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Alta Lakes Observatory; Rustic Mountain Cabin outside Telluride

your current months are January, 2025 and February, 2025.
January 2025
February 2025

Photo gallery for Alta Lakes Observatory; Rustic Mountain Cabin outside Telluride

3 bedrooms, free WiFi, bed sheets
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Dining
Exterior
TV, fireplace, DVD player, books

Reviews

10 out of 10

Exceptional

Entire cabin

3 bedrooms3 bathrooms223 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Hot tub
  • Parking available
  • Washer
  • Pet-friendly
  • Outdoor space
  • Barbecue grill

Room options

Exterior

East End 5BR luxury home w/ Views, Home Theater Rm, HOT TUB & Amenities GALORE!

Hot tub
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
10.0 out of 10, Exceptional, (41)
East End 5BR luxury home w/ Views, Home Theater Rm, HOT TUB & Amenities GALORE!
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About the area

Map
Telluride, CO

What's nearby

  • Telluride Ski Resort - 1 min walk
  • Telluride Ski and Golf Club - 27 min drive
  • Mountain Village Gondola Station - 28 min drive
  • Telluride Historic District - 32 min drive
  • Telluride Gondola Station - 34 min drive

Getting around

  • Telluride, CO (TEX-Telluride Regional) - 29 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Big Billies Restaurant - ‬29 min drive
  • ‪Altezza - ‬27 min drive
  • ‪Tomboy Tavern - ‬28 min drive
  • ‪Steamies Burger Bar - ‬34 min drive
  • ‪Oak - ‬34 min drive

About this property

Entire place

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

Alta Lakes Observatory; Rustic Mountain Cabin outside Telluride

Alta Lakes Observatory was hand built in the early 70's by some of the earliest 'settlers' of Telluride's Ski Resort town, Jim and Salli Russell. It is constructed of local timber and stone, stained glass windows, a huge fireplace, hot tub, decks, and an ambience that settles the soul.
The Observatory. Extremely. Comfortable. Backcountry.

SUMMER TIME: Alta Lakes Observatory is located 13 miles from Telluride, 5 miles off the highway, on a mountain dirt road, accessible by 2 wheel drive vehicle (high clearance!) through breathtaking scenery! Wild flowers abound! Great fishing, hiking, mountain biking - they are right out our front door. In the summer it's the perfect venue for weddings, just because gatherings, retreats, corporate groups (50 people max).

WINTER TIME: Alta Lakes Observatory is adjacent to the Telluride ski area and is accessible on Alta Lakes Road by snowmobile, snowshoe or skiing in from the back country access gate from the Telluride ski area. We do have snowmobiles for our guests (at a nominal additional cost).

Words nor photos can accurately convey the feeling you have at The Observatory. It is like no other place in the world! We hope to hear from you soon to make your reservation so you, too, can experience The Observatory.

The Alta Lakes Observatory, LLC operates on the Grand Mesa, Umcompahgre and Gunnison National Forests under special use permit from the USDA Forest Service. The Observatory at Alta Lakes, LLC is an equal opportunity service provider.

Keywords:

Property manager

Alta Lakes Observatory

Languages

English

Property amenities

Ski

  • Cross-country skiing nearby
  • Ski-in/ski-out access
  • Snowboarding nearby

Pool/Spa

  • Spa tub

Internet

  • Available in the cabin: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

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

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 3 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 3 bathrooms
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Fireplace

Entertainment

  • Books
  • DVD player
  • Games
  • Stereo
  • TV with cable/satellite channels
  • Video library

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Barbecue grill
  • Firepit

Laundry

  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • Welcoming dogs only
  • 2 pets total

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Phone

Location highlights

  • In a rural location
  • On a lake

Things to do

  • Kayak
  • Ski-in/ski-out access
  • Snow sports gear
  • Water sports equipment
  • Fishing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Hunting nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Mountain climbing nearby
  • Sledding nearby
  • Snowmobiling nearby
  • Wildlife walks nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)

General

  • Unit size: 2,400 square feet

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age - 21

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

Pets

Pets are allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs only
2 total pets
Note from host: $75 per pet per stay.

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Note from host: Infant/Toddler are fine; but we have no gear.

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: 13-50 people; Special Event Pricing applies.
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
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

Frequently asked questions

Is Alta Lakes Observatory; Rustic Mountain Cabin outside Telluride pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total).

What time is check-in at Alta Lakes Observatory; Rustic Mountain Cabin outside Telluride?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Alta Lakes Observatory; Rustic Mountain Cabin outside Telluride?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Alta Lakes Observatory; Rustic Mountain Cabin outside Telluride located?

Located on a lake, this ski-in/ski-out cabin in Telluride is within a 5-minute walk of Telluride Ski Resort and Alta Lakes, and is convenient for winter sports, such as cross-country skiing and sledging. Nellie and Galloping Goose are also within 2 miles (3 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 35 out of 35 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 35 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 35 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 35 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 35 reviews" "

9.0/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Jasmine L.

Liked: Cleanliness
The Perfect Wedding
My husband and I never got to have a wedding when we got married back in 2020 and finally decided to celebrate with friends and family. The Observatory was more stunning than any place we could have chosen to spend our special day. Our photographer did an amazing job finding the venue for us. Mountain Top Catering catered a beautiful, delicious dinner for us and knew the Observatory well. The lodge was stunning and cozy. The location was like a fairy tale backdrop for our elopement photos. Mattie and Nicole were a pleasure to work and plan with and had great communication while we planned the perfect weekend. We hope that we can return to the Observatory again someday. The memories we made there are truly unforgettable.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Olivia G.

