Cozy mud hut with big bridge view

Private room in hut in Portland, Oregon, United States

  1. 2 guests
  2. 1 bedroom
  3. 1 bed
  4. 1 private bathroom
Rated 4.78 out of 5 stars.498 reviews
Hosted by Ivy
  1. 13 years hosting
Nestled in the private backyard of our family home, a neighborhood hub. The round, rustic, romantic MudHut hides in a secret garden overlooking the St. Johns bridge and sparkling river, near Cathedral Park, Forest Park, downtown St. Johns, canoe and hiking trails... Firepit, permaculture gardens, loaner bikes, community life, view!

The space
Our hut was handbuilt by family, friends, and community with great love and serves as a guesthouse, homeschool hut, sauna and sanctuary. Wood-heated and candle-lit, it's a tranquil, rustic sleeping space. I recommend staying two nights for an immersive experience in the relaxing atmosphere. We are makers, artists and parents, and our land is a lively reflection of our creative life, often with projects brewing and children playing. A humming hive in a hidden wood on a bluff above the river.

Guest access
You may wander the gardens, pick berries, have a fire, hang out in the outdoor living areas, the sanctuary and the stage. Bathroom facilities are a tip toe from the mudhut to the basement of our home, through the outside back door, down a set of stairs. The covered outdoor kitchen is right next to the hut with a small fridge, a hot pot for breakfast beverages, and a camp stove with pots, pans, dishes and basic condiments provided. My husband and I are brewers, and there's usually something good to sip on the 4-tap kegerator. Outdoor dining with a view year round.

Other things to note
I built the hut as a retreat from the buzz and hustle of daily life, without electricity. The outdoor kitchen and basement have outlets for charging devices, and there is the option of running an extension cord to the hut for power needs. Wifi is spotty in the hut due to the thick earth walls, but is easy to pick up elsewhere on the property. Your night is your own, but to fully experience the hut in the spirit in which it was built, I recommend turning off and tuning in :-) I accept one-night reservations, but really recommend two nights for an immersive experience. Our location on the bluff above a working river in a major city means that the air is full of sounds. You may hear trains and ship horns at night. The thick earthen walls buffer the sound quite well for most, but some have found night noises to be bothersome. I mention this for the benefit of light sleepers and just for full disclosure.

Where you'll sleep

Bedroom
1 double bed

What this place offers

Kitchen
Wifi
Free parking on premises
Hot tub
Washing machine

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4.78 out of 5 stars from 498 reviews

Overall rating

  1. 5 stars, 83% of reviews
  2. 4 stars, 13% of reviews
  3. 3 stars, 3% of reviews
  4. 2 stars, 0% of reviews
  5. 1 stars, 1% of reviews

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for cleanliness

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars for accuracy

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for check-in

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for communication

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars for location

Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars for value

Guest reviews mention

Where you’ll be

Portland, Oregon, United States
This listing’s location is verified and the exact location will be provided after booking.

Neighbourhood highlights

We're in St. Johns, Portland's northern-most neighborhood and a small town of its own with a strong community identity here. Many families here trace their roots back to James John, the pioneer founder of St. Johns who is memorialized all over the neighborhood. Downtown St. Johns is a few blocks away, with plenty of restaurants (Thai, vegan, soulfood, chinese, pub grub, pizza, deli, breakfast, coffee & gelato), an old movie theater and shopping (lots of vintage).
Cathedral Park, three blocks away, is gorgeous and photogenic with access to the Willamette River and the awesome overhead presence of the gothic St. Johns Bridge that you can see from the hut.
We're also close to a lot of natural areas for urban hiking and paddling. Forest Park, full of trails and old growth forest, is right across the bridge. Just north of here is Kelley Point Park, the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers; Smith and Bybee Lakes, a wetlands for birding and paddling; and Sauvie Island, with beaches, farms, nurseries, hiking, fishing, & birding. We're on the Pacific migratory fly-way, so lots of raptor action around here. Bald eagles, peregrine falcons and hawks swoop by regularly.

Meet your host

Host
498 reviews
4.78 out of 5 average rating
13 years of hosting
My work: MY TWO KIDS
Lives in Portland, Oregon
I'm a settled-down traveler who found a gem of hidden land on the edge of the city--land that wants to be shared. I raise my family, tend the land and work in the community. Artist, herbalist, permaculturist, teacher and writer.

Host details

Responds within a few days or more
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Things to know

Cancellation policy
House rules
Check-in after 2:00 pm
Checkout before 11:00 am
2 guests maximum
Safety & property
Carbon monoxide alarm
Smoke alarm
Some spaces are shared