Little Gem on Heart Circle Mountain in Big Sur

Description from the owner

Welcome to the sun on Heart Circle Mountain. Be embraced by the Silent Temples of redwoods, mountains and waterfalls. Enjoy the magnificence of Big Sur while experiencing a wilderness setting with undisturbed tranquility surrounding each retreat. This expansive and private 36-acre property offers on-site hiking trails from your door ~ one with an ocean view (The Zen Trail) and another (The Waterfall Trail) along a uniquely private section of Palo Colorado Creek. This trail includes intimate forest settings and a waterfall at trails end. Plus we are only 3 miles from gorgeous Garrapata Beach!

We have an additional private retreat on our... large property, the Forest Cottage. Please check our other listings and website for details.

Please E-mail and or call for availability. The calendar may not reflect the most current reservations.

Little Gem:

The Little Gem provides the solitude of our mountain top wilderness, and makes for a perfect romantic getaway for two or a solo retreat. Check out our weekly discounts!

The Little Gem is a cozy and romantic cabin, with a queen bed & memory foam mattress, Jotel wood-burning stove, full kitchen, and beautiful dinning nook w/skylight gazing up into the rare redwood & madrone trees. The kitchen is fully equipped for meal preparation. There is also an outdoor BBQ for all your grilling needs. Lace covered French doors separate the exquisite bathroom, with a claw foot steeping tub/shower and a stunning bowl sink on a redwood countertop.

The wrap-around balcony with sitting area offers a breathtaking view of the valley below, ridges, and the surrounding forest. You can also relax and dine on your own little mountaintop terrace, filled with flowers and towering redwoods, madrones and oaks.

The Little Gem is built out of the finest materials; plaster walls, tumbled marble, and art glass lighting. The retreat is meticulously cleaned with non-toxic, eco friendly cleansers and is pet dander free. Enjoy the rugged landscape of the outdoors, and escape into the comfort of your private retreat, created by local artists and craftsmen. Drink our pure spring water, coffee and teas provided. Smell the sweet clean air and listen to the birds sing. Gaze at the stars unobstructed by city lights. Then slip into your cozy, silky, and luxurious bed with sparkling white linens and a fluffy down duvet, for a blissful nights sleep.

Private Chef, Masseuse, and Tour Guide available at your request.

Property:

On Heart Circle's pristine property, we offer hiking with On-Site Trails that are completely Private - no need to worry about accidentally stumbling upon a neighbor's property or dusty roads!

The Zen Trail gently climbs up Garrapata Ridge and offers spectacular ocean, mountain, and valley views. The trail passes by a fox den where you might catch a glimpse of their world. There is a delightful picnic area at the trails end nestled under a natural oak arbor with a view of the ocean. This magical spot is perfect to watch the red-tailed hawks and peregrine falcons fly overhead while enjoying gorgeous sunsets.

The Waterfall Trail meanders through a redwood forest along a gentle creek with areas for relaxing and dining amid Big Sur's unique flora and fauna. Look for a magical clearing in our redwood glen along the creek, with fairy rings of redwoods surrounding it. At trails end relax and enjoy the tranquil pond at the base of a 10ft granite waterfall.

You won't have to drive anywhere to explore the beauty of Big Sur! Of course there are endless possibilities for many adventures in the Ventana wilderness a few miles away!

Climate:

Heart Circle's microclimate is unique, a marine influence with inland sun and warmth. Our mid-altitude (900ft) mountaintop is not too hot (fewer insects) like higher ridges and mountains, and not too foggy or cold, like lower altitudes.

We look forward to meeting you!Read more

Additional Location Information

Location:

Our property is perfectly located on Big Sur's north coast, atop a small mountain overlooking Palo Colorado Canyon and beyond. Heart Circle is conveniently located just 2.2 miles from Highway 1 providing more sun and less wind than the coast. Enjoy all that Big Sur has to offer, yet remain only a 15-minute drive north to Carmel, and a 15-minute drive south to Big Sur valley. Enjoy the best of both worlds on the most scenic roads anywhere. No need to worry about dirt roads, as our retreats are located along our Private Paved Road, which is Traffic, Mud and Dust Free.
Without a doubt, you will leave Heart Circle Mountain with a unique piece of Big Sur in your heart...

To the North:
Rocky Point Restaurant- 2.5 mi
World-renowned Garrapata Beach/State Park- 3 mi
Soberanes Point and Canyon- 6 mi
Point Lobos State Reserve- 10 mi
Carmel-12 mi (15 minutes), w/ 80+ restaurants, art galleries and shops.

