Have a Question?
Special notice during COVID-19 pandemic: In addition to our normal cleaning regimen, the cabin is thoroughly disinfected for your safety between guests. All frequently-touched hard surfaces (light switches, faucets, doorknobs, appliance surfaces, etc.) are treated with disinfectant, and all linens are thoroughly washed and dried at high heat. Especially during the busy summer-fall months, the cabin is usually booked solid, with only about six hours between one guest’s 10 a.m. check-out and the next guest’s 4 p.m. check-in. During the coronavirus pandemic, we are adhering to all CDC recommendations and allowing a minimum of 24 to 48 hours between guests to allow for any virus to dissipate and to allow time for deep cleaning. You can help by adhering to our check-in and check-out guidelines. Thank you!
Q. You charge a damage deposit. What are some of your reasons for keeping a guest’s deposit?
A. Violating any of our most important and clearly-stated rules can cost you some or all of your damage deposit. Violations include smoking (inside or out), use of firearms (including bb guns!) or fireworks, creating a firepit in the yard, bringing pets onto the property, putting up a tent in the yard, hunting of any type on or around the property and failing to follow the check-out guidelines posted on the side of the refrigerator. Any of these may cost you your $200 deposit.
You also put your refundable damage deposit at risk by failing to observe our check-in and check-out rules. Check-in time is 4:00 p.m., and check-out time is 10:00 a.m. This gives us time to thoroughly clean the cabin, do laundry, complete minor maintenance work, restock and otherwise prepare for the arrival of incoming guests. You may lose some or all of your deposit by failing to observe check-in and check-out times.
Please follow the instructions for disposing of waste: Place all waste into large white plastic bags (in the kitchen cabinet beside the refrigerator) and tie them up completely before depositing the bags into the barrels in the parking area. DO NOT put loose trash into the barrels – this will attract dangerous wildlife and create a mess for our crew to clean up.
As you prepare to end your stay at the cabin, please refer to the “Check-out Guidelines” posted on the side of the refrigerator. These simple guidelines help our staff prepare the cabin for our next guests.
We do not want to keep your damage deposit! We would much rather you respect our safety rules and check-out guidelines and get your refundable damage deposit back when you leave the cabin in good shape.
Q. How close is the cabin to the river?
A. The cabin property is right on the river, with 360 feet of river frontage. The cabin’s front door is about 60 feet from the river’s edge.
Q. How secluded/private is the cabin? How close is the nearest neighbor?
A. The cabin has one visible neighbor downstream, a couple who live there year-round. Their home is partly visible from the cabin’s patio, but the cabin is barely visible from their deck due to the many trees on both properties. About five wooded acres separate the two homes. You’ll feel quite private both inside and out.
Q. Is the cabin hard to find?
A. No. The cabin is a straight shot ten miles north of the village of Pecos, and four miles south of Tererro. It is on Rte. 63, a well-maintained state road, and you will receive thorough directions before your trip.
Q. How far is the cabin from Santa Fe?
A. Santa Fe is about a 35- to 40-minute drive from the cabin.
Q. How big is the cabin?
A. The cabin is about 650 square feet on two floors.
Q. How many people can the cabin accommodate?
A. The cabin can accommodate four people comfortably: the upstairs has a queen size bed and the couch in the living room folds out into a full-size bed. There is an additional $20 fee per night per person for more than four guests, plus a $50 cleaning fee.
Q. How well equipped is the kitchen – appliances, cookware, dishes, etc.?
A. The kitchen is extremely well equipped! Check our Amenities list for details.
Q. Do we need to bring sheets and pillows? Towels? Blankets?
A. No. The cabin is very well equipped with extra sheets and pillows, blankets and towels.
Q. Are any toiletries provided or do we need to bring shampoo and conditioner?
A. The cabin is equipped with shampoo, conditioner, body wash and bath salts. You’ll find aspirin, band-aids, antiseptic cream, toothpaste and other items in the medicine cabinet, and a first aid kit in the vanity under the sink.
