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Boulder Best City + Nature w/ Lake & USFS Trails

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Property grounds
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Exterior
Balcony
Unclassified image, 5 of 23, button

Reviews

8.6 out of 10
Excellent

Entire home

3 bedrooms4 bathroomsSleeps 6163 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Pet-friendly
  • Air-conditioning

Explore the area

View map
Boulder, CO
  • Place, Walker Ranch Park
    ‪20 min walk‬
  • Place, Pearl Street Mall
    ‪31 min drive‬
  • Place, University of Colorado Boulder
    ‪33 min drive‬
  • Airport, Broomfield, CO (BJC-Rocky Mountain Metropolitan)
    ‪48 min drive‬

Room options

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About the area

Boulder

Located in Boulder, this vacation home is on the waterfront, within a 15-minute drive of Walker Ranch Park and Eldorado Canyon State Park. .This family-friendly vacation home is 11.3 mi (18.2 km) from University of Colorado Boulder and 10.3 mi (16.6 km) from Pearl Street Mall.
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What's nearby

  • Walker Ranch Park - 20 min walk - 1.7 km
  • Chautauqua Park - 26 min drive - 20.6 km
  • Folsom Field - 30 min drive - 22.1 km
  • Pearl Street Mall - 31 min drive - 22.8 km
  • University of Colorado Boulder - 33 min drive - 23.9 km

Getting around

  • Arvada Ridge Station - 52 min drive
  • Broomfield, CO (BJC-Rocky Mountain Metropolitan) - 41 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Alpine Modern Cafe - ‬25 min drive
  • ‪Wondervu Cafe - ‬26 min drive
  • ‪Coal Creek Coffee and Books - ‬24 min drive
  • ‪Scrooge Maki - ‬25 min drive
  • ‪Flagstaff House - ‬20 min drive

About this property

Entire place

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

Boulder Best City + Nature w/ Lake & USFS Trails

It hardly gets any closer to both Boulder city and NatureRx driven lifestyle with our lake front cottage only 8 mi. up legendary Flagstaff mountain from historic Chautauqua National Historic Landmark and its world renown trails and canyons . Our cottage is a unique opportunity to experience the best of the great Colorado Outdoors! Faces Roosevelt National Forest and the Flagstaff mountain top gem of Gross Reservoir providing one of a kind views of both water & the surrounding foothills.

THE SPACE:
Home features a welcoming open floor plan, charming kitchen, dining area w/ those views! Sunken living room opens to large brick patio for indoor/outdoor living! Three bedrooms and a family room that can serve as a fourth sleeping area can accommodate up to ten guests in mountainside magic (6 guests are allowed w/ the reservation and extra guests are 50$ per guest per night). Charming cozy interiors with majestic views and a provide more than adequate space with our large lawn space and outdoor playground.

FIVE FAVORITE FEATURES:
Majestic views of mountains and lake make you feel you are a bird in a tree nest!
Walking down the hill in front of the house with inflatable paddle boards backpacks (we have two!) and launching right on the sandy shore!
Walking the many national forest and Boulder county trails around the house!
Family bonding in our therapeutic round jacuzzi under the stars!
Grilling your favorite meal on the large patio facing the lake!
Taking paddle boards to the many inlets of the lake and the famous Forsythe Canyon Creek Falls (you can walk to them from the house as well along the perfect Forsythe Canyon Creek Trail)!
- yes, yes, yes!
A quick jaunt to the best shopping and restaurants in town just 15 minutes down a most spectacular mountain car ride! Going up and down Flagstaff mountain is not a drag but an awe like experience in itself!
*THREE NIGHTS MINIMUM RENTAL (BUT DO INQUIRE FOR EXCEPTIONS)

Other things to note
*PETS ALLOWED WITH PRIOR DISCUSSION WITH OWNER AT 50$ PER DAY PER PET
Small Parties and events allowed with extra event footprint fee depending on size
No shoes upstairs in carpeted areas
NOTE: This is my private residence and is decorated and set up accordingly. Guests can benefit from the extra personal touches and use of ample kitchenware and are invited to use what is in the pantry for spices and condiments. The home includes thousands of books and valuable art as well as a 40k piano that we respectfully ask guests are mindful about. Please understand this is a national forest lake cabin and not a “luxury” home which entails there is wildlife, there are insects such as wild bees, grounds are kept with native wild grass, etc! Thank you!
Make yourself comfortable in this air-conditioned vacation home, which features a fireplace and a Smart TV. There's a private balcony. A kitchen is outfitted with a refrigerator, an oven, and a stovetop. The bathroom with a shower/tub combination features a jetted bathtub and a hair dryer.
Enjoy recreation amenities such as a hot tub or take in the view from a garden. Additional features at this vacation home include an arcade/game room and barbecue grills.
Guests will find features like onsite parking.

Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach loungers

Pool/Spa

  • Hot tub

Internet

  • Available in the house: WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Car required
  • Onsite parking options include a garage

Kitchen

  • Blender
  • Coffee grinder
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Electric kettle
  • Hob
  • Ice maker
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 3 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 4 bathrooms
  • Bathtub
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Fireplace
  • Living room
  • Separate dining area
  • Wood stove

Entertainment

  • Books
  • Games
  • Music library
  • Smart TV with cable/satellite channels
  • Stereo
  • Video library

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Barbecue grill
  • Fenced yard
  • Firepit
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • 2 pets total

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Location highlights

  • In the mountains
  • On a lake
  • On the waterfront

Things to do

  • Arcade/game room
  • Boat
  • Kayak
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Mountain climbing nearby
  • Rock climbing nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Wildlife walks 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

General

  • Garden
  • Unit size: 1,750 square feet

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM

Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

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 allowed

Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees

2 total pets

Note from host: $50 per day per pet fee 10% discount weekly rental

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
Parties and events (including family gatherings, birthday parties and weddings) are allowed on site; maximum attendees: 50
Note from host: Events as with pets are allowed with a fee
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
Property Registration Number STR-24-0077

We should mention

A car is required for transportation to and from this property

Property is also known as

Vrbo Property

Boulder Best City + Nature w/ Lake & Usfs Trails Boulder

Boulder Best City + Nature w/ Lake & USFS Trails Reviews

Reviews

8.6

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 27 out of 41 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 41 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 5 out of 41 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 3 out of 41 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 2 out of 41 reviews

8.0/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Aleksandar D.

Overall easy experience and helpful host. Some of the sheets weren’t the cleanest and the grill didn’t work well, but not a major deal. The views were great and very close to a nice trail to twin sisters peak.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2026

10/10 Excellent

Brandon V.

Liked: Cleanliness
Host is very friendly and inviting! She is always available to answer any questions I had and makes sure that my guests and I are taken cared of.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Dan M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great property. Enjoyed the hot tub and the friendly fox that showed up frequently. We will return!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025

8/10 Good

Jan S., Isle of Palms, SC

Disliked: Cleanliness
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2025

2/10 Terrible

Patti S.

Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Nancy P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful property and home! Very thoughtful spaces, comfortable beds. About 30 min up a winding road from Boulder. We were there for CU Parents weekend, so we didn’t get to spend much time at the house - would definitely like to go back for a weekend getaway to hike and relax. Easy check in/check out and great communication.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Amit L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Our stay was amazing, everything in the house was so carefully selected and placed, specially the chairs in every corner of the yard with different views and angles! It really tells a story! We had a great time and the galaxy tribe leader next to garage door was super mysterious and enchanting, and the books all around. This is truly a magical place and one of a kind home.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

6/10 Okay

Sheldon M.

Disliked: Cleanliness

Huge Construction Project

This was my first time staying in a property that was regularly lived in my the owner. The property was priced economically, but there were some things in the listing that were not clearly communicated that should be. Our goal was near a lake with a hot tub and this did accomplish that. However, this property is on the Gross Reservoir which is undergoing a multi-year construction project to add to the dam. The lake is dropped significantly and there are huge cranes, a concrete plant and equipment going all hours of the day and night. The owner obviously has no control over this - but it should have been stated. The pictures you see of the lake are not accurate. The home is very eclectic and is decorated with plants, rocks and books. It wasn't as clean as I would prefer, but it was fine, especially knowing that they lived there. We did have to hand wash all the dishes prior to using them because they were just not clean. The dishwasher is broken. The hot tub was nice and we regularly ate on the patio. However, the photos of the patio are not reflective of the current state. It's very cluttered and the yard is very grown over. The house is in a wonderful neighborhood at the top of the mountain. It could absolutely be an amazing property but you need to know about the Gross Reservoir Construction project (I should have googled this prior) and it could be cleaner for sure.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Patricia R.