To the South:
Big Sur Valley- 12 mi (15 minutes), w/restaurants, art galleries and shops.

To the East:
Scenic Palo Colorado Road, meanders inland and ends at Bottchers Gap Park with campground and hiking trails, offering breathtaking views of the Ventana wilderness and Mt. Pico Blanco. Mill Creek Preserve is now open and is a few miles before Bottchers Gap!

Location Type Beach, Mountain, Ocean

Rental fees

Additional notes from owner

The Little Gem: $275/night $1925/week
Pay by Cash, Check, or Credit Card. ID's and Phone#'s required.
50% of rent due to reserve dates; second 50% & $300 Refundable Security Deposit due two weeks before stay to confirm.
Monterey Tax: 10.5% No other fees!
2 Adults, No Pets or Smoking.
Two night minimum. Three/four-night minimum for some major holidays.
Holiday rates may apply.
Would be happy to answer any questions!

What Past Guests Are Saying

Overall Rating

• kramanala
  Leon, Iowa

  Secluded Forrest Cottage

  Left on 02/06/2013 for a stay in January 2013
  
  

  We really enjoyed our stay in the Forest Cottage. The views are spectacular if you are willing to hike a little. The cottage itself is very secluded amid the tall trees. We liked looking out the skylights and seeing the stars peeking through the tree branches. The cottage was clean and we were well taken care of. The owner was very helpful in making sure we had what we needed. The pictures on the website do not really do justice to the beauty of it all. You have to see it to really appreciate it. We are thankful we were able to stay there.

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

  Recommended for: Romantic

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• Bob M
  Mansfield, MA

  Perfect

  Left on 07/15/2012 for a stay in July 2012
  
  

  I loved everything about Little Gem! Its a beautiful and private cabin. We used the kitchen and grill to cook dinner most nights which was a big plus for us.
  
  Its off Palo Colorado Road which in itself is a pretty amazing - Huge redwoods on a narrow winding road with small houses and cabins built along the steep hillside. Our last day there the road was being use to shoot a Land Rover commercial, so I know I am not alone in thinking this is a neat place!
  
  Great spot if you are visiting Los Lobos State Park, Big Sur State Park, Garrapata State Park, Pfieffer State Park, and many other nearby parks. Also, groceries and restaurants are still only a short drive away (as little as 15 minutes).
  
  We saw the seals at Los Lobos, hiked the Rocky Ridge trail at Garrapata, walked Pfeiffer Beach, and tooks photos by the waterfall at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. We drove as far south as Hearst Castle and saw beautiful coastline and a beach full of elephant seals on the way. We traveled a bit north and drove the scenic "17 mile drive" which includes Pebble Beach.
  
  Staying at Little Gem put us nicely in the middle of everything. Great place, great time!

  

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

  Recommended for: Travelers, Romantic

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• Bklyn_Chris
  Brooklyn, NY

  Very special spot

  Left on 07/14/2012 for a stay in June 2012
  
  

  This is such a special place! My wife and I needed a beautiful, quiet, calming place to restore ourselves (we have demanding jobs in NYC). Little Gem did just the trick. You can't tell from the pictures just how lovely the Valley View off the side of the cottage really is here. Brianne and andrew are wonderfully accommodating hosts, and expertly managed the balance between giving us total privacy and also attending to things we needed along the way. The cottage has a simply elegance and everything an individual or a couple needs to unwind in a cozy, homey locale. It is an easy drive to the heart of Big Sur or Carmel too. If you want to relax and restore when you're not taking advantage of local attractions, then this is the place. Book before we do again!

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

  Recommended for: Romantic

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• Clare
  SAN FRANCISCO

  Little Gem - it's a jewel!

  Left on 06/19/2012 for a stay in June 2012
  
  

  We had a wonderful time at Little Gem. The cabin was lovely. It had obviously been designed with care and attention from the wonderful tin (?) tiles in the kitchen to the beautiful blue mosaic on the dining table. The cabin itself was bigger than I'd imagined from the photos and the outside space was beautiful. We took one of the trails - a short 10 min walk up to lovely views. A highlight was having coffee out on the deck and watching blue jays and butterflies as the sun moved across the land. Brianna and andrew were lovely and really helpful. I would definitely recommend visiting Heart Circle Mountain and would love to return for another visit!

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  Detailed ratings for this rental

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

  Recommended for: Travelers, Romantic

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  Was this review helpful? Yes