Sierra cabin for two with a cheerful retro kitchen, minutes from Topaz Lake

A snug cabin for two with a cheerful retro kitchen, your own porch, and Topaz Lake about 10 minutes up the road.
Cabin 2 is our little time capsule, and we mean that as a compliment. A real standalone cabin, welcoming travelers since the early 1980s, with painted brick walls, a hand hewn timber ceiling, and a red gabled porch with a front row seat to the Antelope Valley. One cozy bedroom, one genuinely cheerful kitchen, and quiet all around.

THE CABIN
The bedroom centers on a queen bed with an iron headboard under a timber beamed ceiling, with a dresser, a TV, and big windows on two sides looking onto junipers and mountains. Heating and cooling keep things comfortable through warm valley afternoons and crisp mountain nights.

SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS
* Queen bed
* Sleeps 2
KITCHEN AND BATHROOM
Through its own door, the kitchen is the part guests tell their friends about: sunny yellow cabinets, a cooktop, a full size refrigerator, a double sink, a microwave and toaster, and a classic yellow formica table where breakfast tastes better. Bring groceries and cook properly. The bathroom keeps the vintage spirit with aqua tile and a step in shower, plus fresh towels and a hair dryer.

AMENITIES
* Free WiFi
* TV
* Separate full kitchen: cooktop, full size fridge, double sink, microwave, toaster, dinette for two
* Private bathroom with step in shower
* Heating and air conditioning, ceiling fan
* Private front porch with seating
* Shared BBQ patio with grills and picnic tables
* Large shaded lawn under mature pines
* Free parking right by your cabin

THE GROUNDS
The whole cabin is yours, along with the shared grounds: a big lawn under big trees, a fenced BBQ patio that all cabin guests share, and mountain views in every direction. At night the valley goes quiet and the stars come out properly.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Sierra Retreat sits on scenic Highway 395 in Coleville's Antelope Valley, where the West Walker River meets ranch country at the foot of the Sierra. Walker is about 5 minutes south for burgers, barbeque, gas and a general store. Topaz Lake, about 10 minutes north, is known for big rainbow and brown trout. Bridgeport and the Travertine Hot Springs are about 30 to 35 minutes south. Day trips: Mono Lake and Bodie ghost town about an hour, South Lake Tahoe about an hour and a quarter, Mammoth about an hour and a half, and Yosemite's Tioga Pass entrance roughly 90 minutes in season. Full grocery stores are in Gardnerville, about 35 minutes north.

GOOD TO KNOW
* This is a well kept vintage cabin that leans into its character. If you want sleek and new, we will be honest, this is not that.
* The full kitchen is the smart play here. Restaurants nearby are few, good, and close early, so bring groceries.
* The property sits along scenic Highway 395, set back under big cottonwoods. The road quiets down at night.
* Cell service in the valley can be spotty depending on carrier. WiFi is free.
* Nights run cool even in summer. Bring layers.
* Tioga and Sonora passes close in winter. Highway 395 itself stays open year round in almost all conditions.

HOUSE RULES
We keep the rules short so the retreat stays peaceful for everyone.
* No pets. We love them, but the retreat is pet free.
* No smoking anywhere on the property, indoors or out. This is high fire country.
* Quiet hours from 10pm to 8am. Sound carries in the valley.
* Primary guest must be 18 or older.
* Maximum 2 guests.

Where we are
Sierra Retreat sits on scenic Highway 395 in Coleville, California, in the Antelope Valley where the West Walker River comes down out of the mountains. The Sierra Nevada rises to the west, sage hills to the east, and the valley between holds ranches, cottonwoods, and one of the largest mule deer herds in California. It is quiet here in a way that surprises people. At night you get real darkness and real stars.

Why people come
* Fishing. The West Walker River is one of the Eastern Sierra's loved trout waters, with rainbows, browns and Lahontan cutthroat. Topaz Lake, about 10 minutes north on the California and Nevada line, is known for big rainbow and brown trout and usually opens before the general Sierra season.
* The drive itself. Highway 395 is one of America's great road trips, and we are a natural overnight between Reno or Tahoe to the north and Mammoth, Mono Lake and Yosemite to the south.
* Yosemite in summer. The eastern entrance at Tioga Pass is roughly 90 minutes south when the pass is open, usually late spring through fall.
* Hiking and riding. Trails run from valley walks to serious Sonora Pass country. Every June the Eastern Sierra ATV and UTV Jamboree runs on the trail systems around Walker and Coleville.
* Family visits. The Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center is just down the road near Pickel Meadows, and visiting families often stay with us.
* Hunting in fall, fall color in Walker Canyon, hot springs year round, and snowbird migrations along the 395 in spring and fall.

Eating and essentials
* Walker, about 5 minutes south: Walker Burger (a classic stop, seasonal hours), Mountain View Barbeque, a general store and a gas station.
* Topaz, about 10 minutes north: Topaz Lodge on the Nevada side has a casino and restaurant overlooking the lake.
* Bridgeport, about 30 minutes south: a proper Eastern Sierra main street with restaurants, fuel and supplies.
* Gardnerville and Minden, Nevada, about 35 to 40 minutes north: full grocery stores, pharmacies and big box shopping.
* Note for guests: kitchens matter here. Restaurants are few, good and close early, so stock up and cook.

Day trips, near to far
* West Walker River: minutes away, fishing and riverside picnics through Walker Canyon.
* Topaz Lake: about 10 minutes, fishing, boating, a sandy day use area.
* Sonora Pass and Leavitt Falls overlook: about 30 to 40 minutes up Highway 108 when the pass is open, typically June through September. Leavitt Falls drops about 300 feet in tiers.
* Bridgeport and Travertine Hot Springs: about 30 to 35 minutes. Natural hot pools with Sierra views, free and rustic.
* Grover Hot Springs State Park, Markleeville: about 45 minutes, developed hot spring pools in a mountain meadow [verify current pool status before recommending, the park has had closures].
* Bodie State Historic Park: about an hour, California's famous gold rush ghost town, summer access.
* Mono Lake and Lee Vining: about an hour, otherworldly tufa towers and the gateway to Tioga Pass.
* Yosemite National Park, Tioga Pass entrance: roughly 90 minutes in season. The pass closes in winter.
* South Lake Tahoe: about an hour and a quarter north.
* Mammoth Lakes: about an hour and a half south.
* Reno: about an hour and 45 minutes north, the nearest major airport.

Honest notes for guests
* Small towns, short hours. Plan fuel, groceries and dinner before 8pm.
* Cell coverage in the valley is patchy depending on carrier. The cabins have free WiFi.
* Weather swings. High desert plus mountains means warm days and cool nights, even in summer. Bring layers.
* Winter travel. Tioga and Sonora passes close with snow. Highway 395 itself is plowed and open year round in almost all conditions.
* Wildlife. Mule deer cross the highway around dawn and dusk. Drive gently.

Sierra Retreat is managed with care by Everyday Luxury Vacation Rentals. We are looking forward to having you.