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'Wonderful' condo-close to Lake Alpine, hiking, fishing, all high-Sierra fun

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Interior
Property grounds
Beach
Exterior
Property grounds

Reviews

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful

Entire condo

1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Outdoor space
  • Barbecue
  • Fireplace

Explore the area

View map
Bear Valley, CA
  • Place, Bear Valley Cross Country and Adventure Company
    ‪7 min walk‬
  • Place, Bear Valley Ski
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Place, Calaveras Big Trees State Park
    ‪40 min drive‬

Room options

Similar properties

House (2 Bedrooms) | Interior
Near Hiking & Skiing: Bear Valley Cabin!
Arnold
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Parking included
  • Outdoor space
5.0 out of 5, Exceptional, 1 review
Near Hiking & Skiing: Bear Valley Cabin!

About the area

Arnold

Located in Arnold, this condo is on a lake, a 1-minute drive from Bear Valley Cross Country and Adventure Company and 6 minutes from Lake Alpine. .This condo is 4.1 mi (6.5 km) from Bear Valley Ski and 4.1 mi (6.5 km) from Balancing Rock.
View more Condo rentals in ArnoldOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Bear Valley Cross Country and Adventure Company - 7 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Lake Alpine - 7 min drive - 6.9 km
  • Bear Valley Ski - 7 min drive - 6.9 km
  • Calaveras Big Trees State Park - 40 min drive - 41.7 km
  • Sequoia Woods Country Club and Golf Course - 51 min drive - 51.7 km

Getting around

  • Lake Tahoe, CA (TVL) - 117 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Ebbetts Grill - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Monte Wolfe Saloon - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Sky High Pizza & Pub - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪Sunrise Cafe - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Creekside Dining Room - ‬1 min walk

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire condo to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

'Wonderful' condo-close to Lake Alpine, hiking, fishing, all high-Sierra fun

Well-equipped cozy condo with everything a family or group needs for a blissful time in the mountains.

Play among wildflowers and shimmering aspens all summer or fall colors in autumn 

Just minutes to lakes, lodge, trails, and great swimming, fishing, and road and mountain biking. 

Extremely responsive owner

Cleaning option: Cleaning and linens provided (just message owner in advance to arrange) -- OR save $150 and self-clean and provide your own linens. 

A stay at my condo includes:

-High-speed WiFi
-DISH network
-Flat-screen TV and HDMI cables to stream your favorite family movies from your laptop

Sleeping for 7:
-one full-size bed with high-end mattress
-one full-size sofa bed
-3-tier bunkbed

For those traveling with a children:
-a travel crib/bassinet, 
-a portable high chair (6 months to 36 months),
-a booster chair, sippy cup, cutlery.

Fully equipped kitchen (it's small but mighty):
-full-size microwave,
-4-burner gas stove with oven
-A full-fledged freezer! (a welcome fix to a kitchen designed for under-counter fridges which can’t have a freezer. But what is a vacation without ice cream or ice cubes??? I ask you)
-two coffee makers (just in case one person wants caffeinated and another wants decaf),
-coffee grinder
-electric kettle,
-blender,
-4-slice toaster
-and every utensil, cooking device or dish you could imagine.

Bathroom with:
-separate changing area
-a high-end shower head that adjusts for little ones to shower
-an iron (for those attending weddings or having dinner at Serafina in Arnold or the Lodge's Creekside restaurant)
-first-aid supplies
-blow dryer
-feminine protection (to cover anyone in an emergency) 

There's also:
-an outdoor deck 
-grounds shaded by conifers, with snowboard benches and sun-warmed boulders perfect for early-morning coffee, happy hour or just hanging out
-massive parking lot (empty in summer) - perfect for frisbee, for star-gazing, learning to ride a bike or skateboard 

Fun extras:
-Set of discs for the disc golf course at the entrance to Bear Valley (along with course map in a side pocket)
-Games: Pictionary, Sorry, Connect 4, Uno, Farkle, backgammon, Battleship, Slamwich, Rummikub, and playing cards and poker chips
-travel chairs for deck or lakeside
-picnic supplies (large insulated bag, picnic blanket and picnic
set with wine puller etc as well as disposables (paper plates, plastic cups and
cutlery napkins)
-matches and fire-starter for bonfires at the Bear Valley Lakefirepit (see below)
-a light-up frisbee to play in the massive open lot in the evening when alpenglow lights up the sky -- or the night sky is sugared with stars
-a map marking local fishing and rock climbing spots, as well as hiking and mountain biking routes (owner has also assembled a binder full of information and ideas for outings in the area)
 
