Terrapin Cottage at dusk, a white cabin rental with lit windows beneath tall Jeffrey pines in Sugarloaf, Big Bear, California

Sugarloaf · Big Bear · California

Terrapin Cottage

A Big Bear cabin in the pines of Sugarloaf — sleeps 8, fenced yard, dogs welcome

Book Your Stay

The Cottage

A Big Bear cabin rental in Sugarloaf, made for getting away

Terrapin Cottage sits on Maple, a quiet lane in Sugarloaf on the east side of the Big Bear Valley, tucked under hundred-foot pines a few minutes from Big Bear Lake. It is a small, well-kept cabin rather than a rental machine: real knives in the kitchen, a labeled (and fresh!) spice drawer, one-of-a-kind board games — and a few classics — on the shelf, and a patio built for long warm evenings around the fire. Ski all day, enjoy a proper dinner and relax by the wood fire while the kids play within earshot.

At a Glance

  • Sleeps 8
  • 3 bedrooms
  • 2 bathrooms
  • Fenced yard
  • Wood fireplace
  • Full kitchen
  • Game room
  • Washer & dryer
  • Pines & mountain air

Gather

A stone fireplace and room for everyone

Cottage living room with a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace, exposed timber beams, deep sectional sofa, kilim rug and a wall-mounted television
Timber beams, a real wood-burning fireplace and a sofa nobody wants to leave.
Close view of the stone hearth with a stacked log rack, fireplace tools and the eagle cam monitor on the shelf beside it
Firewood, tools and a lit hearth on the coldest nights.
Open dining area with a long breakfast bar, six stools, entry coat hooks and framed botanical prints
A breakfast bar that seats the whole group for cards or dinner.

Cook

A kitchen you will actually cook in

Cottage kitchen with gas range, stainless hood, black countertops and open wood shelving stocked with dishes
Gas range, full-size fridge, dishwasher — and enough counter for two cooks.
Coffee bar with drip coffee maker, ground and instant coffee, sugar and creamer
Coffee is on us. Every morning of your stay.
Pull-out spice drawer with labeled jars of cumin, paprika, harissa and more
Fully stocked with spices and cooking oils — bring only your fresh ingredients.
Coffee and tea station with a moka pot, red mugs, electric kettle, milk frother, red microwave and a boxed tea assortment
Moka pot for espresso, kettle, frother and a proper tea box — instructions on the tray.

Rest

Three bedrooms, eight beds' worth of quiet

Master suite with a king bed, sunset artwork above the headboard, matching bedside lamps and sheer white curtains
Master Suite — king bed, full closet, matching nightstands and bedside charging stations. Close to the bunk room.
Guest bedroom with a queen bed, mountain artwork and an adjoining bathroom with a corner shower
Junior Master Suite — a private room for two with its own ensuite bathroom.
Bunk room with a twin bed, black metal bunk beds, Persian rug and a stand-up Galaga arcade cabinet
Bunk Room — queen double bed and twin bunks, full closet, and 1980s arcade games on free play: Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga, Dig Dug.
Bunk room view showing the Pac-Man arcade machine, closet and the bathroom just across the hall
Free play all week, bathroom across the hall. Dog optional.
Bedroom with ski-lift artwork, a wood accent rail, antique dresser and a Persian rug
Extra sleeping space — ski prints, a wool rug and a good reading lamp.

Relax

The patio is the best room in the house

Back patio with a large sectional sofa, gas fire table, cantilever umbrella and an outdoor television among the pines
Sectional sofa, gas fire table, shade umbrella and an outdoor TV for game day.
Patio at dusk with a cantilever umbrella lit by string lights, wicker sectional, fire table and a stacked woodpile
The umbrella lights up at night (with a switch). So does the fire table.
Wide view of the back patio surrounded by tall Jeffrey pines with the grill beside the sliding door
Tall pines on three sides.
Weber Spirit gas grill open and ready with grilling tools, mitt and towel on the side table
Weber gas grill, tools included. Bring the tri-tip!

Coffee here in the morning, the fireplace or the fire table at night (depending on the season). The yard backs onto trees, so the show is wind in the pines and the stories in the stars.

