NC Mountain Cabins to Rent: Discover Four New Walls to Help You Recharge

Find incredible views and adventures at these North Carolina mountain cabins and accommodations. Ranging from luxurious to rustic, they all put you in the middle of nature – the perfect place to soothe your mind, heart and soul.

Destinations you'll find in this article:
The Mirror HotelSky Ridge Yurts | Shoji Spa & LodgeSpacious Skies Bear Den
StayNantahala Cabin & Yurt Rentals | Boyd Mountain Log Cabins
Beech Mountain | Cornerstone Cabins & Lodge | The Swag | Asheville Glamping

1 The Mirror Hotel

Friends on porch of mirror hotel with rolling hills and mountains in background

1 The Mirror Hotel

MarshallSee on mapSee on map

Talk about lodgings that blends into their surroundings. These luxury mountain cabins come wrapped with reflective exterior panels that mirror the natural beauty of the secluded setting, rendering the structures nearly invisible. Each cabin has a custom kitchen and bath, a terrace for morning yoga and late-night stargazing, and 15-foot-tall windows that maximize views of forests and mountains. For the utmost guest privacy, each unit also includes its own hot tub, pergola, patio with firepit and alfresco pizza oven. The cabins can fill up quickly, so sign up for email updates to stay in the know.

2 Sky Ridge Yurts

Sky Ridge Yurts (photo: Sky Ridge Yurts)

2 Sky Ridge Yurts

Bryson CitySee on mapSee on map

A souped-up camping experience awaits in Bryson City, just steps away from America’s most popular national park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. These top-of-the-line yurts have lofts, full kitchens, large decks, TVs, firepits and full bathrooms – truly taking glamping to the next level. For when you do venture out, there are quite a few tubing, ziplining and whitewater rafting options available. Or take an open-air Jeep tour if you’re looking to explore with a local guide. Plus, the tallest dam on the East Coast, Fontana Dam, is nearby, where you can rent kayaks or stand-up paddleboards from Bryson City Outdoors.

3 Shoji Spa & Lodge

Shoji Spa & Lodge (Instagram: @morjoy)

3 Shoji Spa & Lodge

AshevilleSee on mapSee on map

A visit to Shoji will leave you saying, “Ahhhh” as this Japanese-inspired destination spa features multiple private, outdoor hydrotherapy salt tub abodes carved into Pisgah National Forest. As the Southeast’s only outdoor salt tub retreat, many who visit end up extending their stay. Guests can reserve one of three lodging options located “2,500 feet above stress level” and just steps from world-class massage therapy. With accommodations that include a stone fireplace, floor-to-ceiling windows and a luxurious bathroom, this mountainside retreat helps you feel rested and renewed.

4 Spacious Skies Bear Den

Bear Den (Instagram: @alexbuhk)

4 Spacious Skies Bear Den

Spruce PineSee on mapSee on map

With so many outdoor adventures in Pisgah National Forest, Bear Den can be your base camp. When you camp or book a cabin here, your next adventure is right outside your door on the miles of trails and a lake begging for lazy days drifting on the water or casting a fishing line. Bringing the kids? This campground is a parent’s paradise with basketball, volleyball, table tennis, shuffleboard, horseshoes, gem mining and playgrounds, plus an on-site store to help make planning a breeze. Since several trails start inside the campground, park your car for your entire vacation and enjoy all the amenities and activities this place – and Mother Nature – have to offer.

5 StayNantahala

Lakes End Cabin & Yurt Rentals (Instagram: @staynantahala)

5 StayNantahala

ToptonSee on mapSee on map

A Great Smoky Mountains gem, StayNantahala features several luxury yurts. We’re talking granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, a rain head shower and private hot tubs. Fall into your soft bedding at night, and you’ll feel recharged the next day for more fun on Lake Nantahala, where you can rent a boat and water sports equipment from the on-site marina. Or opt for a lakeside cabin to soak in the water views on your spacious porch. Lakes End also has a restaurant on-site featuring sandwiches, pizzas, specialty items and plenty of signature Southern fare.

