Pine Valley Guard Station

The futon was broken. There is no one you can call or contact to inform so that they can repair it for the next guest. Luckily we had brought a cot just in case, and were able to use that for the individual that was going to sleep on the futon. The mattresses on the bunk beds were the worst of any lodging I have ever experienced. You could feel every single coil in the mattress. There is supposed to be wood provided for heating through the month of May. There was only two pieces of wood in the box when we arrived. The refrigerator makes a very loud noise when it is running, which isn't awesome when trying to sleep. However, the stay wasn't all bad. The cabin was fairly clean. It has an amazing view, and good proximity to the reservoir which is stocked with 8"-10" rainbow trout. There is a decent paved hiking trail right across the street. The stove works well, and there is a microwave available. There is a Murphy table in the kitchen, with four plastic chairs, although one of the chairs is duck-taped together. There are plenty of dishes and a pot and pan available. Although we brought cast iron and a teapot. The cabin was adequately sized for our family of four. It would be quite tight with six people.

Compared to others we have visited, this station was at first a bit underwhelming. Crappy plastic furniture, a broken futon and no water which we knew going in. Also no putting fluids down the sink. We like to read and count on good light and a comfortable place to sit. We got neither here- When the sun goes down the rooms are pretty dark. The bathroom was locked. The water was on in the nearby campgrounds so perhaps the broken bathroom accounted for the water being off.

On the positive side, the outhouse was clean, the stand alone fireplace heated the place up quickly and the kitchen had pots, pans and utensils. And even though the fridge made "I am about to die" noises, it kept things cold and the stove/microwave worked. The porch offered comfortable rockers. The weather was great so we spent all our time not eating or sleeping outside. The area this time of year (midweek too) was pretty empty which we appreciated. We did the river walk several times and I recorded 28 species of birds. I also fished for 10 minutes but got distracted by a wandering troupe of pigmy nuthatches. The town of Pine Valley seems lost in time. We found no retail at all there so stock up before you go.

We rented the cabin the week before the indoor plumbing was opened for use (due to pipes potentially freezing). I didn't understand why we had to walk from the gate to the cabin (approx. 1 mile one-way) until we woke up to a continuing snow storm that left 6+ inches of snow on the ground overnight - which provided some of the most picturesque views I have ever experienced.
I would highly recommend staying here.
The gate is automatically closed until the end of the winter season and is opened at the beginning of May - weather permitting.
There was a plug-in heater available but the electricity went out overnight so I recommend using the wood burning stove. My only critiques are: the futon couch was previously broken and not terribly comfortable, and the beds were not the most comfortable either - but you don't stay here for comfort, you stay for the landscape that looks like it was used as a Hallmark movie background.

Cozy, warm cabin with a wood stove and small electric portable radiator heater. Plenty of pots, pans, and dishes. At first glance, the cabin was clean and tidy. But it could use a good deep cleaning. Overall, we had a great experience. Thanks!

The distance from the parking area to the cabin is inconvenient. As we hiked uphill to the cabin site we passed two sets of gates and a parking lot that could’ve allowed closer parking of our vehicle. Understanding that it’s not maintained during the off season, we expected basic immediate comfort. My family spent the first hour sweeping floors, cleaning door handles and kitchen area. And lastly, the futon provided in the living room area was “stained” by previous guests with gross body fluids. We couldn’t even sit on it, let alone sleep on it.
My suggestion would be, put a combo lock or open the first set of gates so guests can park at the “fishing” parking lot. And either raise the cost five bucks or so to at least do a weekly cleaning of the place. The building itself is beautiful and has a lot of potential, but it’s lack of maintenance is a shame. My understanding is the cabin was renovated about a decade ago. Wish we had cabins like this in my neck of the woods.

During the winter season, this cabin was a wonderful option of getting a little seclusion. The cabin is well built and very comfortable. There is a bit of a walk from the parking area. Be sure to check the map to verify which road to follow from the parking area. There was electricity and plenty of fire wood for the stove. The refrigerator wasn't working, the freezer part was.

Awesome location and nice easy hike during the late winter.

We went to play in the snow! The trek into the cabin wasn't bad, 20 min hike, uphill, in the snow with a full pack. The cabin was easy to heat with the stove and a portable heater in the bedroom. Bathrooms were clean. FYI: there is a microwave, a tea kettle, & a great hill for sledding.

Everything you need for a great campout.

This was a perfect winter getaway for a family of five. Our three children (ages 10, 7, and 3) were troopers on the short hike in, even though we took the long way. We loved the remoteness of where we were and waking up knowing we were the only ones in Pine Valley. It was super helpful that there was firewood and matches up there, and also some extra water. I think next time we would bring our water filter so our packs could be lighter. Hand sanitizer was the only thing we wish we had! It was a lovely, unforgettable, joyous experience.