Q. Does the cabin have a washer and dryer, and if so, do we need to bring laundry detergent?
A. You’ll find laundry detergent, bleach, softener and dryer sheets in the laundry upstairs.
Q. Is the bathroom on the first or second floor? Does it have a bathtub?
A. The bathroom is on the second floor adjacent to the bedroom. The bathroom has a deep soaking tub with hand-held sprayer (no stand-up shower). The stairs to the bedroom and bathroom are steep: the cabin is not appropriate for elderly guests or those with mobility issues.
Q. Can we fish from the cabin’s property?
A. The cabin has 360 feet of river frontage; guests can fish right from the banks or wading in the river. The Pecos River is well stocked with rainbow trout from the Lisboa Hatchery just a few miles downstream (a fun place to visit!). For those who like a bigger challenge, native German brown and cutthroat also populate the river. These are threatened species: catch-and-release will help their numbers.
Q. Do we need a fishing license?
A. Yes. Anyone over twelve years of age must have a license. Even though the cabin has rights to the river off its property, you’ll still need a fishing license. You can get one in town at the gas station or north four miles to the Tererro general store.
Q. Can we bait fish in the river or do we have to fly fish?
A. We encourage our guests to fish with flies rather than bait, to keep the trout population robust. Fly fishing with barbless hooks allows your catch to survive when released safely back into the river; they will likely not survive bait hooks. For bait fishing, try Monastery Lake, about halfway between the village and the cabin, and there are many other lakes north of the cabin as well. The propane grill on the patio will make a great dinner of the fish you bring home!
Q. Is the wood stove difficult to operate? Is wood provided?
A. No, and yes. You’ll find a white binder on the kitchen table when you arrive: It includes detailed instructions and photographs to help you operate the wood-burning stove. We provide plenty of wood and kindling in the large woodpile near the shed. When you arrive, you’ll find a white binder on the kitchen table. In it are detailed instructions and photographs to help you operate the wood-burning stove. It’s quite simple.
Q. Is the wood stove the only source of heat in the cabin?
A. No. The cabin also has thermostat-controlled gas heat, but you’ll find that the wood stove heats up the entire cabin quite quickly.
Q. Is the cabin handicapped accessible?
A. No. The doorways and bathroom will not accommodate a wheelchair, and the steps to bedroom and bathroom are quite narrow and steep. Also, the cabin does not have a stand-up shower. The deep soaker tub would be difficult to get in and out of for someone who has mobility issues. We do not recommend the cabin for elderly or handicapped visitors.
Q. Are the cabin and its surroundings safe for small children?
A. We love to have young guests at the cabin! Our first rule of thumb is: Hang on tight to little ones, especially in the river – the waters can run fast and high, especially in the spring – so we don’t advise going into the river with small kids. The creek that runs through the cabin property is quite shallow (about ankle-deep), safer and more fun for kids to play in. Even in the creek, the rocky bottom can be a little slippery. If you want to explore some of the lakes along the Pecos Canyon where wading is an option, there are kid-size life jackets in the downstairs closet.
The island between our creek and the river is a great place for kids to explore! You’ll find guides for tracking wildlife and other fun outdoor activities in the bookcase upstairs.
Q. Is there a fire pit in the yard for toasting marshmallows?
A. No. The cabin is in a high-fire-risk area and even a small fire can prove deadly.
Q. Can we bring a tent for our kids to sleep in outside?
A. We’re sorry, but no: The native meadow grass in the yard is fragile and would be damaged by a tent. More importantly, sleeping outside would not be safe.: We often have late-night visits from the forest’s full-time residents, including bears, bobcats, raccoons, foxes and skunks. They’re fun to watch – from inside the safety of the cabin!
Q. We have a (small; medium sized; old, etc.) dog who is fully housebroken and well behaved. Would you consider allowing us to bring our dog?
