Heart Circle Mountain

My boyfriend and I stayed at the Little Gem for three nights at the end of June. It is very clear Brianne and Andrew put a lot of thought and care in to the property.
Directions getting there were spot on and easy to follow. We did a self check in and did not have any issues, so we really had no need to contact anyone, however we did get to meet Andrew while we were drinking coffee in the courtyard one morning. You can make your stay as secluded as you’d like.
The room had everything we needed and even had some yummy chocolates and granola bars. We did the Waterfall Hike one morning and was also able to do the Zen Trail in the evening (MUST DO FOR SUNSET). The sunset was so beautiful it brought tears to my eyes.
Phone in courtyard came in handy when we wanted to make dinner reservations. (They provided a list of nearby restaurants with phone numbers).
This was my first trip to the area and it was completely wonderful, magical and beautiful.

BE AWARE! STAY AWAY! These people are shady. We booked their cabin through airbnb, they contacted us and told us to send a deposit of $ 301 through their personal website. We did and they sent us info. We got there later at night (930pm), he encouraged us to pay in cash to save a few dollars so we paid $ 1150 cash (for 2 nights) not through airbnb. It was pitch dark when we got to the cabin and he made us sign some contract in the dark in the middle of the forest with a flashlight when he could have taken us inside with adequate lighting. He never gave us a copy of the contract nor a receipt but we didn’t think anything of it at the time.
The next morning our friends joined us early to go hiking in the trails by our cabin. On returning, the hosts were at our cabin. They had entered and gone through our belongings with no notice or permission from us! We were shocked. They claimed we had let our friends stay the night and told us we had to leave. We argued they did not stay the night but they insisted we leave, we said we’ll pay them for the night we stayed but that they must return our cash for the next night but they refused. They made us leave, in a threatening and shocking manner by blocking our car in with their cars and told us to leave immediately as if we had done something really wrong, we were so confused! They forced us to leave the rental property in an unjustified manner, intentionally kept our cash for the night we did not stay and we were even more shocked to discover they had cashed our $ 301 security deposit even though we left the property in the state we arrived with no damage.
We go twice a year to Big Sur, usually love it there, and they completely ruined our vacation. We were so shocked and couldn’t believe how they treated us. We are currently filing a lawsuit against them, and with BBB and the county of Monterey. They are greedy crooks and should not be allowed to conduct a business. I want to make sure they do not do this to anyone else, stealing and entering without permission/​notice. We also saw the cabin relisted the same day they made us leave so they kept our cash, made us leave so they could get double profit and had the nerve to cash the security deposit. I wanted to write this review so this experience does not happen to someone else and warn people of their ways. I’m really surprised their reviews are so high on here. Eventually the karma will get back to them.
Thieves. STAY AWAY!

My husband and I stayed at the Forest Cottage for our mini-​honeymoon and had a wonderful time. The tiny cabin was beautiful inside & out and very private. The bed was super comfortable and we loved the skylights in the bedroom area. We also enjoyed the hot tub — very relaxing after a long day of hiking! I wish we had explored the heart circle mountain grounds more and I hope to stay here again so we can do just that!

My husband surprised me for our 3^rd wedding anniversary and booked the Little Gem cabin for the Memorial Day weekend. We absolutely LOVED the cabin. It’s small, basically a studio with a private bathroom, but perfect for 2 people (any more and it would be too tight).
Their property is located fairly deep in the forest and so the cabin is quiet, remote, quaint and has everything you need for R&R. We brought groceries up (easy to shop in Carmel) and were able to cook many meals, the kitchen had everything we needed.
There’s even some hiking trails off the property, we went up the hill and found a beautiful outlook with a hammock and table. They really thought of everything.
No wi-​fi, which was perfect for us to disconnect, but if you needed wi-​fi, they had a hotspot near the house you could access very easily. And in the cabin there was a binder with all the info you needed for the local area, which was really helpful.
Their property is located half way between Caramel and Big Sur and also close to Monterey Bay, so we were able to fit in so much for the weekend, but still had plenty of time to relax.
The owners gave us a lot of privacy and we never saw them until we texted them to let them know we needed more toilet paper and they made sure we got some right away. Everyone we met was extremely nice!
I hope to return here someday, we thoroughly enjoyed our time there!

