This cabin places you next to Nantahala National Forest and within a mile (2 km) of Fontana Lake. The cabin includes a kitchen, a fireplace, and a refrigerator.
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad - 19 min drive - 15.5 miles
Smokey Mountain Trains Museum - 19 min drive - 15.5 miles
Great Smoky Mountains National Park - 23 min drive - 18.4 miles
Harrahs Cherokee Casino - 33 min drive - 29.3 miles
Restaurants
Big Wesser BBQ & Brew - 4 min drive
River's End Restaurant - 4 min drive
Kallistos - 5 min drive
Cardinal Coffee - 6 min drive
Slow Joe's - 4 min drive
About this property
Entire place
You'll have the entire cabin to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.
Bear's Den Max - 4 bedrooms in the Nantahala Gorge - free rafting or other
Welcome to Bears Den Max -- this is the same property as our "Bear's Den" listing, only it is taken to the max by the addition of the lower-level king bedroom suite. This bedroom has a private entrance, private bath, 4k streaming TV and is added for a small upcharge from the basic Bear's Den listing. The home is a fantastic base camp home for your Smoky Mountain adventure. Located in the Nantahala River Gorge, the property is near Bryson City, the Nantahala Outdoor Center, and Fontana Lake. Bears Den is a wonderful home sleeping up to 8 people and has a spacious kitchen, dining and living area. Relax reading your favorite book in the hammock or enjoy family time with s'mores by the stone-lined firepit (firewood provided!). Take it easy after a good day hiking or mountain biking in the large 6-person saltwater hot tub. Bears Den has it all for your family and friends. Bears Den has been owned by since 2001 by the Willaims family who live nearby and own the The Dillsboro Chocolate Factory and Espresso Bar. They strive to provide the best guest experience possible from the bedroom to the deck. The bedding is Serta’s I Comfort mattresses in all the bedrooms for a perfect sleep on your vacation. The living room furniture features top grain leather reclining sofas by Flex Steel. The kitchen table is a custom black walnut and resin table with Amish made chairs. The black walnut is from the foothills of North Carolina. Not all hot tubs are created equal, and we have the finest spa for guests to enjoy. It’s a Hot Springs Spa and features their amazing saltwater sanitation and cleaning system. It is the most refreshing hot tub experience on the market and your skin will love it and your nose too. Gone is the hot tub chemical smell. Wanna cook a rib eye? We have a Napolean brand gas grill to make that happen. It’s all stainless construction and patented burner technology will deliver a perfect steak every time. For nearly 2 decades Bears Den has been managed locally. When the local management company was bought out by a large national company in 2019, that management style proved to be impersonal and a bad fit for the level of detail and service desired by the property owner. Bears Den is now locally managed by the great team at Watershed Cabins and their entirely local staff, so service will once again be a hallmark of staying with us at Bears Den and at our sister cabin, Bear Necessities.
Cabin is pet friendly – Pet Fees Apply.
The cabin is air-conditioned and features a kitchen and 3 bathrooms, and there's space to spread out with 4 bedrooms. Guests can enjoy a Smart TV and stay connected with free WiFi. Other standard amenities include a washing machine, a fireplace, and a coffee maker.
Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
First aid kit
Fire extinguisher
Policies
Check-in
Check-in time starts at 5:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 21
Check-out
Check-out before 11:00 AM
Special check-in instructions
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Rules
No house parties ever. Max occupancy is strictly enforced.
If Max occupancy is exceeded, there is additional charge of $20 per night per person.
Smoking is permitted only outside on decks, and please respect that the the Smoky Mountains are flammable, so do not toss butts, ever.
Some homes are pet friendly for up to 2 dogs with additional fee of $15 per pet per day. contact host for details.
Pets
This property welcomes pets
Service animals exempt from fees
Note from host: per House Rules, dogs only, $15/day/pet fee
Children and extra beds
Children allowed: ages 0-17
Events
No events allowed
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Check-in: 5:00 PM
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Minimum check-in age: 21
We should mention
Details about charges, deposits, or other important information:
This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession.
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary depending on the property's policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges, as well as a government-issued photo ID, may be required at check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in and can't be guaranteed. Certain requests may come with additional charges.
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited.
Onsite safety features include a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, and a first aid kit.
Property is also known as
129424
Frequently asked questions
What's there to do close to this cabin?
This cabin is located in Bryson City, just steps from Nantahala National Forest. You'll also find Fontana Lake and Nantahala River within a short drive.
Is there parking available at Bear's Den Max - 4 bedrooms in the Nantahala Gorge - free rafting or other?
No, there isn't parking at this cabin.
Is this cabin associated with a casino?
No, this cabin is not connected to a casino.
Is there an indoor pool at this cabin?
No, this cabin doesn't have an indoor pool; however, there is a hot tub.
Is Bear's Den Max - 4 bedrooms in the Nantahala Gorge - free rafting or other a good place to stay for couples?
Amenities that appeal to couples at this cabin include a fireplace, a smart TV, and a kitchen.
Are there hot tubs at Bear's Den Max - 4 bedrooms in the Nantahala Gorge - free rafting or other?
No, there isn't a spa tub at this cabin.
Does this cabin provide breakfast?
No, this cabin doesn't offer breakfast.
Does this cabin allow pets to stay free of charge?
Although pets can't stay for free, they are welcome at this cabin.
Are there connecting rooms at Bear's Den Max - 4 bedrooms in the Nantahala Gorge - free rafting or other?
No, this cabin doesn't feature connecting guestrooms.
Are there rooms with balconies at Bear's Den Max - 4 bedrooms in the Nantahala Gorge - free rafting or other?
No, there aren't any cabins with balconies at Bear's Den Max - 4 bedrooms in the Nantahala Gorge - free rafting or other.
Bear's Den Max - 4 bedrooms in the Nantahala Gorge - free rafting or other Reviews
Reviews
8.0
Very Good
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
Rating 10 - Excellent. 2 out of 6 reviews
10 - Excellent
2
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 6 reviews
8 - Good
2
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 6 reviews
6 - Okay
2
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 6 reviews
4 - Poor
0
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 6 reviews
2 - Terrible
0
7.2/10
Cleanliness
Reviews
Verified review
8/10 Good
Shaun E.
Sep 19, 2025
Liked: Check-in, communication, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness
The cabin layout is pretty cool and convenient. The 4th room offers privacy for older kids or a separate family that may be joining you.I recommend a four wheel drive vehicle, especially if it rains. And the sheets looked like a dog had just rolled all over them. Other than having to clean the cabin ourselves, it was a good stay.
Very well maintained cabin. Lots of room for family and friends.The only problem we had was with the fire pit. The fire wood was wet. You can’t store fire wood on the ground without a cover. Please store the fire wood under the porch near the hot tub! It was truly disappointing for me and my family!
We had a great time with family coming and going. The property was advertised for 10 th have beds, there was only room for 8. Only 8 towels were available.the bottom room had a individual air unit. It was full of water and when trying to empty it, it spilled all over the floor. The dish washer was not empty and there was no internet.