Modern Mountain Cabin across Glacier NP & Izaak Walton Inn. Incl Wifi & Laundry

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Entire home

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

Exceptional

3 bedrooms2+ bathroomsSleeps 6223.0 sq m

Popular amenities

Dryer
Parking available
Washer
Fireplace
Kitchen
Barbecue grill

Explore the area

Essex, MT

Walton Ranger Station
‪16 min walk‬
Glacier National Park
‪27 min drive‬
Hungry Horse Reservoir
‪112 min drive‬
Kalispell, MT (FCA-Glacier Park Intl.)
‪61 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Glacier Room

1 Queen Bed

Great Bear Room

1 Single Bed and 1 Queen Bed

Primary Suite

1 King Bed

2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

2nd Floor Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shampoo · Hair dryer

En Suite Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Half Bath

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio

Kitchen

Balcony

Dining area

About this property

Introducing the Ursa Cabin--a recently built modern cabin located across from Glacier National Park's Southern boarder and half-way between West Glacier and East Glacier.

Large east-facing windows look directly into Glacier National Park and the Ole Creek Valley. Enjoy breathtaking views from either the upper or lower decks or spacious living room.

The home includes 3 dedicated bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 3 large decks, family room (with a TV for movies, TV shows, and games), large living room with 18' ceiling, gas fireplace, fully loaded kitchen (including plates, bowls, cups, mugs, flatware, utensils, and more), gas oven/stove, dishwasher, large refrigerator, microwave oven, high-efficiency front-loading washer and dryer, wireless internet throughout, high-end linens and luxury mattresses and pillows. This home also is a smart home allowing preset and remote control for lighting and appliances.

The home is located walking distance to the historic Izaak Walton Inn (Closed for Summer 2023). Explore miles of trails in the Great Bear Wilderness or venture a hike up Scalplock Mountain near the Walton Ranger Station in Glacier National Park.
Access is easy with parking in the driveway included.

Please note:
1. The home is located in Essex, MT at the southern edge of Glacier National Park between West Glacier and East Glacier. Travel time starting from the home to either town is 30 minutes.
2. The closest airport is Glacier Park International Airport (GPI or FCA depending on who you ask) about an hour away.
3. You CAN arrive via Amtrak via station stop Essex (ESM). The property is a 20-minute walk from the station.
4. There is NO cell phone service. If your phone supports Wi-Fi calling, you likely will be able to receive text messages when connected to Wi-Fi; check with your carrier. A house phone is available for emergency use only. Long-distance calls made during your stay will be billed accordingly.
5. There is strong Wi-Fi throughout the home to support web browsing and email. The backbone has been upgraded to Starlink Satellite Internet which provides sufficient bandwidth for streaming but is not guaranteed. We also provide a large digital library of movies and shows.
6. There is no cable/satellite TV available. If you have a streaming TV subscription, you MAY have success using this instead. There is an included HDMI switch to support personal devices (i.e. game consoles, laptops). Real-time online gaming is NOT supported.
7. The entire home is spray-foam insulated making it extremely noise-resistant. Evening train traffic from Amtrak and BNSF does occur, but noise is minimal inside.

Property manager

William and Melissa

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Free WiFi

Outdoor space

Parking available

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Evening outdoor view of our yard and fire pit.

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 25

Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 13–17

Suitable for children 13 years of age and OLDER.

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Use of the Living Room wood-burning furnace is prohibited. Use the Kitchen/Dining Room gas fireplace instead.

Excessive Wi-Fi usage will automatically be throttled.

Report all issues to local emergency contact provided.

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 indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property

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

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Essex

Located in Essex, this holiday home is in a rural area and on a river. Walton Ranger Station is a local landmark, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Silver Staircase Falls and Hungry Horse Reservoir.