The Little Gem is my favorite. Imagine driving through a woodsy neighborhood into your own space that is uniquely big sur, welcomed by a cozy cabin lit with christmas lights. It’s the perfect amount of space with an adorable deck for breakfasts, playing cards, drinking whiskey, and writing poetry. The wood burning stove makes everything come together when you light it. I recommend bringing a record player and Shakey Graves’ «And The War Came.» Take a hike up to the top of the mountain and see the ocean in the distance, followed by an incredible shower that makes you feel like you just left a spa. Skip the Hyatt. Stay at the gem, relax in the hammock, and meet Honey. The most adorable pup in Big Sur. I made some memorable moments in this cabin and felt like home. Thanks, Brianne and Andrew!

Our stay here was excellent! Very serene and peaceful, but not difficult to get to. Big Sur was amazing and the cabin had everything we needed. The kitchen makes it very easy to whip up a meal without going into town. The cabin is well maintained and looks regularly cleaned. We would definitely stay here again!

Do you like hammocks? I do — I was really excited that I would have a hammock right outside my cozy little cabin. I was on a solo trip, a retreat to refresh my brain, and I was looking forward to some hammock meditation. And while it was nice to have one so close to my front door, the true magic of the Little Gem opened up when I decided that I’d take a chance on their on-​property hiking trails. It either didn’t say how close everything was, or I missed it, but I packed my bag with snacks and water to last me a good trek… only to find that I had three other mini-​havens at my fingertips! Maybe five to ten minutes of casual walking, and I found myself up in the hills with the low fog rolling over the hill I was nearly atop of, or the burble of the little waterfall in a secluded nook, or the redwood glade with a stream running beside it. Each site has its own hammock, and its own table and chairs.
OK, besides the hammocks — the place is awe inspiringly beautiful. It’s a retreat — so don’t expect cell coverage unless you have AT&T and decide to connect to the microcell there. The wireless doesn’t reliably reach the cabin, but I have to say that was part of its charm. If I needed to pop off a quick email, I could walk maybe a dozen paces towards the caretakers property and I’d be covered, and there were plenty of benches to sit and browse the Internet on your phone.
The cabin itself was cozy — I’d say that could be a bad thing in terms of having the potential of having your own space, but see again how there are four hammocks, all spaced out wonderfully, for when you need some alone time. The little fireplace warmed the place up, and even came with handy suggestions on how to get it going for less hardy folk like myself. An oven, stove-​top, kettle, and all sorts of kitchen accoutrements make it an ideal place to bring food for a picnic — I made myself pasta, salad, and sandwiches to cover my four day weekend. Big Sur is nearby and beautiful, but I’d highly recommend just staying on property and allowing the majesty of the redwoods to overtake you. Lots of hot water, a big comfy bed, and so many places to take a picnic indoors or outdoors.
I almost don’t want to write this review because I don’t want the place to get so popular I can’t come back… but this is a place to treasure, and be shared with the world. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

I absolutely loved it! My fiancé surprised me with a trip to the Forest Cottage. It was relaxing and a great getaway if you’re looking to get a rest from the hustle and bustle of life. It has two private trails one that had a waterfall and the other has an awesome view of the valley/​ocean. My fiancé actually proposed to me there at sunset and it was private. The kitchen was stocked with things you would need (i.e knives, cutting boards, pans). The cottage was kept up well and clean upon arrival. Sitting in the jacuzzi was nice in the morning after it rained. The only thing thing it lacked was an iron/​ironing board, but the owners already got back to us letting us know they would address the concern. Overall my experience was awesome and I look forward to going back in the future.

This place is AWESOME!
June 2014
First of all, I have to say that our whole experience started here because my husband had a hankering to go to the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite. I checked it out, and it was totally booked FOREVER (no surprise) and the far out dates that were available were exorbitantly priced (again, no surprise). We just wanted a getaway in the near future, with a few requirements thrown in. In searching through VRBO, I was fortunate to land upon the Little Gem Cabin. Big Sur has been a long time favorite of ours — so close to a lot of amenities, but in a world of it’s own. The location, privacy & beauty intrigued us, but the hiking trails complete with hammocks, tables & waterfalls had my husband’s name written all over it! We would recommend this for anyone (especially a couple) who just wants to step outside their ‘normal world’ and spend a few low-​stress days. (Side note: if you need to be attached to the outside world ²⁴⁄₇ this might not be for you…
cell service is not available at the cabin, although there is WiFi at the main house not too far away) Andrew & Brianne were wonderful to communicate with, and offer much information above and beyond. We hope we are able to come and visit again someday soon…

The house is centrally located between Los Padres National Forest and Carmel-​by-​the-​Sea. It feels very remote but conveniences such as groceries gas and restaurants are just a 20 min drive north and Bixby Bridge is a 10 minute drive south. The house and grounds are meticulously maintained and it’s apparent that a lot of thought went into the details. The Forest Cottage was well stocked, immaculate, and in perfect working order. Brianne couldn’t have been a better host and we would highly recommend.

