The Rowdy Bear Off-Grid Glamping

98%

26 reviews

· Bryson City, Swain, North Carolina · 3 acres

Hosted by Leslie E.

Cabin

· 2 guests max

Near Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Within a 60-minute drive from the Oconaluftee Visitor Center.

Amazing views

Hipcampers say this spot has amazing views.

Leslie is a Star Host

Star Hosts are highly rated, responsive, and committed to providing incredible experiences.

All to yourself

100% of recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp felt private.

Fall in love with our secluded Off-Grid Cabin located in the Great Smoky Mountains. Wake up to the sounds of a babbling creek and beautiful mountain views, hike the Road to Nowhere, kayak the Little Tennesee River, cook hot dogs over an open fire, and then open the glass panel garage door and fall asleep under the most beautiful sky you will ever see. Rowdy Bear Highlights: • 12ft glass panel door that opens the cabin to nature • Queen Tempurpedic bed • Rain Captured Shower • Fire Pit The Space: The Rowdy Bear is an Off-Grid Cabin that is situated in the Great Smoky Mountains with easy access to both Bryson City and Franklin. The cabin itself was built using rough sawn wood acquired from a local sawmill. Many of the items used in the cabin came from local shops or antique stores. There is a 2000-watt Solar Generator in the cabin that can be used for lights, charging cell phones, and running the pump for the shower. The Solar Panels are enough to charge the Generator to 100% each day. Rainwater is used for showers. The gutter system on the cabin is used to catch rainwater. The downspout runs into a "First Flush Diverter", which allows any dust, dirt, or anything else that might land on the roof between the rainstorms to be diverted away from the water storage tank. The clean rainwater then fills the water storage tank. Be aware that Rainwater is fine for showers, but is not meant for drinking. Propane is connected to a space heater and the shower. The space heater is 17,000 BTUs, which is plenty for colder nights. The shower has an at-source water heater and can heat the water up to 120 degrees, which is more than enough for a hot shower. A porta potty is provided for bathroom purposes and is cleaned and restocked every Thursday. Pets are allowed! The following items are provided: 1. Linens 2. Towels 3. Coffee, Coffee Pot, and Coffee Cups 4. Body Wash 5. Shampoo 6. Board Games 7. Lanterns 8. Two Person Table and Chairs 9. Two Rocking Chairs 10. four Adirondack Chairs for the Firepit 11. Firepit 12. Outdoor table for food and drinks 13. Propane Torch for lighting fires Guest access The Rowdy Bear is situated on 2.5 acres of land. There is a large section cleared off where the cabin is located. There is plenty of room for the fire pit, vehicles, animals, and any outdoor games you might want to bring (cornhole). Both Bryson City and Franklin are fairly close to the cabin. Bryson City is approximately 20 minutes away, while Franklin is approximately 30 minutes away. Both towns offer great little downtown areas that have shopping and restaurants. Don't be afraid to try the food trucks, they have some of the best food. Bryson City has many trails for hiking such as the Road to nowhere, Noland Divide Trail, Three Waterfalls Loop (FYI: There are three waterfalls on this trail), and Deep Creek Waterfall Loop. The fishing in Bryson City is also great and the guided trips are very reasonably priced. I would suggest going in the morning and doing a float trip. Franklin is bigger and a little more spread out than Bryson city, but there are a lot of neat little stores and restaurants. I personally like going to the Currahee Brewing Company. Currahee is right on the river and is set up to host live bands and it gets pretty lively in the late afternoons and evenings on the weekends. Other things to note One of the things you would want to bring is a 1 lb propane bottle for the Torch that is provided. Using the torch to start a fire is much easier than kindling. The solar generator has enough power to run the small coffee pot if you don't want to use the percolator. The generator also has enough power to run hair dryers. The main thing you want to keep in mind is anything that uses a heating element will drain the battery quickly. Lanterns are provided If needed. Overall, you should be good to go, but it is something to keep in mind.No cleaning or pet fees! The Rowdy Bear is an Off-Grid Cabin situated on 2.5 acres of land that offers amazing views. If you want to unplug, The Rowdy Bear is the place to be. There is no internet service and while you are at the cabin, you will probably see one person drive by a day. The cabin itself was built using rough sawn wood acquired from a local sawmill. Many of the items used in the cabin came from local shops or antique stores. An example is the door and headboard which came from old farmhouses in the area. There is a 2000-watt Solar Generator in the cabin that can be used for lights, charging cell phones, and running the pump for the shower. The Solar Panels are enough to charge the Generator to 100% each day. Rainwater is used for showers. The gutter system on the cabin is used to catch rainwater. The downspout runs into a "First Flush Diverter", which allows any dust, dirt, or anything else that might land on the roof between the rainstorms to be diverted away from the water storage tank. The clean rainwater then fills the water storage tank. Be aware that Rainwater is fine for showers, but is not meant for drinking. Propane is connected to a space heater and the shower. The space heater is 17,000 BTUs, which is plenty for colder nights. The shower has an at-source water heater and can heat the water up to 120 degrees, which is more than enough for a hot shower. The Garage door is a 12ft wide glass panel garage door that is spring assisted so it is easy to open and close. A porta potty is provided for bathroom purposes and is cleaned and restocked weekly. A small camp stove, percolator coffee pot, and coffee mugs are provided. Additionally, a torch is provided to help light fires more quickly. Note: the shower is disconnected from December to April due to freezing conditions. A shower bag is provided during this time. Pets are allowed! The following items are provided: 1. Linens2. Towels3. Coffee, Coffee Pot, and Coffee Cups4. Body Wash5. Shampoo

