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Looking for a remote location? The country life? Forests, Creeks, and Sipsey!

Waterfront cottage with kitchen and balcony

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Exterior
Property video
Downstairs has living room with fireplace, kitchen and a bathroom
Living area
Living area

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 4

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Fireplace
  • Washer
  • Parking available
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

View in a map
  • Place, Smith Lake Park
  • