Cabins on Vallecito Lake
BE OUR GUEST
Come and stay with us in one of our quintessential mountain cabins
and enjoy your time in the beautiful and protected
Weeminuchee Wilderness of the San Juan Mountains in Southwest Colorado.
Vallecito Lake is a wonderful community enjoyed by people
of diverse ages, abilities, & interests.
Families love the natural playground of the lake, which offers an endless summer of swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking, fishing, hiking, and exploration.
The marina offers fishing licenses, boat rentals, and guided tours
for those looking to perfect their fishing.
Explore the endless opportunities of colorful Colorado with
memories to last a Lifetime!
We are here to assure the best comfort and service during your stay.
LOCATION
Vallecito Lake is 30 minutes from Durango Colorado, home of the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad;
nestled in the Four Corners region where wooded mountains meet the high desert.
Take a day drive to one of our many neighboring gems: Mesa Verde, Telluride, Moab, and Chaco Canyon.
Our cabins are all lakefront or lakeside on the shores of Vallecito, (Spanish for Little Valley),
with an access point to the Weminuche Wilderness.
Just down the county road from the cabins is a doorway to nearly 500,000 acres of diverse protected lands,
which is 3/4 the size of Rhode Island and the largest unpaved wilderness area in Colorado.
There are hikes for all levels, fishing, and boating, all while surrounded by an abundance of beauty.
"The ultimate luxury in Life remains Nature."
-Robert Rabensteiner
VALLECITO LAKE
OUR CABINS
Avery Place
A Colorado Mountain Cabin with a covered deck for relaxing days and nights. Great for families, couples, or just friends. Two-story cabin with two bedrooms with king-sized beds, nestled in the tall pines. Just a short walk to lake access where you can use our paddle board and canoe!
Shanty Chic 1Bedroom
Lakefront One Bedroom
Wood Cabin that's loaded with French Farmhouse design, nice sized bedroom with a queen-sized bed, and a
stocked kitchen.
There is a deer trail down to the lake’s shoreline where
a kayak and canoe are provided for our two cabins.
Shanty Chic 2Bedroom
Lakefront Two Bedroom
Wood Cabin was crafted in the '50s styled for mountain living.
Both bedrooms have queen-sized beds and a gourmet kitchen.
Nothing but trees and a 100' natural deer trail down to the lake's edge where a kayak and canoe are provided for our two cabins.
Starry Nights Cabin
The name says it all!
Roomy Lakefront Cabin -
a pure Recreational Retreat.
Two bedrooms both offer queen-sized beds.
There are two decks that offer amazing views of the lake,
mountains, and sky.
A private trail down to
the lake where two kayaks await you!
GALLERY
My family and I moved to the Durango area from the shores
of Santa Barbara in 2004; here, we found a home nestled in
the striking beauty of the Rocky Mountains.
I worked as a B2B consultant in the Four Corners area
for nearly a decade and became intimately familiar
with the southwest and surrounding areas.
In 2015, I started Shanty Chic Cabins, managing lakeside properties
with the mission to offer Guests a relaxing & inspiring experience
in the mountains that I call home.
I value taking time to create connections through personally meeting Guests.
I listen both for needs and barriers, as well as goals and desires, to best accommodate you and provide meaningful suggestions for your trip.
I am Guest-driven, and my priority is to provide a comfortable place for
families, couples, outdoor enthusiasts, solo travelers, and lovers of nature.
I have cared for hundreds of Guests and am excited to share all the insights that a trained guide, local business owner,
and Colorado Mom can provide!
René
Destination Vacation Specialist
YOUR HOST
CABIN CARE
Our team of Cleaning Experts brings years of experience working with
Vacation Rentals provides our Guests with excellence and competence.
Small details make a big difference, we stock the cabins with
everything you need for a perfect getaway.
We want guests to feel relaxed and at Home as soon as they
enter one of our Shanty Chic Cabins.
Our cleaning procedure follows CDC guidelines; where we ensure cleaning and sanitizing are separate steps.
We also take time to organize and place the finishing touches on each cabin.
As a team who strives for excellence, we're committed to creating
and maintaining your Cabin away from Home.
If any problems arise during your stay- let us know so we can make it right!
REVIEWS
Avery Place
Bobbie
June 2022
PERFECT getaway! Rene had excellent communication, she came and helped us when we had trouble finding the place. The cabin itself was gorgeous, clean, and organized, and we took full advantage of the canoe, oars, and fishing equipment! Having that access to the lake made the value of this place shoot through the roof. Quiet and peaceful, just what we needed. I would recommend anyone stay here.
Shanty Chic
1Bedroom Cabin
Bryan
July 2022
This is a lovely cottage for a lakeside stay for a solo traveler or couple. Rene was great with communication and the cottage is stocked with everything you need to enjoy a relaxing stay. While the trail to the lake is steep, it's neither long nor particularly difficult, and the lake (and views from the cottage) are spectacular.
Shanty Chic
2Bedroom Cabin
Claire
May 2022
Great cabin on the lake. Beautiful views of the lake and mountains. Lots of great hiking nearby and about a 30-minute drive to downtown Durango. The cabin is spacious - we traveled with our two dogs and had plenty of room for their crates. The kitchen has all the essentials. Rene was responsive and helpful. I would highly recommend this cabin to anyone wanting a nice mountain getaway.
Starry Nights
Analisa
May 2022
The Starry Nights cabin is a great little spot for a rejuvenating vacation. It is in one of the most picturesque locations on Vallecito Lake, and the views cannot be beaten. The cabin itself was just the right size for our family of four. We loved using the fishing rods and kayaks that came with the cabin and spent part of every day down at the lake. Bring some good water shoes for the hike down to the lake and for walking along the shore. We had a great time and can't wait to come back!
Avery Place
Pam
July 2021
Shanty Chic
1 Bedroom Cabin
Laura
October 2021
Shanty Chic
2 Bedroom Cabin
Matthew
September 2021
Starry Nights
Christa
July 2021
The cabin is amazing. You are close to your neighbors but it’s a perfect and tranquil setting. The porch is awesome for breakfast or relaxing with a cocktail in the evening. The beds are so comfortable and the kitchen is equipped with everything you need including spices and foil.
We used the canoe one day, it is a bit tricky getting to it over the rocks and down to the lake but it is well worth it once you do. We had the best time on the lake. We had rain a couple of days and it was perfect being on the porch listening to the thunder through the mountains. If you are looking to relax and have time with your family this is the perfect cabin for you.
What a GREAT spot!! René was an incredible host. She checked in on us to make sure we had everything we needed and offered lots of suggestions. The cabin was adorable and such a nice getaway. Incredibly quiet, cozy, and serene. The views of the lake are amazing. Really can't say enough good things about this spot. We thoroughly enjoyed our time and are grateful for René's hospitality!
This is one of the best vacation rentals we've ever stayed in. The house was cozy and spotlessly clean — perfect for our family of four looking for some forest time. This is one of those locations that has the perfect combination of accessibility and remoteness. Having "beachfront" access to this lake is rare, but this house has it! It's very well provisioned with free access to a canoe and kayak and everything else — life jackets, fishing equipment, etc. Every little detail has been accounted for. René was responsive but not overbearing. It doesn't get any better than this.
This is such a nice place! Very clean house, a quiet neighborhood, and a beautiful location! Rene met us upon arrival and showed us around the place, as well as gave us lots of ideas for stuff to do nearby. It got very warm during the day (we were mostly away during the day) but with the windows, open things cooled down inside quickly in the evening and sleeping was very comfortable. There is a marina very near. If you want to rent a boat, make a reservation as early as possible; the 10 am-2 pm slots fill up quickly. Rene is very quick to respond to communications, and lives close by if you do happen to need anything. Highly recommend staying here!