Three bedrooms, two full baths, sleeps 8. A 1950s log cabin on wooded acreage in Black Forest at 7,000 ft, with a hot tub for 6, a detached game room, a bungalow with its own door, and up to two dogs welcome. About 25 minutes from the Air Force Academy, 25 to 30 into Colorado Springs.

- Hot tub seats 6 under the pines, propane fire pit beside it
- Dog friendly, up to two dogs, open acreage to roam
- Three buildings: main log cabin, bungalow with its own entrance and bath, separate game room with arcade and foosball
- King bed, a room with two queens, and a queen in the bungalow
- Big deck with a propane grill, built for eating outside
- Full kitchen, dedicated workspace, Roku smart TVs, WiFi
- 7,000 ft elevation, 25 min to the Air Force Academy

Guests keep saying the same three things: how quiet it is out here, the hot tub, and a game room the kids will not leave. Natalie's quick replies come up almost as often.

THE SPACE
A real 1950s log cabin, hand-built by the rancher this road is named after, on a former working horse ranch. The original log walls still do the work. Inside leans modern farmhouse: clean, warm and functional.
- Main cabin: two bedrooms, two living areas, full bath, laundry, and a full kitchen with a drip coffee maker (grinder and beans provided), Dutch oven, crockpot and stand mixer. Dedicated workspace.
- Bungalow: a few steps off the deck, with its own bedroom, entrance and bath. Good for grandparents, or older kids who want their own door.
- Game room: a separate building with a big TV, an arcade game, foosball and a mini fridge.

SLEEPING
- Bedroom 1, main cabin: 1 king bed
- Bedroom 2, main cabin: 2 queen beds
- Bedroom 3, detached bungalow: 1 queen bed, private entrance and private bath
- Pack n play available. Sleeps 8: six in the main cabin, two in the bungalow.

OUTDOORS
The deck is where this place earns its keep.
- Hot tub for 6: soak under the pines after a day out, or let the grown-ups have a quiet hour once the kids are down
- Propane fire pit near the hot tub, tanks provided
- Forested acreage with real space between you and the neighbors
- Open land for the dog. The yard is not fully fenced, so keep a leash handy
- Deer, foxes and wild turkeys pass through the trees

GETTING AROUND
Black Forest sits in the pines northeast of Colorado Springs, higher and quieter than the city below.
- 5 min: Mountain View Cafe for breakfast, Black Forest Pies and Grinders, Black Forest Bistro, and a farm shop for eggs and staples
- 8 min: Black Forest Regional Park (trails, meadows, horseback riding)
- 15 min: full grocery run in Briargate and Powers (King Soopers, Safeway, Target); nearest ER at CommonSpirit St. Francis
- 25 min: U.S. Air Force Academy
- 25 to 30 min: central Colorado Springs for restaurants, shopping and nightlife
- 30 min: Colorado Springs Airport
- 35 min: Garden of the Gods
- 45 min: Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (a hit with kids), Manitou Springs and the Manitou Incline
- 50 min: Pikes Peak Highway to the summit, Rampart Reservoir (fishing, paddling)
- 1 hr 20 min: Denver International Airport

SEASONS
- Memorial Day to Labor Day: the forest goes green and dinner happens on the deck. Evenings cool off fast at 7,000 ft, so the hot tub earns its keep even in July
- Late September into October: cool trail days at the regional park and fire pit nights. First snow can show up in October
- December: locals and woodsmoke. Hot tub nights with snow in the pines, game room afternoons for the kids
- February and March: the real snow months. Bring AWD or 4WD, give the plow time after a storm, and count on clear cold nights for stargazing

GOOD TO KNOW
- 7,000 ft elevation. Drink more water than feels necessary and take the first day easy.
- The third bedroom is in the bungalow, a few steps from the main cabin, so someone walks outside to reach it. Worth knowing with small kids.
- Cooling is central heat plus a single AC unit in the laundry room. Most guests open the windows. The bungalow can run warm in mid-summer.
- The last half mile is well-graded dirt. Most cars handle it year-round. In snow, AWD or 4WD helps, and the county does not always plow quickly out here.
- Cell service can be patchy in northern Colorado Springs but is generally reliable at the cabin. WiFi holds up for work and streaming.
- Septic system: toilet paper only.
- One exterior camera covers the entry area. None inside, none pointed at the hot tub.
- The old barn and a few fenced-off areas stay locked. Please do not climb the fences.
- Keep trash in the bins and never leave food or dog food out overnight. Wildlife is real here.
- Dogs: 2 max, up to 75 lbs each, no cats. Include them in your reservation, off the furniture, leashed away from the deck.
- Free parking for several vehicles, right by the deck.
- Self check-in after 4 PM with a keypad. Your door code arrives before you do. Checkout is 10 AM.

HOUSE RULES
- No parties or events
- No smoking or vaping anywhere on the property, inside or out
- No open flames, candles or fireworks beyond the propane fire pit and grill provided
- Registered guests and registered dogs only
- Quiet hours 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM
- Please do not rearrange the furniture
- Breaking the party or smoking rules means a $1,500 fine and immediate removal

Hosted by Natalie, a Superhost, Texas transplant and mom to six who knows what a family trip takes. Ask her where to eat in Black Forest. She usually replies within the hour.