If you’re looking for great vacation spot, romantic getaway, or just a relaxing weekend then Bear Paw is the place for you! Private yet close to all the amenities that Bear Paw has to offer. Located in the Smokey Mountains of North Carolina, Bear Paw Resort is the only private 24/7 gated community on Lake Hiwassee. Bear Paw has many amenities which make it a great vacation spot. The lake is surrounded by beautiful mountains with 163 miles of natural shoreline and the Nantahala National Forest. It is where the Blue Ridge Mountains meet the “Smokies”….also known as “GOD’S COUNTRY” Whether it’s fishing, swimming, water sports or just cruising around the lake on a boat soaking up the beauty ….Lake Hiwassee is the place. Bring your own boat or rent one. Mountain View Marina is located inside the Bear Paw Community and is within walking distance. Bear Paw offers many activities that make it a great vacation spot. In addition to the lake activities, there is also an Olympic size swimming pool, basketball courts at the Pavilion/Club House, tennis courts, exercise room, children’s playground and a small catch and release fishing pond. All are within walking distance. No need to load up in the car….it’s all just a stone’s throw away. This comfortable vacation chalet offers…. hardwood floors throughout the house as well as central heat and a/c. For your enjoyment there are books, games, movies, DVD player, TV with Roku and Wi-Fi. We do not have Satellite TV (Directv/Dish Network)The main level has an open kitchen, dining & living room that opens up to a spacious deck. The 2 bedrooms (queen beds in each) and 2 full baths are on the main level. The open loft (2 twin beds) opens up to the main level. Down stairs in the lower-level there is a bedroom with bunk beds (queen on bottom, twin on top) & 1/2 bath with full size washer & dryer. There is a living room area with a 60" flat panel T.V., pool tale, ping-pong table and opens up to a another deck. The kitchen is fully equipped with stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave, dishes, pots, pans and utensils. Everything you need to prepare a delicious country breakfast, romantic dinner, or holiday feast. There is an outdoor fire pit to warm you up on those chilly evenings or gather the kids for a marshmallow or wiener roast. Breathe in the clean mountain air and watch the hummingbirds feed as you relax and enjoy your morning coffee out on the spacious deck. Gather the family for a challenging game of “Corn Hole”, or fire up the grill for some mouthwatering barbecue. PLEASE NOTE: This property is not handicap accessible. The driveway is very steep. Once at the top of the driveway, the property levels off and is large enough for 1 car to park. There is additional parking at the bottom of the driveway, but then it is a steep (short) walk up. There is also a set of stairs to climb (see pictures) to get to the main floor. Please take into consideration when booking.
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Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
About the area
Murphy
Located in Murphy, this chalet is in a rural area and on a lake. Mountain View Marina and Toccoa River Adventures are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those looking for area attractions can visit Rolling Thunder River Company and Ocoee Adventure Center. Travelling with kids? Consider Raft One and Tank Town USA. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing and kayaking nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with horse riding and mountain climbing.
Harrah's Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel - 38 min drive - 50.9 km
Getting around
Chattanooga, TN (CHA-Chattanooga Metropolitan) - 107 min drive
Restaurants
Kerns Bread Co. - 44 min drive
Krystal - 28 min drive
IHOP
Frequently asked questions
Is Hideaway Chalet at Lake Hiwassee Bear Paw pet-friendly?
Yes, pets are allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Hideaway Chalet at Lake Hiwassee Bear Paw?
As of 15 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Hideaway Chalet at Lake Hiwassee Bear Paw on 31 July 2026 start from AU$171, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
What time is check-in at Hideaway Chalet at Lake Hiwassee Bear Paw?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Hideaway Chalet at Lake Hiwassee Bear Paw?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Hideaway Chalet at Lake Hiwassee Bear Paw located?
This family-friendly Murphy chalet is located on a lake, within 1 mi (2 km) of Nantahala National Forest, Hiwassee Lake and Hiwassee River. Apalachia Lake and Mountain View Marina are also within 1 mile (2 km).
Reviews
9.0
Wonderful
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Enjoyed our stay in this well situated chalet. We especially appreciated the houses closeness to the communities playground and pavilion. The grandchildren really enjoyed that. The house also had all the amenities we needed for Thankgiving lunch.
Andrea B.
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Dec 2025
So happy that you enjoyed your stay! Hope you will come back again.
The host was very responsive and very welcoming. The house is nice and open, and had ALL the utensils you would need for the kitchen (which is ALWAYS wonderful). I am a big bird watching person and it was WONDERFUL to be able to hang bird feeders on the porch and watch all the different birds come in. The park is right across the street and the grandkids loved it. Would have liked to see more things about the house, but the weather was SO cold so we could not, but maybe on another trip. The driveway is VERY steep, but it is not a huge issue. We went in the winter so of course the trees were all bare, but I would imagine it is just beautiful in the fall and summer!
Valarie
Stayed 6 nights in Jan 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 27 Jan 2026
I am so pleased that you enjoyed your stay. I'm sorry the weather was so cold. But yes.... Spring and Fall are absolutely beautiful. Hope you will revisit again during that time so you can experience it! Thanks for booking with us.
Debbi
This is a nice property and location. The cabin is roomy. The nature around is beautiful and neighbors were friendly. Communication with the owner worked well and timely. The kitchen is well equipped for most common needs and the laundry room is a plus. The marina has a good infrastructure. I would come back and definitely recommend the place.The game room is a great feature. It is in need of some care: New pingpong net and Billard gear as well as new light bulbs. There is no trash collection at the neighborhood so guests are expected to take the trash when leaving the property. Not a big deal but be aware to manage as needed.I had a pleasant stay with my adult children.
Andre M.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 15 Jan 2026
Thanks for your review. I will definitely address the game room issues. I'm glad you enjoyed your stay as we strive to make our guest comfortable and pleasant! Hope you will consider booking again in the future.
Thanks, Debbi
Excellent communication, easy check in and check out, clean cabin and property, lots to do and lots of space! Thank you for sharing your cabin with us!
This Chalet is Absolutely Charming...all the comforts of home...nothing was needed..everyone enjoyed themselves to the fullest...the pool was amazing...the fishing was good...all around perfect vacation with our crew...we will definitely be back again...I feel we found our little vacation getaway...our home away from home...
Elizabeth J.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 18 Mar 2020
Thank your for such a positive review! I am thrilled that you & your family enjoyed everything and look forward to you visiting us again!
We loved the place from the moment we got there. There is a lot room in the cabin my family and I enjoyed every moment. I will definitely recommend this cabin
Great property! Scenic views! Pool & playground right across from the cabin. It’s about a 35 minute drive from town but there’s plenty to do! We absolutely loved our vacation! Property manager replied instantly when I messaged her. We will definitely be back!
Melissa Y.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 14 June 2022
We are so glad you enjoyed your stay and look forward to having you and your family as guests again!!
We loved the cabin and the layout of it. The inside was clean and well stocked with necessities except toilet paper. The decks & deck furniture were unfortunately in need of cleaning but my teens and I had a blast
The house was clean and had everything we needed. The owner was was great to work with. The pool was nice and right across from the house. Everyone in the community was very nice. The only downside was there was no where to swim in the lake in the community unless you rented a boat.
Our second memorable vacation in an AMAZING cabin!
This was our second time staying here for the holidays. We love EVERYTHING about this cabin. Excellent communication & customer service provided by the host, Debbi. We kept busy with ping pong, pool & board games. The cabin was warm & cozy when the outside temperature went down into the 20’s. We got to see several deer on the property & in an empty wooded lot next door. Very safe & quiet community. Enjoyed downtown Blue Ridge & Mercier Orchards, as well as snow tubing and the mountain coaster at Highlands Outpost (a MUST if you have kids or teens). We HIGHLY recommend Hideaway Chalet at Bear Paw!
Jennifer L.
Stayed 12 nights in Dec 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 8 Jan 2025
I am so glad you enjoyed your stay for the 2nd time. I sincerely hope you will continue to come stay at our cozy little cabin that we love so much and are very happy to give others the opportunity to enjoy as well. Happy New Year!!
Family and friends came up to stay for Memorial Day weekend. We had a group of 8 combined of adults, older and younger teens. Checked in late on Friday night and went to bed. Next day we discovered some issues that were quickly addressed and remedied by the owners. The house is comfortable and enjoyable. We greatly enjoyed our time out on the lake and it is a beautiful area. We would stay again!
The location matched our desire to spend time exploring close-by nature settings. The dam is intriguing. The community offers activities (basketball, volleyball, pond, more.) We brought our own kayaks and explored Lake Hiwassee- we felt like we had the lake to ourselves (early April). The house has ping pong and pool and dart board (bring your own darts), relaxing decks- perfect for our get away from everything. The house was clean, comfortable, had the space we needed and the kitchen set up was perfect.
