Entire home

YALE House -Mt St Helens / Yale Lake Retreat

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Where to?

Dates

August 2025

September 2025

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

Exceptional

Entire home

4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 20

Popular amenities

Dryer
Parking available
Fireplace
Washer
Air conditioning
Barbecue grill

Explore the area

Cougar, WA

Ape Caves
‪17 min drive‬
Climbers Bivouac Trailhead
‪29 min drive‬
Mount St. Helens
‪30 min drive‬

Room options

About the neighborhood

Cougar

This vacation home places you 7 mi (11.2 km) from Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and 9.3 mi (14.9 km) from Ape Caves. The vacation home includes a kitchen, a fireplace, and a patio.

View more Vacation Homes in Cougar

What's nearby

Ape Caves - 17 min drive - 11.5 miles
Ape Cave Lava Tubes - 20 min drive - 13.6 miles
Marble Mountain Sno-Park - 22 min drive - 15.2 miles
Climbers Bivouac Trailhead - 29 min drive - 17.1 miles
Mount St. Helens - 30 min drive - 20.7 miles

Restaurants

‪The Cougar Bar & Grill - ‬3 min walk
‪Ape Cave - ‬15 min drive
‪Red's espresso - ‬2 min walk
‪Jack's Restaurant & Store - ‬9 min drive
‪Squatch Stop - ‬2 min walk

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

YALE House -Mt St Helens / Yale Lake Retreat

12+ Beds Heart of Cougar. Great location / Accommodations for large family/Group. In the heart of Cougar WA. Previously Monfort's BNB.
Central to the best variety of year round recreation the PNW has to offer. From the comforts of this cozy retreat access all your favorite outdoor recreational activities within minutes. If you want to do it…. This is where to find it!
Walking distance to Bar & Grill, stores and Yale Lake / Cougar Park.
Full basement REC room. Pool table, poker table, foosball, darts, Hoops, Ring Toss, and more.
Best Fire Pit you will find. shaped like Mt St Helens

Gifford Pinchot National Forest, there are almost 1,500 miles of trails on the forest open to hiking, biking, ect.
Mount St. Helens Nation Volcanic Monument, open for climbing year round and offers some of the most popular snow-parks for snowmobiling/cc-skiing enthusiast. Be sure to visit Lava Canyon!
Ape Cave lava tubes (10 miles), which formed about 2,000 years ago and is open year round.
Marble Mountain Snopark (4.5 miles) The trip to June Lake is one of the most popular ski tours from the Marble Mountain Snopark. If the snow is good, the skiing is easy. Other skiing and snowshoeing options are available, and the snopark also serves as a base for hiking and climbing trips. Marble Mountain Snopark is the hub for snowmobilers, cross-country skiers, and snowshoers on the southern slopes of Mount St. Helens. Adequate snow cover for skiing can usually be found from December through March most years. The snow at the snopark is seldom very dry and often changeable, so it’s generally best to be riding on no-wax skis. Most days are skiable here if you’re prepared for the conditions.
The Falls (34 miles) Lower Lewis River Falls, the Middle Falls, and the Upper Lewis River Falls.

Local Fish
Variety of trout, Bull Trout, Dolly Varden, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Silver Salmon, Kokanee, Northern pike minnow, Sculpin & Tiger Muskie, Coastal Cutthroat, Steelhead.

Boat Ramps & Recreation
YALE LAKE RESERVOIR
Cougar Camp (1 mile), restrooms and showers, parking for 180 vehicles, 15 picnic tables, and a one-lane boat ramp.
Beaver Bay (3.5 miles), restrooms and showers, parking for 40 vehicles, 6 picnic tables, and a one-lane boat ramp.
Yale Park (2 miles), restrooms, 30 picnic sites, parking for 130 cars and 80 trailers, a four-lane boat ramp and a beach swim area.
Saddle Dam (9 miles), restrooms, parking, picnic tables, swimming area and boat launch ramps.
LAKE MERWIN
Cresap Bay (8.5 miles), restrooms and shower, 20 picnic tables, a two-lane boat ramp and a beach swim area.
Speelyai Bay (8.5 miles), restrooms, 25 picnic tables, parking for 250 vehicles, a two-lane boat ramp and a beach swim area.
Merwin Park (20 miles), restrooms, 135 picnic tables, parking for 250 vehicles, and a beach swim area.
SWIFT DAM RESERVOIR
Power Canal (7 miles), parking to fish at canal and two developed recreation facilities at the east end of the reservoir. Swift Forest Camp has restrooms a two-lane boat ramp with parking spaces and a day use beach swim area. Eagle Cliff Park has restroom, parking and is a walk in park with picnic tables and is a cool place with secluded feeling.
MERRILL LAKE
Merrill Lake Camp (6.5 miles), restrooms, parking, boat launch, catch and release fly fishing.

