Escape to The Pine Meadow Cabin, nestled between Durango and Bayfield, offering an open living concept with a country kitchen and laundry room. Enjoy boating, fishing, hiking in the beautiful mountain recreation area around Vallecito & Lemon Lakes or unwind on the covered porch or open patio.
Reviews
9.29.2 out of 10
Wonderful
Entire cabin
2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 4113 sq m
Popular amenities
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free Wi-Fi
Outdoor space
Add dates for prices
About this property
Solar-Powered Cabin | Starlink, Secluded Retreat
Welcome to Pine Meadow Cabin — a serene straw bale retreat nestled between Durango and Bayfield, Colorado. This thoughtfully designed 2-bedroom, 2-bath single-level home offers a harmonious blend of rustic craftsmanship and modern comfort, all set against the backdrop of the stunning San Juan Mountains. We now have Starlink internet!
Step inside to an open concept living area where warm natural textures meet simple elegance. A country-style kitchen invites you to gather, cook, and create memories, while the cozy living space opens to a covered front porch—perfect for morning coffee or evening stargazing. Out back, an open patio offers a peaceful spot for dining alfresco or just soaking in the stillness of the surrounding landscape. There is cozy electric fireplace for cool evenings.
Crafted with straw bale construction, this eco-conscious home is ideally suited for Colorado’s arid climate, staying naturally warm in winter and cool in summer—no air conditioning needed. A dedicated laundry room with washer and dryer adds convenience to your stay.
Just a short drive away, Vallecito and Lemon Lakes offer endless opportunities for boating, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, and more. Whether you're chasing mountain sunrises or off-road thrills, there's something here for every kind of adventurer.
WHERE YOU'LL SLEEP: * Main Bedroom - King Bed (Main Floor) * 2nd Bedroom - King Bed (Main Floor)
AREA: This home is appx 30 minutes to downtown Durango, 30 minutes to Vallecito Marina, and 55 minutes to Purgatory ski resort. In winter (November through April), 4WD is required. It is NECESSARY that you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle, vehicles with medium to high clearance and winter/snow tires. Although the roads and driveway are well-maintained, they are very steep and curvy, and will be snow packed and slick.
PETS: This home is pet friendly! We allow a maximum of 2 dogs max and the pet fee is $40/day (for a max $250 per stay). Pets must be crated if they are left home alone. Guests are expected to pick up after their pets.
GOOD TO KNOW: This is a mountain home on a well. Most guests prefer to bring bottled water for drinking due to the high mineral content. There is no cell service located at this property, but WiFi calling works. There is not a grill at this property as it tends to attract bears. Please note that there are two outdoor security cameras at the home - one at front door, one on back patio.
COOLING: Please note that, like most properties in the area, this home does not have AC, as it is uncommon for homes at this elevation. Temperatures inside the property are easily managed by using fans and opening the windows at night when temperatures drop into the 40s.
Stay with us and we offer DISCOUNTS on both summer (white water rafting, horseback riding etc.) and winter (ski/snowboard rentals, sleigh rides, snowmobile tours etc.) activities.
ABOUT YOUR HOST: At Vacation Rental Collective (VRC), we’re a professional management company that takes pride in delivering a consistent, high-quality experience across all of our homes. The Vacation Rental Collective difference means you can always expect locally owned and operated service with a personal touch and insider knowledge of the area. We offer 24/7 guest communication and lightning-fast response times whenever you need assistance. Each property is professionally cleaned and meticulously maintained to ensure comfort and peace of mind, and every home is inspected before arrival to make sure every detail is guest-ready.
VRC CANCELLATION POLICY: At Vacation Rental Collective, we understand the importance of flexibility for travelers when it comes to cancellations. When booking directly with Vacation Rental Collective, we offer a Moderate Cancellation Policy for this Property: A guest will receive a 100% refund if canceled/changed at least 30 days before check-in; a 50% refund if canceled/changed 14-30 days before check-in; and no refund if canceled/changed 13 days or less before check-in. If you booked on a third-party site (VRBO, Airbnb, etc), your cancellation is subject to their policy. We do offer travel insurance.
Property amenities
Ski
Close to skiing
Internet
Available in the cabin: Free WiFi
Parking and transport
Parking on site
Kitchen
Coffee/tea maker
Cookware, dishware, and utensils
Dishwasher
Hob
Microwave
Oven
Refrigerator
Toaster
Dining
Dining table
Bedrooms
2 bedrooms
Bedsheets provided
Bathroom
2 bathrooms
Bathtub or shower
Hair dryer
Shower
Towels provided
Living spaces
Dining table
Fireplace
Living room
Entertainment
Smart TV with satellite channels
Outdoor areas
Garden
Patio
Laundry
Laundry facilities
Washer/dryer
Comfort
Heating
Pets
Pet friendly
Suitability/Accessibility
Smoke-free property
Services and conveniences
Iron/ironing board
Location highlights
In a rural location
In the mountains
Things to do
Fishing nearby
Hiking/biking trails nearby
Horseback riding nearby
Hunting nearby
Mountain biking nearby
Mountain climbing nearby
Rafting nearby
Water skiing nearby
Safety features
Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Pets
Pets are allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Events
No events allowed
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
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
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
About the area
Located in Aspen Trails, a neighbourhood in Durango, this cabin is in a rural area and in the mountains. Chapman Hill Ice Rink and Ski Area and Hillcrest Golf Club are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Perins Peak State Wildlife Area and Lemon Reservoir. Eagle Park and The Powerhouse are also worth visiting. Waterskiing and rafting offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with horse riding and hunting nearby. Visit our Durango travel guide
Is Solar-Powered Cabin | Starlink, Secluded Retreat pet-friendly?