Essex, MT

What's nearby

Walton Ranger Station - 16 min walk - 1.4 km
Glacier National Park - 27 min drive - 43.6 km
Apgar Visitor Center - 31 min drive - 46.5 km
Lake McDonald - 34 min drive - 47.6 km
Hungry Horse Reservoir - 112 min drive - 95.3 km

Getting around

Essex Station - 4 min walk
Kalispell, MT (FCA-Glacier Park Intl.) - 61 min drive

Restaurants

‪Izaak Walton Inn Restaurant - ‬7 min walk
‪Dining Car Restaurant - ‬7 min walk
‪Healthy Haven Cafe - ‬6 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Modern Mountain Cabin across Glacier NP & Izaak Walton Inn. Incl Wifi & Laundry pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Modern Mountain Cabin across Glacier NP & Izaak Walton Inn. Incl Wifi & Laundry?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Modern Mountain Cabin across Glacier NP & Izaak Walton Inn. Incl Wifi & Laundry?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Modern Mountain Cabin across Glacier NP & Izaak Walton Inn. Incl Wifi & Laundry located?

Situated on a river, this holiday home is 0.8 mi (1.4 km) from Walton Ranger Station and 8.3 mi (13.4 km) from Silver Staircase Falls. Glacier National Park and Apgar Visitor Center are also within 32 miles (52 km). Essex Station is only a 4-minute walk.

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

6/10 Okay

Tiffany U., Urbandale, IA

7 August 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic Property

We very much enjoyed our stay here! Centrally located between the east and west entrances of Glacier National Park. Beautiful, clean, comfortable home with everything we needed. Highly recommend!

Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Diane s.

28 July 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Scenic sanctuary nestled in the woods

Our family of 5 LOVED our stay in this peaceful, scenic, cozy sanctuary nestled in the woods. The attention to detail in the home was very much appreciated and made things run smooth during our visit. Also, the owners were responsive and timely with any questions or concerns we had. The beds were comfortable and the home was inviting and decorated beautifully. We cannot wait to stay here again!

Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2020

10/10 Excellent

Casey G.

24 July 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Glacier Paradise

Perfect central location to get to all the Glacier entrances and be away from the crowds of West Glacier. The house is VERY well appointed and you can tell the hosts take pride in their home. The 2 large decks on the first floor are fantastic and the morning sun hits the 2nd floor deck in the morning, best spot for reading a book! We went a couple miles to Goat Lick most evening to see the goats dining. Our family of 5 was extremely happy with this house.

Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Andrea G., College Station. USA

9 July 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful Cabin/Perfect Location for Glacier National Park

We loved our time at Ursa Cabin 7/2/2022-7/8/2022. We originally planned to stay in a lodge within Glacier National Park but this cabin was a much better option for our family. We enjoyed visiting & eating at the historic lodges but this cabin had much more space, private porches, nicer beds, & room to spread out. It was very clean, had everything we needed, & the owners answered a question promptly during our stay. We loved cool mornings & evenings on the 3 porches. We especially enjoyed sunsets from the front porch. All the furniture & linens inside & outside the house were new. We were incorrect in assuming Going-to-the-Sun Road would be open. There was late snowfall this season so it wasn’t open. This made the cabin’s location at the south side of Glacier incredibly convenient. We were able to access activities (hiking, biking, boat rides, train rides, & red bus rides) from the West Glacier & East Glacier sides of Glacier easily. One evening my husband & sons rode the train from East Glacier to Essex for $8/each and walked back to the cabin. We enjoyed 2 meals at the Izaak Walton Lodge. It was nice to have a restaurant within walking distance while staying in a rural location. I appreciated the upstairs playroom with a door. My sons (13 & 15) could watch Netflix as my husband & I planned out the next day’s hikes with a glass of wine. We also enjoyed real photographs of Glacier artfully displayed throughout the house. The kitchen had everything we needed to cook. The washer/dryer are new. I’d stay here again when visiting Glacier and recommend to my family & friends. This is the most organized VRBO we’ve ever rented. Don’t hesitate to stay here.

Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

John and Trish D., Milwaukee, Wisconsin

25 August 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

More than Perfect

This is our 2nd time staying at Will and Melissa’s place in Essex. It was even better this time around only because we knew how great it was and couldn’t wait to get there. The house is immaculate including the furnishings. It is stocked with everything one can need. The beds are very comfortable, better than home! The location was great for our plans. Essex has the Isaac Walton Inn with a train stop at it, including great history and just fun to explore. The house is in between the west and east entrances of Glacier National Park so easy to see both sides of the park. Thankful for the internet this time around since we had to get daily passes to enter the park for the Going to the Sun Road. This time however we spent a good portion of our trip up in the Many Glacier area of the park, which does not require a pass. Plan to drive about 2 hours and to arrive at that entrance around 7am during peak season. This area was not as crowded and had some of the best hikes, but be prepared to see some animals close and up front. We cooked breakfast and Dinner at the house and Put a lunch in the coolers/ backpacks. No need to eat out, but there are a few places to go to if you want. We will definitely be back as soon as our travels can take us there! Thanks Will and Melissa for a great stay. Trish & John, and the boys: Josh, PJ & Will

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Xu L., Austin

5 August 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Stay at Ursa cabin!

Ursa cabin was the best! It was so peaceful to relax in the house or sit outside and soak in the sight and sounds of nature. We saw a deer eating in the yard twice. Everything in the house was clearly quality and all details were thoroughly thought out. All the tiny touches made the cabin seem personal and welcoming. As for location, Ursa cabin is situated about 30 min from both west and east entrances of the park so we were able to explore both sides. Will and Melissa even provided an itinerary for each area of Glacier which made planning our outings much easier. It was such an amazing experience staying there.

Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Erin W.

4 August 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Glacier & Yellowstone in 8 days

Glacier was the second half of our western US adventure. Ursa cabin checked all the boxes: great proximity to both east and west glacier, serenity, stunning views, a house with absolutely everything we could need for a comfortable stay with a well-appointed kitchen and lovely decor. On top of all this, our hosts were great communicators and provided a wealth of information at the touch of a screen (literally, as soon as we entered the door!). We felt welcome the minute we arrived. We were also pleasantly surprised just how reasonable the indoor temperatures remained during the ungodly heat in the upper 90s. We would rent this place again in a heartbeat!

Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Diane s.

24 July 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peaceful and cozy cabin

This is our second time staying at this beautiful cabin. Ever since our last visit, we have wanted to come back again. The cabin is super cozy and peaceful. You’re surrounded by beautiful trees and wildflowers with a beautiful view of the mountains. The inside is very clean, organized, beautifully decorated and cozy. The owners make it easy to get a hold of them and have everything set up to help things go smoothly. The owners are very detail oriented which I love. The location is somewhat of a midpoint between entrance to both sides of Glacier National Park. It took us about 30 minutes to get to the Westside entrance and an hour and a half to get to the Eastside entrance from the cabin. We stopped at the grocery store on our way to the cabin from the airport so we could stock up our fridge as there’s no grocery stores nearby, which was recommended by the hosts. The hosts provide a cooler which was super helpful so you can take sandwich stuff etc. into the park. The large washer and dryer were very useful and modern while we visited and even had an option to keep things going if we were going to be out all day to keep the loads fresh. The owners have thought of everything for visitors to make our stay smooth, peaceful, and memorable! We will definitely be back!

Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

John S.

8 October 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great attention to detail

We were given detailed directions on how to utilize the property and found that direction helpful in navigating our trip to Glacier National Park. Kitchen is WELL appointed. Our only criticism would be that it was a 30-45 min drive to either east or west Glacier Park. That made for a longer driving time than we had anticipated.

Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Margaret H.

12 September 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Ursa Cabin For The Win!!

We were attending a family wedding in Essex and Ursa Cabin was a great jumping off place for our Montana adventure. We rafted, hiked and explored and enjoyed our down time at the cabin. Owners are very easy to work with and the cabin’s instructions are detailed and informative. Beautifully maintained, very clean and well organized. Porches and decks have great views - well stocked kitchen, comfortable beds and great spaces to relax. Thank you for a great Montana retreat!

Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Karen K., SAINT PAUL

17 August 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Best VRBO Ever!

We LOVED this home. It is gorgeous, in a great location, views of the mountains and the most amenities I've ever experienced. My husband and I stayed there along with another couple and we would do it again in a heartbeat. Located between the East and West entrances to Glacier, it made our daily excursions into the park easy. Our hosts have a really helpful book full of tons of information about the area with recommendations. We used it a lot. They also have a lot of reference books and maps about the area that we used. The home is really spacious and pristine. The pictures didn't do it justice.

10/10 Excellent

Jim C.

10 August 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Essex ursa cabin

Super nice place, easy communications with owners. Had a great time

Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Pat M.

31 July 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Glacier Goodness

Great location to avoid the chaos of West Glacier and the Whitefish area. We traveled over the pass, to Two Medicine, Kintla Lake up the North Fork and in between from this location. We return to Glacier often and the house is amazing and one of the best as far as being outfitted for all our needs. We began and ended our days on one of the porches and decks with morning coffee and evening meals. The house suited all of needs from children to retirees with easy access, the historic Essex area, and wildlife (bears!) right off the deck. Will and Melissa have thoroughly laid a top notch listing.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Kim M., Marietta, GA

11 July 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful and serene home

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Ursa Cabin in Essex. The location was great for our day trips into Glacier National Park, and the peaceful, wooded setting is so serene and relaxing. The home is beautiful, well decorated, spacious and clean. The kitchen is very well stocked with everything we needed to cook meals. The owners’ attention to detail prior to our arrival and during the stay made finding everything so easy. Our family of 5 (including 3 tweens/teens) all loved staying here and we hope to return one day soon.

Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Michael H.

2 July 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful High End Two Story Cabin

Stay here! We (two couples in 40’s/50’s from NJ) stayed June 23-30 while doing day hikes in GNP. The location is delightfully quiet and 30 minutes from either East or West Glacier entrances: this is important as the Going to Sun road opened this year after only after June 23. The Isaak is up the street, but zero other dependable food options are in the vicinity. The home is huge with four large bedrooms (only 1 with a king bed, 2 others with queen or bunk), enormous decks and professionally appointed kitchen. I believe they prefer 6 renters, but it could easily hold 12. Made me want to move!

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021

8/10 Good

Lisa j.

22 June 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Long Weekend hiking trip with friends and family

Property was immaculate and conveniently labels and instructions were clear. Definitely remote, but it was a good location to get to both the west and east sides of glacier national park under an hour and half in either direction. My only real complaint was how hot the house seemed to get. Even with all of the windows opened upstairs, the air circulation was poor and a good 10-15 degrees hotter upstairs than downstairs living space. We left shades down during the day to mitigate heat, but it did not seem to make much of a difference. Otherwise, the house is beautiful and has everything you need. Thanks for a wonderful stay!

Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Kenneth P.

11 February 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Winter Wonderland

My family and I had a wonderful time at this beautiful mountain getaway! The Amtrak train stop is only about a quarter mile away or so making access a breeze. While there we had 18 inches of fresh snow and 30 mph winds, and we were warm and comfy inside. The kids loved having so much snow to play in and the Izzak Walton Inn (with its surprisingly excellent food) was right nearby. Owners were flexible on doing half days to accommodate the train times and very responsive. Cabin itself is new and beautiful. 5 stars all around!!

10/10 Excellent

Val L., Atlanta, GA USA

27 September 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Modern, clean and comfortable oasis

A clean and modern cabin/house in the GNP area with all the comforts of home seems hard to find, but this is it. Everything is new and nicely decorated. The owners are very responsive and helpful. They have gone to great lengths to make sure you can find everything (labels, notes, instructions) and have everything you may need. Essex and highway 2 are in a beautiful river valley. Great drive in either direction and places to explore nearby. This will be a perfect location when we come back and both the West and East sides of GNP are open, but it is quite good even if you're only visiting the West side. We loved everything here far better than the other highly-rated cabin we stayed in.

Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Tom W., Omaha, NE, USA

17 September 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Ursa cabin

Beautiful new cabin near East entrance to Glacier National Park. Very well stocked and organized. Owners have done a great job with the cabin and have organized instructions better than any other rental we have used! You can’t go wrong!

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Thomas E.

