COZY CABIN STAY at the foot of Mt Rainier

We were excited about this charming cabin the moment I booked it through Airbnb. We have stayed in the neighborhood before at another cabin (literally 3 doors down), so we knew what to expect with the area.

And by that I mean beautiful tall trees, a relaxing quiet, and – lots of Elk.

When driving Hwy 410 up to the Greenwater / Mount Rainier National Park you quickly learn to be on the lookout for these large animals who seem to have a death wish when vehicles approach at a high rate of speed. Seriously, I’ve had two or three close-calls in the time we’ve been here.

On your route to this cozy cabin you pass through the small town of Greenwater Washington, named after the river by which it sits. Here you’ll find a General Store, a 24 hour gas station, and Naches Tavern. The speed limit through town is 35 MPH because of all the families and travelers who stop here on their up or down the mountain.

Just a few miles on the other side of Greenwater is Crystal Mountain Ranch Rd where you’ll be turning off the highway. Be sure to go slow as you cross over the bridge to get a good look at the raging Green River. Both directions expose an amazing view of the path the river follows.

Advice: This is great spot for photos or to send a drone up if you have one! There is parking on the side of the bridge closest to the highway. WATCH FOR TRAFFIC.

As you continue you’ll soon come to a fork in the road – take the left. This will lead you into a very cool neighborhood of all sizes and types of cabins. You’ll find this cabin on the left with a rather large driveway that could easily accommodate four cars. Perfect for a family gathering or large group getaway!

We had a contactless check-in with the door key being located in the lock box on the front porch. Our host had provided us the combination via email earlier in the day making arriving a breeze. The cabin itself had just been cleaned and was fresh for our arrival. This was a very welcome discovery as we had just traveled 4 hours from our review of another cabin in Leavenworth Washington and we were tired.

We quickly made our way through the doorway with luggage in hand to find an open floor plan decorated in ski chalet aesthetic. The wood floors welcome you on first step in and you’ll noticed the first bedroom on the left.

This room has a comfy looking full size bed and a good size dresser. The perfect size for a couple or just one person with a lot of luggage. Our dog Colt claimed this room as his own and demanded that we put his dog bed inside.

Just across the entry way was the main floor bathroom. And next to that was a door that discreet laundry room with a stackable washer dryer combination. These work extremely well and since we were staying for a couple weeks a solid performing washer/dryer is essential.

A big comfy dual-reclining couch is seated in front of the large flat screen with two single lounge chairs create an inviting family room. Just under the TV sits the modem/router for the Wi-Fi of the home. This is crucial for communication as the cell service for our T-Mobile phones was non-existent since we left the base of the mountain.

I would like to note that the host has YouTube, Netflix and a few other streaming services readily available for guests. This was one of my favorite ‘small touches’ of this Airbnb because I really don’t trust myself to remember to sign out of our streaming accounts when we leave a rental.

As with most the Airbnb we have stayed at, this one has the ‘traditional’ thermostat controller for heating of the entire home or .. you can flip a switch and turn on the very warm propane stove. This might be my favorite part of this stay – it’s super nice to wake up at 5am and just turn on a fireplace. No effort other than flipping a rocker switch and POOF! The flame is lit and immediately starts warming up your cold feet. For us earlier risers this is clutch.

The well supplied kitchen had everything we needed to prepare a variety of meals and a propane BBQ grill large enough to cook for the entire family. There are ample plates, glasses, cookware and flatware. It really had everything we needed for our extended stay.

Walking up the stairs to the second floor you find two bedrooms and a full size bathroom. The bathroom is stocked with loads of towels, and wash clothes. I did notice there is also a hair dryer and plenty of bathroom tissue.

The master bedroom is a large open skylighted room with a king size bed, nightstands, a closet, a large dresser and my favorite part French Doors that open to reveal a private balcony that overlooks the backyard. There are two comfortable chairs on the balcony as well.

Unfortunately, firepits/campfires are NOT allowed at this property but – the host has made up for by stringing soft lights from the cabin to the trees creating a magical scene among the trees. We sat out on the private balcony a few nights and just appreciated the simple beauty of it.

The second upstairs bedroom is surprising large. It is equipped with a full size bed and bunk beds and has plenty of room for everyone. The nightstands and closet provide lots of storage for luggage or even your skis/snowboard if you’re visiting here in the winter.

NOTE: THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO RENT FOR A SKI OR SNOWBOARD TRIP TO CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN -+

RESORT

And if you are here for a outdoor activity, there is a large hot tub on the back deck perfect for soaking the day away. This can be an especially fun when it’s snowing or raining. If you’ve never experienced it you are missing out.

LOCAL ACTIVITIES: Crystal Mountain Resort, Mount Rainier National Park, Mount Rainier Gondola, Endless UTV Trails and much much more…

Overall you could say that I thoroughly enjoyed our time here and would recommend this Airbnb to family and friends. The host is attentive and responds to communications quickly. I found him to be a friendly and hospitable host. If you’re interested in learning more about this wonderful cabin please follow the links below and watch my YouTube video of this Cabin Tour.

AIRBNB CABIN RENTAL LINK