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St. Helens House ~ Yale Lake/Mt St Helens Retreat.

Vacation home in Cougar with kitchen and patio

Photo gallery for St. Helens House ~ Yale Lake/Mt St Helens Retreat.

Outdoor dining
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Property grounds
Dining
2 bedrooms, WiFi, bed sheets
In the heart of Cougar, WA, this cozy cabin with a loft is central to the best year-round recreation in the PNW. Explore Gifford Pinchot National Forest's 1,500 miles of trails or visit Ape Cave lava tubes and Marble Mountain Snopark for skiing and snowshoeing. Walking distance to Cougar Bar & Grill and Yale Lake make it easy to access your favorite outdoor activities.

Reviews

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful

Entire home

2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 665 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Parking available
  • Barbecue grill
  • Pet friendly
  • Kitchen

Add dates for prices

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

St. Helens House ~ Yale Lake/Mt St Helens Retreat.

In the heart of Cougar WA. Great location, cozy cabin with a loft, central to the best variety of year round recreation the PNW has to offer. From the comforts of this retreat access all your favorite outdoor recreational activities within minutes. If you want to do it…. This is where to find it! Walking distance to Cougar Bar & Grill, stores and park/Yale Lake.
Gifford Pinchot National Forest, there are almost 1,500 miles of trails on the forest open to hiking, biking, ect.
Mount St. Helens Nation Volcanic Monument, open for climbing year round and offers some of the most popular snow-parks for snowmobiling/cc-skiing enthusiast. Be sure to visit Lava Canyon!
Ape Cave lava tubes (10 miles), which formed about 2,000 years ago and is open year round.
Marble Mountain Snopark (4.5 miles) The trip to June Lake is one of the most popular ski tours from the Marble Mountain Snopark. If the snow is good, the skiing is easy. Other skiing and snowshoeing options are available, and the snopark also serves as a base for hiking and climbing trips. Marble Mountain Snopark is the hub for snowmobilers, cross-country skiers, and snowshoers on the southern slopes of Mount St. Helens. Adequate snow cover for skiing can usually be found from December through March most years. The snow at the snopark is seldom very dry and often changeable, so it’s generally best to be riding on no-wax skis. Most days are skiable here if you’re prepared for the conditions.
The Falls (34 miles) Lower Lewis River Falls, the Middle Falls, and the Upper Lewis River Falls.

Local Fish
Variety of trout, Bull Trout, Dolly Varden, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Silver Salmon, Kokanee, Northern pike minnow, Sculpin & Tiger Muskie, Coastal Cutthroat, Steelhead.

Boat Ramps & Recreation
YALE LAKE RESERVOIR
Cougar Camp (1 mile), restrooms and showers, parking for 180 vehicles, 15 picnic tables, and a one-lane boat ramp.
Beaver Bay (3.5 miles), restrooms and showers, parking for 40 vehicles, 6 picnic tables, and a one-lane boat ramp.
Yale Park (2 miles), restrooms, 30 picnic sites, parking for 130 cars and 80 trailers, a four-lane boat ramp and a beach swim area.
Saddle Dam (9 miles), restrooms, parking, picnic tables, swimming area and boat launch ramps.
LAKE MERWIN
Cresap Bay (8.5 miles), restrooms and shower, 20 picnic tables, a two-lane boat ramp and a beach swim area.
Speelyai Bay (8.5 miles), restrooms, 25 picnic tables, parking for 250 vehicles, a two-lane boat ramp and a beach swim area.
Merwin Park (20 miles), restrooms, 135 picnic tables, parking for 250 vehicles, and a beach swim area.
SWIFT DAM RESERVOIR
Power Canal (7 miles), parking to fish at canal and two developed recreation facilities at the east end of the reservoir. Swift Forest Camp has restrooms a two-lane boat ramp with parking spaces and a day use beach swim area. Eagle Cliff Park has restroom, parking and is a walk in park with picnic tables and is a cool place with secluded feeling.
MERRILL LAKE
Merrill Lake Camp (6.5 miles), restrooms, parking, boat launch, catch and release fly fishing.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the house: WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 1 bathroom
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Living room
  • Wood stove

Entertainment

  • Smart TV

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Firepit
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Patio

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • 2 pets total

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Designated smoking areas

Things to do

  • Kayak

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)

General

  • Garden
  • Unit size: 700 square feet

Similar properties

Outdoor dining
COUGAR House -Mt St Helens / Yale Lake Retreat
  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Pet friendly
9.8 out of 10, Exceptional, 32 reviews
COUGAR House -Mt St Helens / Yale Lake Retreat

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
2 total pets
Restrictions apply; for more information contact the property at the number on the booking confirmation
Note from host: house trained. never unattended. clean up after.

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Note from host: Loft access may be a concern see photos.

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas

Important information

You need to know

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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
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
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

About the neighborhood

Map
WA, Cougar

What's nearby

  • Ape Caves - 15 min drive - 19.1 km
  • Marble Mountain Sno-Park - 19 min drive - 25.2 km
  • Mount St. Helens - 24 min drive - 33.9 km
  • Climbers Bivouac Trailhead - 26 min drive - 28.1 km
  • ilani Casino - 42 min drive - 58.7 km

Restaurants

  • ‪Cougar Bar And Grill - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪The Lone Fir Cafe - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪Bigfoot’s Lodge - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪Red's espresso - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Jack's Restaurant & Store - ‬9 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is St. Helens House ~ Yale Lake/Mt St Helens Retreat. pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows pets (limit 2 total). Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

How much is parking?

