Idaho Mountain Cabin at 8,500-Foot Elevation Hits the Market at $625K
A jaw-dropping Idaho residence perched 8,500 feet up in the clouds at the very top of a peak on Mineral Hill recently hit the market for $625,000.
Built in 2016, the modern two-bedroom home, also known as the state’s “most elevated private residence,” is accessible via a dirt road not for the faint of heart.
“The road is not maintained whatsoever, and a lot of it is bare rock from the washout during winter,” says listing agent Nathan Bedard of Assist2sell Discovery Real Estate. “You could fix up the road, but with the snowmelt from the winter, it destroys the road every season.”
The property recently received a $50,000 price cut in the hopes of attracting a buyer before the winter weather arrives.
The “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire a geographic superlative” offers buyers bragging rights to own “the highest residential vantage point in the Gem State.”
“It’s located near the Montana border in north-central Idaho, about 3.5 hours east of Lewiston,” Bedard notes. “To give you an idea of how remote it is, to show the property would be an all-day thing. It takes two hours for a side-by-side to get up there. They have also gotten a Jeep up there, but it takes seven hours one way.”
Bedard says he cannot show the “island in the sky” during inclement weather and winter months.
“It’s a seasonal property and mostly just for summer use,” he notes. “I would think when you come here, a typical stay would be one to two weeks to make it worth the ride up.”
Because of its remote location, the 1,272-square-foot residence is being offered fully furnished.
“I can’t show it in the winter, so you’d have to wait until the end of spring to look at it,” he says.
The loft-style interior boasts wood-clad walls, floors, and ceilings. Oversized picture windows provide breathtaking mountain views.
A spiral staircase leads up to an additional living area. The primary bedroom can be found on the main level, with guest accommodations located upstairs. There is also a deck to soak in the stunning scenery.
Buyers should also note that “Idaho’s highest private retreat” has some considerations.
“It does have septic, and electricity is by solar, which is enough to power the whole cabin in the summer,” Bedard says. “There is a nearby spring on Forest Service land about 150 yards away for water. You just have to put in a hose and hook up a pump. The cabin is not insulated, but there’s a wood stove.”
The monumental property, “just 100 feet shy of the legendary Buffalo Hump,” offers breathtaking views of Bear and Crescent Lakes below.
“You look down on the two lakes from the dining area,” he says. “If you can make the trip, the views are amazing once you’re there. It’s on the brink of Gospel-Hump Wilderness, and there are old mines up there. You can also do lots of high-altitude hikes from the property.”
Bedard says he believes the next buyer will be much like the seller, looking for a unique high-altitude trophy property to call their own.
“People who are interested are property collectors,” he notes. “We have had people from Texas and southern Idaho look at it.”
Surrounded by solitude and the Nez Perce National Forest, the property, ideal for spotting wildlife, also offers elite deer, elk, and bear hunting right in your own backyard.
“There are also marmots and all of the other North American animals,” he says. “There are also trails that lead to high-mountain lakes for fishing.”
Located on a rare 1-acre “deeded summit,” the lot also offers vistas of the Seven Devils of Hells Canyon and Montana’s mountain peaks.
“There have been no recent updates to the property, but it’s in great condition, as it’s only 10 years old,” Bedard said. “To even do any updates would be quite a bit of work. The snow doesn’t pile up on it because of the wind, so the house doesn’t get covered in snow.”
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