The Tamarack: Fall Basecamp, Sauna & Game Room

Summary:

The tamaracks turn gold in October and the sauna is warm by then.



• Outdoor sauna & hot tub

• Snowshoes & paddle boards included

• Arcade, pool & shuffleboard

• 6 bedrooms, sleeps 10

• Parking for 10 plus an RV

• Dog-friendly

• High Speed Wi-Fi



The Space:

The house is named for the tree. Tamarack is what everyone up here calls the western larch, and it's the strange one: a conifer that turns gold every October and drops its needles like a maple. Whole hillsides go yellow through the back half of the month, and people drive up from three states to watch it happen.



Six bedrooms above Lakeside, tucked into the trees with Flathead Lake down the hill and Glacier a drive up the road. Fall is quiet here, the summer crowds are gone, the courses stay open later than you'd think, and the vaulted great room finally gets its fireplace lit. Then the snow lands and the house changes character. Blacktail is up the road above Lakeside, Whitefish is the bigger day out about an hour off, and the snowshoes cover everything in between. However the day goes, it ends the same: boots off, a long stretch in the sauna, then the hot tub with the fire pit going.



This one was built for groups that show up with gear. Skis, clubs, boots, bags, and the dog all fit, with garage and driveway parking for up to 10 vehicles plus room for an RV. Nobody plays parking Tetris at 11pm. Starlink handles the internet, so a work call from the deck actually works.



Sleeping:



• Bedroom 1: Queen, smart TV

• Bedroom 2: Twin over two twin bunk, smart TV

• Bedroom 3: King, deck access, ensuite bath

• Bedroom 4: Two queens, ensuite bath

• Bedroom 5: Queen, smart TV

• Bedroom 6: Queen-over-queen bunk with trundle, climbing wall, giant Connect 4



Four full bathrooms, two of them ensuite. Sleeps 10 guests comfortably.



The game room is why nobody leaves on a cold night: arcade games, pool table, shuffleboard, poker table, putt-putt, and a wet bar keeping it running. The kitchen is fully stocked with high-end appliances, a big island with seating, and four ways to make coffee, which matters when ten people wake up at different times. Bedroom 6 has a climbing wall and a shelf of toys, so the youngest crowd has somewhere that's theirs.



Ski groups, golf groups, and big families all work here. Our local team is nearby the whole time you're here, so if anything comes up, just text us.



Guest Access:

The whole home is yours, including the sauna, hot tub, game room, snowshoes, and paddle boards. All of it comes with the house at no extra charge. The only off-limits spot is the locked cleaners' closet.



The Neighborhood:

You're up in the trees above Lakeside, quiet and private, with the valley opening up below you.



Fall color: The tamaracks peak through the back half of October, and Bigfork throws a fall festival named after them about half an hour up the lake.



Skiing: Blacktail Mountain sits at the top of a 14-mile road above Lakeside, a genuinely good small mountain with the lodge and parking at the summit. Worth knowing before you plan around it: Blacktail runs a limited weekly schedule rather than seven days, with a season that typically runs from around mid-December into early April, so check their calendar when you pick dates. Whitefish Mountain Resort is the bigger day out, roughly an hour, with 3,000 acres and the snow ghosts it's known for.



Snowshoeing & Nordic: Groomed cross-country trails run off Blacktail Road about 8 miles up from the highway, maintained seven days a week from December through March, weather permitting. Take the house snowshoes on the days the lifts aren't turning.



Winter festivities: The valley's festival season runs through the coldest months, which is reason enough to head into town on a night the sauna can wait.



Golf: Several courses around the valley and toward Whitefish, and shoulder-season rates in fall are a good deal better than July.



Food & drink: Lakeside spots are a few minutes down the road, Kalispell about twenty minutes for groceries and a bigger restaurant scene, and Bigfork around half an hour along the lake.



On the water: Flathead Lake is down the hill, with public access points nearby. All lake recreation in the area is public access.



Farther afield: The west entrance of Glacier National Park is a little over an hour. Glacier's high road closes seasonally, so winter visits look different from summer ones.



Getting Around:

You'll want a car up here, and in winter all-wheel drive makes the mountain roads considerably less interesting. Rideshare is limited in this part of the valley, so plan on driving. Parking is one of this house's quiet advantages, with garage and driveway space for up to 10 vehicles plus room for an RV, though street parking isn't permitted.



Other Things to Note:

A few housekeeping notes so your stay runs smoothly:



Check-in is at 4:00 PM and check-out is at 10:00 AM.



Primary guest must be at least 21 years of age to book this property.



This property is 100% smoke-free.



Dogs are welcome for a fee of $125 per dog, up to 2 dogs per stay. Please note this fee does not cover any potential damage caused by pets. No cats permitted. We just ask that pups are crate trained and that you pick up after them in the yard.



We kindly ask that guests refrain from hosting parties or events at the property. We aim to maintain a respectful environment for our neighbors. Quiet hours are 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM.



An exterior security camera is installed on the property for quality and security monitoring purposes.



Stays of 28 days or more may incur an additional cleaning fee.



Winter here is real winter. Roads can be snowy and the drive up is a mountain road, so plan for the conditions and give yourself extra time.



You may spot deer and other local wildlife around the property, which is part of the fun of being up in the trees.



GUEST VERIFICATION: To help ensure a smooth and secure stay for all guests, the primary guest listed on the reservation may be asked to complete a quick verification process within 48 hours of booking, depending on the platform used to book the reservation.



Prior to check-in, guests may also be asked to sign a Rental Agreement that includes agreeing to our rental terms and conditions and, on certain booking platforms, providing a valid government-issued ID and matching credit card before arrival.



Included with your booking is our damage waiver coverage, which helps protect against accidental, self-reported damage during your stay when reported prior to check-out.