6 Boyd Mountain Log Cabins

Boyd Mountain Log Cabins (Instagram: @brindleyy)

6 Boyd Mountain Log Cabins

WaynesvilleSee on mapSee on map

Nestled in a 150-acre cove on Boyd Mountain are nine authentic hand-hewn log cabins. Though the cabins date back more than 150 years, each one has been carefully restored and furnished with modern amenities. Nature lovers can revel in tons of trails for hiking, biking and bird-watching. There’s a creek that’s an excellent tubing waterway, and the ponds are stocked with trout, bluegill, bass and catfish for an unforgettable fishing trip. Boyd Mountain is also near another popular ski destination, Cataloochee Ski Area – a resort with quick trails, good food and an outdoor deck perfect for watching the skiers come down the mountain.

7 Beech Mountain

Beech Mountain

7 Beech Mountain

Beech MountainSee on mapSee on map

A ski-in, ski-out experience is by far the easiest, most stress-free way to enjoy a ski vacation to the fullest, with no time wasted lugging stuff from a faraway parking lot. Beech Mountain is a particularly fun mountain to stay on, since this resort is also home to the tallest bar on the East Coast, 5506′ Skybar. It has beers on tap brewed just steps away from the ski runs and boasts fabulous views of everyone coming off the lift and zipping down the first hill.

8 Cornerstone Cabins & Lodge

Banner Elk Winery

8 Cornerstone Cabins & Lodge

Banner ElkSee on mapSee on map

Boone’s sister city and next-door neighbor, Banner Elk, is a ski town and very close to Sugar Mountain. You’ll be well taken care of at Cornerstone Cabins, home to three adorable A-frame cabins (affectionately named Love, Hope and Faith) with huge decks overlooking the property. Each cabin also offers room for six, a grill on the patio, a fully equipped kitchen and the option to bring your furry friend. Plus, the award-winning Banner Elk Winery is less than a half-mile down the road, so you can savor even more of the area (and take some home).

9 The Swag

The Swag

9 The Swag

WaynesvilleSee on mapSee on map

Seeking a luxe experience to soothe your soul? Pick 2022’s No. 3 ranked “Best Resort in the South” according to Travel + Leisure. The handsomely appointed cabins have fireplaces, king-size beds and soaking tubs. Some even have a sauna, plus the overnight rates include all meals, appetizers, cookies and a daily high tea. For even more space, splurge on the two-story log cabin – complete with a game room. Stunning 5,000-foot views can be seen throughout the property’s 250 acres that border Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Guided hikes, secluded hideaways, double hammocks, badminton and a treehouse give plenty of ways to unwind and reconnect with nature – and each other.

10 Asheville Glamping

Asheville Glamping (Instagram: @snacksonthe_scenicroute)

10 Asheville Glamping

AshevilleSee on mapSee on map

The Asheville Glamping site features about a dozen glamorous lodging options, including deluxe bell tents, dog-friendly domes, an adults-only treehouse and more awe-inspiring domes with beds positioned under skylights – perfect for a night of stargazing. All accommodations have comfy beds, refrigerators, electricity and air conditioning. Several even have private hot tubs and some of those are near babbling streams. The property sits just 1 mile from the Blue Ridge Parkway, “America’s Favorite Drive,” a must-do for any rejuvenation vacation with its spectacular sweeping views.

Connect with nature like never before by following the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace, which help ensure you have the knowledge to protect North Carolina’s natural beauty so others can experience it in the same way.

Updated January 5, 2024
About the Author
Shawndra Russell

Shawndra Russell

Shawndra Russell, a travel writer and novelist based in Asheville, loves North Carolina for its craft beer and abundance of outdoor adventures. She's written for Forbes Travel Guide, BeerAdvocate and Travel + Leisure.

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