Escape to the Elk Surprise Hillside Hideaway, nestled in Tonto National Forest near great hiking and OHV trails. Relax on the 850+ sqft multilevel deck, surrounded by pine and juniper trees with spectacular views. This remote cabin features a fully-furnished kitchen with cherry cabinetry and granite countertops, while its master bedroom boasts a top-rated king memory foam mattress.
Reviews
1010 out of 10
Exceptional
Entire cabin
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 51232 sq ft
Popular amenities
Kitchen
Air-conditioning
Outdoor space
Barbecue grill
Fireplace
Add dates for prices
About this property
Elk Surprise Hillside Hideaway
The Elk Surprise Hillside Hideaway provides a great gathering location for relaxing in the cool mountains. Whether just enjoying the quiet rustling of the pine and juniper trees, gazing at the spectacular views from the 850+ sq.ft. multilevel deck, or exploring the incredible areas that nature has provided in the area, this very private rustic cabin will leave you breathless. Built in the Tonto National forest, this magnificent remote cabin in the Mogollon Rim country provides a completely furnished log cabin with many of the amenities expected with a high-end home, yet is designed casually to accommodate families and friends. Close to great hiking and OHV trails. The house is located on a dirt road and there is parking for at least 2 cars.
The kitchen includes cherry cabinetry, granite counter tops, large kitchen island, and all of the kitchenware needed to prepare the perfect meal. The master bedroom is outfitted with a Top-Rated King memory foam mattress, ceiling fan and direct access to the bathroom that includes a walk-in travertine shower. The second bedroom provides very comfortable Queen and Full beds along with a ceiling fan. The BEST room of the house is the Front deck. Take in the views from either an outdoor dining table, the comfortable seating area under the deck roof, or relaxing in chairs on the upper deck around the propane firepit.
Please Note!! Due to the remote location of this property, there is a few things to be aware of when booking your stay. 1. Water in this area is limited and there is no city water access. Local wells provide the water supply and there is a rain water catchment system. Water conservation is VERY important when staying at a remote cabin like this. There is plenty of water, just not enough to waste. 2. Abundant wildlife is also present as in all forests. Don't be surprised to find Elk or other critters living in the forest with you. 3. In this fast paced life we live in now, sometimes it's nice to just unplug and unwind without the distractions of the everyday life. If you must stay connected, there is wireless internet connectivity that can be provided for an additional fee. 4. There are exterior cameras on property. These are to protect our guests, the property owners, and who are we kidding... we like to watch the wildlife from time to time ourselves when we are not there. 5. There MAY be a FIRE BAN in place when you are interested in coming. No open wood burning flame is allowed at the cabin any time. Please check the Tonto Forest web site for alert ban status: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/tonto/alerts-notices
We're all concerned during these chaotic times but we want to ensure you that we're taking every possible measure to ensure the home is comfortable, accommodating, and properly prepared for your arrival. If you need a clean, safe, and cozy spot to stay during this time of crisis, The Elk Surprise Hilltop Hideaway makes an ideal place to be.
Fresh, clean mountain air and the scent of Pine and Juniper trees make this the perfect escape to enjoy a cool weekend or an extended vacation away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. We value our guests and look forward to becoming your new favorite vacation hideaway.
Gila County permit: STR-2510-0037
Property amenities
Internet
Available in the cabin: WiFi (surcharge)
Parking and transport
Car required
Kitchen
Blender
Coffee/tea maker
Cookware, dishware, and utensils
Dishwasher
Hob
Kitchen island
Microwave
Oven
Paper towels
Refrigerator
Toaster
Dining
Dining table
Bedrooms
2 bedrooms
Bedsheets provided
Bathroom
1 bathroom
Hair dryer
Shower
Soap
Toilet paper
Towels provided
Living spaces
Dining table
Fireplace
Entertainment
DVD player
Games
Smart TV with cable/satellite channels
Stereo
Video library
Outdoor areas
Barbecue grill
Firepit
Outdoor furniture
Patio
Comfort
Air conditioning
Heating
Pets
Pet friendly
Suitability/Accessibility
Smoke-free property
Services and conveniences
Phone
Location highlights
In a rural location
In the mountains
Things to do
Fishing nearby
Hiking/biking trails nearby
Wildlife walks nearby
Safety features
Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Pets
Pets are allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Note from host: Approved Pets with a per stay fee (Max. 2)
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Events
No events allowed
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
We should mention
A car is required for transport to and from this property
About the area
Located in Payson, this cabin is in a rural area and in the mountains. Pine-Strawberry Museum and Myra's Art Gallery are cultural highlights, and some of the area's attractions include Rancho Tonto Catch-A-Trout and Tonto Creek Fish Hatchery. Discover the area's water adventures with nearby fishing, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking. Visit our Payson travel guide
What time is check-in at Elk Surprise Hillside Hideaway?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Elk Surprise Hillside Hideaway?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Elk Surprise Hillside Hideaway located?
Situated in the mountains, this cabin is steps from Tonto National Forest and within 9 mi (15 km) of Bishop Park and Pine-Strawberry Museum. Isabelle Hunt Memorial Library and Myra's Art Gallery are also within 9 miles (15 km).
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Elk Surprise Hillside Hideaway Reviews
Reviews
Exceptional
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
My husband and I rented this quaint cabin for our Christmas holiday. The remote location offered a peaceful retreat and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay.
Wonderfully remote cabin on side of mountain. Very clean, well stocked kitchen and great deck. Fireplace was not working during our stay and mattress on full bed in second bedroom was rather hard. No place to hike around the cabin; it is surrounded by other private residences. It is very quiet and peaceful.
We had the best stay here. Everything was exactly what we wanted and needed. We are big view people and the views were amazing. It was also a great place for our pups with the fenced in deck.
Beautiful spacious cabin for our family of 4 with 2 teens and a dog. Great tables for playing board games and puzzles. Also, plenty of room for everyone to take some space of their own. Great internet, my husband was able to work there. Also, spacious kitchen for baking. Excellent place for your dog.
Property and cabin are as described. Everything was clean and cabin had everything we needed. Communication with owner was prompt and even though we really did not need anything, I got the feeling anything would have been taken care of immediately.Very peaceful and beautiful location, loved the front porch. The dogs enjoyed the front porch the most!Will definitely want to come back here.
This was our second time staying at this property, and it lived up to our expectations once again. We love the peaceful "get away from it all" vibe, and it’s the perfect spot to relax and enjoy some quality time with our pup. Looking forward to our next visit!
We had such a great stay at this cabin. The cabin was so thoughtfully furnished with ABSOLUTELY everything you needed and more. So cozy and clean and masterbed was so comfortable!! We will be back, and would recommend to anyone looking for a remote getaway.
The cabin is beautiful off the beaten path, very dark great for stars, and quiet. All amenities needed for a relaxing stay, all you need is food and water (cocktails of course) and your set. Definitely would go back again.
The cabin is very charming, well furnished, very clean, with all the modern conveniences anyone would need. The multiple seating areas on both the front deck and elevated back deck offer gorgeous views no matter what time of the day. The propane fire pit offers a great ambience along with all of the well positioned solar accent lighting throughout the entire property. It's one of the best VRBOs we have ever stayed in.
Very nice clean cabin, great view and patios. Kitchen had everything we needed to cook/bbq. Master bed was comfortable. Very quiet location, great for stargazing on clear nights. Highly recommended a high clearance vehicle as the road is a little rough and steep in places. Host was very responsive to questions.
This cabin is cozy and very comfortable. Very well supplied with anything you might need. The pics don’t do it justice. Very tastefully decorated with many games, puzzles, movies, and books at your disposal. We truly enjoyed all the outdoor living on the expansive decks. Our dogs loved the yard, decks, and woods. The beds were comfy. We drove into Pine for craft fair and more where we saw numerous elk. Thank you for a terrific trip!
We had a great overall stay at the Elk Surprise cabin. It is definitely remote. I’m glad I rented an SUV with AWD! It was a little bit of a longer drive from Payson than I thought (45 minutes), but we really didn’t have to go into town very much, so all was good. We just made sure we were back at the cabin before dark as it would be a tricky drive on the gravel mountain road in the dark.
We enjoyed the natural scenery and had a wonderful trip up to Sedona and a few other local attractions.
This place was wonderful! The hosts were very thoughtful and welcoming. The home is cozy and was perfect for our family holiday getaway. The location was even better than we could've hoped for. We hope to stay again in the future.
The home and stay was wonderful! It is a hike to get to the property but the peacefulness is worth it! The owner was also very helpful and communicative.
We had a great stay at Elk Surprise. It is apparent that Dan and Alexis ensure the cabin is well taken care of. We plan on staying here again in the future!
We enjoyed our stay at Elk Surprise. It was beautifully decorated, well stocked for our comfort and peaceful. The hosts were easy to communicate with and answered all our questions. Thank you
Had a great stay! So peaceful and quiet which was exactly what we were looking for. Our fur baby loved laying on the porch. So glad we were able to bring her with. We did lots of hiking and exploring during the day nearby. Cabin was beautiful and had everything needed for an enjoyable stay. Host was very responsive and great to work with the entire time. Hoping to stay here again soon!