We had an amazing stay for a weekend out of the city. The location was awesome and staff was so friendly - Helen was super easy to get in touch with and so nice! The cabin was really clean and comfy! We had a blast out on the ranch and also loved the horseback riding which was a really unique experience. I would definitely rebook.
Everyone in my group was a big fan of the cabin. There is a terrific porch with a beautiful mountain view, a cozy sitting area with a wood stove, a functional kitchen, and perfectly comfy bedrooms. Jess was a very welcoming host who told us all we needed to know about the property. There is another cabin just a few yards away from this one, but we didn't find that it killed the secluded mountaintop vibe in any way.
Don't be afraid of the long, windy, gravel road up. It's well maintained and, at least in fair weather, any car should make it up easily.
This property is in a beautiful place, but the physical cabin needs attention. The back deck is quite narrow and there are several holes in the wood planks which my small Yorkie's paw went through. Many surfaces in the cabin are painted a matt black which felt somewhat creepy. We had a plumbing problem in the bathroom toilet. There are many carpenter bees at the entrance and the back of the cabin. The beds were comfortable and everything was clean. The young caretaker was very nice as well as the gent in charge of the horses.
Overall great! The cabin was rustic, charming and clean. Only complaint was a minor ladybug infestation, but we were grateful it was only ladybugs and not roaches.
Property owner was very kind and communicative. However, the host could not be reached so we opted to call the owner to tell her we were on the way.
Property is absolutely beautiful, but very difficult to find. We lost cell service and had to navigate narrow backroads at night to find it. The road up the mountain is also bumpy, rocky and treacherous. Directions provided in Vrbo were very helpful.
Overall amazing stay. Beautiful scenery, authentic lodging and perfect mountain vibes.
Based on some reviews I was picturing very rustic/not very comfortable but I was pleasantly surprised! The Cabin, while rustic, was very comfortable. Beds/pillow were very comfy. Heating system was sufficient plus there was a wood burning stove (it was rather warm the weekend we were there). Internet service wasn't great but it was good enough to do check-ins with family, recipe lookups, mapping, etc..
Jess made the check in easy and took care of us when we needed wine glasses (even delivered some chocolate).
The road up to the cabin was steep but my Ford Edge did perfectly fine, even after a rainy day.
We hiked around the property and got some company from a very friendly ranch dog.
Since this was a last minute trip I didn't look up what activities were available at the ranch. I'd love to go back to go horse back riding and my husband and to do some skeet shooting.
Overall, I would highly recommend this cabin!
The cabin itself is very quaint. The Wraparound porch is a great feature for dining outside, relaxing, and just enjoying the view. It was a convenient location and a great experience to be up on a mountain. There is a DVD player you could operate manually. The 1 mile road up to the cabin is a gravel road, very windy and steep. Know in advance that you want To drive up in second gear, or even better with a 4 wheel drive. Our kitchen had a bunch of baby ants that were harmless. No mosquitoes or spiders. There were a few minor upkeep issues (exhaust fan in bathroom didnât work, some lights were out, Some cracked blinds, Outside Railing had some missing pieces), the fire pit is shared with another cabin. They provided firewood, not kindling.
That being said, we still would have stayed here, just might have been helpful to know some of this in advance.
Great place to get away from it all, with plenty to do. Quaint, cozy, and clean. Staff is fantastic. Matt went above and beyond to make our stay memorable. We will definitely be back.
We had a great time on the ranch. Lots of outdoor adventures to get into and a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The hosts were extremely friendly and helpful. The equine center was beautiful too. We would definitely go back
The property is listed as rustic, and it is indeed rustic. It is an old cabin/shack that had nothing fancy, but we were aware of that going in. It is secluded and there is certainly no outside traffic, but the other cabin is VERY close by, so you donât really have any privacy. That is not visible from the pics, but we did later see that called out in another review. Fortunately the other guests who were there when we were there were very friendly, but you donât really get any sense of privacy.
The hosts were very nice and very amenable/helpful; no complaints at all there.
The secluded location is just what we were looking for as a home base to do some hiking on the weekend while we were there. It was great for that.
We had also planned to work from the cabin, but unfortunately the WiFi in the cabin is just not strong enough to support two people working. So we ended up cutting our stay short by a couple of days so that we could get back to work.
Would only recommend this cabin if you are planning to go totally off the grid while you are there.
The mountain top ranch is an excellent place to stay if you are seeking beautiful views and peace and quiet. The cabin is rustic enough to give you a country living feel, yet has enough modern amenities (Wi-Fi, TV) for the folks that need them. The staff are very friendly and helpful, and the location is superb. One word of advice for those looking to stay, do not drive a vehicle with low ground clearance and summer tires. The owner will provide you with ample warning about the driveway leading up to the cabins. We made it work with a vw passat on winter tires, however; I would suggest driving a truck/suv/crossover.
