Caldwell Cabin

Big lake is only a half hour away and affords boat & kayak rentals. The cabin is wonderful but can be a bit warm in the summer months before the monsoons appear in July. The only complaint was the lock to access the property which is tricky and needs the visitor to realize the lock opens towards you after putting in the code and depressing the small lever. Love this place with coyotes howling and elk in the fall.

This is the best cabin on the planet. Very rustic, almost like camping, but the property is incredible and the experience is unbelievable. There are several fenced acres around the cabin keeping cows out, which is better for dogs. In front of the cabin is an enormous field where you will see elk, deer, raptors, big horn sheep, and you will hear wolves, coyotes and in October the bugling of elk. And there are many other animals that are hard to get a look at, like fox. Park yourself on your front porch before sunrise and take it all in. Have a telephoto lens handy, the field is large.

Have 4WD or at least AWD to explore roads right around you and as many forest roads in the area as you can get to. If it is muddy have a winch. We always stay for 2 weeks because the experience is so wonderful & the relaxation you can achieve is worth it.

There is no hot water unless you heat it on the stove or use a solar water bag. We set up a shower tent and heat our water in the sun. There are some incredible solar water bags now that give you plenty of hot water and then just hang your bag in the shower tent.

There is propane for the stove and the refrigerator. Solar panels for lights and limited electrical needs. We bring a solar panel tarp and hang it over the porch railing to charge devices all day. We put a lot of effort into solar which even lets us run a small TV/DVD player at night.

There is one drawback. The Forest Service is adamant that you haul out all of your garbage. A Forest Service campground is 2 miles away, and provides garbage service, but they won't allow you to use it or pay for it. We fully support packing out your garbage when you are camping in undeveloped areas. But if the Forest Service wants a pristine area they could do a lot more to help. We take our garbage to the Lazy Trout Market in Greer for $2.00 a bag. We break down our garbage so carefully that we can fit quite a few days in one bag. Love this cabin.

This is a great place to simply relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. We had a really great visit. We recommend taking the road that goes by the cabin down about a mile for some awesome views of the canyon.

This is an amazing cabin with lots of space and amenities. The people that use it are very respectful in taking care of it. It is great to have a nice open meadow to enjoy. The solar power provided lights, a nice propane fridge and water for the toilet. We brought all our cooking gear, but the kitchen was actually well stocked.

Really enjoy this place. Rooms with a view is one of the most incredible programs our USFS is involved in.