Escape to Sunrise Cove, a peaceful Fontana Lake vacation rental near Bryson City, NC, with direct lake access, a private floating dock, two levels of covered decks, and beautiful Smoky Mountain and lake views. Designed for days spent boating, fishing, swimming, and relaxing by the water, this 3-bedroom lakefront cabin gives families and groups a private place to slow down while staying close to the Nantahala Outdoor Center, Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, and some of Western North Carolina's best outdoor adventures.
Bring your boat, kayaks, and favorite water toys and spend your days exploring Fontana Lake. Back at the cabin, enjoy spacious indoor gathering areas, a newly renovated lower level, ping pong, and multiple outdoor spaces overlooking the lake. When you're ready to explore, Downtown Bryson City is only about 20 minutes away.
Perfect For
Fontana Lake vacations and lakefront getaways in North Carolina, Families and small groups looking for a Bryson City vacation rental, Boating, kayaking, fishing, and swimming trips, Guests visiting the Nantahala Outdoor Center and Nantahala River, Great Smoky Mountains and Western North Carolina adventures, Great, Smoky Mountains Railroad and Polar Express trips, Multi-generational family vacations, Couples and friends looking for a peaceful Smoky Mountain lake cabin, Travelers who want direct lake access and a private floating dock
What You'll Love
- Direct access to beautiful Fontana Lake
- Private floating dock just steps from the cabin
- Bring your own boat, kayaks, and favorite water toys
- Beautiful lake and mountain views
- Screened-in outdoor space overlooking the natural surroundings
- Newly renovated lower level with a second living room
- Ping pong table for at-home entertainment
- Peaceful waterfront setting only about 20 minutes from Bryson City
- Easy access to the Nantahala River and Nantahala Outdoor Center
Home Features
3 bedrooms | 3 full bathrooms | Sleeps 11
- Open-concept main living area with cathedral ceilings
- Large windows filling the home with natural light
- Comfortable living room designed for relaxing and gathering
- Dining area for shared meals & Well-equipped kitchen for preparing meals at home
- Main-level primary bedroom with private ensuite bathroom
- Upstairs loft bedroom with private ensuite bathroom
- Fully renovated lower level
- Second living room with couch and TV
- Lower-level refrigerator and coffee bar
- Ping pong table
- Third bedroom on the lower level with twin over queen bunk
- Full bathroom on the lower level
- Two twin bunk beds for additional sleeping options
- Multiple living spaces give families and groups room to gather or spread out
Outdoor Features
- Direct Fontana Lake access with Private floating dock
- Stairs leading directly from the cabin to the lake and dock
- Fishing, boating, and swimming opportunities.
- Inflatable kayaks are provided as well as a limited selection of life jackets and floats
- Two levels of covered outdoor decks with a propane grill
- Screened-in deck space
- Lake and Smoky Mountain views
- Multiple outdoor areas for morning coffee, quiet afternoons, and relaxing evenings
- Peaceful waterfront setting surrounded by Western North Carolina's natural beauty
Practical Details
- Wifi: Wifi is suitable for video calls, but it can lag sometimes. It’s about 4 mbps upload and 24 download mbps.
- Parking is tight. There is room for 2 cars and please do not block the road.
- Security camera outside front door and at dock
- Dock is accessed by a number of wooden stairs descending from the porch. Recently added lighting (floodlights from the house and lanterns along the stairs) eases navigation and can be accessed while ascending or descending.
- Guests should expect a fireworks show on or around the weekend of July 4th, and other noise associated during boating holidays.
- Lake Drawdown: We do want to let you know that there is lake access year round. However, Lake Fontana is dropped significantly beginning the end of Sept through April. The lowering will take time and water will continue to be under the dock for a period of time, but all based on weather. When the dock is on dry land you can walk down to the water or head over to Princes’ Boat dock, just around the corner for lake/boating options in the winter! There is plenty of water in the lake overall and great for fishing in the winter! Check out this link to see the lake levels: https://www.tva.com/environment/lake-levels
- Private floating dock provides direct access to Fontana Lake
- The home includes multiple levels and stairs, including stairs leading to the lake and dock
- Boat info:
- Owner's boat stays there full time. Guest are still welcome to rent one and park on other side of dock. Boat trailer will need to be left at the launch where the boat is put in (Prince Boat Dock) as there is no room for boat trailer parking at the property or trailer turn around.