The vacation home is air-conditioned and features a kitchen, 2 bathrooms, and a patio. There's space to spread out with 4 bedrooms and a dining area. Guests can expect to find a Smart TV with a DVD player. Other standard amenities include a washing machine, a fireplace, and a coffee maker.

Property manager

Troy S Zuercher

Languages

English

Similar properties

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet friendly

Property amenities

Beach

Beach loungers

Ski

Cross-country skiing nearby
Snowboarding nearby

Internet

Available in the house: WiFi

Parking and transportation

Car required
Parking on site

Kitchen

Blender
Coffee/tea maker
Cookware, dishware, and utensils
Dishwasher
Ice maker
Microwave
Oven
Paper towels
Refrigerator
Stovetop
Toaster

Dining

Dining table

Bedrooms

4 bedrooms
Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

2 bathrooms
Bathtub or shower
Hair dryer
Shampoo
Soap
Toilet paper
Towels provided

Living spaces

Dining table
Fireplace
Living room
Separate dining area
Wood stove

Entertainment

Books
DVD player
Games
Smart TV with cable/satellite channels
Video library

Outdoor areas

Barbecue grill
Firepit
Garden
Patio

Laundry

Laundry facilities
Washing machine

Comfort

Air conditioning
Heating

Pets

Pet friendly
2 pets total

Suitability/Accessibility

If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
Wheelchair accessibility
Designated smoking areas

Services and conveniences

Phone

Location highlights

In the city center
In the mountains
On a lake
On a river

Things to do

Arcade/game room
Billiards/pool table
Foosball table
Golf
Kayak
Table tennis
Birdwatching nearby
Fishing nearby
Golfing nearby
Hiking/biking trails nearby
Hunting nearby
Jet skiing nearby
Kayaking nearby
Motor boating nearby
Mountain biking nearby
Mountain climbing nearby
Rafting nearby
Rock climbing nearby
Sailing nearby
Scuba diving nearby
Sledding nearby
Snorkeling nearby
Snowmobiling nearby
Swimming nearby
Water skiing nearby
Water tubing nearby
Wildlife walks nearby
Windsurfing nearby

Safety features

Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
First aid kit
Fire extinguisher
Deadbolt lock

General

Garden

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM

Contactless check-in available

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

This property welcomes pets
2 total pets
Restrictions apply
For more information, guests can reach out to the property at the number on the booking confirmation
Service animals exempt from fees
Note from host: House trained, never unattended, clean up after

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

Parties and events (including family gatherings and birthday parties) are allowed on site; maximum attendees: 20

Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property

Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property

Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock

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

Check-in: 4:00 PM
Check-out: 11:00 AM

We should mention

Details about charges, deposits, or other important information:

This property is managed by a private host, not a professional engaged in trade or business.
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary depending on the property's policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges, as well as a government-issued photo ID, may be required at check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in and can't be guaranteed. Certain requests may come with additional charges.
Parties and events (including family gatherings and birthday parties) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 20.
Onsite safety features include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock.

Frequently asked questions

What's there to see close to this vacation home?

This vacation home is located in Cougar, close to Ape Caves.

Is parking available on site at this vacation home?

No, this vacation home doesn't offer parking.

Is this vacation home associated with a casino?

No, this vacation home is not connected to a casino.

Will I find an indoor pool at this vacation home?

No, there is no indoor pool at this vacation home.

What amenities will couples enjoy at YALE House -Mt St Helens / Yale Lake Retreat?

Amenities that appeal to couples at this lakeside vacation home include a fireplace, a kitchen, and a smart TV.

Are there hot tubs at YALE House -Mt St Helens / Yale Lake Retreat?

No, there isn't a spa tub at this vacation home.

Does this vacation home offer breakfast?

No, this vacation home doesn't offer breakfast.

Will this vacation home allow pets to stay for free?

Although pets can't stay for free, they are welcome at this vacation home.

Does this vacation home have connecting rooms?

No, this vacation home doesn't feature connecting guestrooms.

Are there rooms with balconies that I can book at YALE House -Mt St Helens / Yale Lake Retreat?

Yes, every accommodation at YALE House -Mt St Helens / Yale Lake Retreat comes with a deck.