The condo also includes access to private Bear Valley Lake -- well-stocked with fish and great for swimming. Come and enjoy its:
-sandy beach
-volleyball court
-raft, kayaks and paddle boards (just bring your own paddle!)
-rope swing (on the west side of the lake)
-shaded picnic tables
-2 portable (and clean!) restrooms
-firepit (for roasting marshmallows and nighttime bonfires)

Just 10 minutes from Lake Alpine and four other high alpine lakes, the Stanislaus River and world-class fishing and mountain biking

-Surrounded by all levels of hiking trails, everything from easy romps to the Pacific Crest Trail.

-Or enjoy a meal or a drink on the deck overlooking Lake Alpine at their café, bar and gift shop

Nearby:
-Calaveras Big Trees,
-Columbia State Historic Park: relive the California Gold Rush with buggy rides, gold-panning, saloons, ice cream, the Fallon Theatre, candy and antique shops, with all workers in period costume  
-whitewater rafting on the North Fork of the StanislausRiver,

-Highway 49
- gold mine tours
-Mercer Caverns
-Murphy’s
-rock climbing-wine tasting-antiques shopping-kayak, mountain bike and boat rentals


Don't get stuck driving 30-45 minutes (each way!) up thehill from Arnold, or Dorrington each day!

This condo sits in the sweet spot of the Sierras: In the heart of the mountains but minutes from shop and Bear Valley Lodge (with its lounge with its 4-story stone fireplace, where all Bear Valley visitors are welcome.  

Bring your swimming, hiking, kayaking, cycling, and fishing stuff and your own linens (sheets and bath and kitchen towels) and prepare to enjoy the Sierras at their best! 

$600 monthly rate (off-season, April 15-November 15 for lease of several months). Ski season or winter-month leases also available.

Questions? Message me -- I'm always happy to help! I look forward to hosting you! 

Warmly,
DeAnne 

Alpine County Short-term Rental Permit Number 2023-272
Make yourself comfortable in this condo, which features a fireplace and a flat-screen TV. There's a private balcony. A kitchen is outfitted with a refrigerator, an oven, and a stovetop. Conveniences include a phone, as well as a microwave and a coffee/tea maker.
This smoke-free condo features wheelchair access, snowboarding nearby, and sledding nearby. Recreational activities include rock climbing nearby, cave exploring nearby, and cross-country skiing nearby.
Guests will find features like wireless internet access and onsite parking.

Property amenities

Ski

  • Cross-country skiing nearby
  • Optional ski privileges
  • Snowboarding nearby

Internet

  • Available in the condo: WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Car not required
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking and van parking available

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Hob
  • Kitchenette
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • Bedroom
  • Sofa bed

Bathroom

  • 1 bathroom
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Fireplace
  • Living room
  • Wood stove

Entertainment

  • Flat-screen TV with cable/satellite channels

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Barbecue grill

Comfort

  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • 4 accessible parking spaces
  • In-room accessibility
  • Lift
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking
  • Wheelchair-accessible path of travel
  • Wheelchair-accessible van parking
  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Phone

Location highlights

  • In a village
  • In the mountains
  • On a lake
  • On a river

Things to do

  • Optional golf privileges
  • Optional ski privileges
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Horseback riding nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Mountain climbing nearby
  • Rafting nearby
  • Rock climbing nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Sledding nearby
  • Snowmobiling nearby
  • Spelunking nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Wildlife walks nearby
  • Winery tours 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)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM

Check-out

Check-out before 12:00 PM

Special check-in instructions

An adult age 18 or older must assume all liability for the booking

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 not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock
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

We should mention

A car is not required for transportation to and from this property

Property is also known as

Ultimate Alpine Basecamp Condo Bear Valley

Ultimate Alpine Basecamp Bear Valley

Ultimate Alpine Basecamp Arnold

Ultimate Alpine Basecamp Condo Arnold

Ultimate Alpine Basecamp Condo

Ultimate Alpine Basecamp Condo

Ultimate Alpine Basecamp Arnold

Ultimate Alpine Basecamp Condo Arnold

'Wonderful' condo-close to Lake Alpine, hiking, fishing, all high-Sierra fun Reviews

Reviews

9.2

Wonderful

Rating 10 - Excellent. 24 out of 32 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 5 out of 32 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 32 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 32 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 32 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

8.0/10

Amenities

8.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

8/10 Good

Adolfo L.

