-in available (contact host in advance of arrival)
Flexible check-out available (contact host to arrange)
Children
Children allowed: ages 0–17
Events
No events allowed
No parties or events.
Pets
Pets allowed: limit 2 total
Well behaved dogs ok. Big deck has gates.
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
No smoking inside or out.
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
Note from host: No parties or events.
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock
About the area
Palomar Mountain
Located in Pauma Valley, this holiday home is near theme parks and near a water park. San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park and California Center For The Arts are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Pala Casino Spa Resort and Redhawk Golf Course. Palomar Observatory and San Diego Zoo Safari Park are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

Palomar Mountain, CA
What's nearby
- Palomar Mountain State Park - 8 min drive - 4.9 km
- Sengme Oaks Water Park - 13 min drive - 11.9 km
- Lake Henshaw - 19 min drive - 21.2 km
- Harrah's Resort Southern California - 19 min drive - 18.3 km
- Palomar Observatory - 22 min drive - 10.8 km
Getting around
Restaurants
- Jilberto's Taco Shop - 21 min drive
- Mother's Kitchen - 4 min drive
- LA Jolla 76 Roadside Grill - 20 min drive
- Otans BURGER - 29 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Reviews
9.6
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window8.6/10
Cleanliness
10/10
Check-in
10/10
Communication
10/10
Location
9.6/10
Listing accuracy
Reviews
17 Feb, 2026
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2026
10/10 Excellent
Shere S.
23 Dec, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Shere S.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2025
10/10 Excellent
Genevieve S.
7 Jan, 2026
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Genevieve S.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2026
10/10 Excellent
Lizzy B.
28 Dec, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy




Lizzy B.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025
8/10 Good
Ken H.
23 Sept, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Ken H.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025
10/10 Excellent
Rick W.
10 Nov, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Rick W.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025
10/10 Excellent
Deborah R.
30 Jun, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Mountain home stay

Deborah R.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025
10/10 Excellent
Nicholas J.
23 Apr, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Palomar Getaway
Nicholas J.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025
10/10 Excellent
Julia T.
17 Feb, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great little woodsy cabin
Julia T.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025
8/10 Good
Zoia H.
1 Feb, 2022
Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great views and location
Zoia H.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2022
10/10 Excellent
Chris H.
26 Dec, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Christmas with a view.
Chris H.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024
10/10 Excellent
Noah Z.
24 Nov, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Charming old cabin, amazing views & location
Noah Z.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024
10/10 Excellent
Nicholas B.
20 Mar, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great cabin yet again
Nicholas B.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023
10/10 Excellent
Alberto A., San Diego, CA
13 Jan, 2020
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful Cabin and location
Alberto A.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2019
10/10 Excellent
M L.
9 Aug, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful!
M L.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023
10/10 Excellent
Andrew M.
1 Jan, 2025
Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful views
Andrew M.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024
8/10 Good
Linda J.
25 Sept, 2024
Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful views
Linda J.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024
10/10 Excellent
Mohan G.
7 Mar, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful property!
Mohan G.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024
10/10 Excellent
Björn Eike B.
22 May, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Awesome view
Björn Eike B.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023
10/10 Excellent
Rick W.
19 Apr, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Amazing tranquil getaway above the clouds
Rick W.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023
This review was submitted before 2018 and can't be verified.
10/10 Excellent
Stephanie H., Oceanside, CA USA
21 Feb, 2017
Spacious cabin, beautiful view, well stocked, fun, feels like home
Stephanie H.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2017
10/10 Excellent
Blake F.
27 Jun, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Cabin with great views
Blake F.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023
10/10 Excellent
Lisa G.
17 May, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Incredible views
Lisa G.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023
10/10 Excellent
Rick W.
25 Jan, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A place to find quiet
Rick W.
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2024
10/10 Excellent
Verified traveller
1 Jan, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Peace with forever changing beautiful views and vibes.
Verified traveller
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023
About the host
Hosted by Chuck Black
Biologist in San Diego.
Why they chose this property
Poor old cabin was falling down.... but with incredible view, nestled in big green trees. See the scrapbook of the 2+ years it took to bring back from near-death. Upgraded, but kept as much of the old feel and charm as possible.
What makes this property unique
Clouds and view are always changing. Santa Ana nights after storms, you can see the waves breaking on Catalina Island in the full moon. Moonless nights, you can see the Milky Way even with all the city lights below. Great place to take kids for their first snow.
As many as 20 hummingbirds fight over porch feeder, acorn woodpeckers and band tailed pigeons common at deck feeder.
As many as 20 hummingbirds fight over porch feeder, acorn woodpeckers and band tailed pigeons common at deck feeder.
Languages:
English
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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