We booked the Eagle cabin through this page, but ended up being assigned to the Skyline cabin next door (https://www.vrbo.com/9426234ha) upon arrival. The floor plan and condition are similar, except that the Eagle has a washer/dryer in the basement and the Skyline has a walk-up basement apartment instead. This seems like something that needs to be mentioned in the Skyline ad, as we didn't expect to have to tip-toe around at night.
The Eagle is right next door to the Skyline, which is discretely left out of the pictures/video. The hangout spots on the porches still allow plenty of privacy, but it would have been nice to know before arrival that another cabin was going to be a few yards away.
The location is perfect for exploring Shenandoah National Park. It's ~25 mins to the Swift Run Gap Entrance Station, which allows you to go north and explore the middle of the park, or south and explore the southern end. Both had excellent hiking trails, and were low on crowds. We also had fun tubing/canoeing on the Shenandoah river, just a few miles down the mountain in the town of Shenandoah.
We enjoyed having coffee on the porch in the morning, petting the horses, and grilling out at night. They have the essentials, but definitely bring your own things; especially if you are high maintenance. A crock pot, toaster, salt/pepper, additional silverware, and a fresh sponge would make the kitchen more vacationer-friendly. We filled up the hummingbird feeder using some sugar brought from home, and had a fabulous time watching hummingbirds come to our porch to quench their thirst. The views are more lush greenery than spectacular mountaintop, at least in summertime, but lovely nonetheless.
The property is definitely in need of some maintenance. Wasps maybe half the size of the hummingbirds appeared to be eating the exterior wood on the cabins, but they weren't aggressive. Full trash cans, a car in the parking area with busted-out windows, and a blue-green sludge covering the pond contributed to a creeping sense of neglect.
Inside was clean enough, though. We didn't see any creepy crawlies, and slept well. I didn't expect to be asked to sweep up our everyday mess on the way out, when a cleaning fee is charged and a basket is left for gratuity.
If you want a solid, quiet spot to enjoy nature and lay your head, then this is the spot. Thanks Mountain Top Ranch. We had a blast!
Remote, Less Than Basic and Somewhat Uncomfortable
We were expecting something different. While the few people from management that we encountered were very nice and the cabin was for the most part clean, and the location was as advertised--remote and secluded--there was much to be desired.
The management team was responsive when we asked for help, however, much of the check-in information was not correct including the internet code at the main house and other details on the welcome sheet. The small map we were provided for hiking was very confusing and hard to read. We got lost a few times while trying to use it....but that could have been because the trails were overgrown and not well marked.
The kitchen didn't have sufficient utensils and the ones that were provided were sloppily strewn into one cabinet drawer. There were no sponges to clean dishes in the kitchen. The hot water continued to conk out and we had to go into the cellar multiple times to turn on the breaker to get the hot water back on. The stove has seen better days and one of the burners was coming apart and didn't seem safe to use. There were only a few pots and pans (without tops) and around the oven and on the floor was refinements of previous tenants' crumbs.
Finally, there were notes regarding the hikes stating that we could get shot by neighbors if we ventured down the wrong trails...but seemed to be made up and only a ploy to make money on paid hikes and keep us off certain trails. We didn't appreciate feeling unsafe when we went venturing around for hikes.
Overall, while we thought the location was as advertised being remote and secluded, we ended up leaving a day early as we didn't feel 100% comfortable and frankly...we were sick of the kitchen situation.
Mountaintop Ranch is owned by The Cunningham Family. This ranch has been a premier horse training center and enjoyed by many as a trail ride facility . Mountaintop Ranch offers the best high mountain meadows views in the Blue Ridge. Mountaintop Ranch is bordered by the Shenandoah National Park on 3 sides. Visit our website at Mountaintop Ranch to view more information and see a list of activities offered.
Mountaintop Ranch lives up to its name as we are quite literally a Ranch atop a Mountain! We are a 400 acre property bordered by the Shenandoah National Park on the Northwestern portion of the Ranch. We have spring-fed pond, wildlife, and all of the beauties of nature that are part of this unique destination. We have an Equine Center located on the western part of the Ranch, which offers rides available at additional costs.
We also offer Guided Hikes to our 65 ft Waterfalls, Skeet Shooting, Target Shooting, Meals and more. Please inquire for details.
Where else can you stay in an authentic log cabin secluded in the middle of a breathtaking, serene and wildlife-filled 400 Acre Ranch? Mountaintop Ranch is the ultimate place to reset, relax and get back to nature. You may also find yourself enjoying a new favored adventure during your time here as well with the limitless exploring opportunities and activities available.