Liked: Cleanliness

Beautiful home in beautiful location

We had a fun and relaxing stay with frequent dips in the jacuzzi, lots of games (including a great pool table), and a beautiful back yard/patio where you overlook Gross Reservoir and great mountain views. And a short drive up Flagstaff Mountain yet it feels far away from the noise of Boulder.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Michael B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful home with amazing g views!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

6/10 Okay

Zach M.

Disliked: Cleanliness
We had very mixed feeling about our visit. My family and I were staying here and the host was kind enough to let us use her property as a wedding reception site. Unfortunately, communication was extremely poor. Prior to checking in, when messaging the host it would take multiple days for a reply. Communication via text in app appeared rushed, and it took me multiple times to read and understand what was communicated. Within a few hours of check in, I was told I needed to pay an extra sizable fee for a separate event. Months prior, I messaged the host saying I wanted a separate event prior to the wedding and the host didn’t appear to have a problem. However, now that I was about to stay and check in she re-read my message and refused to let me host this event without an extra event fee on top of the event fee I paid for the wedding. Honestly, felt like she was more interested in taking my money over hosting and providing a positive experience. The cleanliness of the house was subpar. There were bugs on the comforter upon arrival. When asked, she stated this was normal and they purposely left windows open so bugs would likely get in. On top of this, the comforter was stained with cat urine, as well as the carpet. Towels were not provided in the upstairs bathroom. We also found hair in the bathtub. In terms of the property itself, we couldn’t be happier! The view was amazing and the patio was perfect for our wedding reception. The home offered many amenities as well.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

4/10 Poor

Christopher C.

Disliked: Cleanliness
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Diane G.

Liked: Cleanliness

Small bridal shower

Enjoyed the location Nice home with many plants, nice art. Many personal photos. Did make me feel uncomfortable like I was invading someone’s privacy. Very warm at night. Cooling was a problem but not enouh that I regretted staying. Outside area behind the house was great with fabulous views.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Laura W., Austin , Texas

Liked: Cleanliness
We had a wonderful stay out at the cabin. The house is very cozy and filled with plants and art, While outside every window are trees, wildlife, and trails to follow! Bring groceries or enjoy winding your way up and down the mountain to explore Boulder. The host was very responsive and had lots of great tips for hiking. Yes, the dam is under construction right now, but we weren’t really bothered by that.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Curtis B.

Liked: Cleanliness

Comfortable House in the Mountains

This house is full of games and books and places to rest, both inside and out (including on a large outside patio). It is located in the Colorado high country, about a half-hour drive from Boulder. The views are amazing in all directions, and there are great hikes nearby. The drive to and from Boulder winds around a lot but is very scenic (we saw herds of elk along the way). The owner was very responsive to our questions.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kayeleen G.

Liked: Cleanliness

Cute little home with personal touches!

It was our first time staying in Colorado, we fell in love with the area! The views the house offers is amazing!
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Shanne K.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great mountain home

We stayed here for a Christmas get away. Beautiful home in the mountains. The only negative I could give is the dishwasher. It didn’t work properly & with 6 people, it was a lot of dishes to do.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Candice F.

Liked: Cleanliness

Hidden gem

LOVED this house and the views are breathtaking. Irene was such a pleasure to meet and super informative about the trails. This house has so much character and beautiful artwork to enjoy during the stay. Wish we had more time to explore. Would recommend renting a car if staying at this property as it was in a remote location and we had some difficulty getting Uber rides. Absolutely loved this property though, would highly recommend and we will hopefully be back!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Erin C.

Liked: Cleanliness

Beautiful location

This location is breathtaking. And so much to do! We hiked every day, hot tubbed and cooked. It was a wonderful stay.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Roman B.