Liked: Cleanliness
The condo is a small room located right in front of BV lodge, very convenient to just get your skis/snowboard and hop on the shuttle. The host was very responsive throughout our stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2026

10/10 Excellent

Steffan B.

Liked: Cleanliness
We had a great time! Host was awesome, great communication and very accommodating! Condo is very cozy, heats up fast, instant hot water. Plenty of kitchen supplies, paper towels, and utensils and perfect for a small family. Location is perfect for skiing at Bear Valley or accessing Lake Alpine.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2026

10/10 Excellent

Shaozhen M.

Liked: Cleanliness
The studio is right next to the bear valley lodge, provides a good alternative lodging option for families.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Katherine L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Stayed for 3 weeks! Perfect place for us while we worked I. The area. Very clean place. Great communication with owner
Stayed 11 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Bryan L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great location for all of your Bear Valley aventures. The condo had everything I needed and bonus points for access to the lake. DeAnne is a very responsive host and super easy to work with.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Paul Q.

Liked: Cleanliness
Location was very convenient for all my purposes. Being here off-season from the skiing, I had no neighbors the entire time, so complete peace and quiet. Prompt return of my cleaning deposit for doing the cleaning myself. Good communication with owner.
Stayed 21 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Heather, Ridgefield

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The location was great: 10 minutes to the ski resort. There was a mix-up with the communication, in that I didn't realize that we had to bring towels and sheets, but the host ended up accommodating us, which was very nice. The bunk beds weren't usable for my teen kids, but may be ok for small children. The place was very small.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Alexey D.

Liked: Cleanliness

Good property with great location

Clear instructions and very flexible checkin and checkout timing.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jamie C.

Liked: Cleanliness

The best experience!!

This was our first time not staying in the lodge. We had the best and easiest stay ever! Extremely convenient and we loved how homey this place was. I will always be checking this place out first before considering anything else. Thank you!Tha
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Joshua A.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great deal, great stay; don't let the price fool you!

With all other listings being close to double in price or more, I thought this had to be too good to be true. But I took a chance, and it paid off!Firstly, the location was very convenient, with Condo Bear (the building this condo is in) being right across from the lodge and shuttle stop.Secondly, DeAnne, the host, was very communicative and responsive, both before and during our stay.Thirdly, the condo had everything we needed: enough beds to comfortably sleep all four of us (up to 7!), a fully-equipped kitchen, and even a heated towel rack!Downsides? The water heater was smaller than expected, so we had to take quick showers or space them apart.The price may have been what lured me in, but the location, the host, and the condo itself made this a true gem.
Stayed 8 nights in Feb 2025

6/10 Okay

William

Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

8/10 Good

Meike G.

Liked: Cleanliness

great location, cozy

As for our last-minute decision to go skiing/boarding, this cozy condo was the perfect place, being right in the village, with access to the shuttle and on the mountain in minutes. Communication with the host was amazing! This condo works great for a group of 4! Thank you, DeAnne, for your amazing flexibility to work things out with us on this short notice!!
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Abraham B.

Liked: Cleanliness

A cozy spot to explore the snow

This place had everything we needed for our kid's first trip to the snow. We loved the games too!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Aaron W.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great value stay in Bear Valley

Easy parking, short walk to the shuttle bus. Studio apartment suitable for a small family, for people who want a high value stay with a kitchen.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Aditya M.

Liked: Cleanliness

awesome location, helpful host

The information/instructions sent to us were very detailed and accurate. The kitchen has many useful items, which makes it super easy to fix meals, etc. The host was very responsive and thorough in her communication. The onsite property manager is also very helpful. Rick does an awesome job with plowing the snow and keeping the parking easy and accessible. Overall we had a great experience. The place is right opposite the lodge and general store.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Guy S.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great place for an overnight stay at BV

We stayed here in the summer (June) and just needed a place for one night while on a bike tour. DeAnne's self cleaning option was great for us as all other properties required a hefty cleaning fee even for 1-2 nights! Normally sheets are BYO, but DeAnne provided sheets for us as we couldn't carry them while biking. The unit itself is small but comfortable and cozy. We didn't cook, but the unit had plenty of kitchen utensils, etc. Wifi was good. DeAnne was prompt with contacts and refunded our cleaning deposit with no issues. Would recommend for a reasonable place to stay at BV!
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lorena M.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great stay in Bear Valley

Perfect location. Our family of four was very comfortable. It ended up raining while we were there but we were very entertained and cozy inside. There were games and movies. The kitchen had everything we needed. The host was extremely flexible and accommodating. Very good communication. The cleaning instructions were very easy and common sense stuff. Got my deposit back very quickly. We would love to return during the winter and other seasons. Looking forward to more Bear Valley adventures here in the future.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Peter T.