Yes, pets are allowed at this property.
How much is parking at Solar-Powered Cabin | Starlink, Secluded Retreat?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Solar-Powered Cabin | Starlink, Secluded Retreat?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Solar-Powered Cabin | Starlink, Secluded Retreat?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Solar-Powered Cabin | Starlink, Secluded Retreat located?
Located in Aspen Trails, this cabin is within 9 miles (15 km) of Lemon Reservoir, Los Pinos River and Lake SImpatico Trailhead. Vallecito Lake is 8.7 mi (14 km) away.
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All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
It was the perfect Christmas getaway! The cabin was so clean and well stocked and maintained. It was in an absolute gorgeous location. Our children didn’t wanna leave. It was exactly what our family needed.
We loved staying in this wonderful strawbale and solar powered home!
Beautiful location and close to hiking trails!
It was quiet, comfortable and had all the amenities we needed.
We hope to stay here again.
The house was as advertised. Clean and comfortable. I would rent it again.
Douglas B.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Gretchen G.
14 Jan 2024
Winter Vacation dream!
Rating Details:
The property manager was very helpful.
The vacation rental was spotless.
I was very happy with the location.
I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental.
Overall, I recommend this vacation rental.
Reviewer Comments:
The place was super cozy and just what we needed for a small family getaway with our toddler. It was quiet but had nearly everything we needed. We would definitely recommend it!
Gretchen G.
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Katrina W.
22 May 2024
Great stay at the Strawbale house
Rating Details:
The property manager was very helpful.
The vacation rental was spotless.
I was more than happy with the location.
I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental.
Overall, I recommend this vacation rental.
Reviewer Comments:
Perfect set up for one or two couples. Kitchen is nicely stocked with everything you might need for preparing meals. The beds are VERY comfortable and great to sink in to after a day adventuring.
Very clean. Electric fireplace did not work. Property manager very attentive. Water in 2nd bathroom could be warmer. Beds are showing some wear. Kitchen well stocked. Wifi connectivity. Would likely stay there again and would also recommend.
Verified traveller
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024
From a partner site
6/10 Okay
Craig J.
4 Sept 2023
What’s up with the water?
Rating Details:
The property manager was more than helpful.
The vacation rental was very clean.
I was happy with the location.
I was satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental.
Overall, I recommend this vacation rental.
Reviewer Comments:
We enjoyed having 2 bathrooms and 2 bedrooms with king size comfortable beds.It’s about 10 miles from Durango, but very close to Lemon reservoir.The difficulty we had was that the well water hadn’t been treated. It smelled very bad and took 2 days to work things out.Suggestion: have the cleaners tell the management company when the well needs to be treated!Also, bring your own coffee. I’ve never stayed anyplace that didn’t have at least coffee.
Family of four on vacation. The cabin was comfortable and well maintained. Was in a rural neighborhood but not too close to anyone. The property was peaceful, lot's of birds and critters to watch. The nights were quiet and dark (which was nice coming from a Texas suburb)! It was a great place to come back to and relax after our many activities. About 20/25 minutes to Durango. Would stay again, for certain.
It did get a little warm inside during the day, Maybe low to mid 80s; but that's because were were staying at probably the hottest part of the year. Owner had a swamp cooler and fans inside that helped. We opened the windows at night which was great because the temps got down to the low 60s/high 50s. The mornings were beautiful and cool.
I might suggest bring drinking water as the tap water there is fairly soft and slightly sulfuric. This made all the difference when brewing coffee.
A week or so before we asked to tack an extra day on the front of our stay because. We immediately got a response that it could be done. This place was just what my family was looking for! Thanks!
Great location about 30 minutes from downtown Durango. easy access to trails and lakes. Very well equipped and furnished.
Lovely backyard where pets can play safely at will.
We really enjoyed the place and will be back for "real" (see comment below about internet) vacations.
A few details that could have made the stay from Good to Great.
- The internet works however is extremely slow (Speedtest : Ping 600 MS Download 9.99Mbps Upload 0.50 Mbps). this makes it ok to browse the internet casually but definitely not OK for a workcation week. Do not count on being able to do Zoom call form there. We had to go work downtown in a rented office.
- On the description pictures, there is a tarp outside that give shade on the terrasse. the Tarp was not there, this is unfortunate as it could have been pleasant to be outside in the shade.
- Finally, all the sink drain need cleanup. there is a very bad odor coming for mthe drains when water flows.
We love this place and have stayed here 3 times. The kitchen is really well equipped and the beds are super comfortable. Its very clean and comfortable and there's anice yard and patio too.
We loved our stay here, even though it was hot outside and there was as no AC the cabin stayed very cool and the cool nights were amazing. We loved the quiet while still close enough to enjoy Durango.
We were there to ride the train and have our meals.
Waneta B.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Laura B.
9 Jul 2025
Durango Stay
Rating Details:
The property manager was very helpful.
The vacation rental was spotless.
I was very happy with the location.
I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental.
Overall, I recommend this vacation rental.
Reviewer Comments:
Very clean and good location. Everything was organized in the kitchen which is rare!
The cabin was perfect. Very clean and exactly as described in the add. The only discrepancy was the Internet information that was sent to us had a different network name, this was not an issue as the correct information was on the instructions at the cabin. Our dogs loved the backyard.
Adam M.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025
Verified
8/10 Good
Jeff J.
23 Sept 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication
Disliked: Listing accuracy
Overall pretty good! Security cameras were not mentioned in the add!