Onsite parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at St. Helens House ~ Yale Lake/Mt St Helens Retreat. ?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at St. Helens House ~ Yale Lake/Mt St Helens Retreat. ?

Check-out is at 11:00 AM.

Where is St. Helens House ~ Yale Lake/Mt St Helens Retreat. located?

Situated in Cougar, this vacation home is within 9 mi (15 km) of Lewis River, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, and Ape Caves. Gifford Pinchot National Forest and Toutle River are also within 12 mi (20 km).

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St. Helens House ~ Yale Lake/Mt St Helens Retreat. Reviews

Reviews

9.2

Wonderful

Rating 10 - Excellent. 9 out of 14 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 14 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 14 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 14 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 14 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

9.0/10

Amenities

9.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.0/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Mandi R.

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

Great place close to Mt St Helens!

30 min from climbers bivouac!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mathieu V.

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

Excellent place to discover the surroundings.

The title is the summary.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Becca M.

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

Fun little cabin

This was a great place to just get away. It was so quiet and relaxing. We will definitely be back. The little restaurant in town had the best food and yummy ice cream!!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

8/10 Good

Kelly

Liked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
It was just what we needed for an active time with with our granddaughters & easy for our little dog too. The kids loved sleeping in the loft! The oven runs a bit hot & there were a couple oddities— but it’s a cabin setting, not a 5 star hotel. Rustic, clean & pretty much just what we were looking for. May look to so it again next year.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

6/10 Okay

Judie S.

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

St helens house

Our stay was very comfortable even when the temperature got up there. The only concern i have is the stairway to the loft. More handrail and smaller stairs. Older people have a hard time.My 74 year old sister fell down those stairs and landed on her face. She has got severe bruising. Safety shouldnt be ignored.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

8/10 Good

Greg D.

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

Overall great stay and cabin for a getaway

The cabin is very cute. I took my girlfriend there for our anniversary. It's small, but it fit our needs well. It could sleep another 1-2 children in the loft above, but they better be well behaved kids and you either need to sleep like a log or bring earplugs because it will be noisy being directly above.The owner is pretty skilled at carpentry because there was a lot of woodwork in there using crafty materials. I really appreciated the amount of effort he put into building out the place. There was a decent amount of cooking utensils and supplies to make meals throughout our stay. Bring your own foil though, if that's something you're wanting to use.It's on a quiet loop off of the main road (503), so there is not a lot of noise. However, it's not too close for walking directly to the lake. So if that's important to you, plan to drive to the lake. Overall, it was a great time for us. It was less than 10 miles to the Ape Caves, which was a big reason we stayed there. The fire pit in the back yard is nice and being dog friendly was also a huge plus.The only reason I'm taking off a star from this review is because of the communication with the owner, Troy. He sent a message once I booked thanking me and offering advice if I have any questions or need local info. I responded and asked for any other things we can do besides the Ape Caves and he literally told me to just do an internet search. So why even offer? It felt very rude and disingenuous.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Kenneth G.

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

Pinocchio might live here!

This is a sweet cabin which has been totally resurfaced on the inside with woods of different textures and finishes. Your eyes just keep roaming around to take it all in. The essentials are all here: very completely equipped kitchen, fast wifi, comfortable beds, multiple new towels and washcloths, new washer and dryer, very recent electric burner stove. Space is limited. The upper deck is pleasant, but reached by a steep ladder that will not work if you have bad hips or knees. The advantage of the location is that Couger is very close to St Helen's and there are no housing options at all within the boundaries of the federal recreation area. The disadvantage is that Couger is a bit scrappy as a town so the view outside the cottage is cluttered with a lot of stuff. That didn't particularly bother us, but if you are looking for Walt Disney World environment, you will be better served going to Disney World
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

8/10 Good

Jaga G.

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

Nice cozy cabin near Mount St. Helen.

The cabin is well equipped and nicely decorated. It is a short walk to Cougar Bar and Grill with good food and country atmosphere. The cabin really sleeps 5 people, unless there are two kids that can sleep on a twin with a pull out. Unfortunately, VRBO fees seem excessive and they only show up after you start booking.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Evin L.

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

great vacation house

We really enjoyed the cabin! It was apparent that the owner has done a ton to improve the property inside and out. Loved all the colored wood and bigfoot decor. Steps to the loft were no problem and were appropriately marked. It was hot out but the cabin stayed cool between the ceiling fan and the a/c. Especially loved hanging out on the covered patio and using the firepit. We were unable to use the kayaks because they didn't fit in our car, but appreciated that they were made available. We walked across the street to the Cougar bar & grill every night for dinner, which was great. Would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Haley G.

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

We had the best time!

The house is clean, well-stocked, and cozy. The beds were so comfy!! The property owner was so friendly and made sure we had everything we needed. It was in a great location too. 10/10 recommend!!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Matthew

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Awesome place! Loved the attention to detail of the cabin. We would love to come back again! Fully recommended.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jackie K.

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

Great Stay and Location

Tyler was a great host and worked with me when I had some last minute changes. The location is great and the fire pit was a hit.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kristina K.

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

Volcanic fun

Great cozy spot in great location for outdoor fun with kids. Friendly, informative locals and host.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023