Our Stay at Timber Creek Cabin in Index, WA

A few years ago, our family started a tradition that every year, the weekend after Christmas, we’d take a short road trip and do a mini vacation away from home. In past years, we’ve driven down the Oregon Coast, staying at Cannon Beach and Pacific City, but this year, I had the pleasure of partnering with Vacasa and opted for something a little closer to home: a cozy yet spacious abode by the name of Timber Creek Cabin! Located in Index, WA, we were only half an hour drive from the slopes at Stevens Pass and even closer to some of Washington’s best trails. While my brother is an avid snowboarder and spends most winter weekends up on the slopes, I prefer hiking the local trails with Koda in search of fresh snow. This place was the best of both worlds for us!

*Disclaimer: We received a free stay in exchange for our honest review of Vacasa and this property

Koda at the steps of the front door - I loved the green and navy exterior paint on this cabin, very PNW!

We arrived late Saturday afternoon, the day after Christmas, and almost drove right past the cabin as it’s nestled just off the side of a major highway and can be easy to miss if you’re not looking for it. As soon as we pulled in, it was clear that a lot of thought had been put into the details of this space - though the house itself was originally built in the late 1960’s, it was remodeled a few years ago before the current owners bought it in 2019. The place was a perfect mix of rustic and modern, from the cozy exposed stone fireplace to the granite kitchen countertops and brass light fixtures in the bedroom. When we arrived, the place was spotless and we could tell it had been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected right before we got there, a huge consideration when traveling in the time of Covid. We were even provided individual dish sponges, detergent, and toiletries for our stay!

The view from the back of the house

Day One

Since it was already getting dark by the time we checked into the cabin, we quickly settled into our bedrooms (2 King bedrooms, 1 Queen bedroom, and a loft space with two twin sized daybeds) - my parents took the room on the ground floor and my brother and I each chose one of the upstairs rooms. The rooms were so cute, and I loved that they each had a small sitting area and either hammock or swinging chair to look out the window from! Speaking of, the views right outside are GORGEOUS. The back side of the cabin is mostly huge windows that look out onto a deck, a huge garden / nature trail, and a flowing river, with the mountains jutting out in the background. Koda had the time of his life wandering around the “backyard”, exploring all the smells.

The King (master) bedroom on the ground floor

The second King bedroom upstairs

A view of the hammock/sitting area from the Queen bedroom upstairs

The flowing river behind the cabin

We brought groceries for the length of our stay, knowing there weren’t many restaurants or shops around the immediate area, so it was super convenient that we basically had all the cookware and kitchen supplies we needed. I made a huge pot of chili for our first dinner at the cabin, which really warmed us up after a cold and rainy day.

Someone is ready for dinner!

Day Two

The next morning, while my brother set out for a day of snowboarding, Koda and I opted to hit the nearby Heybrook Lookout Trail, only a three minute drive from the cabin. Though short in length, the trail definitely made up for it in elevation gain, and I was sweating buckets by the time we reached the top! The views from the lookout made it all worth it though, and I was back in the comfort of our cabin within 1.5 hours. After a quick lunch of mushroom pasta, we went exploring the trails behind the house with my parents. It felt like a nature path you’d find at a park, and it was such a beautiful walk! Later that night, after dinner, we decided to break out one of the board games and played a 2+ hour game of Monopoly National Parks - funnily enough, it was probably the most fun our family has had together all year lol.

Koda wondering how much longer we’re going to stay at the top of this lookout

Gotta love those snow-capped mountain views!

Lush green mossy trails behind the cabin!

Day Three

On Monday morning, my dad and I hit up another super popular trail a short drive away - Barclay Lake. Though a little icy, it was the perfect amount of exercise for us before heading back to the cabin for lunch. After another hearty pasta lunch (cooked by yours truly), we settled in and enjoyed a quiet afternoon around the fire that my dad and brother managed to keep going through the end of the night. There’s just something about a crackling wood fire that really comforts you and makes you feel at home, and being able to experience that each night was honestly one of my personal highlights of the trip! We enjoyed an indulgent steak dinner for our last night at the cabin, paired with a delicious bottle of red wine that our hosts graciously gifted us, and that was all I needed to send me into a food coma until the next morning.

The perfect view of Baring Mountain from Barclay Lake

Koda being a ham

Wishing every one of my afternoons could look like this

After one last morning of enjoying a cup of coffee while looking out at the views of the river and mountains, we packed up the car and started the drive back home. Though we could have happily stayed at that cabin for at least a few more weeks, our few days there were more than enough to relax and rejuvenate us - the best way to end the year!

Koda will definitely miss this place too

For a link to the Vacasa booking, click here. To browse other Vacasa rentals around the country, refer to this link!