Liked: Cleanliness
Unique and Impressive Experience
The house and the hosts were extremely impressive. The property is unique and has a ton of character and story to tell. Our stay was more than we hoped for - thank you for a tremendous experience!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jason K.

Breathtaking Views….
Such a great place to hit the reset button with my family…. Bring your hiking boots and your bikes…. So much to explore and see. Loved the fireside nights and constellation viewing.. If you need anything Mattie will be there..
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Briana T.

Liked: Cleanliness
Honeymoon Stay
There are no words to describe how magical this property is. We are already planning our return!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Michael P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Glorious!
Location could not be more amazing! This is a very special place. Thank you Mattie and family for making it available for us to enjoy.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2022

10/10 Excellent

Gayle H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Heaven
This uniquely special spot is a treasure! The surrounding majestic mountains envelop you as you look onto your own pristine lake...heaven on earth!! Whether we were canoeing in solitude with the mountains reflecting on the still waters, looking up at endless starry skies and spotting meteors, sitting around the campfire, preparing delicious meals together in the well-equipped kitchen, or taking in the stunning sunsets right out the back door, Alta Lakes Observatory was truly a treasured spot for our family to share a magical time together...one that will always hold a bright place in our hearts and minds!! AND, what a treat to make new friends, Mattie and the pine martin!!!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jake C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect!!!
I can't even describe how perfect this place is!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Joshua M.

:)
Exquisite.

10/10 Excellent

Ryan B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Best Trip Ever
No words can describe the experience at the Observatory. The snowmobile rides, sledding in the meadow, crackling fire, secluded cabin, amazing host (Mattie)...oh, and snowmobiling into a world class ski mountain. It's more than you could ever dream.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2019

10/10 Excellent

Larry K., Oakland

Liked: Cleanliness
Pristine Getaway
Amazing and unique property, very isolated and quiet, sited high in the mountains at the end of a 6 mile dirt road. Quite rustic but fabulous for those who want to get away from it all; we did not want to leave. My two sons and I could not have been happier, and thanks again to Mattie, who was fun and helpful.

10/10 Excellent

Laura B.

Liked: Cleanliness
The Observatory is AMAZING! We got married on June 15th here!
This is a perfect location for a cozy/comfortable mountain getaway/wedding/whatev. You will be completely surrounded by mountains and the lakes are awesome! We coordinated with Mattie a few days ahead of time to arrange for our arrival. At that time, he informed us that due to an unusually long winter there was still lots of snow on the access road approaching the Observatory. No worries, though! Mattie was working to clear the snow/ice leading to the observatory. By our arrival time, we were able to drive up to the Alta ghost town on cleared road. At the ghost town, Mattie met us with two snowmobiles. We packed our gear in a cargo sled and hopped on the snowmobiles for a 5 minute ride to the observatory. Awesome experience! We never thought that we would be snowmobiling to the Observatory for our wedding on June 15th, but it was a pleasant surprise that kicked off our weekend adventure. Arriving at the Observatory was an overwhelming experience on the senses! The structure of the Observatory juxtaposed with the natural beauty of the mountains was breathtaking! Once inside the Observatory we were overcome with the details of the place. Every nook and cranny has something interesting and unique to check out; a lot of mining stuff around that we found interesting. Not to mention that the Observatory has all the modern amenities you would expect (modern kitchen, directv, wifi, sound system, etc...). Mattie even had a tub full of snowshoes for us to use. It was a blast hiking around the site with snowshoes! Our wedding day was AMAZING! The day started sunny in the morning, clouded up, rained, snowed, then cleared again and the sun returned. Our officiant and photographer arrived during the snow period. They coordinated with Mattie to be picked up by snowmobile. The photographer also was pulling double duty for us to bring the food and flowers. We have an awesome video of Mattie arriving on snowmobile at the Observatory before the wedding with my fiances flower bouquet in hand. We quickly learned that there are no conditions that would keep Mattie from getting everyone and everything safely to the Observatory.

10/10 Excellent

Barbara W.

Most magical place on earth.
Mattie made our stay at the Observatory the most extraordinary experience. We will never forget our amazing weekend- we want to come back every year. From the snowmobile rides to the gourmet kitchen to the ultra soft comfy beds- I can not say enough. Put this on your bucket list. Everyone deserves to be this happy for a few days.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2019

10/10 Excellent

kit l.

Amazing
We all (kids & dogs included!) had a wonderful time at the observatory. Loved every minute of our stay there! The view is so amazing out the kitchen window that I actually didn’t mind doing dishes. Kids loved having the lake just right outside the door and it was especially nice to have canoes, stand up paddle boards and tubes for them to use. Mattie was a great host as well. Can’t wait to go back next summer!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2018

10/10 Excellent

Erick S., Santa Catarina

Liked: Cleanliness
Más de lo que te imaginas
Ha sido una de nuestras mejores experiencias como familia, tienes que ir preparado para esperar lo mejor. Matt el mejor anfitrion. Definitivamente 100% recomendable .
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2022