What to expect

Cabin

You'll have this Hipcamp all to yourself.

2 guests max

Campfires allowed

Toilet available

Pets allowed

Showers available

Bins available

Picnic table present

There is a table on the porch for storage and set up. There is also a fold out table and chairs.

No potable water

Bring your own water

Cooking equipment absent

No wifi

Laundry absent

Hot Tub absent

No playground

Things to know

Getting there

Check in: After 3:00 PM

Check out: Before 10:00 AM

On arrival: Head straight to site

Cancellation policy: Strict (21 Days)

Minimum nights: 2 nights

Accepts bookings: 6 months out

Park at listing

No wheelchair access

Max 2 vehicles

2WD accessible

During your trip

Follow the

Leave it better

Inclusion policyWe have a zero-tolerance policy against discrimination at Hipcamp. We are committed to helping our Host and Hipcamper communities be inclusive.

98%

32 ratings · 26 reviews

Ryan M.

2 reviews

Mixed feelings

· January 2025

Poor insulation, beautiful locale

Gorgeous location and so nice to unplug without wifi and cell service. The cabin itself is also a really cool design. While I’d love to stay here in the other 3 seasons, I wouldn’t recommend it for winter. I stayed here for 2 nights at New Years, and the main adjective that describes my experience is “cold.” The cabin is very poorly insulated, and the propane space heater felt like it was hardly making a difference to the indoor temperature at night. I ended up sleeping in all the layers of daytime clothes I’d brought (including hat & gloves), plus THREE blankets, and was still cold. I wish I’d been warned by the hosts that this was the case — I ended up feeling frustrated that I had paid the full $150/night price to freeze the whole time, rather than the hosts providing a warning & discount for any winter occupants (which is what feels would be appropriate, given the way the cabin is constructed). That said, in the other 3 seasons, I’m sure it’s really lovely and I’d be open to returning, but I can’t recommend it for the winter months, and in the future I hope the hosts warn winter visitors.

Mike Z.

2 reviews

Recommends

· October 2024

With pets

Great location, secluded and peaceful. We will definitely be back again.

Melody M.

3 reviews

Recommends

· October 2024

Beautiful place

Absolutely fantastic fun! We had a blast at the cabin just hanging out and enjoying the scenery. The generator, heat, and hot shower were all amazing. It was truly a pleasure to be there.

Kristi N.

2 reviews

Recommends

· September 2024

Cute rustic cabin with great view! It was nice having a shower with warm water and a comfy bed. My husband and I enjoyed gazing at the stars on the outdoor patio.

Cynthia L.

9 reviews

Recommends

· August 2024

We had a wonderful weekend at the cabin. The place was clean. The bed is very comfortable. The view was lovely.

Quintin H.

3 reviews

Recommends

· May 2024

Let me say this is by far the best place we've stayed at. The views are amazing and the cabin is so nice and cozy. It rained all weekend while we were up there but we still had an amazing time. I would definitely recommend this spot for a nice getaway. Can't wait to be back up here.

Location

Bryson City, Swain, North Carolina, United StatesTraditional, ancestral territory of ᏣᎳᎫᏪᏘᏱ Tsalaguwetiyi (Cherokee, East), S’atsoyaha (Yuchi), and Miccosukee First Nations according to

Native Land Digital.

To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking