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The Cabins at Sandy Mush Bald

99%

· Hot Springs, Madison, North Carolina

500 acres hosted by Lisa A.

3 lodging sites · 2 tent sites

Creature comforts

Enjoy the comforts of home—including flush toilets, showers, and a kitchen.

Hike-in sites

Hike-in to some sites at this Hipcamp.

Lisa is a Star Host

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

Amazing views

Hipcampers say this spot has amazing views.

We offer guests an off-grid and authentic Appalachian experience at our hike-in cabins and campsites located on 500 private acres atop the Newfound Mountains in Western North Carolina. Our Trailhead is located 45 minutes west of Asheville, NC and the hike-in trail leading up to our cabins and campsites is 2 miles long with 1,250 feet of elevation gain. The trail utilizes an old forest service road that parallels Bald Branch offering guests verdant landscapes and soothing sounds as they make their way up the mountain to our cabins and campsites which sit in the Saddle between Little and Big Sandy Mush Bald at an elevation of 5,000 feet. We have two antique Appalachian cabins on-site and two top-tier campsites available for guests. Our cabins and campsites are priced per person and can be reserved individually or collectively through our entire property buyout option for large groups, corporate retreats, weddings and events. A hearty and healthy breakfast is served each morning in our Main Lodge and is included with your stay and you'll never pay a cleaning fee on this mountain because we believe in Southern hospitality! Our Main Lodge (Cabin #1) has a sprawling front porch with spectacular views, a nicely appointed off-grid kitchen, full bathroom with hot shower and an upstairs loft that sleeps up to 10 guests. Our on-site host/s stay downstairs in the Main Lodge in their own bedrooms so they can keep the home fires burning, tend the garden, cook breakfast, clean the cabins and ensure that all your needs are taken care of during your stay. Guests in our Upper Cabin (Cabin #2) enjoy a wooded and secluded setting in an authentic Appalachian Cabin that sleeps up to 6. The downstairs area in our Upper Cabin features an open floorpan with a queen size bed, off-grid kitchen, dining area and the loft upstairs sleeps up to 4 people. Cabin #2 also features a full bathroom with and a tree-house like view from the front porch! Our cabin adjacent camp space features two spectacular campsites and is located 100’ from our Main Lodge (Cabin #1). Camp 1 and Camp 2 measure 12 feet by 15 feet and feature a soft grassy surface that is surrounded by natural boulder walls. Both campsites sit beside our neighboring property owned by the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy and feature a long-range mountain view that overlooks our lower meadow. Guests at our campsites are welcomed to breakfast daily and have full access to the restroom facilities in the Main Lodge. The Cabins at Sandy Mush Bald were the dream of our founder, John “Doc” Adler, who wished to create a hike-in facility that provided a sense of hard-earned awe just like he found on the Appalachian Trail and at other infamous hike-in facilities. After acquiring the acreage he and his crew endeavored to bring that dream to life with their bare hands as they constructed an homage to the Appalachian history, culture, and architecture that Doc loved so dearly. Doc’s dream has finally come to fruition and now folks from all over the world are able to come on up to the cabins and experience the best that Appalachia has to offer: warm meals and wood stoves, panoramic views and porch-sits, the sound of rain on a rusted roof, a good book, dark skies, infinite stars, and shared-experiences with newfound friends!

Activities

Hiking

Wildlife watching

Fall Fun

Natural features

Forest

River, stream, or creek

Mountainous

Field

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99%

438 ratings · 172 reviews

Sean F.recommends

October 29, 2023

Cabin 1

Quiet and peaceful stay. Host, Doug, was good company and we enjoyed the breakfast. The hike up to the top from the houses was strenuous but well worth is for the view! Will return!

Steven R.recommends

October 25, 2023

Entire Property

Product Shoot

This was the perfect place to host a product shoot for our friends from Nemo Equipment!!! I run The Appalachian Adventure Company and was contracted by a Nemo Equipment to host their 2024 product shoot. They asked for a spectacular setting and The Cabins at Sandy Mush Bald were my first choice because of the one-of-a-kind scenery and antique Appalachian cabins. Our hosts were fantastic, as always, and went out of their way to make sure our stay was comfortable and personalized! Can’t wait to host another gathering up at the cabins!!!

Sadie C.recommends

October 23, 2023

Cabin 2

I was excited to return to the cabins at Sandy Mush. The whole experience - hiking up the hill, being in the cabin, unplugging- feels so rejuvenating. I love being up on the balds, hanging out by the campfire, and gathering around the breakfast table. The colors are fabulous this time of year and I'm excited to get back in the spring.

Carlisle H.recommends

October 8, 2023

Cabin 2

A Jewel in WNC

We are reliving our trip and still can't believe how lucky we were to experience this incredible property. We can't say enough great things about the hosts either. The caretaker Doug was wonderful--thoughtful, kind, and hardworking. Lisa is a fantastic communicator, very organized, and clearly cares about visitors getting the most out of their stay. This site is for people who can rough it a bit, but know that the team that manages the property make it worth your while. If you value taking it back to basics and being close to nature, you're in for a treat. We visited in the colder months and would do it again any season. In fact, we're definitely planning to make this an annual trip. 😁 We're so grateful to Lisa and Doug for protecting properties and experiences like this. Do yourself a major favor and reserve a stay now. 😉

Traci H.recommends

September 30, 2023

Cabin 2

Everything was GREAT!!! We had the best time and will def be back.

Jake P.recommends

September 26, 2023

Cabin 2

Cabins were well maintained and as described. Everything you need for a mountain getaway. Doug was very friendly cooked a 5 star breakfast. Can’t wait to go back.

Location

Hot Springs, Madison, North Carolina, United StatesTraditional, ancestral territory of ᏣᎳᎫᏪᏘᏱ Tsalaguwetiyi (Cherokee, East), S’atsoyaha (Yuchi), and Miccosukee First Nations according to To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking

Hosted by Lisa A.Joined in April 2018

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