LOCATION:
Nestled in the outskirts of Lyons, Colorado, just 11 miles from Rocky Mountain National Park (we are 6 miles southeast of Allenspark), the Riverside Cabin offers you the warmth of a classic, rustic log cabin with a beautiful mix of mid-century modern upgrades. Enjoy the beautiful Colorado sunsets from the swing on the wrap-around deck, from the hot tub, or through the cathedral, floor-to-ceiling windows of the living room overlooking the Saint Vrain Creek across the road from our cabin and the wooded mountainside. (The Riverside Cabin has a Lyons address but is 16 miles West-South.West of Lyons.)
This is a spectacular family home with incredible mountain views. It is fully equipped and immaculately maintained. It will sleep up to 7 in beds plus 2 more on the supplied blow-up queen-sized mattresses (x 2) if needed.
Our house is a superb mountain cabin home at an elevation of just under 8,000 feet. It features the perfect combination of mountain living and Front Range accessibility. The moment you drive in you will enjoy peace and tranquility - listening to the sounds of the river, enjoying the views and the fresh mountain air, as well as the wildlife that frequently comes through the property.
ACCESS:
The Riverside Cabin is situated off a very lightly traveled (and winter-cleared) paved road in a valley just off the Middle St Vrain Creek with a beautiful, wooded mountainside view. We are only minutes (9 miles) from the Rocky Mountain National Park. The town of Nederland is 20 miles south of us, Estes Park 22 miles north, and Lyons just 16 miles to the east. Enjoy the wildlife right off our deck, including moose, elk, deer, bear, coyotes, and others - but please remember not to approach or feed the animals. It is both dangerous and illegal in Colorado. :)
Guests have access to all parts of the house except for the owner's storage closet and the garage. The garage and all items in it are for the Owner's use only,
A keypad controls access to the cabin through the main entry door of the house. You will be given a unique code for your use.
AMENITIES:
The house is fully equipped with all the amenities you would hope for.
- hot tub under the stars that seats six
- fully equipped kitchen
- beautiful living room with great views and a piano
- Master bath featuring a large soaker tub
- bedrooms feature luxury linens and bedding
- bathrooms are supplied with luxury plush towels
- downstairs family room with a TV - perfect for the kids
- loft featuring a reading area and a 70-inch HD TV
- office space with Wi-Fi access, a monitor, keyboard, and mouse
- full-sized washer and dryer
- 1 full bath, 2 three-quarter baths, and 1 half-bath
- a large wrap-around deck equipped for outdoor dining and lounging, as well as a swing to enjoy the views
- Like nearly every other mountain home in Colorado, there’s no A/C. However, mountain air blows down from the high peaks and provides a cooling effect in the evenings if you open the windows.
- Free Wi-Fi. We have the best internet service available in our (somewhat remote) location. Guests are able to stream movies and access Wi-Fi via multiple devices at once but please be aware that on occasion, if a significant number of devices are accessing the wifi simultaneously and demanding larger amounts of data throughput, there can be occasional connection and data transfer anomalies but this has been VERY rarely reported and the owners have not had any problems with this. A major challenge with a home like this is the large timber/log wood structure from which it is built.
CHECK-IN AND CHECK-OUT:
Due to the cleaning schedule, there will be no early check-ins or late checkouts. Check-in is 4 pm or later, and check-out is 10 am or earlier.
WILDLIFE:
Do not leave food in your vehicle as it may attract bears. Bears are able to break into cars.
LOCAL ATTRACTIONS:
Take a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park - only an 11-mile drive from the doorsteps of the Riverside Cabin. Enjoy a beautiful day hike from the Wild Basin Trailhead just 19 minutes away. There you can hike over 13 different breathtaking trails that will take you to multiple waterfalls, alpine lakes, snowfields, and places in the RMNP for which the area is aptly named... the Wild Basin. See Pear Lake, Finch Lake, Lyric Falls, Bluebird Lake, Ouzel Lake, Falcon Falls, Sandbeach Lake, Trio Falls, Lion Lake, Fan Falls, Calypso Falls, Ouzel Falls, and Copeland Falls. Download the AllTrails app or the Komoot app on your mobile phone to find these and other nearby trails.
Just 25 minutes north is the majestic Colorado mountain town of Estes Park, home of the Stanley Hotel and a classic Colorado tourist town. There you'll find lots of great restaurants and shops. It’s known as a base for the Rocky Mountain National Park, home to wildlife, including elk and bears, plus miles of trails. The park’s Trail Ridge Road winds past craggy peaks, forests, and tundra.
South, just 23 minutes, is picturesque Nederland, one of Boulder County’s most unique and eclectic mountain communities. It is the gateway to the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area, where you can enjoy the local restaurants, coffee houses, and breweries. Live music and outdoor sports are also draws for this fun Colorado town.
In the winter months, Eldora Ski Resort is only a 30-minute drive west. Skiing at Eldora is a local favorite with its convenient access, lower fees, and fun runs. Eldora is one of the few ski mountains east of the continental divide. With a summit of 10,600 feet, it slopes down Bryan Mountain approximately 1,600 feet before resting at the main base of 9,200 feet.
CHILDPROOFING:
Guests understand that no special efforts have been made to “childproof” this house and accept the risk or harm to any children/infants we allow on the property.
WINTER:
- A four-wheel drive vehicle is not required to access our home, although the nearest stores - gas and other amenities - are not within walking distance and will require a vehicle for access. A 4WD vehicle is recommended for easier access and travel during the months of Noveberish through Aprilish. Use the "OpenSnow" mobile app to look at local snow conditions. Type in "Peaceful Valley, CO" for the most accurate snow and winter conditions, which are local to our cabin on Riverside Drive.
- If it snows during your stay, you may need to shovel the deck and steps to clear a path. The steps to access the rental (as well as the driveway itself) can be slick in the winter months. One shovel is located near the Hot Tub on the deck for use in the rear of the cabin, and a second one is located on the deck to the right of the Grill. An outdoor/deck broom is located to the right of the grill on the deck near the shovel. Snow removal: We have a snow removal service that will clear the driveway when needed. He is our neighbor just to our West (right side as you face toward the road). So please don't be alarmed when he comes out to push the snow.
RULES AND POLICIES:
No early check-in or late checkouts due to the cleaning schedule. Check-in is 4 pm or later; check-out is 10 am or earlier. No smoking in the house or on the property. No parties, please. No pets and no open fires. Six cars & nine guests max. Please do not block our neighbor's driveway. An accurate guest count IS MANDATORY. Please, no shoes or ski boots in the house. Please remove them and leave them at the doors. No skis (except in the ski rack in the basement), bikes, or any other sporting equipment in the house. Please DO NOT use the wood-burning stove. Our mountain home has central heat, so using the wood-burning stove is unnecessary. In light of the high fire hazard in our area, it is NOT allowed. Thank you for abiding by this policy. Please be kind to our home and treat it like it is yours. Thank you. :)
Violation of any of the following rules is subject to a $300 fine for each violation: smoking prohibition, fire ban, wood-burning stove use, no partying rule, six vehicle limit, quiet time hours, and accurate guest count.
Please do not hesitate to contact either Shelby or Vonda should you need assistance or have any questions. We are here to help make your stay safe, enjoyable, and memorable.
Don and Vionda Downs and Caleb and Shelby Downs
PS. See our Mobile App for lots of helpful information regarding our Cabin as well as local amenities and attractions. (https://hostful.ly/OurRiversideCabin)
