Smoky Bear Lodge, Relax in this spacious lodge with good views and close to town

SmokyBearLodge at 3LittleBears Retreat
Disconnect & Reconnect in this elegant, spacious, and luxurious lodge on 3 Little Bears Retreat with views of the Smoky Mountains and the amenities of our Retreat adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

• Hot tub
• Onsite Manager
• 2 Game Rooms!
• 2 Living Rooms!
• Trails & Creek
• NEW! SOLO Smokeless Fire Pit and Gas Pizza Oven
• Paved Drive & Parking for motorcycles, luxury cars & trailers
• No Cleaning Fees!
• 3% fee for the Mountains contribution (see below)

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Welcome to Three Little Bears Retreat, THE only place to retreat, reconnect, relax and experience great adventures with your family and friends! You’ll feel like a new person the moment you arrive at this view! Come retreat, renew, and refresh at our 55acre regenerative nature retreat.

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5 Cabins to Choose From
Copy these links to view our other Retreat cabins.

3 Little Bears Cabin https://t.vrbo.io/WdTfO19xeTb

AirBear Airstream Treehouse: https://t.vrbo.io/Y438LhmyeTb

Poppa Bear Cozy Cabin: https://t.vrbo.io/Fnl26uLyeTb

Sky Bear Lodge: https://t.vrbo.io/cF5P6qRyeTb

Nuwati Hall & Spa - weddings, retreats, reunions, groups and spa services inquire for more information.

Location

This cabin is located 5 minutes away from a variety of breweries, restaurants, the train, in downtown Bryson City. ONE Minute from the “Road to Nowhere” entrance of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. 10 Minutes from the “Deep Creek” Entrance to the National Park. 15 Minutes from Fontana Lake. 20 Minutes from either Nantahala or Cherokee. Limitless adventures abound where you can hike, bike, fly fish, raft, paddleboard and kayak to your heart's content.

And only 1 hour from Asheville, 3 hours from Atlanta, 3 hours 20 min from Charlotte, and 2 hours from Greenville, SC

Cabin

Designed for comfort and adventure, this deceivingly large cabin features breathtaking scenic views, the sounds of Lands Creek, access to the Retreat's trails/streams/creek/and oasis pond, and a luxurious farmhouse styled interior. Designed for seamless entertaining and relaxation, the open-concept main floor boasts a spacious living and dining area, complemented by a king master suite and an additional king bedroom with a private bath. The converted garage-turned-game-room adds an extra layer of fun for families and groups on the main level.
Downstairs, a vast living and game area provides plenty of additional space to unwind, featuring another king guest room and a large suite/bunk area with nine single beds and a full bath, making it ideal for large gatherings. Both floors extend onto private decks and balconies, where guests can savor scenic views and the soothing sounds of the creek. The hot tub, nestled on the lower level, offers a perfect spot to relax under the stars.

With a thoughtfully designed layout, Smoky Bear Lodge ensures both comfort and accessibility, featuring a ramp and flat flooring throughout the main level. Whether enjoying the abundant common spaces, venturing onto the trails, or indulging in the peaceful natural surroundings, this lodge delivers an exceptional mountain getaway for families, friends, and adventure seekers alike.

Nature

Experience nature in a setting that immerses you in the culture and history of the area, the sustainable and regenerative efforts to nourish the environment by the Retreat, along with all the luxuries of the modern world. This luxury alpine lodge is the pinnacle of a mountain vacation where it is secluded and adjacent to the National Park; has trails, creeks, and ponds; provides the concierge level services of a resort; and is only minutes from wineries, whitewater rafting, hiking trails, waterfalls, the railroad and downtown Bryson City (the adventure capital of the Smokies!).

Sustainability & Regeneration

The Retreat is also on a constant quest towards not just sustainability, but regeneration of nature. We work with wildlife rehabilitators to heal and release injured wildlife, are actively working on healing our Hemlock trees from the adelgids that are killing them, have implemented our own recycling pickup and transfer program, and also look towards adaptive reuse and consistent modifications in the properties towards better energy efficiency and use of materials. The Retreat wants to be the great national park lodge model for the next generation and is constantly marching towards the Cherokee tradition of ᎣᏍᏓ (Osda) ᎤᏃᏴᏫ (Unolvtanv) "Sacred harmony with all living things" through our own motto of “Beyond Just Right, Be Livin’ Right.” Your “3% for the Mountains” resort fee goes directly to these ongoing efforts, and we appreciate you being a part of our path forward!

Privacy

Every cabin on the Retreat is designed to have incredible privacy. While the drive for a few of our other cabins passes the front of this lodge, the lodge itself sits on a private knoll that extends out behind the lodge providing a very secluded and private oasis. This lodge also has the easiest access to our Nuwati Trail and common areas with a trail entrance off the driveway.

Updates

Winter of 2025, we took on accomplishing the recommendations of our guests and ways to improve our guest experience, which included hiring an onsite guest experience manager, adding in-cabin spa services, new SOLO fire pits and pizza ovens, a greatly expanded common area with the Nuwati trail extending from our activities pavilion closer to the top down to Lands Creek at the bottom giving access to waterfalls, hammocks, a hideaway playground, a stream fed oasis pond and more to come. We also the Nuwati Hall & Spa, which will open up in Summer 25 for weddings, group retreats, family reunions, experiences and spa services that are offered to all of our guests at the Retreat.

Local Recommendations

Walk around Bryson City. A Hallmark style town that has been featured in several movies and is a quintessential mountain basecamp town. 5-minute drive. Lots of shops and restaurants.

• Our favorite winery is Deep Creek. 15-minute drive with great views.

• Our favorite hangout is Bryson City Outdoors where tourists and experienced hikers gather to buy new gear and share their experiences of the day.

• Our favorite restaurant is Bryson City Brewery. It has a great farm to table menu, excellent beer selection, live entertainment, and a huge yard for kids to play and be free.

• Our favorite Summer hike is Deep Creek Waterfall Loop Trail. 5-minute drive. 2 mile hike with 3 epic waterfalls! If you have little ones or dont want to struggle, skip Juney Whank and all ages can do the hike to see Tom Branch Falls and Indian Creek in an out and back walk along the famous Deep Creek (stay for tubing too)!

• Our favorite Winter hike is Nolands Creek Trail through the “Road to Nowhere” National Park entrance by the Retreat. The hike is beautiful down to Fontana Lake crossing several bridges and the water drop in the lake in the winter extends the hike into a lakebed valley that is beautiful with big cascades.

We have many more local recommendations for eateries and activities. Message us to get a link to our guidebook for the area.

House Rules

1) Pets- 1 dog allowed after approval with pet fee. Only crate trained dogs allowed.

2) No smoking inside the cabin. No butts, cigars or other in firepits. Dispose in bagged trash.

3) Check-in after 4:00 PM (unless you have arranged for an early check-in of 2pm)

4) Checkout before 11:00 AM (unless you have arranged for a late checkout of 1pm)

5) No parties or events unless in connection with Nuwati Hall

Pricing

Nightly rates vary based on specific dates. Weekends are priced higher.

Two Night Stays

Two-night stays are only allowed with last minute availability upon inquiry. Otherwise, a Three-night minimum is required.

Early Check-in + Late Checkout

We offer both early check-in (2 pm) and late checkout (1 pm) add-ons for $50. The amount is limited, though, depending on the date. Please message us to add it to your reservation.

Security Camera

There are two security cameras for the drive and one at the front entrance to the property

Liability Waiver

After booking, you will be asked to complete a Release of Liability Waiver. The waiver is a standard step we ask all guests to take, and it helps us continue offering unique stays in a natural setting.