The Cabins at Sandy Mush Bald

We are stewards of the mountain and our cabins offer guests an authentic and off-grid Appalachian experience on 500 private acres atop the Newfound Mountains in Western North Carolina.

The Hike-In

Your mountain retreat begins with a 2 mile hike-in, kicking off at our Trailhead at the base of the mountain. The trail follows an old forest service road, beside a spring fed creek, which brings you gracefully to the top of the mountain. Verdant moss and the sound of trickling water accompany you as you climb 1,350 feet in elevation to reach your haven.

The Cabins

Originally built in the 1800’s in Douglas Lake, Tennessee, the main lodge is two stories and offers a loft upstairs with beds that accommodate up to 10 people. Downstairs offers one private bedroom, a cozy den with a library, a dining area, and a kitchen complete with a wood and gas stove. The front porch is spacious with ample seating, a porch swing, and one of the most iconic sunrise views in Western North Carolina!

Our upper cabin, located about 200 feet from the main lodge in a wooded setting, is a dovetail-style antique log cabin which includes a kitchenette, wood stove, half bathroom, campfire pit, and idyllic front porch. There is a king size bed in the main room and a loft that can sleep an additional 6 people.

The Property

We are located on 500 private acres at an average elevation of 5,000 feet atop the Newfound Mountains in Western North Carolina. Our only neighbors are a couple cattle farms and a few hundred acres of untouched land protected by the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy.

We have 5 natural springs on property, including the one that feeds crystal clear water with a distinctly delicious mineral content directly to our cabins. A network of moderate to challenging hiking trails on property offers guests a self-guided tour of our lush landscape which is home to a diversity of tree flora including yellow birch, beech, locust, hickory, frasier fir, buckeye and tulip poplar. On our acreage you can also find copious amounts of wildlife, flowering plants, herbs, fruits, and mushrooms. Wild blueberries, strawberries, nettles, ramps, and red clover delight during spring and summer, while the fall boasts world famous foliage!

The high point of our property, Sandy Mush Bald, rises to 5,138 feet in elevation and is accessible via a steep .5 mile trail from the cabins. This vast mountain top meadow looks directly over the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and the infamous Max Patch area and offers guests what is arguably the best sunset view in all of Appalachia!