A hand-built 4,000 sq ft log chalet on the June Lake Loop, rented whole to one party of up to eight. Yosemite-grade granite with a fraction of the crowds: 5.75 miles from Yosemite National Park as the crow flies, 27 road miles from the Tioga Pass entrance and 45 minutes from Tuolumne Meadows when Tioga Road is open, and one mile from June Mountain, where kids 12 and under ski free.
THE MAIN LEVEL
The Grand Room rises 21 feet over an open fireplace, with an oak bar and stools cut from local timber. The kitchen is completely remodeled, with a six-burner stove, a double oven and a handmade copper sink from Mexico. And no, there is no pod machine. This is a log cabin, not a dentist's waiting room. The dining room has a twelve-foot table of local pine and shelves of puzzles and board games, chess included. The family room off the kitchen has a wood stove and a pull-out futon that sleeps one or two. A mud room by the door takes the skis, boots and wet gloves, and there is a half bath off the entry hall.
THE SUITES
Three suites upstairs off a catwalk above the Grand Room, each with a private bath and a memory foam bed.
Master Suite: California King, a private two-person jacuzzi, a tiled walk-in shower, and a loft above with a pull-out sofa.
Elsie Room: California King, a ruby-red claw-foot tub, and windows on two sides looking up at the granite peaks.
River Room: Queen bed and a remodeled bath. The quietest room in the house, with Yost Creek below the window.
OUTSIDE
The outdoor hydrotherapy tub seats six and runs all year, just off the back deck under Carson Peak. Two creeks cross the two-thirds of an acre around the house, and the national forest begins at the back fence. Five stand-up paddleboards and a kid-size one wait in the garage for Silver Lake and Rush Creek, along with a climbing wall for stormy afternoons.
WINTER
We sit right on Highway 158 and the driveway is plowed professionally, so on a powder day you do not need a 4x4 or a shovel to get to the lifts. With a local guide, expert skiers can ski from the top of June Mountain all the way down to the hot tub.
GETTING HERE
About five hours from Los Angeles and under six from the Bay Area. Mammoth Yosemite Airport is about 25 minutes away.
ALSO
Geothermal heat, organic cotton sheets and towels, wifi throughout, and a washer and dryer in the garage. Up to 8 overnight guests, infants included; the 7th and 8th guests are $59 per person per night, waived for active-duty military families. Three cars maximum. No pets. Every stay has a flat $295 cleaning fee and Mono County's 15% transient occupancy tax.
The chalet is zoned commercial lodging, licensed with Mono County (business license 2991), and owned and run by our family, with no property manager.