Verified traveller
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 9 Apr 2021
Thank you! We are happy that you enjoyed your stay!
Great Hideaway in the Bear Paw Community. The Hammonds have done a great job with this cabin. Plenty of space for our group of 8. Our boys loved playing ping pong into the late night. A few items of note, driveway is steep as mentioned in other reviews, wifi is mountain wifi, No cell service with Verizon, Pool is closed and under construction and water pressure at times can be tricky. All in all, we will definitely be back. Lastly, go visit the very kind people at Mountain View Marina. They are the friendliest around.
Jereme K.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 22 June 2021
Thank you for your nice review. We love it when our guests are happy and want to return!!
We had a blast staying here in the Bear Paw community, as we always do. The home was clean and well stocked. Ping pong and pool were a big hit. We rented a golf cart to drive back and forth to the marina and brought our own boat. There are bigger and certainly newer and “nicer” places to stay nearby but for the value this place was perfect. Yes, the driveway is steep as is every driveway to every home we’ve stayed at in the area. It’s the mountains, people. Water pressure is very low, but we made do. Thanks for a fun trip.
JOSHUA L.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 27 July 2021
We are very happy that you enjoyed your stay with us and hope you will return again.
This place is definitely a retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life. Nestled in the woods, this house is intune with nature with its cabin feel and bear decor. Plenty of space for our family of 5 to spread out. Many outdoors activities nearby. On rainy evenings we were able to shoot pool and watch movies. The nearby marina was very nice and if you pontoon, a half day just didn't seem to be enough. The driveway is steep, as the listing says. Also, we had no cell service there, which wasn't an issue, but know landlines still rule here. Debbie was very responsive and easy to work with. Overall great retreat!
Kristy P.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 18 Mar 2020
We are very glad that you enjoyed your stay and hope that you will visit again. Nothing makes us happier than to know that our guests left happy and satisfied. Just an FYI, if you have an iPhone you can change your settings to "WiFi calling" and your phone will work. This may work with Androids also, but I'm not really sure. But as you stated....landlines are still around in our neck of the woods just in case :)
This cabin is located in the relatively remote Bear Paw community. We liked the ambience of it and the cute bear decor. It is right next door to the very nice community sports center / pool. Our boys really loved fishing in the well stocked pond nearby. The wifi worked OK, but be advised that cell service (Verizon) is zero in this area, so get your GPS directions before leaving the cabin.
This property has some deferred maintenance that was apparent when we arrived. Some of the lights were missing bulbs, and one of the patio doors was frosted over. We also found evidence of some mice in the kitchen. There was a few drops of water coming through the basement bathroom ceiling presumably from the 1st floor bathroom drain.
Jonathan W.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 18 July 2023
I apologize for any inconvenience. Our family was there after your stay and we found no issues as you described except for the sliding glass door. We are aware that the one glass has frosted over but have been unable to replace. That is something we plan to do in the future. Although, it doesn't hamper the view that you have because the 3 other panes are perfectly clear. I did replace several light bulbs while we were there, and I always try to have replacement bulbs in case one does burn out. As for the evidence of mice.... we never saw anything but will definitely have it checked out.
Again, I am sorry that you found our home only 3 stars worthy.
We never got a chance to go inside house! Got no refund. We had a tailor with us and could not get up the extremely steep hill to park.. and wouldn’t be enough room to park it. There was no where we could park it without being towed! The small area at top where one car fits… My SUV almost tipped over trying to park. Horrible set up. Property out in middle of no where. Had no cell phone service. This is an HOA! At gate, there was a sign saying Pool was closed until further notice … it was never even cleaned! The common areas- basketball/pickleball court area was booked with parties for multiple days so would not have been able to use. Found that out when trying to contact owner. Owner needs to post actual pictures of driveway and explain that the amenities may not be available! I chose this one compared to others due to the pool….that was CLOSED! Took forever to contact owner with issues and still couldn’t help. They took our money and we never stepped foot into the house! Had to pay for hotel that night and vacation ruined!
melody s.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 10 July 2025
With all due respect, here is my response to your review.