YALE House -Mt St Helens / Yale Lake Retreat Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10 Excellent

jerry h.

Jul 16, 2025

Liked: Cleanliness

Wonderful place, great host and very comfortable. We will be back.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Dan F.

Jul 10, 2025

Liked: Cleanliness

Great spot with a ton of character!

Stayed here with 12 people for a bachelor party. Incredibly vibey house with tons of beds and great location– we found the place very clean when we arrived! The firepit is awesome. The lake is beautiful. The hiking around the area is incredible. 10/10 would definitely recommend!

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Alyssa M.

Jun 9, 2025

Liked: Cleanliness

Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Linda W.

Jan 13, 2025

Liked: Cleanliness

Family memorial weekend

House was clean and well-stocked. The decor in every room was extremely interesting and fun. Small problem getting keypad to work but Troy responded immediately. Beautiful area! We want to come back!!

Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2025

6/10 Okay

Makenna B.

Sep 9, 2024

Liked: Cleanliness

Birthday Weekend

A great house in a beautiful location. The game room was perfect for our group and we really enjoyed using the kitchen space as well. Unfortunately Cougar Park was closed while we were there but Yale Park was a nice place to go swim. For the check in process we realized that we were not given the code in advance and when we tried to contact the owner about it he was unreachable through text, phone call, and VRBO messenger. Fortunately some of the neighbors were able to help us or otherwise we would not have been able to get in at all. Unfortunately there was a burn ban preventing us from using the outdoor fire area so make sure to check the weather before planning to use that. Other than our check in difficulties we really enjoyed the house and our time there.

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ashley M.

Aug 25, 2024

Liked: Cleanliness

Relaxing and Responsive

The property itself was beautiful with plenty of things to do and the host, Troy, was so responsive and helpful the entire time, even with some unexpected hiccups. Truly enjoyed ourselves, will definitely be back!

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

christian r.

Aug 1, 2024

Liked: Cleanliness

Great stay

Stayes there for my brothers bachlor parry with 15 others and had a wonderful time. The house and yard were cleaned and orginized when we showed up. Spent a lot of time in the game basment. Even didbthe ape caves hike

Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michelle Caroline L.

Jan 5, 2024

Liked: Cleanliness

!!!!HAPPPY NEW YEARS!!!!

Wow! Such a gem of a spot! Couldn't ask for better communication and flexibility from Tony! Immediately upon arrival he was already lighting the fire for us, letting us know that we don't have to worry about the noise and to just communicate with him which was such an amazing welcome! The space was clean, but also had an immense amount of character that complemented our New Years vibes. The fire pit was amazing, the grill was a plus, the pool table and the basketball hoop kept us entertained and the cold plunge at the dock kept us sane. The highlight of the weekend were the New Years fireworks that left us all with our jaws on the floor. Yale house was truly special, do not hesitate to book. We all left the weekend hoping we could stay longer. We will be coming back! Thank you so much Tony! You da best:)

Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Wayne B., Huntington, USA

Nov 12, 2023

Liked: Cleanliness

Place to gather

Had a wonderful time staying in the yale house. The game room was excellent!! Definitely recommend the house.

Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Susan B.

Aug 23, 2023

Liked: Cleanliness

Women’s gathering

Fun property. Beds a bit tough for our generation but we worked it all out. Some of us not a big fan of the animals but they were in the pics. Troy made it easy to check in. Great weekend for our women’s group that has been together now for 48 years!

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

jacob k.

Sep 26, 2022

Liked: Cleanliness

This place was perfect!

Everything about this place was great! Everyone had a place to sleep and was comfortable. The decor upstairs and downstairs was perfect! Only thing that could be improved would be the BBQ.

Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022

8/10 Good

Hank B.

Aug 13, 2022

Liked: Cleanliness

Enjoyable

One of the two air conditioners was inoperative, so the first evening and day, which were very hot, were somewhat uncomfortable in the house. Other than that, the facility is quite enjoyable, with a great basement and game room.

Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Sherri H.

Jul 20, 2022

Liked: Cleanliness

Great Space

Thank you Troy and Cody! This layout and space of your home was perfect for the needs of our two families (9 children). We greatly appreciated the outdoor space for eating and the multiple bunkbeds.

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Steve F.

Jan 2, 2022

Liked: Cleanliness

We had a wonderful time. Troy is a great host and very accommodating. The house was perfect for us.

Awesome experience! We’d definitely rent this house again for our big family.

Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Joy C.

