Our cabins sit alongside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where black bears and other wildlife are part of life here.
One of the most special things about staying at Cabins at St. Moritz is just how close you are to the wild. Our cabins sit alongside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and wildlife is very much part of life here.
From black bears wandering past the deck to wild turkeys crossing the road, you never know who might make an appearance during your stay.
Black bears are an iconic part of the Smoky Mountains, and around our cabins, sightings are common. We've watched bears stroll past our decks, investigate grills, test the locks on trash cages and cars, and occasionally get a little too curious about hot tubs!
Bears are remarkably intelligent and highly motivated by food. Once a bear learns that a particular place provides an easy meal, it may return, which is why keeping food, garbage, and pet food secured is so important.
A bear that becomes accustomed to finding food around people can lose its natural caution and create dangerous situations for both humans and the bear.
Protecting bears protects everyone. When bears repeatedly obtain human food, the consequences can ultimately be dangerous for the bear as well as people. Our goal is to enjoy these incredible neighbors while helping them remain wild.
If you're traveling with a dog, check your surroundings before stepping outside, especially after dark. Making some noise before exiting can help avoid surprising wildlife.
Keep dogs leashed and under control whenever they are outdoors. Most bears would rather avoid people, but they are still powerful, unpredictable wild animals.
Elk once lived throughout the region but disappeared from Tennessee and the surrounding area by the 1800s. In 2001, elk were reintroduced to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, beginning an extraordinary comeback. Today, visitors have the best chance of seeing them around Cataloochee Valley and the Cherokee side of the park.
Some of the most common wildlife you'll encounter while exploring the Smokies. Keep an eye out along roadsides and open areas, and always give wildlife plenty of space.
The Smokies are famous for their extraordinary diversity of salamanders. If you're exploring streams and riverbanks, remember that the rocks are part of their habitat. Please leave rocks where you find them rather than stacking or moving them.
Observe. Photograph. Enjoy. But leave wildlife wild. Never feed or approach animals, keep pets under control, leave natural habitats undisturbed, and give every animal the space it deserves.
Enjoy the scenery, respect wildlife, and return to a cabin cared for by our family.
