We arrived to a very clean and welcoming home, complete with a fridge full of water and a welcome basket full of snacks. The Cottage is just like the photos and did not disappoint. We saw a heard of Elk walk through the hill below us on our first day and saw chipmunks, rabbits & humming birds most days.
We experienced temps below freezing at night & 90 degrees during the day, but we were never uncomfortable. The Blankets & furnace kept us warm at night and the air flow with the windows open kept us cool and comfortable on the hot days.
The views from the deck were amazing, and we sat outside to enjoy them almost every day. The mountains changed daily & the view of Estes Park was cool to see. Even with a Full Moon, the stars were amazing at night from the Deck.
The Cottage felt secluded because you are on a hill and made you feel like you were far away from the city. But, the park entrance is very close and we left the Cottage 15 minutes prior to our timed entry time, and had to pull over and wait a few minutes because we got there so quick! Getting to Estes Park is the same, you could be at any restaurant in town in less than 10 minutes.
As others have noted in their reviews, the road to the Cottage is dirt and little rough in spots. The drive to the Cottage is a little daunting, but the Hosts directions helped. I would advise that your first trip to the Cottage be in the daylight if you can, and also take a look at the arial view on Google Maps. After you make the trip once it’s a snap.
Just like the photos show, there is a small stone path that leads to the stairs up to the deck and to the entrance door. Be aware that you will be making trips up a path that you will NOT be able to “roll” anything on. The driveway is dirt, and the stone path and stairs will cause you to “carry” everything up into the Cottage. Not a problem for me, but wanted to give everyone a heads-up.
The Cottage kitchen was well stocked with most things you would need. The beds were comfortable the towels were plush, the showers were hot and had plenty of pressure.
When needed, our contact with the host via text was quick and easy and they were very friendly and responsive.
We enjoyed our time at the Cottage and would definitely stay there again if we ever come back. If you want a comfortable place to stay, with great views and close to town and the Park, we definitely would recommend the Pinecone Cottage.