Dec 27, 2021

Liked: Cleanliness

It was a great place to spend Christmas

We had all items we could need. Made a full Christmas dinner and had up to 8 adults and 4 kids. Everyone had something to do! The Buffalo was a big hit and the dogs couldn’t get passed the kitty cat!!

Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

David D., Vancouver, WA, US

Sep 12, 2021

Liked: Cleanliness

Bachelor party was a success

Just a great place with good neighbors!

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jodie W.

Sep 6, 2021

Liked: Cleanliness

Labor day fun

We had a really great time. The property is located within 2 blocks of the convenience store and walking distance to cougar park. We played at the lake and loved the fireplace and pool table. Thanks again Troy for the wonderful time.

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Donna E.

Aug 3, 2021

Liked: Cleanliness

Family Friendly Property

The kids (and some adults) loved the game room. Found out my 13 year old grandson is a pool shark! The location was great for going to Ape Caves, and Yale Lake. We also took a day trip to the Johnston Ridge Observatory in the Mt. St. Helens National Monument. We all enjoyed our stay. The kids had lots of questions about the decor!

Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Walda C.

Jul 28, 2021

Liked: Cleanliness

Peaceful, wonderful memories

Everything from first questions to final good bye was so easy, informative and friendly. This place was an oasis of calm, peacefulness, games and things to do. I am so grateful I found this place and dealt with Troy through the whole experience. Would highly recommend for any type of getaway or get together.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Maggie H.

Jun 11, 2021

Liked: Cleanliness

Fun property for a big gathering

Lots to do around Cougar and the house is very accommodating for big groups.

Stayed 3 nights in May 2021

10/10 Excellent

Sergey B.

Apr 26, 2021

Liked: Cleanliness

Beautiful house in Cougar

It was unfortunate that weather did not cooperate: it was raining one of the days. But the house offers a lot of activities that made the day even in spite of the rain. Thanks a lot!

Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2021

10/10 Excellent

Tonya R.

Mar 26, 2021

Liked: Cleanliness

33rd birthday week

Me and my family came here for my 33rd birthday and it was perfect. With 7 kids and all us adults we were never bored. The neighborhood is so quiet and the neighbors are very friendly. The kids got creeped out by the mannequins but the kids had fun naming them. We will definitely be coming back for another family trip soon. Thank you for having us.

Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2021

10/10 Excellent

Carin L.

Mar 23, 2021

Liked: Cleanliness

Awesome place!

So cozy and unique.. we had everything we needed and more! Even with the weather being crappy we had plenty to do inside !

Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jodie W.

Mar 8, 2021

Liked: Cleanliness

Fun birthday weekend

We had a great time overall. Lots to do in the basement. The kitchen had everything we needed. We did have a fuse blow and couldn't locate the fuse box but other then that the stay was great. We will be back in the summer.

Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2021

10/10 Excellent

flossie n.

Oct 30, 2020

Liked: Cleanliness

Fun for the Family

This was a fun property. Very well equipped game room and kitchen. Walking distance to handy-andy stores and restaurant.

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2020

YALE House -Mt St Helens / Yale Lake Retreat

Choose dates to view prices

Photo gallery for YALE House -Mt St Helens / Yale Lake Retreat

Reviews

Entire home

Popular amenities

Explore the area

Room options

About the neighborhood

Cougar

What's nearby

Restaurants

About this property

Entire place

YALE House -Mt St Helens / Yale Lake Retreat

Property manager

Languages

Similar properties

Lake front Lodge on Lake Swift

Lake front Lodge on Lake Swift

Property amenities

Beach

Ski

Internet

Parking and transportation

Kitchen

Dining

Bedrooms

Bathroom

Living spaces

Entertainment

Outdoor areas

Laundry

Comfort

Pets

Suitability/Accessibility

Services and conveniences

Location highlights

Things to do

Safety features

General

Policies

Check-in

Check-out

Special check-in instructions

Pets

Important information

You need to know

We should mention

Frequently asked questions

YALE House -Mt St Helens / Yale Lake Retreat Reviews

Reviews

Exceptional

9.6/10

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

jerry h.

jerry h.

10/10 Excellent

Dan F.

Great spot with a ton of character!

Dan F.

10/10 Excellent

Alyssa M.

Alyssa M.

10/10 Excellent

Linda W.

Family memorial weekend

Linda W.

6/10 Okay

Makenna B.

Birthday Weekend

Makenna B.

10/10 Excellent

Ashley M.

Relaxing and Responsive

Ashley M.

10/10 Excellent

christian r.

Great stay