Free template · updated November 3, 2026

Cabin welcome book template

Cabin guests usually arrive tired, after dark, at the end of a gravel road. The questions are always the same: how does the wood stove work, is the tap water safe, where does the trash go so animals don't get it, and where's the closest store.

This outline covers every section of a cabin guidebook with short sample text you can edit. The how-things-work part is written for a wood stove and a well, and the local picks are built around trails, lookouts and the nearest general store.

The template

Replace anything in [brackets] with your own details.

Welcome

Welcome to [Cabin name]! We hope you get some quiet time in the woods.

Check-in

Check-in is from [Check-in time].
The key is in [Key location]. The door can stick in damp weather, so give it a firm push.

Wifi

Network: [Network name]
Password: [Wifi password]
Cell service is [Cell service note].

Parking

Please park on [Parking spot]. The lane is [Road note, e.g. narrow gravel, slow down after the bridge].

How things work

Wood stove: open the air control fully, light the kindling, add dry wood once it catches, then turn the air down a little. Firewood and kindling are in [Firewood location].
Please use only dry firewood, never gasoline or lighter fluid, and keep anything that can burn well back from the stove.
Ashes go in the metal bucket with a lid on [Ash bucket location], never in the trash.
Water: the cabin runs on a well. [Drinking water note, e.g. the tap water is tested and fine to drink / please use the filtered jug].
Backup heat: [Backup heat, e.g. baseboard heaters, dial on each wall].

House rules

Up to [Max guests] overnight guests, no parties or events.
Quiet hours [Quiet hours]. Sound carries a long way out here.
Pets: [Pet policy]. No smoking or vaping inside.

Trash and recycling

Bears and raccoons live nearby, so please keep food waste inside until it goes in the [Wildlife-proof bin location]. Recycling goes in the blue bin under the sink.

Local picks

Closest groceries and gas: [Store name], [Distance] away.
Best short hike: [Trail name], [Trail length].
Sunset spot: [Lookout name].

Emergency info

Emergency: call [Local emergency number]. Our address for responders: [Address].
Smoke and CO alarms: [Alarm locations]. Fire extinguisher: [Extinguisher location].
Nearest hospital: [Hospital name and distance].
Host: [Host name], [Host phone].

Checkout

Checkout is by [Checkout time].
Please let the stove burn out (never douse it), turn the heat to [Away setting], and put used dishes in the sink.
Lock the door and return the key to [Key location]. Safe travels!

Tips

Write the wood stove steps for your actual stove and add a photo of the air control, because every model is different.
Leave out a printed copy of the address and directions for emergency responders, since GPS and cell service often fail on rural roads.
If you have bears in the area, explain why food waste stays inside; guests follow a rule much more readily when they know the reason.
Stock enough dry, split firewood and kindling for the stay so guests aren't tempted to burn wet wood or scraps.
Test the smoke and CO alarms before each season and mention where they are in the guide.

Put it on one guest page instead of a binder

Keegix turns your welcome book into one link and a QR sign by the door. Upload the binder you already have and AI drafts the page in about a minute, or paste this template in. Free forever for one property.

Upload my binder, free See a sample guest page

Questions

What should a cabin welcome book include?

Check-in, wifi, parking, how the heating and water work, a few house rules, trash and wildlife notes, local picks, emergency info and checkout. Cabins need extra detail on the wood stove, well water and what to do with no cell signal.

Should I let guests use the wood stove?

Many cabin hosts do, as long as the stove and chimney are inspected and maintained, there are working smoke and CO alarms, and the guide explains how to light it safely. If you'd rather not, say so clearly and point guests to the backup heat.

How do I tell guests about well water?

Say plainly whether the tap water is safe to drink, based on your own testing, and leave bottled or filtered water if it isn't. Mention if the water has a taste or colour that's normal for your well.

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https://keegix.com/welcome-book/cabin/