Come let nature restore you in historic Twin Lakes. Our modern, alpine cabin is located just over two hours from Denver, at the base of Independence Pass, one of the world's top scenic drives. Surrounded by 14ers and 10 minutes from Colorado's largest glacial lakes, freshly renovated Alpenglow is a perfect spot for all your outdoor adventures. Curl up by the wood-burning stove or sip your morning coffee in the hot tub--all while soaking up panoramic views of snow-capped peaks. *If you don't see your preferred dates please send us a message to get on the waitlist! Follow us on IG @alpenglowcabin for last-minute cancellations/openings.* ALPENGLOW 〰 "a reddish glow seen near sunset or sunrise on the summits of mountains" (Merriam-Webster) 〰 that cozy feeling you get curled up by the fire with friends and family after a day of fresh air and adventure IG @alpenglowcabin WEBSITE alpenglowcabincolorado dot com FEATURES Condé Nast Traveler, Dwell, Cabin Tripping, Apartment Therapy, Lonely Planet, My Scandinavian Home, Travel + Leisure, Field Mag, Cabin Diaries, The Cabin Chronicles, The Denver Post, 5280 Magazine, etc. OUR STORY Our family gutted, designed, and renovated every inch of Alpenglow Cabin ourselves, with blood, sweat, tears, and big love. A DIY adventure! Our goal is minimalist comfort for seekers of wilderness, beauty, and solitude. DREAMY MOUNTAIN CABIN Cozy up by the Vermont-made HearthStone wood-burning stove while admiring panoramic mountain views from the cathedral windows. The biggest peak you can see from our living room is La Plata (fifth highest in the Rockies). Mt. Elbert, Colorado's highest peak, is behind us (trailhead a few minutes down the road). We love watching the alpenglow morning and evening and we know you will, too! GREAT ROOM The open-concept kitchen, dining, and living area offers a wood-burning stove, handmade white oak table, dramatic pendant lighting, vaulted ceilings, leather couch, West Elm velvet chairs, Klipsch stereo, fast Starlink satellite WiFi, and of course mountain views from every window. KITCHEN Fully equipped kitchen with quartz countertops, vintage copper faucet, full-size appliances, OXO and Chemex coffee makers, teapots, dishwasher, microwave, toaster, ceramic dishes, and all the pots and pans you need (we love to cook!). BEDROOMS Three bedrooms with comfy Tuft & Needle or Zinus mattresses, cozy 100% linen duvets, and crisp Supima cotton percale sheets. Main-floor large queen bedroom with en suite bathroom; two upstairs bedrooms (one queen, one full). Note that the upstairs bedroom with full bed is rather small. BATHROOMS Two and a half baths. All bathrooms have been stylishly renovated with vintage sink, walk-in shower, wallpaper from Hygge and West, and/or porcelain tile. Bath products from Public Goods. Scandinavian-inspired towels for the bath and Turkish towels for the hot tub. Two fluffy Parachute robes in the main bedroom. OUTDOORS Wraparound deck with hot tub, Muskoka/Adirondack chairs, concrete table and wooden benches, Weber gas grill, and sun umbrella. In the summer/fall, we have a large Tentsile tree hammock set up outside. Alpenglow Cabin sits on 1.5 acres. Our backyard is National Forest and we are surrounded by federally-designated wilderness areas. BASEMENT Ping pong, air hockey, children’s books, a few toys, pack 'n play, booster seat, humidifier, etc. in the unfinished basement. TWIN LAKES + INDEPENDENCE PASS The cabin is located at the base of Independence Pass, on the Twin Lakes side. (Note that in winter and spring when the pass is closed—early November to late May—there is no access to Aspen from our side of the pass.) We are in the Sawatch mountain range in Lake County, the highest county in the Rocky Mountains. Endless options for hiking, back-country skiing, snowshoeing, paddling, rafting, rock-climbing, and mountain biking are all within minutes. We are surrounded on all sides by rugged mountains that are full of gorgeous wildflower hikes and rushing rivers in summer and magical snowscapes in winter. A nature-lover's paradise! We might be biased, but we can't imagine a better spot for enjoying the beauty and wilderness Colorado has to offer. WHO WILL LOVE OUR CABIN Alpenglow is ideal for couples, families, and friends looking for a quiet getaway, a personal retreat for writers and creatives, or anyone in need of nature's healing. We invite you to unplug, slow down, breathe in fresh pine, and soak up the ridiculous 360-degree views. We offer our cabin as a peaceful escape and it is not okay to bring extra guests or throw parties here. Please be truthful about the number of people coming. This is our treasured personal weekend home that we rent out to guests. We ask that you treat our home with respect, as you would your own. THINGS WE CAN'T OFFER :) We think the simplicity adds to the allure and helps us to slow down and unplug, but if any of these are a turn-off for you, please look elsewhere. We want you to be happy here! 