A. We do not allow pets out of consideration for our guests who suffer from allergies. We have also found that shedding fur requires additional time and effort for our cleaning crew. Guests who do not respect this courtesy will lose their damage deposit.
Q. We live in an urban area. Our kids would love to see a bear, or a fox, or even a deer. Is there anything we can do to safely attract one of these animals to the cabin’s yard?
A. Oh, my – under no circumstances should you try to attract a wild animal to the cabin property. Bears and bobcats can be extremely dangerous and unpredictable. Foxes are known rabies carriers. Raccoons are very clever in figuring out how to get into a cabin and create havoc. And skunks … well, no one wants to tangle with a skunk! In the cabin, you’ll find information on what to do if you see a bear. Don’t take it lightly. Stay safe and enjoy watching wildlife from inside the cabin! Of course, you might get lucky: We had guests who were visited by a large black bear that came off the island and wandered through the yard, across the road and up into the forest.
As an aside … DO NOT leave anything on the patio that may have had food in it: No trash, no coolers, even empty! Place all trash bags TIED UP securely and placed in the barrels at the parking area, and make sure you secure the lids with the cords.
Q. Is the wood stove the only heat source in the cabin?
A. No. There is a gas thermostat-controlled furnace in the cabin as well.
Q. Do you have any suggestions for evening activities?
A. Yes! Upstairs, in the bookcase on your left, is our “kids’ corner,” where you’ll find “Shiva’s Lunchbox,” filled with tiny coloring books and crayons, games and puzzles; “middle-school-age” books and coloring books, too. Downstairs, near the front door you’ll find “grown-up” games like backgammon, as well as cards, board games and jigsaw puzzles. For relaxing in the evening, we provide lots of DVDs, including kids’ movies.
You might also try your luck at stargazing: the sky is incredibly dark above the forest and mountains, and we have a number of stargazing guides in the bookcase upstairs.
Q. Is the cabin open year-round?
A. Yes. The cabin is just off Route 63, which is a state road. The state does a very good job keeping the road clear of snow and ice – however, parts of the road are always in the shade and will remain very icy, making the extremely winding road treacherous. We encourage our guests during the winter and early spring to bring a four-wheel drive vehicle if possible, and regardless of the vehicle, take extreme caution on your way up to the cabin from the village of Pecos.
If you’re a winter guest, you’re in for a treat – the forest and river are breathtaking under blankets of snow, and the silence is amazing. Winter in the forest often brings wildlife down from the mountains, so keep your eyes peeled for the tracks of deer and other wildlife on the island and cabin meadow – or the animals themselves. The cabin is warm and snug with a fire in the wood stove and a hot cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate (all are provided!).
However, a cautionary note for winter guests: Prepare for the unexpected. Sudden heavy snows can make the road impassable even for road-clearing vehicles, and you may find yourself snowed in for a day or more. Bring perishable food for your entire stay, as well as essential items such as prescription medicines, diapers, milk, etc. There is no grocery store in Pecos, but there are two “dollar” stores which have lots of supplies and non-perishable foods. Remember – if you can’t get out, help can’t get in with supplies.
In the summer and fall, the winding road up to the cabin and beyond is a lovely drive, with beautiful fall and summer foliage and views up into the forest. While you’re at the cabin, pack a picnic lunch and take a drive north all the way up to the end of Rte. 63 at Jack’s Creek and beyond.
Q. Where can we get more information about activities in the area, such as fly-fishing, birding, hiking, etc.?
A. See The links below will provide nearly unlimited information about the countless things to do in the area. Whether you’re interested in mountain biking or gallery hopping, the Guide especially will not disappoint. Fill out the form now and you’ll receive your Guide free of charge within 7 to 21 days.
For More Information …
www.fs.usda.gov/santafe/
www.newmexico.org
www.newmexico.org/plan/guide
Still have questions? Drop us a line at PecosRiverCabin@gmail.com.