Located in Topton, this cabin is in the mountains and on a lake. Wilson Lick Ranger Station and Wayah Bald Lookout are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Nantahala National Forest and Nantahala Lake. Ferebee Park and Bryson City Gem Mine are also worth visiting. Waterskiing and water tubing offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hiking and cave exploring nearby.
Harrah's Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel - 38 min drive - 44.6 km
Fontana Lake - 39 min drive - 47.4 km
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad - 58 min drive - 73.3 km
Restaurants
Newton's - 18 min drive
Lakes End Cafe & Grill - 16 min drive
Morehead Cafe - 20 min drive
John Smith Adventures - 18 min drive
todds store - 16 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Romantic & Secluded Adventure Log Cabin w/ HOT TUB + Amazing Mountain Views pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Romantic & Secluded Adventure Log Cabin w/ HOT TUB + Amazing Mountain Views?
As of 24 October 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Romantic & Secluded Adventure Log Cabin w/ HOT TUB + Amazing Mountain Views on 1 November 2026 start from NZ$1,133, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Romantic & Secluded Adventure Log Cabin w/ HOT TUB + Amazing Mountain Views?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Romantic & Secluded Adventure Log Cabin w/ HOT TUB + Amazing Mountain Views?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Romantic & Secluded Adventure Log Cabin w/ HOT TUB + Amazing Mountain Views?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Romantic & Secluded Adventure Log Cabin w/ HOT TUB + Amazing Mountain Views located?
Situated on a lake, this cabin is steps from Nantahala National Forest and 1.6 mi (2.6 km) from Nantahala Lake. Lakes End Marina and Ferebee Park are also within 12 miles (20 km).
Reviews
9.8
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
We love to share our #NantahalaVacations properties with like minded outdoor enthusiasts who looking to disconnect from cell service, social media, and the office email in order to enjoy a true vacation. Basking in the misty morning sunrise over the Smoky Mountains, going hiking on the Bartram and Appalachian Trails as well as our own trails and back roads, white water rafting and fly fishing the Nantahala River, boating on the Nantahala Lake, cliff jumping at our secret water hole, and then returning to a nice grilled dinner and roasting marshmallows over the fire pit, gazing at the beauty of a brilliant star filled sky...these are the kinds of things we and our guests enjoy. But, it's hard to do all of that in just one stay, especially on new years eve, so we're looking forward to hosting you again....soon!
Verified review
10/10 Excellent
Eric
29 October 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
The driveway is no joke and must have 4x4 or all wheel drive. The cabin is small but just the right size. The hot tub is on the front porch with great views of the mountains and stars above. We had a great time !!
Truly a wonderful property and little house to get away from everything and enjoy some peace and quiet! Would come back here again!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 7 December 2023
We love to share our #NantahalaVacations properties with like minded outdoor enthusiasts who are looking to disconnect from cell service, social media, and the office email to enjoy a true vacation. Basking in the misty morning sunrise over the Smoky Mountains, going hiking on the Bartram and Appalachian Trails, as well as discovering our own trails and back roads, going white water rafting and fly fishing on the Nantahala River, boating on the Nantahala Lake, cliff jumping at our secret swimming hole, and then returning to a nice grilled dinner and roasting marshmallows over the fire pit, and gazing at the beauty of a brilliant star filled sky while soaking in the hot tub...these are the kinds of things we and our guests enjoy. But, it's hard to do all of that in just one stay, so we're looking forward to hosting Kyle again....soon!
We had an absolutely amazing weekend, spent in silence, no phones!!! We loved the hiking and all of the sights to see close to the cabin with a book inside telling you how to get to everything. Very clean, secure and peaceful cabin. It was the perfect anniversary trip for my husband and I.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 26 October 2021
We're so honored that you chose our little cabin for your anniversary trip. We're grateful that you were able to "disconnect to reconnect". Please come again..... Soon! Our return guests get a free night extension. Looking forward to seeing some photos of your adventures on social media at #NantahalaVacations
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Josh D.
11 April 2016
Awesome experience, we're definitely returning!
Me and my wife had a wonderful time. Mike has thought of everything and the cabin was perfect. It's a remote area which was great and allowed us to unplug for a week. We are planning a return visit with family and hope this can be a regular yearly trip for us. Nantahala area is beautiful as well and we enjoyed meeting the locals in Andrews. Thanks Mike for sharing you home with us!
Response from VrboOwner on 30 March 2020
We are so glad you were able to take a relaxing vacation in the mountains. We'd love to have you back! Remember, all of our returning guests get a "buy one- get one free". Come this summer and go boating on the lake or fly fishing on the river.
