Log Cabin with Gorge View, 8 Min to NOC, Borders the National Forest, Starlink

Eight minutes to the Nantahala Outdoor Center. Some of the best rafting, kayaking and trout fishing in the country.

Built in 2004, this single-floor log cabin is tucked into a mountain ledge overlooking the Nantahala Gorge. Quiet and secluded, but central to everything that makes Western NC great. Andrews is 15 minutes south. Bryson City and Murphy are each about half an hour. Maggie Valley is an hour, Asheville an hour and a half, Chattanooga and Knoxville two hours, Atlanta two and ahalf. This is the country you've seen in Last of the Mohicans, The Hunger Games, A Walk in the Woods and The Fugitive.

The best part: the property borders the Nantahala National Forest. You can get a real workout just hiking the land around the cabin. See if you can find the hidden plateau of baby pines about 500 feet up the mountain. The Bartram Trail runs along the ridges at the top of our property behind the cabin, and the Appalachian Trail is a few miles further in, with several trailheads close by. The forest is also NC Game Lands for licensed hunters (we've left Blaze orange hats and vests if you're hiking during hunting season).

Fishing. The cabin sits in the middle of some of the best trout and fly fishing in the Southeast. No gear, no experience Outfitters minutes away will set you up or take you out on a guided trip.

The river. The Nantahala's whitewater is what this area is famous for. Rafting, kayaking and tubing companies are minutes away, NOC included. Bring your own boat and use the local put-ins, or just pack a picnic and watch the rapids from the bank.

Waterfalls and back roads. Between Nantahala Lake and the gorge, the river drops almost a thousand feet, and most of the cascades can be seen right from the road. Wayah Road starts just down from the cabin and is one of the prettiest drives in the mountains. White Oak Creek Falls is about 10 minutes away and one of our favorite spots. There's no trail to the falls, just boulders, so wear good shoes and watch your footing. Keep an eye out for the high falls along Wayah Road north of the lake. They're easy to miss in summer when the leaves fill in.

More to do. Zip lines and canopy tours in the gorge. The cabin sits about a half hour drive between three lakes - be sure to check out Nantahala Lake for boating and bass fishing, with breakfast at Lake's End Grill. Drive up to the Wayah Bald observation tower, or take the Cherohala Skyway for a full day of switchbacks and overlooks. Motorcycle and sports car folks will know the Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap. Old-growth hiking at Joyce Kilmer, gem mining in Franklin, and the casinos in Murphy and Cherokee when it rains.

Back at the cabin. A big wraparound porch looks down the mountain and across the valley to ridges miles off. At night you can watch headlights work the hairpin road far below. Guests say it's like looking at a miniature train set. Out front is a newly cleared and leveled lawn with split-rail fencing. Room for lawn games, stargazing, or doing nothing at all. A metal fire pit sits on a gravel circle with Adirondack chairs facing the ridgeline. Check for burn bans before you light anything.

Inside. Wood walls and ceilings throughout. A true cabin. The master bedroom has a locally crafted king wood bed, gas fireplace and a clawfoot tub. The second bedroom has a full bed. One bathroom with a shower and a rustic ceramic sink. The fully equipped kitchen has a dishwasher, dishes, cooking utensils, a drip coffee maker as well as a Keurig (we're coffee people), and opens to the living room with a view through the 15-foot prow windows to the mountains. The living room has its own gas fireplace, comfortable seating, a Roku smart TV, games and books. Washer and dryer, linens and towels provided. We stock starter supplies of K-Cups, dishwasher and laundry pods, toilet paper and paper towels, so you're set for the first night. Grocery store in Andrews or Robbinsville, 15 minutes away.

Connected (If you want to be!) Starlink wifi, fast enough for video calls and streaming. Cell service is spotty, so turn on wifi calling. Or ignore all of it. Plenty of guests do.

Getting here. The last stretch is a steep gravel mountain road. AWD or 4WD required in winter. Keypad self check-in. We'll send directions before you arrive. Download your maps before you drop into the gorge.

Please note: No pets. No smoking indoors.