The perfect lakeside getaway, great for couples, families, reunions.
4 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom, wood fireplace, decks, lakefront w/mountain views!
Check yourself in with the lockbox.
The space
The perfect summer or winter mountain cabin getaway, Donnelly Lake Cabin (main cabin 1400 sq. ft. with guest house 600 sq. ft.) on lakefront lot. Sleeps 12 in beds. Located 5 minutes from Donnelly, Idaho on Sandy Drive. Just 20 minutes to Tamarack Resort; 25 minutes to McCall; 25 minutes to Cascade. Free wi-fi and cable TV. Fireplace. Firepit suitable for roasting hot dogs and marshmallows. Propane barbecue grill. Coffee Pot, Keurig, Electric kettle, Microwave, Range, Oven, Dishwasher, Refrigerator/Freezer, Washer and Dryer. Multiple TV sets. Ideal for family reunions and get togethers. Enjoy all four seasons with swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, skiing, snowmobiling, viewing nature and wildlife.
The space
4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms. Two bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms are in the main cabin and two bedrooms and one bathroom are in the guest house, known as the Shasta Suites. Each bedroom in the Shasta Suites also has a sink and vanity. Master Bedroom sleeps 2 with king size bed. Second Bedroom in cabin sleeps 3 with a queen size and a full-size bed. Two more bedrooms in the guest house each sleep 4 with a queen size bed and a bunk bed in each room. Two of the full bathrooms have a shower and one of the full bathrooms has a tub and shower.
WE CURRENTLY DO NOT ALLOW PETS. If you have stayed with us before and have questions regarding this, please contact me.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q) Is the guest house included? Will it be rented to other guests while we are there?
A) The Shasta Suites sleeps 8 and has one bathroom. It is included with the Cabin and is never rented separately.
Q) How long will you hold my reservation if I need time to consult with the others in my party?
A) We cannot guarantee from moment to moment how long your tentative dates will be open. Guest reservations become effective upon payment.
Q) What is your cancellation policy?
A) Reservations cannot be canceled. We only have one property. Once your reservation is made other potential guests will book elsewhere and so we cannot recover our damages.
We are happy to work with you, however, if you need to sublet or assign your reservation to someone else or make a similar substitution.
Q) In August how low does the lake get?
A) When the lake is full it has an elevation of 4828 feet. In 2016, it was fullest on June 10, at 4827.44 feet. On August 1, 2016, it was at 4821.6 feet and on August 31, 2016, it was at 4816.75 feet. On October 6, 2016, it reached the lowest level for the year at 4813.48 feet.
In 2017 the lake was fullest on July 1, at 4827.36. feet. On Sept 10th, 2017, it had only dropped to 4819. It stayed between 4818 and 4819 until October 22, 2017, when it started to rise above 4819 again.
The closest boat ramp to us is at the Donnelly City Park which has an end of ramp elevation of 4817 feet. At the end of August and in September we use the ramp at Rainbow Point, 4814 feet, or the ramp at Poison Creek, 4812 feet.
All of this information and more than you will ever want to know can be found at the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's website.
Q) Is it ok to beach or anchor our boat in front of the cabin?
A) Absolutely. Not only is the beach kid friendly but it's also boat friendly, with a smooth, sandy, gentle slope. We have a permitted mooring buoy. Normally we beach our boat during the days and keep it attached to the mooring buoy during the nights.
We learned that it is not a good idea to drive the boat up onto the beach. Instead, you should cut the engine and glide onto the beach. Our inboard/outboard has a cooling system for the engine that sucks water into a network of tubing with the intake near the propeller. Because our beach is entirely made of very fine white silver sand, over time the sand in the engine created unnecessary maintenance problems.
Now, when beaching the boat, we drive toward the beach then, about ten or twenty yards out, we cut the engine and raise the prop out of the water as we glide in. Conversely, when leaving the beach, we push the boat out and lower the prop when it's about ten yards out before starting the engine.
Q) Are there any rules about using the beach or surrounding waterfront?
A) On Lake Cascade the beaches are public. Of course, as a guest at the cabin, you have direct access to the beach. Others cannot trespass on the lakefront lots to get to the beach. You can legally get to any beach by boat or by land using an access lot. There are a couple of such access lots nearby to the north and to the south of us. We pay a membership to help maintain the one to the south. It has picnic tables, a fire pit, etc., and a beach.
Q) What would be the closest boat launch?
A) That would be the Donnelly City Park which is one mile or three minutes.
Late in the season when the water is low we sometimes use Rainbow Point. It is on the other side of the lake and is 5.6 miles or twelve minutes. Rainbow Point is only two miles by boat, however.
We sometimes use, but only at extremely low water, Poison Creek which is 8.2 miles or 17 minutes. It is the campground closest to the Tamarack Resort on the other side of the lake and to the south of us.
Q) Is there enough room for parking a boat trailer, snowmobile trailer, motorcycle trailer, etc.?
A) Yes. There should be ample parking.
Q) Are kids ok?
A) Absolutely. The cabin was made for kids of all ages.
Q) Can we invite our friends up?
A) The cabin allows for 12 people. Due to an ordinance passed in Valley County, short-term rentals are not allowed more than 12 people on the property.
Q) What are the rules?
A) Just the usual rules. You and all guests must obey all laws. Smoking anywhere on the premises is prohibited. You are responsible for any damage that occurs during your stay. Be sensitive to the neighbors after the sun goes down. (Some people like to catch up on their sleep while at the lake). Please clean up any trash that may have been left outside prior to checkout.
Q) Where can you rent boats?
We highly recommend Mountain Meadow Adventure rentals. They are a 9 minute drive from the cabin (4 minutes on the lake) on the way to Tamarack. It is a family business and Ben and Rachel are super nice.
Q) Is there a barbecue grill available?
A) Yes. We have a Blackstone Griddle that is available for use on the deck.
Q) Do you have a fire pit for roasting marshmallows and hot dogs?
A) Yes. There is a fire pit suitable for roasting marshmallows or hot dogs or for singing around the campfire and telling ghost stories located on the beach.
Q) Are there enough pots and pans for a large family or do we have to bring our own?
A) The kitchen is fully equipped. If you have some specialty items or need to use an extra large pot, you may want to bring a few things of your own from home, but we have everything you normally need waiting for you in the cabin.
Q) Do you have life jackets we can use?
A) You will need to bring your own life jackets.
Q) Can we have an early check-in and/or a late check-out?
A) Let us know if you need or want to have extra time before or after the usual 11 a.m. check-out and 4 p.m. check-in time. When we can accommodate you, we will. It all depends on our housekeepers and how tightly our reservations are scheduled.
Guests have full access to the Main Cabin and the Shasta Suites.
Interaction with guests:
I am always available by cell phone if you need anything. I live in Eagle, about 94 mi away.
Other things to note
*Lake Cascade is a reservoir used for irrigation. The water level varies during the year. At high water, the beaches around the lake are covered or nearly covered by water. At low water, the beaches are large and the lake is small and shallow. On average, high water is in June and the first part of July. The water levels start to recede in July and reach the lowest point from the end of September to the first of April.