Yet again, staying here was wonderful! Coming from the Vegas desert to this magical cabin is always a treat!
Although, I think I spoiled the birds a bit much… If you stay, they like all types of breads cut into cubes haha :) They’re pretty and are friendly enough birds to get some cute pictures!
Andrew & Brianne are awesome and super friendly! Don’t be shy to ask questions.

My partner and I spent 4 nights in the Little Gem in early May. I must be honest, it was smaller than we anticipated. I wouldn’t call this place a 1-​bedroom, but a studio. Everything is in one room (double bed, small kitchen, small table), which was fine during the day, as there were outdoor chairs and hammocks. However, at night, the Little Gem cabin didn’t offer a place to relax, unless we were ready to go to bed. It would be nice to have a cozy chair or couch, but unfortunately there’s not enough space for that. We think this cabin is ideal for 1 person.
That said, the Heart Circle Mountain area is lovely. The cabin was surrounded by mountains and trees, little paths and redwoods. We liked having lunch on the deck. Personally I liked reading in the hammock. The bathroom is gorgeous — I found myself hanging out in there more than usual. The kitchen is quite small, occupying one corner of the room, about 3 feet away from the bed. Simple meals only. Thankfully, it was stocked with a few serving bowls, a couple of glasses, silverware, a tea kettle and a small drip coffeemaker.
There are several hiking trails and state parks nearby, and Carmel is just a 30-​minute drive north. Andrew and Brianne were great to work with. Very kind and accommodating, they offered local tips on hiking trails. And we very much appreciate their commitment to the conservation of the area. The next time we visit Heart Circle Mountain, we will probably book the more spacious Forest Cottage.

We stayed in the «little gem» cabin for two nights. There are three different cabins/​retreats @ Heart Circle Mountain. The little gem is furthest up the hill. Directions are given (through email) on how to get to the area and how to get to your specific cabin.
The price to stay at the little gem ranges from 250 $ to 350 $ (possibly more.) Prices go up if you are staying on a weekend and/​or a holiday and varies on what month you go. We stayed Thursday night to Saturday. I thought our Thursday night would be cheaper because it is NOT on a weekend, but I guess because we were staying two nights (which occupied a weekend) we were not granted that discount? I’ve been to many hotels/​B&B’s/etc. and this has never the policy. I guess this is something I am not used to. The Big Sur Marathon was that weekend, so we ended up paying 350 $ a night for both nights. Personally, If we paid less I would have been more satisfied with my stay.
You are to call the owner to schedule a check in time (it doesn’t specify when, so I called when I was in the Carmel area.) The owner will check you in or you have to check in yourself. I tried calling the owner several times and left a message before we headed up to the cabin. I didn’t get a call back, so we decided to drive up to the cabin anyway. When we got to the cabin/​courtyard and there was no one there. There was a phone and I tried calling the owner again and left another message. No answer. We didn’t know what to do and we were about to leave until my fiancé found the key hidden somewhere. The owner told me there were directions if this were to happen. The directions she was talking about was included in a email which I read weeks before going to the cabin and I had forgotten about it. She was apologetic, but I just wish there was some sort of reminder/​note for a forgetful human being, like myself. Better communication (especially during check in time) would have been appreciated too.
The inside of the cabin resembles a little studio. Small and cute. with many items that are needed for cooking (stove, oven, nice size «mini» refrigerator, toaster.) If you happen to use any utensils/​pots &pans.etc. you will need to clean them before your check out time. There is an iPod docking station/​CD player and there is no TV. They provide you with wood if you use the wood stove. It may look small, but that little thing puts out a lot of heat! We loved it. It made the cabin warm, cozy, and romantic. There is a BBQ grill outside the cabin too. The bed is a bit noisy and it’s definitely not a «soft and fluffy» bed (if you like that.) It has a memory foam mattress and we slept good on it.
The property is beautiful and the hiking trails were enjoyable. Unfortunately, it was raining one day, and we did not get to enjoy the hammock and outside area (near the cabin or near the hiking trails) as much as we wanted. There are two different hiking trails on the property and at the end of the trails they have chairs with a table and a hammock to relax on. I really liked the trail that lead to the little waterfall. I took some pretty pictures during our hike. It was really nice having our «own» private hiking trails. Being able to enjoy a little piece of Big Sur without the crowds is a plus.
There is no WiFi in the cabin. You need to walk to the main house/​court yard (which is a short walk away) to get connection.
Check in starts at 4pm and check out is at 11am.
This is a «get away from everything and everyone» kind of cabin. Just you and nature. A very private and secluded cabin.