- Guests may bring their own boat, kayaks, and water toys
- Prince Boat Dock- 237 Prince Boat Dock Rd, Almond, NC 28702 (828) 479-3704. (approx 0.5 mile drive from house)
- Guests are welcome to keep the boat in front of the home tied up to the dock overnight and throughout their stay, or 'beached' if the water levels are low in the winter time. In case the owner's boat is being docked, there is another available spot (There is a ladder that can be folded up onto the deck which allows another boat to dock).
- Linens & towels provided (one set per guest)
- Easy self check-in for a smooth arrival
- Minimum booking age: the reserving guest must be 25+
Location Highlights
Almond, NC
Sunrise Cove is located on Fontana Lake in the Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina, giving guests direct access to lake adventures while remaining convenient to Bryson City, the Nantahala River, and popular mountain attractions.
15 minutes → Nantahala River and Nantahala Outdoor Center for whitewater rafting, kayaking, zip lining, and outdoor adventure
20 minutes → Downtown Bryson City for local restaurants, shopping, breweries, and mountain-town charm
20 minutes → Great Smoky Mountains Railroad for scenic train excursions and seasonal Polar Express experiences
Direct access → Fontana Lake for boating, fishing, kayaking, and swimming
Convenient to Great Smoky Mountains adventures, scenic drives, hiking, and waterfall exploring
Easy home base for exploring Bryson City, Nantahala, Fontana Lake, and Western North Carolina
Check out these activities and recommendations close to Sunrise Cove:
Want a closer look? Watch the full video tour of Sunrise Cove on our YouTube channel for a room-by-room walkthrough.
✨ Exclusive Yonder Biltmore Ticket Benefit When you book, you’ll receive a special code for discounted Biltmore Estate tickets. This guest-only perk makes it even easier to enjoy Asheville’s most iconic experience. Learn more about our Biltmore Estate ticket discount program.
✨ Yonder Experience Program Enhance your stay with discounts to curated adventures and immersive experiences—from falconry, fly fishing, and waterfall hikes to in-home chef dinners, art workshops, rooftop bar tours, yoga sessions, axe-throwing, scavenger hunts, and more.
Learn more about our Yonder Experience offerings.
Professionally managed by Yonder, our local team is dedicated to delivering a smooth, high-quality guest experience from booking through check-out, with thoughtful care and consistent support every step of the way. Our Guest Experience Team is available every day of the year from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM by phone, text, message, or email, with emergency support available overnight.
⭐ Yonder Policies & Information
Clean Guarantee All homes are backed by our 100% Clean Guarantee. The details are disclosed in your rental agreement.
Check-In / Check-Out Check in is at 4pm and check out is at 10am. We’re happy to review early and late check requests and will do our best to accommodate. While early check-in or late check-out can’t be guaranteed, we always make every effort to honor these requests when availability allows. Paid options may be available.
Pets Many of our guests have allergies, so we have maintained a pet-free environment so they can enjoy their vacation without the potential of an allergic reaction. If you have a pet, we are happy to recommend some alternatives nearby in our 'Pet Friendly Home' collection.
Quiet Policy This home is located in a peaceful, private mountain community. To preserve the relaxing setting for everyone, please keep noise to a respectful level at all times. Parties and disruptive behavior aren’t permitted, and we kindly ask that you be mindful of neighbors and quiet hours starting at 10pm.
Payment, Cancellation & Travel Insurance Please review our policies here.
Extended Stays Reservations of 30 days or more are subject to review; stays exceeding 90 days require an additional agreement. A security deposit, mid stay cleaning fees and trash pick up fees may apply depending on the length of stay.
Military Discount We proudly offer a 5% discount to active duty military members and veterans. Proper documentation is required. Reach out to our Guest Experience Team for details.
Last-Minute Bookings For reservations made **within 7 days of arrival**, additional verification is required to protect our homeowners and guests. This includes:
* A clear photo of a government-issued ID
* A full facial selfie of the primary guest holding that ID (must match the reservation name)
* A photo showing the last 4 digits of the payment method in the primary guest’s name
Subject to security screening for verification and authenticity. Failure to complete verification may result in cancellation.