Liked: Cleanliness

Not a 5-star hotel, but a 5 star location

It's all about the location, and the location doesn't disappoint - you're a couple minutes walk from the Bear Valley shuttle bus that brings you to the slopes in less than 10 minutes, and you can actually ski down from the top of the mountain right to your accommodation (ok, you'll still need to walk a couple hundred feet). Inside - it's all pretty basic, and very compact, but our family of 5 fit in just fine for a week. Cooking is not too easy, but there are a couple of restaurants in the lodge. Our cleaning fee was waived, because I did the clean up myself, which was pretty easy with the detailed instructions provided by DeAnne. We would definitely come again!
Stayed 5 nights in Feb 2023

4/10 Poor

Katerina S.

Unfortunate experience with host

Very convenient location, we enjoyed our stay. Unfortunately, although we left the property cleaner than we found it, the host was not convinced by our photos and was not open to discussing and was quite disrespectful in their communications. It might be helpful to take pictures of the place as soon as you get there so you avoid any issues with the host.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Natalia S., Menlo Park

Liked: Cleanliness

Wonderful condo for a ski trip!

We had a great stay here: the location can't be beat for doing anything in Bear Valley, and the triple bunkbed was a huge hit with the youngest part of our family :). Huge thank you to the host for a wonderful weekend!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2022

10/10 Excellent

Marguerite L.

Liked: Cleanliness

Winter wonderland

We had a great time at Deanne’s place. It was extremely clean, very well stocked in terms of all paper goods, cleaning supplies, and cooking utensils. It is very well located; across the street from the lodge and shuttle stop. Rick did an amazing job keeping the parking and pathways clear of snow and safe and available for the condo guests. No small feat as the days we stayed at Bear Valley saw the most December snow ever and over the holiday week too. Things I wish I knew: turn the heater and the gas stove all the way down at night, the first night I only turned the thermostat down to 60 and it was too toasty to sleep, the outlet that the tall skinny floor lamp near the dining room table is plugged into is a switched outlet. Important if you have phones plugged in. And (although this is super clear in the listing as pointed out by my partner and daughters once we got there) this condo is a large 1 room studio. It works well for 4 however and the lodge across the street has a large and very cool great room with a fireplace if you want to get away. Also, if it was not so snowy, the large deck would have been a great additional space. All in all a very nice place to stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Tania C.

Liked: Cleanliness

Location can’t be beat!

Condo was exactly as described. The location could not be any better. I have this 5 star as it was suitable, exactly as described, and met our family’s needs perfectly. The condo could use updating overall, but that is the case with most of the condos here in BV. We would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2020

10/10 Excellent

Spencer J.

Liked: Cleanliness

Clean and comfortable.

The property was perfect for our family of four.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2019

4/10 Poor

Heidi B.

Small but great location

The condo was in a great location directly across the Bear Valley Lodge. It was nice to have three restaurants right across the street at the lodge. Shuttle service took you to the Bear Valley ski resort in 10 minutes which was really convenient. The condo was small and very basic. The cabin needs updating. My son sat in a dining room chair and the back of it broke. I was afraid to make coffee because the coffee maker was loose from its holder. I was afraid to touch anything for fear it would break. It was nice of the condo owner to not charge a cleaning fee of $150 like most rentals. She gave a long list of items that should be cleaned which was more than manageable due to the small size of the condo. I would recommend this place to someone who was on a tight budget.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2019

10/10 Excellent

katya k., SF

Nice, cozy and conveniently located condo

We thoroughly enjoyed our two day stay at the condo. It was very conveniently located, a few minute walk to the Bear Valley Cross Country resort and tubing/ sledding. The condo was clean and had all the necessary things to make your stay comfortable and enjoyable. We will definitely stay there again and will recommend it to others. Thank you DeAnne for making our stay enjoyable.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2019