1st of all…. you stated that it took forever for you to contact me. That is not at all true. You first texted me at 5:20 and again @ 5:22. I responded right back at 5:23 and again at 5:24. You replied back @ 5:25 and 5:26. I replied back @ 5:27 and you @ 5:28, me back to you @ 5:30. You at 5:50, 5:51 and 5:52, me back to you @ 5:53. You at 5:53 and 5:54, me back to you @ 5:56. I didn’t hear back from you until 9:34 when you stated that you couldn’t stay there under the circumstances and hadn’t even been inside of the house yet. You ask if you could cancel online and I replied back that I didn’t know, that I had never had a situation like this in the 12 years we’ve owned and been renting.
I have totally disclosed on my VRBO listing that our driveway is very steep. However, it’s not so steep that you need a 4-wheel drive to get to the top. My husband has backed a trailer all the way to the top. We unload and he moves the trailer down to the bottom. Once you do get to the top there is plenty of room to turn around. We have had 2 vehicles up there at the same time. Any overflow parking can do so at the bottom of our driveway, just like I explained that you could do that with your trailer (without being towed), it’s our private property. There are signs at the pavilion pool area that states “No overnight parking, vehicles will be towed”. However, I told you 2 or 3 times that you could park at the bottom of our property. I also told you to check with the Guard Shack and explain to them and that they would not tow it if you asked permission, but you couldn’t keep it there.
As for the pool…. “We homeowners” were also upset that the pool wasn’t open. There have been mechanical issues and they have been working on trying to get it open. The common areas as you referred to them, basketball courts, tennis courts, pavilion, pickleball, etc. was NOT booked with parties for multiple days. It’s as you said…. a common area. Sometimes there are community events, maybe a wedding, barbeque, concert, etc., but you are still welcome to use the facilities 99% of the time.
I’m a bit curious as to where and how your SUV almost flipped. I do believe that is a complete exaggeration.
As for the refund…. had there been a major issue with the house itself, I would have gladly given you at least a partial refund, but I DO NOT refund for lack of driving/parking/pulling a trailer, etc. Below is copied and pasted from our listing on VRBO.
The refund policy is also explained on our listing. No refunds Cancellation policy
100% refund
For cancellations more than 14 days before check-in
50% refund
For cancellations more than 7 days before check-in
No refund
For cancellations less than 7 days before check-in
Location was great, home was nice, however we were never told that the pool was closed and our children were disappointed. Water pressure in home was horrible. Running around in the shower to get wet says it best. When the washing machine is running then you have no water in the home. We killed 2 scorpions in the basement. The stove exhaust fan does not work. All the pool sticks but one were broken and all the darts to the dart board were broken. The furniture in the basement was worn out and dirty with holes in it. We were excited to rent this home due to all the amenities that were listed to enjoy with it. We had 3 children with us and we made the best with these circumstances that we could. You should get what you pay for!
Trish E.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 19 June 2021
I am sorry our home didn't meet your expectations. We try to make sure our guest leave happy with their stay. Unfortunately sometimes things get overlooked and sometimes they're out of our control. We were unaware that the pool would be closed for repairs and that is something we have no control over. I understand your children were disappointed and I am truly sorry for that. As for the water. We get our water from a utility company that regulates water flow and because it is pumped to the house from the bottom of the driveway there is a lack of pressure. I myself have never experiences it as you described. However, it is very weak if there is water running somewhere else in the house. As for the scorpions, they are prevalent in that area of the country and it is a given that you will encounter them at some time or the other. We were totally unaware that the pool sticks were broken and we are in the process of replacing them since you have made us aware. Please accept my sincere apology for your inconvenience.
About the host
Hosted by Debbi Hammond
My husband and I live in Southwest Florida. We just recently purchased this home. We first visited Bear Paw about 11 years ago when my husbands parents bought their home here. We immediately fell in love with Bear Paw and knew we also wanted to own a vacation/retirement home here. We love spending our vacations here with our children and grandchildren. We have made so many memories here and look forward to many more. And we are glad to be able to give our guest the opportunity to do the same.
Why they chose this property
Bear Paw is a very family oriented community with plenty of activities around. We love boating and water sports and the close and easy access to Lake Hiwassee. It is peaceful and quiet and everyone you meet is friendly. It is just a great community to be part of. We hope you enjoy it as much as we have and make tons of memories with your family and friends. We are new at this and certainly welcome any comments good or bad. We want to make it a place that you will want to return to year after year and recommend to your family and friends.