〰 No cell service 〰 No landline (we suggest you enable WiFi calling on your phone or use Whats App or iMessages over our fast Starlink satellite WiFi) 〰 No TV/movies (unplug and enjoy the stars!) 〰 No trash service (please plan to pack out your trash and recycling--we provide pre-paid bags for our local drop-off site) 〰 No AC (no one has it up here; mountain nights are chilly and we have fans) 〰 No washer/dryer IMPORTANT DETAILS ABOUT OUR UNIQUE LOCATION 〰 High altitude environment (~10,000 feet). Please make sure to educate yourself about high altitude sickness and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Alcohol and caffeine make it worse. Electrolytes might help. If you're coming up from sea level, it's a great idea to spend a night or two on the Front Range before coming up to the high country to help yourself acclimate. 〰 We are truly in the wilderness. Bear, mountain lion, elk, moose, fox, and big-horn sheep live here, too. Never leave trash or food outside, on the deck, or in your car. Please clean grill and grill tools after every use. 〰 Although we are on 1.5 acres with National Forest behind us, we do have neighbors and noise travels in the woods! Please be mindful of noise and music--especially outside, on the deck, and in the hot tub. Please respect our neighbors' privacy and do not wander onto their properties. 〰 We are 30 minutes from the nearest full-service towns. We recommend getting groceries and gas ahead of time so you can unplug and relax once you're here. (More on this under "other things to note.”) 〰 Two exterior cameras (one at the front door and one facing the driveway) to monitor snow levels, plowing, packages, animals, etc. 〰 Interior and exterior stairs 〰 High interior landing and exterior deck, unprotected wood stove, and limited amenities for babies/toddlers. Please consider whether or not our home is appropriate for you and watch over little ones. 〰 Delicate alpine septic system (TP *only* in toilets and no grease, bleach, coffee grounds, or food solids down the sink, please). We are on a well so we ask that you please conserve water when possible. 〰 Our incredible housekeeper works very hard to have the cabin spotless upon your arrival. We understand that accidents happen but please tell us right away if you stain, break, or damage anything. The cabin is remote, and we need to know so we have time to take care of it. Soiled or stained linens that we can't remedy with laundering will be your responsibility. 〰 Seasonal closures/vibe: see "other things to note" 〰 4WD/AWD (and/or snow tires/chains) strongly recommended in winter and early spring. Please read our winter info under "other things to note" and come prepared for unpredictable and sometimes extreme winter conditions. 〰 In the summer/fall, we have a large Tentsile tree hammock set up outside. Please don't move it and remember it's NOT a trampoline. Enjoy but use at your own risk. :) HOUSE RULES - No smoking, vaping, or drugs (this includes marijuana) - No pets - No parties or events - Person making the booking must be at least 25 years old - No loud music/noise at any time - No amplified music outside, in the hot tub, or on the deck - No extra or undisclosed guests beyond the number on your reservation - No commercial photo shoots or filming without prior consent - Do not build a fire in the wood stove unless you've read our instructions and safety rules. Never remove ash or hot coals. - No outdoor fires, charcoal grills, or smoking anywhere on the property due to permanent ban on short-term rental fires and constant risk of forest fire on this precious wild land - No trash or food left outside or in cars (bear country) ALL ARE WELCOME, regardless of race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion/creed, political affiliation, disability, veteran status, etc. We love welcoming people. We adore our cabin and hope you will too! LICENSE We are licensed by Lake County License #2024-004. You'll have the cabin to yourself. Please do not arrive early without prior arrangements. We don't live on site, but you can reach us via Airbnb message or Wifi-enabled calling (use cabin's Wifi) if you need us during your stay. Please note that while we do our best to respond to messages ASAP and will do all we can to take excellent care of you from afar, we are unavailable ~9pm-9am MST. We have emergency contact info in our house manual if needed. Thank you! Alpenglow Cabin sits on 1.5 acres in a secluded alpine neighborhood. This means you can see our neighbors through the trees (please respect their privacy and love of quiet) but the backyard is National Forest. If you’re looking for solitude and wild nature, Twin Lakes has it all! Mountains, 14ers, Colorado's largest glacial lakes, the Colorado Trail, the Continental Divide trail, the Leadville Race Series, and a (seasonally open) small historic village. Nearest full-service towns are Leadville and Buena Vista (each 30 mins). We strongly recommend 4WD/AWD and/or snow tires/chains in winter. Check cotrip for current traffic and weather info. Twin Lakes village 10 minutes Leadville 30 minutes Buena Vista 30 minutes Ski Cooper 40 minutes Aspen 40 minutes (summer/fall only) Mt. Princeton Hot Springs 45 minutes Copper Mountain 55 minutes Breckenridge 1 hour 15 minutes Keystone 1 hour 15 minutes Vail 1 hour 15 minutes Monarch 1 hour 15 minutes Central Denver 2 hours 30 minutes Colorado Springs 2 hours 20 minutes Boulder 2 hours 50 minutes Grand Junction 3 hours 20 minutes SUMMER & FALL (Memorial Day - early November): Independence Pass (with access to Aspen) is open and so are the shops in tiny Twin Lakes. Always check for updates on cotrip, but typical open dates are Memorial Day through Nov. 7. Be aware that when you're on the deck you may hear cars on the pass, especially on popular summer/fall weekends. We don't have AC because we don't need it (gotta love those cool mountain nights!), but we do have a ceiling fan plus regular fans, if needed. Twin Lakes village is 10 minutes from the cabin. The Inn & Saloon restaurant has been open since the 1800s and serves fine dining in a casual, historic atmosphere. The Tenderfoot Farm store offers local eggs, bacon, jams, salsa, snacks, and more! The General Store is small but you'll be able to get basics (plus cute souvenirs!) if you don't feel like driving to Leadville (30 mins), Buena Vista (30 mins), or Aspen (40 minutes). There are also a couple of food trucks (BBQ, pizza, coffee + breakfast), a coffeeshop, boat tours, and SUP + bike rentals. And of course the lakes, rivers, and trails! WINTER & SPRING (early November to Memorial Day): Our cabin is accessible year-round. Highway 82 is a state-maintained road, but when Independence Pass to Aspen is closed (early Nov-late May; check cotrip for status), we think it's the “prettiest dead-end road in Colorado.” In winter and spring, tiny Twin Lakes village mostly shuts down (the wonderful Tenderfoot Farm store is open daily and the Inn & Saloon restaurant serves dinner Fri-Sat and brunch Sat-Sun). We LOVE the seclusion but it's not for everyone. Be aware that you'll probably want to bring your food; the closest (adorable!) mountain towns are Buena Vista and Leadville (each 30 minutes away). We get ~140 inches of snow per year. Please come prepared for snowy, unpredictable winter conditions. We strongly recommend 4WD/AWD and/or snow tires/chains in winter and early spring. (It’s the law in Colorado plus if you don't have 4WD/AWD and good tires/chains you might not be able to make it up the driveway.) Our driveway is plowed within 24-48 hours of snowfall over 5-6 inches. Our plower won't come out for less than that because it tears up the driveway. We do our best to shovel and salt walkways and decks before your arrival, but please watch for slippery, icy areas on the decks and around the hot tub, as well as large icicles hanging from the roof. There are shovels, ice melt, and a snow blower if needed. We don't mean to scare you, just to set expectations on the realities of mountain winter/spring at 10,000 feet. If you come prepared, winter is magical!