Once again, we had an amazing stay at this lovely cabin we brought her two boys with us were seven and 14 to enjoy this experience with us and my wife got to enjoy it three years ago for my 37th birthday this year we return for my 40th birthday as well as Mother’s Day There’s not enough I can say about just how amazing and beautiful the area is great. The cabin always is got to enjoy the kayaks and canoe. We got to spend two days out on the lake on a pontoon boat fishing tubing and just relaxing. We are from the St. Louis area so it’s a 9 Hour Dr. for us but well worth the trip we sure will be coming back again in the future Henry’s have definitely given us all a piece of their little heaven to share and we appreciate them very much.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 15 May 2025
Wow - 9 hrs to come to our little Tiny Home! That's dedication! But the area makes it worth it! Maybe when I finally retire I'll be on hand to guide you to some really fun places! Until then, take care of that beautiful family of yours!
Cannot put into words how accommodating the host was and how quickly they responded. The driveway was no joke and must be treated with respect. The cabin is better than you can imagine and it’s 20 minutes to the closest cell service. This will be our destination to unplug and unwind from here on out. Cannot recommend it enough.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 13 April 2023
Wow Joshua! You TOTALLY get it! That's exactly the kind of reaction we want from our guests! It really is an amazing place to unplug. Especially for an amazing honeymoon couple!!! Can't wait to have you back again! Let's make it an anniversary trip at least!
Archival
6/10 Okay
30 July 2006
Off the beaten path
We
enjoy cisiting this area. It takes a while to reach many activities and
town, so plan your day accordingly. The property and cabin are well
maintained. Had to flip the circuit breaker for hot water. The listing
is not entirely accurate. There is no cable or satellite TV hookup, and
no reception. There was DVD (or VCR) built into TV, not both as listed.
Needs satellite hookup and another TV in bedroom. Cabin was small and a
bit cramped. Otherwise enjoyed it and would recommend it.
Archival
10/10 Excellent
Todd H.
11 December 2014
Great Cabin Nestled in The Heart of Cherokee Lands
Amazing cabin with great views of mountains. I've managed to get there twice now since July. Worth ever minute of the 4 hr drive from Charlotte. Went once on a guy's fishing trip. Lake Nantahala is minutes away and we hit the bronzebacks hard (smallmouth) Later that day we boated to the river mouth and caught multiple trout and then explore-hiked up stream. Second trip was a b-day trip with my fiance. This cabin passes lady muster all day. Beds are comfy, Mike has thought of everything! If you think you forgot it, I bet Mike has what you need in one of the cabinets...soap, coffee, sheets its all there. The most important thing for me was that Mike treats his guests like family. He's prompt and well organized. He makes booking agents look slow. Rates are great compared to anything else in the area. Last thing, the driveway...if you like fourwheelin its fun! If you do not like sitting in a manor that reminds you of astronaut camp park at the bottom. The driveway is well maintained but steep. Any vehicle w out true 4x4 (all wheel drive) just park and walk. Its a short albeit steep jaunt but there's plenty to see and its invigorating to be out in God's country anyway. I finish by saying this is a well appointed base camp. Don't plan on bringing a family of 5 and sittin inside, you'll be on the news for wielding an axe and yelling "Herrrres Johnny." A (1) rainy day is fully survivable, plenty of dvds. Smawlie is the definition of mountain cabin designed for outdoor ppl who want to be outdoors!
Response from VrboOwner on 30 March 2020
So great to have you back again! Had to laugh at your descriptions, but thank you for your honesty! Next time I might just have to meet you there and have you be my fishing guide. Take care and have a great 2015!
This small cabin high atop a hill provided us with the peace and quiet we were craving. The view of Autumn mountains from the large deck was magnificent. As soon as we sat down the feeling of quietness and peace enveloped us. There's a grill on the deck for cooking and plenty of propane. Just be sure to pull it a little away from the railing before cooking. The cabin is small. It amazed us, however, how much you can fit into a tiny space. Full galley kitchen, dishwasher, washer and dryer, full fridge, etc. The indoor decoration is charming and there are both air conditioners and heaters. While this place can sleep 6, if you fold out the futon, ideally, these six should be pretty comfortable in small quarters. The tiny loft upstairs is best for children or young, athletic adults. This is an older cabin, it doesn't look as new as it does in the photos. While it could use a little exterior TLC primarily to keep it in good shape, we didn't come for the view of the cabin, we came for the isolation. Speaking of which there is an even smaller rental a little ways down the hill and on evenings when both parties are outside you can hear voices, but not what they are saying.
The cabin has a firepit, which was a primary requirement. There's nothing like a warm fire to cook food over and talk. It is surprising how many mountain vacation rentals do not have this essential item. The wood stump chairs were rather old, but they made a great fire wall to reflect heat back at us. We sat in the outdoor deck chairs.
We ABSOLUTELY LOVED this place. It feels so good up there, and I dearly hope that we can come back. I strongly recommend this for a couple looking to get away. It's the perfect size. The only time we were disturbed was by people coming up the hill to "look at" the cabin we were rented. I'd appreciate it if the management could tell people not to do this after 3pm, when others have checked in. It's stressful.
While we didn't take much advantage of the trails or the lake access, we did drive around a bit in this beautiful part of the country and loved every minute of it. It is rare to find a place that is so peacefully secluded and provides such wonderful views. Just remember: you WILL need an all-wheel-drive. It's impossible to get to this cabin without one. If your goal is to get away and be surrounded by beauty, this is the place for you.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 1 November 2020
We love to share our cabin with folks that enjoy the outdoors like you do. Thanks for bringing up those issues. We do encourage our guests at our other cabins not to intrude upon the other guests. The virus has us locked down (active duty military) so we are on travel restriction. Otherwise, we would have done our annual maintenance of the cabin and restain the deck and cabin itself. We did hire a contractor to replace the old outdated air conditioning unit with the new mini split system. As soon as we are able, we will go up and finish the beautification of this year's projects.
The Smawlie cabin was such a beautiful get away! We loved every bit of it. The cabin is very well stocked and was exceptionally clean upon arrival. The view from the porch will make you want to sit and stare off in the mountains all day long! It did rain here and there during our stay, but it didn’t stop us from being able to enjoy relaxing in the hot tub and taking in the greatest view from the porch that I have personally seen. The Henries definitely made this cabin feel like home. We appreciated every single moment and even had a candle lit birthday dinner on the porch (once the rain cleared for a bit). The only complaint we could ever come up with in regards to the Smawlie cabin would be that a four day trip is not enough! We took the hiking trail and although we drove the driveway (we had a 4x4 vehicle) we found ourselves at the bottom of the driveway after taking a little adventure on the trails. I have to admit, the drive way is definitely an experience of it’s own! I got half way up( I’m no hiker by any means) and I almost convinced my other half to run up and get the truck to come save me.. haha! Luckily though he laughed me all the way up the drive way and it felt good to accomplish it by foot. On another note, the Lakes End Marina is a great place to dine in while staying at Smawlie! We had lunch there and rented a pontoon boat and it was a great experience!!
Thank you to the Henries, we are so thankful that you shared this beautiful cabin in the mountains with us!!
My boyfriend and I wanted to truly get away from everything and this cabin was more than we could have imagined. It was immaculately clean and had plenty of supplies for us to cook our own meals. Thank God the weather was dry and we had 4 wheel drive, the driveway is no joke. The hot tub was wonderful and we enjoyed sitting g by the fire at night. The complete privacy and stunning views made it one of the best vacations ever. Cannot wait to go back. Thank you!
We really enjoyed our short stay at this cabin for my husbands birthday. It was so nice to unplug and get away from all the craziness of normal life. The hike was adventurous—-and a great workout. 😊 The house was clean and well stocked and the owner was very nice and answers questions quickly. Would love to come back here one day.
Tiny, Charming Cabin For Those Who Want to Get Away from Everything
This charming small cabin is not for everyone. As the description says, it is so isolated and remote that it does not have cell phone service. For those who really want and need to get away from it all--including all phone and social media contacts--you can do exactly that here. This place is perfect if you want peace from the fast pace of life and constant interruptions and pings from your devices, if you want to just sit quietly and listen to the majestic wind in the trees and maybe read a book, if you enjoy conversations with real humans in cool outdoors air around a roaring fire under the stars far more than texting.
Although the cabin is small, it can theoretically sleep five people, especially if two of the people are rather small (the loft is tiny and accessed by ladder, but has twin beds and toys).
In some seasons the hot tub is out on the porch (this was so for our late October trip) and all you need do is set it to the right temperature. The grill on the porch was perfect for steaks and the view from the cabin, perched as high as it is, is spectacular, particularly in the Autumn.
Take the warnings seriously: the road up is very steep and rough, so, as the description says, you will need an all-wheel-drive to get there (the option of parking at the bottom of the hill exists, but it's a long trek up that winding, steep road, especially with luggage or supplies).
This place is warm and cosey! There is one bathroom with a full bath/shower and plenty of cabinets that contain extra blankets. There are several heating units. We were comfortably warm. There is also a TV and some kind of external media player which we have not explored.
The cabin has a small but fully supplied kitchen, stove, toaster, dishwasher, washer/dryer, etc. The shelves contain many seasoning spices, but they might not be what you like, so check them carefully before making a grocery run.
