Entire home

Spectacular view over San Diego County to Mt. Laguna, downtown, Catalina Island.

Spectacular view over San Diego County to Mt. Laguna, downtown, Catalina Island.

Photo gallery for Spectacular view over San Diego County to Mt. Laguna, downtown, Catalina Island.

JE- Amazing creativity from some of my renters.
RW, new moon, 4 9 2019. WOW!
Sunny days after snows....the best!
Sunset into the ocean- happy hour!
Point Loma and downtown San Diego at sunset.

Overview of Spectacular view over San Diego County to Mt. Laguna, downtown, Catalina Island.

Reviews
9.6 out of 10 Exceptional
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6149 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Hot tubHot tubHot tub
  • FireplaceFireplaceFireplace
  • Pet-friendlyPet-friendlyPet-friendly
  • KitchenKitchenKitchen
  • Barbecue grillBarbecue grillBarbecue grill
  • WasherWasherWasher

Explore the area

Map
Palomar Mountain, CA
  • Popular LocationPalomar Mountain State Park8 min drive
  • Popular LocationHarrah's Resort Southern California23 min drive
  • Popular LocationPalomar Mountain38 min drive
  • AirportSan Diego, CA (SAN-San Diego Intl.)104 min drive

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Double Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Dining Area

About this property

Spectacular view over San Diego County to Mt. Laguna, downtown, Catalina Island.

Please note, 3 night minimums for Tgiving, Xmas, New Year's.

Private cabin in the trees built in the early 1900s has been upgraded but retains all its rustic original charm. Watch eagles fly at eye level, clouds roll in, sunsets and moonsets in the ocean. Bobcats, wild turkeys, and deer regularly walk through the property. Decorated by owner with antiques and comfortable furniture (not all in pristine, new condition!) , large view deck for grilling and sitting in the sun, sauna. Dramatic infinity deck on mountain edge for sunset cocktails, morning yoga. Fully equipped kitchen, propane grill, tv, dvd player. Three bedrooms each with a queen or full bed, two couches could accommodate kids. Short drive from hiking, the Palomar Observatory, fishing at Lake Henshaw, entertainment at Harrah's Rincon Casino. Wonderful place to spend a snowy weekend, but 4 wheel drive and chains are needed on the few occasions when snow is deep. Some guest complaints: cluttered [cluttered with board games, coloring materials, telescopes, astronomy, bird, Palomar history books, maybe cluttered just a little]; cobwebs [if you search, you can probably find one or two, cleaned thoroughly after every guest]; feels like we're housesitting [hmmmm- this is a complaint?]. Best guest comment ever: 'It's clearly a well-loved and special place.' BINGO. Thanks, Emily. No dishwasher, I'm afraid.

Note: 3 night minimum for Xmas, New Years, Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day weekends.

CONTACT OWNER FOR EXTENDED STAY (more than 3 nights) RATES.

WINTER BOOKING ADVISORY!!!

Winter is snow time, which is good and bad. Caltrans has a station up on the mountain and they start plowing the paved roads very quickly when snow starts. Unfortunately, there is nobody up on the mountain who plows private drives, and my cabin is about 500 feet up a dirt branch road that is not plowed. If you plan to be there at a time when snow is predicted, your options are to park near the paved road (but be sure not to park right on side of the road where your car will interfere with plowing or be covered by snow pushed aside by the plow), or plan a long day of shoveling yourself out by hand. I’ve done this shoveling myself before, and it takes a good while. One guest last winter took 8 hours to do this, and they were not happy campers by the end of the day. If you have long time existing reservations and there is a massive storm predicted to hit just before or during your stay, I will of course promise a no penalty cancellation if you chose not to go. Being up there with snow is a wonderful experience, as long as you have supplies and can relax and enjoy.

House rules: treat this old place with courtesy and common sense: recycle, clean up reasonably after yourself, turn off lights and cooling/heating when not needed and on departure, close and lock doors and windows when leaving- sometimes I don't get up to clean for several days.

Property manager

Chuck Black
Premier Host
Premier Host
Lock

Protect your payment — always book on Vrbo

If someone asks you to book through them or pay them directly before you book on Vrbo, report it.

Amenities

Hot tub
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Air conditioning

House Rules

Flexible check-in available (contact host in advance of arrival)
Minimum age to rent: 21
Flexible check-out available (contact host to arrange)

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed
No parties or events.

Pets

Pets allowed: limit 2 total
Well behaved dogs ok. Big deck has gates.

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No smoking inside or out.
3 night min major holiday weekends. Cleaning fee included in price, 6 or fewer. $100 supplemental cleaning fee for parties larger than 6.
Treat this old house with respect- leave kitchen, house, grill in reasonably clean shape.
Be green- outside lights off in the daytime, use provided recycling bins, use sauna, heat, ac in moderation, responsibly.

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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Note from host: No parties or events.
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 indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock

About the area

Palomar Mountain

Located in Pauma Valley, this holiday home is near theme parks. Palomar Mountain State Park and Palomar Mountain reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Palomar Observatory and San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Palomar Mountain, CA

What's nearby

  • Palomar Mountain State Park - 8 min drive
  • Palomar Observatory - 12 min drive
  • Harrah's Resort Southern California - 23 min drive
  • Valley View Casino - 30 min drive
  • Palomar Mountain - 38 min drive

Getting around

  • Murrieta, CA (RBK-French Valley) - 80 min drive

Restaurants

  • Jilberto's Taco Shop - 21 min drive
  • Mother's Kitchen & Restaurants - 4 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Spectacular view over San Diego County to Mt. Laguna, downtown, Catalina Island. pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows pets (limit 2 total).

Where is Spectacular view over San Diego County to Mt. Laguna, downtown, Catalina Island. located?

Situated in Pauma Valley, this holiday home is 3 mi (4.8 km) from Palomar Mountain State Park and within 9 miles (15 km) of Palomar Observatory and Palomar Mountain. Lake Henshaw and Harrah's Resort Southern California are also within 16 miles (25 km).

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 143 out of 175 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 21 out of 175 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 6 out of 175 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 175 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 3 out of 175 reviews" "

8.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Irma H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Just WOW!
While our daily stay was shortened due to weather, I cannot be more a fan of this home and its wonderful views. Thank you, Chuck, for sharing this little slice of heaven.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mohan G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful property!
Nice and cozy cabin! Had a great family time at the property! Would consider going back again. Communication was quick with the host.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024

8/10 Good

Scott T.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Mountain cabin
The cabin is not your typical vacation rental flip job. It’s obviously “lived in” which can be part of the charm if you accept that. We liked it. Great views. Do not try to get to it if there is any real snow and you dont have 4wd.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rick W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A place to find quiet
We had a lovely January stay full of hikes, sunsets, hawks, and rain. We'll be back again.
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Peace with forever changing beautiful views and vibes.
Best way to end the year!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023

About the host

Hosted by Chuck Black

Host profile image
Biologist in San Diego.

Why they chose this property

Poor old cabin was falling down.... but with incredible view, nestled in big green trees. See the scrapbook of the 2+ years it took to bring back from near-death. Upgraded, but kept as much of the old feel and charm as possible.

What makes this property unique

Clouds and view are always changing. Santa Ana nights after storms, you can see the waves breaking on Catalina Island in the full moon. Moonless nights, you can see the Milky Way even with all the city lights below. Great place to take kids for their first snow.
As many as 20 hummingbirds fight over porch feeder, acorn woodpeckers and band tailed pigeons common at deck feeder.

Premier Host

Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
Tell us how we can improve our siteShare feedback

More Holiday Rentals ideas

People also search for