9 September 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Stay

Best VRBO we have ever stayed at. All the details provided made in very homey. A beautiful home, great kitchen and deck area. Wonderful!!! Will recommend to all our Texas friends.

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Samantha F., The Woodlands TX

31 August 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Incredible Views and Perfect Cabin!

We had the most memorable and amazing vacation staying at Ursa Cabin! We visited the park almost everyday of our 7 day stay and also took advantage of hikes/views nearby! We were amazed by the attention to detail in the house and the view from it is unreal to wake up and come home to daily. From a kitchen stocked with everything you’d need to cook good meals to the most comfortable beds we’ve stayed in in a long time. It’s obvious that the owners put a lot of thought and effort into making our stay enjoyable and stress free.

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

David C., Boston, Massachusetts

20 August 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A perfect home from which to explore Glacier

We had an amazing week with our four daughters! This is a gorgeous home and from the living room and the decks you can watch the colors change throughout the day on the mountains of Glacier National Park. We explored Glacier and the surrounding national forests every day with hikes and rafting trips and scenic drives, and saw mountain goats, moose, bighorn sheep and, yes, even a grizzly. We appreciated the stockpile of maps and guides and the fully stocked espresso machine so we could jumpstart the day.

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Sarah S.

10 August 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful home close to Glacier!

We had an amazing experience staying at this home! The house itself is wonderful. Impeccably clean, wonderful beds and linens, cozy living room, and multiple decks to enjoy the amazing scenery. The kitchen is well- equipped, and hosts had a number of other thoughtful amenities. The location is also perfect. Right in-between the West and East entrances to Glacier National Park. The east side was closed when we visited, but it was an easy drive to the West. There are a few other houses / neighbors nearby the property - but it feels really private. We even saw a black bear stroll through the front yard while we were sitting on the deck! Overall it was a perfect stay - would definitely come back!

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Amy H., Seattle, Wa

7 August 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful experience!

We loved every minute of our time in your amazing home! We joked we wanted to move in forever. It is so relaxing and loved all the details of the home. Hope to come back and recommend to our friends.

Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2020

10/10 Excellent

Benjamin M.

16 July 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice place

Modern home. Well built. Close to a river and nice forest. There is a train track near by but we were not able to hear it from inside the house. Very comfortable place and I would stay there again. Thank you to the courteous and professional owners.

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2020

About the host

Hosted by William and Melissa

We grew up in the midwest and live near New York City. Nothing prepared us for the enormity of the mountains and we fell in love with the area. We visit as much as we can but decided to share our home with others as we can't be here on a full-time basis.

Why they chose this property

We visited Glacier National Park a few years ago on a whirlwind tour with some friends, fell in love with the area, but didn't get enough. So we returned the following year and the trend has continued. We fondly remember visiting Essex for the first time all those years ago by car, arriving and departing by train the following year, and all the visits since. We vividly remember walking along the Izaak Walton Inn Road on our way to the Walton Ranger Station across US Highway 2 to hike up Scalplock in Glacier National Park. We noticed beautiful cabins and sweet homes along the way and even saw one house being built. Little did we know then that we would buy that cabin and become part of the community we were walking through.

What makes this property unique

A modern rustic cabin in a small community centered around the Izaak Walton Inn, the railroad it was originally built to support in the heart of Montana's eastern front of the Rocky Mountains. Located along the southern edge of Glacier National Park, the cabin has central access to various parts of Glacier National Park. It's about halfway between the West Glacier entrance and the town of East Glacier. It's only about a one hour drive to the Flathead Valley communities of Kalispell and Whitefish and even less time to Columbia Falls. Located near the continental divide, access to a historic Inn, and arrival by plane/train/automobile make this place special for any adventurous traveler.

Languages:

English

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Modern Mountain Cabin across Glacier NP & Izaak Walton Inn. Incl Wifi & Laundry

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Reviews

Popular amenities

Explore the area

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Glacier Room

Great Bear Room

Primary Suite

2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

2nd Floor Bathroom

En Suite Bathroom

Half Bath

Spaces

About this property