The cabin overall is charming, warm, wood-paneled, and very homey. It's perfect for a couple, but, as mentioned above, it can sleep up to five. It's a great place to get away from urban culture and enjoy nature in all its splendor and surprises. For those who want a bit more than just nature, you are about a 20-mile drive from Cherokee, NC, which is quite the tourist destination! The Nantahala river is a bit longer drive but also worth a visit, especially if you like to raft.
Absolutely beautiful scenery. The cabin was clean and had everything we could need. The driveway is no joke.....but totally worth it!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2021
Verified review
4/10 Poor
Jeffrey M.
14 September 2021
Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy
Uncleaned, hot tub which was highly touted was filthy and 1/2 full and only 58 degrees.
Trash has not been emptied; grill was uncleaned; broiler pan was filthy; hot tub was unusable - looked more like a septic tank. Location, directions, etc, were excellent, In spite of all of this we tried to enjoy ourselves - never to return.
We enjoyed staying here so much. The view was breath taking. Definitely follow their directions with the car. It's a straight incline but worth it.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 10 September 2021
It really is an amazing view at Smawlie! So glad you got to enjoy it. And that you did get a chance to engage your 4x4 to enjoy climbing the gravel driveway up to the cabin.
My wife and I had an absolutely incredible time staying at Smawlie. Nantahala itself is truly a secret little piece of heaven in the hills of North Carolina. The cabin itself was everything we were hoping for; it was very private and secluded, very clean, and very cozy. If you’re looking to just shut in and relax away from the tides of life it is the perfect little cabin. If you are more of an adventurer it is still the perfect cabin! There is so much to do in the surrounding area, from boating, fishing, hiking, to white water rafting and gem mining! We even made our way to the casino in Cherokee one night! We brought our boat along and it really made the trip incredible. If you go when it’s warm out I highly recommend renting a boat from lakes end marina and spending at least a day on the lake, the water is absolutely incredible, the views are breathtaking, and if you look hard enough you can find your own little coves to anchor down and have your own private swimming hole. Speaking of swimming holes you HAVE to check out the secret swimming holes the owner shares about after reserving your stay. We went to both and had them all to ourselves for an unbelievable romantic evening. If Smawlie is not available the owners have some other cute cabins nearby but it is definitely my favorite. We drove our 4x4 truck and we were super glad we did! The driveway itself was an awesome experience. Regardless if you choose to stay at Smawlie, you HAVE to go to Nantahala, it is now my favorite place in the world and I promise you, you will not regret visiting yourself, it truly is heaven on earth!
Just what we hoped it would be! Perfectly located to enjoy any of the outdoor adventures Nantahala has to offer. Need to unwind? Recuperate from life's demands? Stay in @the cabin, build a fire, soak up nature's sights&sounds, & stargaze from the hottub. We spent the week exploring, dreaming & reconnecting- it was the perfect anniversary vacation.
Response from VrboOwner on 21 August 2021
So glad you found us and were able to enjoy #Smawlie. We love to share the cabin with like minded outdoor enthusiasts who like to unwind from the world for a few days.
Looked like a great place for honeymoon or a getaway from any sort of civilization and cell service. We showed up place and location is beautiful but the cleaners for the property hadn't shown up and there was a miss communication between them and owner so we showed up to dirty linen and all that ended up not staying because it was our honeymoon and we weren't planning on cleaning anything. Other than that we got all our money back with no hiccups and we might return in the future. Life just happened and it wasn't the owners fault but would recommend it to friends and family for sure.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 21 August 2021
We still feel terrible that Jenny and her new husband showed up to a cabin that hadn't been changed over from the previous guest. We did refund their stay, buy them dinner, and when they do return we will give them an extra night stay for free. We wish so badly that they could have experienced the beauty of the mountains - and even though we had the cabin cleaned that night - they chose to spend the rest of the week at another location closer to Asheville. Like she said - sometimes life happens, and despite our best efforts to rectify - it still stinks to have missed the chance to host Jenny on her honeymoon. I KNOW she'd have preferred to stay with us, so we're looking for her return to the area.
Being able to disconnect and explore nature was amazing.
The Henries gave some really good recommendations for trails to explore; definitely follow those.
Property was clean and tidy and perfect.
You’ll definitely need that four-wheel drive to make it up the driveway!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 21 August 2021
We do get a chance to enjoy access to some world known trails like the Appalachian Trail and the Bartram Trail - but it's hard to beat hiking through our own property. Thanks for the kind words about our suggestions. With decades of family history in the area - we felt it was appropriate to share that experience with our guests in our guidebook.