My husband and I stayed here for three nights in March and loved it. It was as described in the listing, and the photos capture it well. I don’t think I have slept that well in months– it was so quiet and peaceful. You could just hear frogs (in the fountain on the patio!) and crickets. It was a great location– tucked away but still close enough to drive to lots of beautiful areas. We spent one day hiking in the Big Sur area, one day at Point Lobos, and one day wandering around Carmel. We also enjoyed using the wood burning stove at night and hanging out in the various hammocks on the property. Each morning we had breakfast on the patio and watched/​listened to the birds. The owners are friendly and live on site if you need anything but give you privacy. We will come again!

The gem is pristine, functional, & perfect: –Surrounded by gorgeous trails that led ceremoniously to comfy HAMMOCKS. You will die of cozy. –Shower water pressure was great. –Claw-​foot tub was divine and the water hot hot hot. –Kitchen, fully-​equipped w/​the best utensils & cookware –Sumptuous bed –Romantic lighting, divine details, & roaring fireplace that heats up the whole cabin… If you want to have a heavenly, tranquil escape, stay in the gem! There’s a lot of love in this space. Respect it.

My wife and I stayed at the Forest Cottage for a few days and it was simply awesome. Minutes away from the coast, but secluded and in a private section of redwood, complete with its own network of walking trails, stream, redwoods and vistas. The property and surrounding land is beautiful, the hosts are most gracious, and we can’t wait to return to explore more of Big Sur!

I loved everything about Heart Circle Mountain’s property, «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!

Fantastic experience, would highly recommend. The property is beautiful and well kept. I stayed in the forest cottage, which is a spacious two story one bed loft. Clean, private, and brand new.
I arrived late the afternoon of new years eve with my girlfriend, and Brianne, the owner, was kind enough to help us make last minute dinner reservations in town.
Will definitely be returning. It was the perfect romantic getaway.

If you’re in Big Sur and you want to stay a little off the beaten path, this is a great spot for you. My wife, baby daughter and I stayed in the Little Gem cabin for two nights, and enjoyed ourselves immensely.
I didn’t have a good sense of the Big Sur area before we visited, and I was nervous that the cabin was too far north of the action. But once we got there, we realized that Big Sur isn’t quite as big (at least along Hwy 1) as the name implies, and although the Little Gem is close to the northern end, it was only a 20-​minute drive to the bustling «downtown» of Big Sur, with lots of great stops and views along the way.
Approaching the cabin, you drive through a small hollow with a few dozen homes. Heart Circle Mountain is on top its own hill, and very sunny. The cabin itself is fairly small and sparse, appropriate to the surroundings. There’s a nicely-​appointed bathroom and tiny kitchenette, along with a grill outside. We had our 6-​month old with us, so it was handy to have the kitchen there for preparing a few meals.
The property itself is beautiful. There are a few hikes on the property, and although they’re quite short, they were one of the favorite parts of our trip.
One caveat: the hosts are real sticklers during the contracting process (I even had to sign for the baby), and the cabin is filled with lots of [not so] gentle suggestions to keep the place clean and in good shape. But they’re super-​nice in person, and I expect this is just their way of keeping guests in line.

I stay in a lot of hotels as a business traveler, so I’ve been drawn to private accommodations that are standalone private units. Also, these days, there aren’t enough differences in the quality of a $ 100 hotel versus a $ 250 one. So when I researched places to stay in Big Sur, I searched long and hard for a secluded retreat. Heart Circle Mountain fulfilled my requirements and then some.
Three retreats are available. We stayed in Little Gem, a cross between a cottage and a cabin perched on a hilltop overlooking lush green vistas. Little Gem is about 600 square feet with a patio in the back furnished with two comfy outdoor chairs and a little table. We spent some good hours with our drinks, some chatty bluebirds, and those rolling green vistas before us.
Inside, Little Gem holds the most comfortable bed ever, a little dining area with a skylight view of the redwoods, a stocked kitchenette, a wood-​burning stove and — through French doors, a lovely little bathroom with the deepest tub I’ve ever soaked in. There are windows throughout the place, which makes it feel bigger than it is and provides constant breathtaking views at all times of the day.
Brianne, who owns the 36-​acre property is one of the loveliest hostesses ever. She is extremely gracious, emanates great energy, and will do whatever it takes to make your stay comfortable.
We are definitely coming back here.