Liked: Cleanliness

Amazing Home in Boulder

I was very impressed with the property. I feel the online pictures do not give it justice. As soon as we walked in we were immediately stunned with the home. It is beautifully decorated giving the house a warmth not portayed in the photos. The outside area has numeours sitting ares so that you can enjoy the beautiful landscapes. The owner was very easy to communicate with and you could tell they authentically wanted to provide a great experience. The location is spectacular, but keep in mind it is a little over 10 miles from boulder which takes about 30 minutes to get to because of the switchback mountain- I would highly recommend grabbing whatever your essentials may be before coming to the house. Overall it was a great experience with all of us in agreement that this was one of, if not the nicest,places we ever rented. If I ever returned to the area I would book again.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Drew J.

Liked: Cleanliness

Drew

Wonderful place!:)
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

6/10 Okay

Adrian c.

disappointing

Loved the location and the house had adequate room for my family. However, the photos in the listing of the interior are not current and do not reflect the "cluttered" state of the home, unrelenting (all night and weekend) noise from dam construction, cleanliness an issue, the owners supplies limited the use of the refrigerator, a door was missing from the shower, the power went out @ 4am and the owner could not be reached the entire morning (multiple phone calls) no electricity, heat or water and we had to leave early (obviously not there fault), poor deck stone work leading to treacherous steps and walkway. Potentially a great rental, but needs work and care.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

john b., Potomac, MD

Liked: Cleanliness

Perfect House for me +4

My friends and I, all 42 and from different cities, stayed at the house over Memorial Day weekend. We came with enough groceries for the 3 nights to not have to leave and stay on-site we did - that’s how much we loved this house. We did manage to walk down to the water but be warned there is quite a bit of elevation change and it’s probably 200 yards before you bisect the trail. We cooked for every meal without want for any other gadgets, bowls, plates, glasses, or cutlery. We had one fire and spent a lot of time on the back patio. The stars were amazing! Boulder is a quick 15 minute drive down a winding road but as I mentioned before we just stayed in the house. There are three types of coffee makers, a large blender, a large fridge/freezer, a big bbq grill, tons of pots/pans, etc…. The owner was very responsive and even gave us some good recommendations. Probably the best thing I can say is that I will certainly be returning!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

2/10 Terrible

Jayne S.

Disliked: Cleanliness

Great location, not a great VRBO experience

This property overlooks the Gross Reservoir, but is should be a three-season rental due to weather and a gnarly access road. We booked 3 days for a family Christmas gathering, attracted by a view, wood stove, outdoor grill, fire pit and hot tub. Irene reminds you this is HER house. You literally walk into "just" a house, with no welcoming hospitality (like a few shelves/drawers to store personal things, soap and towels in the bathrooms, firewood, propane for the grill, or a shoveled driveway). There WAS a festive Christmas tree The house was mostly clean (except for refrigerator handles and moldy leftover coffee grounds in the coffee maker - yuk!). Cabinets were disorganized, making cooking a scavenger hunt to find pots, pans, dishes, etc. We never found dishtowels, wash clothes in messy linen closet or dish soap - but did find brake, wheel and engine cleaners under the sink). The blizzard of 2022 across the Midwest delayed our arrival by a day. We arrived to find 8-10 inches of snow on the sloping driveway (it had snowed three days prior - I had asked the host about the roads with a vague response). My son rummaged for a snow shovel and spent 30 hard minutes shoveling a path for the cars. We could not believe that Irene did not have a service to do this. When we have rented ski houses or condos, the host always has shoveled paths, driveways and parking spots. We shoveled around the grill (a nice one similar to what we have at home), which started initially, but then went out -- propane tank was empty, so we had to adapt our traditional recipes to the broiler. Son had some wood in his car, which helped keep warmth in the house with fierce winds outside. The furnace tried - but kept going to eco mode so we had to reset often. In fairness, Irene had warned us of this and told us what to do. It was too cold and windy to use the fire pit or hot tub. I alerted Irene to our problems before writing a review, and asked if she would consider a partial refund for our missed day and the shoveling and cleaning we had to do. She went crickets. Our displeasure is not with the weather per se (traveling in winter always has its challenges) as we are pretty adaptable and understanding. But we don't feel Irene understands what it means to be a good VRBO host, or what guests expect of the experience, especially with the rates she is charging. We were highly disappointed with our host's lack of response.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

timothy o.

Liked: Cleanliness

Beautiful!

The house was beautiful., clean and the views were gorgeous. The drive to the house from Boulder was about half an hour with amazing views as well.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022