This past weekend was a true fairy tale getaway from Seattle. Under 2 hours so it didn’t feel crazy far making it the perfect winter getaway from Seattle… The HappyTails Cabins & Yurts.

Here are some top reasons it will be a routine getaway for us:
-Located just 5 minutes from the Mount Rainier entrance makes this a great base camp to explore the Nisqually entrance of Mount Rainier
-Walking distance to the Nisqually River (with a bit of an adventure)
-During peak Summer season, you’re walking distance to Wildberry Restaurant
-Tucked far into the neighborhood away from freeway traffic
-Over 6 acres of property filled with fern and tree
-Dog friendly
-Hot tub access
-The cabin has a binder of recommended hikes in and out of the park
-Full speed wifi (but minimal service)
Oh yeah, on top of all of it, there is also amazing blackberry pie nearby. Drive 2-3 minutes down the road and you will find pie at Copper Creek Restaurant.

HappyTails was developed in 2018 by the owner, Garth. The property currently has 3 yurts, one 30′ and two 24′, as well as two tiny homes probably 300-500 square feet. The tiny homes are both names of his dogs, Sage (who has passed away), and Fern, who you will find running on the property looking for any tennis ball he can find! The two cabins, Fern and Sage, share a hot tub, and each yurt has its own hot tub. Also, every cabin and yurt has epic outdoor string lights for full beauty mode! Every unit had its own private firepit and super comfortable memory foam mattress.

Possible downsides:
-Not 100% wheelchair accessible. Each cabin has 4 steps for entry, but then single level
-Not a full kitchen for those who are wanting to chef it up. There is however a kitchenette with range, fridge/freezer, microwave, toaster oven, toaster, coffee grinder, french press, bbq, and pots/pans (including a cast iron skillet!).
-I am pretty sure we were sleeping on full beds, but it didn’t make a difference the bed was SO comfortable!
-Some people may not like that the Fern and Sage cabins share hot tubs, but that didn’t bother us, nor was anyone else using it!
-Paradise is now closed many days of the week during “off season”, so you will want to check alternative hikes in case Paradise is closed. At this point, The road from Longmire to Paradise is closed Monday through Friday until further notice. Check conditions here.

Our itinerary did not go according to plan as there were many unexpected closures. However, any winter getaway from Seattle is still a win in my book. Below you will find our itinerary, as well as what else you could do, if all goes according to plan!

Saturday January 21:
-Start your 1.5 hour drive to Seattle whenever. If you want to get a head start and leave early that leaves you time to explore the park before your 3 PM check in. If you want to have a late start, you can leave around 1 PM.
-About 20-30 minutes before reaching the park, you will pass the cutest caboose on the side of the road in Elbe that allows you to dine on board! Hobo Inn is definitely worth checking out for a unique dining experience.
-If Paradise is open, check out Paradise! The best place to find up-to-date information on road opening times is on the @MountRainierNPS Twitter
-For hiking or snowshoeing, check out: Skyline Trail Loop, Panorama Point or Mazama Ridge. You will always want to check in with the rangers regarding closures, recommendations, avalanche status and accessibility. If you are going in the summertime, you will want to make the drive to Reflection and Louise Lakes. If you are doing it in the winter, you will need to snowshoe out there.
-Recharge your night at the beautiful HappyTails Cabin.

Sunday January 22:
Initially, our plan was to go to Paradise and snowshoe, however unexpected weather caused a closure to Paradise… bummer! We were however able to drive to the Longmire parking lot and hike the trail to Carter Falls. Another great option from Longmire is Rampart Ridge Trail, however that trail was closed due to cougar activity.

All in all, I hope you enjoy this winter getaway from Seattle.

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