Small Things

The details guests write home about

Shelf beside the stone fireplace with a live Big Bear bald eagle nest camera on screen, books and a cuckoo clock
A live feed of the Big Bear bald eagle nest, running by the fireplace.
  • The Eagle Cam. Watch the valley's famous eagle's nest from the sofa. Share the educational guide on the eagle's nest with the kids.
  • House of Games. A cabinet of good ones — Azul, Things, Exploding Kittens, Liar's Poker, Yahtzee, backgammon, poker with ceramic chips, plus Viking Bowling for the yard (weather permitting).
  • Printed guides. Wi-Fi, the gas fireplace, streaming services, stargazing and even the stovetop espresso pot, each explained on its own card. No group text to the host at 10pm.
  • Laundry and gear space. Washer, dryer and a mudroom entrance for snowy boots.
  • Roku HDTVs in Guest Mode. Set to Guest Mode for your peace of mind. No unexpected charges — your private information is automatically wiped at checkout. Pre-loaded apps include Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Paramount+, Apple TV+, YouTube TV, plus free tv: sports, news, weather, music and movies. Simply log on to your streaming services and enjoy.
  • Swiss Cuckoo Clock. Authentic bird songs. A different chirp by a different bird every hour. Reference key provided. Don't worry! Does not chime once the lights go down.
  • Sky Guide. An illustrated guide to the Night Sky around Big Bear. Find the stars, planets and key constellations. With the super dark sky around Big Bear this is a really fun activity.
  • Just Ask Alexa. Play music, start a dance party, check the weather, or say, "Alexa, tell me some Dad jokes."

Explore

Sugarloaf and Big Bear, out the front door

The Neighborhood

Sugarloaf is the quiet, pine-shaded side of the Big Bear Valley — big lots, real trees, no crowds — with the lake, the slopes and The Village all a short drive away.

The Lake

Seven miles of shoreline for kayaks, pontoons and some of the best trout fishing in Southern California. Boat rentals run all summer from the marinas.

Snow Days

Snow Summit and Bear Mountain are minutes away — night skiing, terrain parks and a lift line short enough to make a half day worth it.

Trails & The Village

Castle Rock, Cougar Crest and the Pacific Crest Trail, downhill biking off the summer chairlift, then breakfast, breweries and live music in The Village.

What Guests Say

From the reviews

“Spotless, warm and stocked with everything. The little printed guides answered every question before we asked it.”
Airbnb guest
“The patio sold it for us — fire table going, TV on, kids inside with the games. We stayed two extra days.”
Airbnb guest
“The place was super clean, cozy and had everything we needed. The yard was perfect for our dog — so nice to have an open but secure place for them to enjoy”
Airbnb guest

Review excerpts from the Airbnb listing.

Dates & Pricing

Check availability

Booking, calendar and pricing all live on the Airbnb listing — always current, always protected by Airbnb's payment and cancellation policies.

Book on Airbnb

Good to Know

Questions guests ask

How many people does Terrapin Cottage sleep?
The cottage sleeps 8 across 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms: a king bedroom, a queen bedroom, and a bunk room with twin bunks, plus comfortable common space so nobody draws the short straw.
Where exactly is Terrapin Cottage in Big Bear?
The cottage is on Maple in Sugarloaf, the quiet pine-shaded neighborhood on the east side of the Big Bear Valley, between Big Bear City and Big Bear Lake. It is a short drive to the lake, The Village, Snow Summit and Bear Mountain, and far enough off the main road that you hear the trees instead of the traffic.
Is Terrapin Cottage a good Sugarloaf cabin rental for families?
It is built for it: a fenced back yard, a bunk room with an arcade cabinet, board games and Viking Bowling, a full kitchen for real family dinners, streaming TVs, and a wood-burning fireplace for the evening. Eight guests fit without anyone sleeping in a hallway.
Is there a fenced yard?
Yes. The backyard is fenced -- and dog friendly -- and backs onto tall pines, with a covered patio, BBQ grill, fire table and outdoor TV (non-winter months only, obviously).
Are pets allowed at Terrapin Cottage?
Yes. Well-behaved dogs are welcome in the fenced back yard and throughout the cottage. Any pet fee is shown on the Airbnb listing at checkout.
How far is the cottage from Big Bear Lake and the ski slopes?
Terrapin Cottage is a short drive from Big Bear Lake, The Village, Snow Summit and Bear Mountain — close to everything, far enough that you hear the trees instead of the traffic.
Is the kitchen fully equipped?
Fully. Gas range, full-size fridge, dishwasher, coffee maker with a stocked coffee bar, a labeled spice drawer, and all the pots, knives and dishes for a real dinner.
What is there to do at the cottage on a snowy or rainy day?
The living room has a wood-burning fireplace and a streaming TV, the bunk room has an arcade cabinet, and the shelves hold board games, card games and Viking Bowling. There is also a live camera feed of the valley's bald eagle nest you can watch from the sofa, with an educational guide for the kids.
Is there Wi-Fi and TV?
Yes — fast Wi-Fi throughout, streaming TVs indoors with Roku Guest Mode so you can sign into your own accounts, and an outdoor TV on the patio for game days under the trees.
How do I book Terrapin Cottage?
All dates, pricing, house rules and reservations are handled through the Airbnb listing at airbnb.com/h/TerrapinCottageOnMaple. Availability and check-in times there are always current. There is no separate booking system on this site.
Is Terrapin Cottage on Vrbo or other booking sites?
No. Terrapin Cottage is hosted directly by its owners and booked exclusively through Airbnb, so the calendar and pricing you see there are always accurate.

Contact

Ask the host

Question about the cottage, the drive up, or whether it suits your group? Send a note and it comes straight to us.

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