One of Estes Park's most popular vacation rentals, for good reason (County STR Permit 20-NCD0115)! This modern studio offers a private deck & great views in a quiet mountain neighborhood near Rocky Mountain National Park. You will likely encounter herds of elk & deer, and are welcome to enjoy the starry night in the hot tub. A cozy, private space with its own entrance, a luxurious queen bed, sofa bed, & kitchenette. Conveniently located 1/4 mile from Marys Lake, and 4 miles from downtown & the national park.

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This is a gorgeous, modern studio apartment in my home's walkout basement, with amazing views of the Rocky Mountains. As you can see in the photos, there is a front living area and a rear bedroom area, but no door separating them. I am a photographer by profession and have decorated the walls with my favorite images of the area. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed making them!

Past reviews have raved about this property:

"... the best I've stayed at."
"... a surreal environment with beautiful artwork and clean cut simplicity in design"
"... a must stay if you are in the area."
"... tons of wildlife right out the back door."
"... pictures can’t truly describe the view from the deck."
"... an incredible value for all it gives. Amazing location and view!"

Note that some months of the year I live upstairs, and other months I am gone. When booking, assume I'll be here -- but also understand you'll have your own private studio, kitchenette, bathroom, deck and entrance as shown in the photos. You probably won't see me unless you need me, and I give guests privacy. I figure that's why you're here in the mountains in the first place!

Rest is so important after a day hiking around Rocky Mountain National Park! Sleep soundly on a Serta queen mattress and a super comfortable 3-inch memory foam topper. The bed is the third most loved aspect of my unit, aside from the view and hot tub.

The front living area has a futon sofa that can be converted to a full size bed, so the unit can accommodate 3 or 4 people. There is an extra per person fee for more than 2 people.

There is little better in life than sitting in this cozy space (or on the deck!) after a great day in Rocky Mountain National Park, and watching deer and elk graze nearby. If you're lucky you'll spot the neighborhood bobcat, badger, or raccoon family.

This rental is situated a fantastic rural neighborhood on the slopes of Prospect Mountain. The house has unobstructed views because of its elevation. Due to the topography, the house is very isolated and private -- you can't see neighbors and they can't see you.

Recurring comments from guests include the great views, the privacy, the deck, the hot tub, the uncluttered and open space, and the fact that you can watch the sun rise over the mountains from bed if you're so inclined.

You'll be well equipped to do your own cooking while you visit: the kitchenette features a fridge and freezer, a two burner cooktop, toaster, stainless steel pots/pans, dishes and cutlery, water boiler, and more. Please see the photos for more details. There is no oven.

The deck is perfect for lounging and enjoying the view and relaxing. It features two big chaise lounges. The deck's railing has a thick piece of wood on top, and guests often use that as a table top and sit on bar stools and watch the sunset and eat dinner. This unit does not feature a television, but there is speedy WiFi if you want to stream Netflix to your computer or tablet.

If you want to fish, Marys Lake is 1/4 mile away. There's even a beach for sunbathing. If you like rock climbing, there are boulders from V0 to V10, trad routes from 5.5 to 5.12, and sport routes from 5.7 to 5.13 on Prospect Mountain, all of which are 15-20 minutes by foot from the front door. There's also a great hiking trail that goes to the top of Prospect Mountain (the trailhead is 5 minutes by foot from the house), and once there you'll have one of the best views of Estes Park around, with a full panorama of the Continental Divide and Estes Valley. The entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park is about 7 minutes via car.

As you can see in the photos, you do need to walk down several flights of steps to get to the unit. Be prepared for this!

Overall, this studio is a great base for outdoor lovers who want peace and quiet and want to experience all the wonders of Estes Park and the Rocky Mountains.

You'll have access to:

+ 1 private off street parking spot
+ Your own private entry
+ Private deck
+ Private bathroom
+ Private kitchenette
+ Private living space

You are free to use the hot tub that is next to the main entrance to the house. It is not located on the studio's private deck. I keep the water clean and tend to it regularly, but people often track in decomposed granite pebbles that sink to the bottom and don't get picked up by the filter. I remove these every few weeks, but not every day.

I live in Estes Park and know the town and the National Park like the back of my hand. I moved here in 2006 and am a photographer specializing in weddings and family portraits. I have spent the years since climbing, hiking, skiing, cycling and adventuring in and around Rocky Mountain National Park and am happy to offer advice on the best hikes, drinks, dining and adventures in the area. I'm just a quick text or email away! Otherwise please be in touch with my co-host and house manager Nancy who will also be helping a lot during your stay!

NOTE: DURING CERTAIN MONTHS THIS WILL OPERATE UNDER A PERMIT WHERE I WILL BE LIVING UPSTAIRS, WHILE OTHER MONTHS THE PERMIT WILL PRECLUDE ME FROM LIVING UPSTAIRS.

This is a wonderful neighborhood in one of the more rural parts of Estes Park. We are only a few miles from downtown, but things are quiet here! The home is nestled in a huge ravine on the slope of Prospect Mountain, so you can't see the neighbors homes. It feels pretty secluded. You can actually hike out the front door and in about 45 minutes be at the top of Prospect Mountain, which has one of the most incredible views in all of Estes Park! You can see the entire national park and the continental divide in a giant panorama. The home is also about a quarter of a mile from Marys Lake, where you can fish. I love this area and am grateful to live here.

DO NOT LEAVE FOOD IN YOUR CAR. Local bears have been known to get a little curious.

It's pretty easy to get around here, but if you want to take public transport, you can take a 5-10 minute walk to Marys Lake and pick up the free shuttle bus that runs around town. Please note that the bus only runs in the high season.

The house is located up a steep dirt road that every once in a while is inaccessible to 2WD cars during the worst winter snow storms. It is regularly plowed, and the snow here melts super fast, but access can't be guaranteed in the worst weather unless you have AWD or 4WD. A few times a year, neighbors without 4WD will park at the bottom of the hill and walk up to their homes, which is steep but only takes a few minutes.

You will need to descend a number of steps to get to the house. Once at the front door of the house, you'll turn right and descend another flight of steps on the side of the house to get to the studio. Please check the photos to see if this is okay with you.