How many people does Terrapin Cottage sleep?

The cottage sleeps 8 across 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, with a king bed, a queen and twin bunks, and comfortable common space so nobody draws the short straw.

Is there a fenced yard?

Yes. The back yard is fenced and backs onto tall pines, with a covered patio, gas fire table and outdoor TV.

Are pets allowed at Terrapin Cottage?

Yes. Well-behaved dogs are welcome in the fenced back yard and throughout the cottage. Check the Airbnb listing for the current pet fee and policy before booking.

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.

How do I book Terrapin Cottage?

All dates, pricing and reservations are handled through the Airbnb listing at airbnb.com/h/TerrapinCottageOnMaple. Availability there is always current.

Is there Wi-Fi and TV?

Yes — fast Wi-Fi throughout, streaming TVs indoors, and an outdoor TV on the patio for game days under the trees.

Big Bear · California

Terrapin Cottage

Your mountain retreat in Big Bear

Book Your Stay

The Cottage

The mountain cottage for getting away

Terrapin Cottage sits on a quiet lane, tucked under hundred-foot pines just 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 — Twenty labeled spices, so you only shop for the good stuff.

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, Yahtzee, backgammon, poker, 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.

Explore

Big Bear, out the front door

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

Castle Rock, Cougar Crest and the Pacific Crest Trail; downhill mountain biking off the summer chairlift; alpine air at 6,700 feet.

The Village

Breakfast, breweries, candy shops and live music only a short drive from the cottage — easy dinners when nobody feels like cooking.

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

“Beds were genuinely comfortable and the kitchen had real cookware. Closer to the slopes than we expected.”

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, with a king bed, a queen and twin bunks, and comfortable common space so nobody draws the short straw.
Is there a fenced yard?: Yes. The back yard is fenced and backs onto tall pines, with a covered patio, gas fire table and outdoor TV.
Are pets allowed at Terrapin Cottage?: Yes. Well-behaved dogs are welcome in the fenced back yard and throughout the cottage. Check the Airbnb listing for the current pet fee and policy before booking.
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.
How do I book Terrapin Cottage?: All dates, pricing and reservations are handled through the Airbnb listing at airbnb.com/h/TerrapinCottageOnMaple. Availability there is always current.
Is there Wi-Fi and TV?: Yes — fast Wi-Fi throughout, streaming TVs indoors, and an outdoor TV on the patio for game days under the trees.

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.

For dates, pricing and instant confirmation, booking through Airbnb is always the fastest route — messages there reach us on our phones. For anything else, email the host directly.

We reply within a few hours. The address is assembled in your browser, so it never appears in the page source for spam bots to collect.