Alta Lakes Observatory; Rustic Mountain Cabin outside Telluride

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Entire cabin

The Observatory in summer - this keeps it all in perspective.

The Observatory in the winter - this is a classic photo!

Winter is something special at The Observatory.

Situated near the base of Palmyra Peak; surrounded by national forest land.

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

3 bedrooms2+ bathroomsSleeps 12223 sq m

Popular amenities

Pet-friendly

Hot tub

Fireplace

Kitchen

Barbecue grill

Free WiFi

Check out the area

Telluride, CO

Telluride Ski Resort1 min walk
Alta Lakes1 min walk
Telluride Historic District32 min drive
Montrose, CO (MTJ-Montrose Regional)116 min drive

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

Bedroom 1 - The Wilson Room

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2 - The Sunshine Room

1 Queen Bed and 2 Single Beds

Bedroom 3 - The Rock Room

1 Queen Bed

Loft

2 Single Bunk Beds

2 bathrooms, 2 half bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet

Bathroom 3

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 4

Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio

Kitchen

Balcony

Dining Area

About this property

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.

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Property manager

Alta Lakes Observatory

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Amenities

Hot tub

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Pet-friendly

Free WiFi

Hot tub

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 21

Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 3–17

Infant/Toddler are fine; but we have no gear.

Events

Events allowed: family gatherings, birthday parties, weddings

13-50 people; Special Event Pricing applies.

Pets

Pets allowed: dogs (limit 2 total)

$75 per pet per stay.

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Check In Time year round is 4pm MST; Check Out time is 11am MST. SNOW - if you arrive late you may (not) be able to access The Observatory.

Weddings of any size: inquire about pricing. Weddings/Parties: person # 13 turns a regular stay to a special event which must be booked directly.

The Altamate is the only rate available for the Christmas and New Year holidays time period. Contact owner for pricing.

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.

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

About the area

Telluride

Located in Telluride, this cabin is in a rural area and on a lake. Telluride Historic District and Mining Heritage Center are local landmarks, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Telluride Ski Resort and Lynx Ski Lift. Enjoy the area's slopes with cross-country skiing and snowboarding, and don't miss out on the snowmobiling and sledging.

View more Cabin rentals in Telluride

Telluride, CO

What's nearby

Telluride Ski Resort - 1 min walk
Alta Lakes - 1 min walk
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) - 39 min drive

Restaurants

Baked In Telluride - 34 min drive
Steamies Burger Bar - 34 min drive
Oak - 34 min drive
Stronghouse Brew Pub - 34 min drive
Poachers Pub - 27 min drive

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. Lynx Ski Lift and Revelation Ski Lift are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

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9.0/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Jasmine L.

18 Oct 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

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.

24 Jul 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

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

Erick S., Santa Catarina

1 Jan 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

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

10/10 Excellent

Jason K.

21 Aug 2022

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

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.

30 Jun 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

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

About the host

Hosted by Alta Lakes Observatory

This is Matt "Mattie" Bowling. He is a long time Telluride local who IS The Observatory. So, what is The Observatory? What's the deal?

In the summer of 1974, Jim Russell started to build the cabin along with the help of about 25 other young locals while living in the abandoned mining town of Alta. It earned it's name, The Observatory, by the many locals who have stayed there over the years...at 11,300 feet it's so close to the moon and stars!

In 2010, Matt and his two brothers, were thrilled to purchase The Observatory from Papa Russell (Jim). Some improvements have been made; however, the soul, the essence of The Observatory remains unchanged.

Mattie and his loved-by-everyone-who-meets-her wife, Ana, live in Telluride proper. One of the brothers currently lives in Denver and the other is in Dallas, Texas. It's a small family business and the Bowling brothers are committed to helping you make memories that you will cherish forever - whether you are a once in a lifetime guest or a guest that must have their fix of The Observatory repeated.

Why they chose this property

There are truly but a few places in Colorado that can offer the beauty and remoteness that The Observatory offers.
Lakes, meadows of wildflowers, forests, mushrooming, eagles soaring, wild life exploring...someone summed it up by saying 'Oh! THIS is where God goes on vacation!'. Whether you are seeking pure mountain solitude or an outdoor adventure, The Observatory is the perfect location.

What makes this property unique

Adjacent to the Telluride Ski Area, the Observatory is the perfect 'off-piste' back country lodge in the winter. Enjoyed by some of the top extreme skiers from around the world, it is family friendly as well! The Observatory. Extremely. Comfortable. Backcountry.

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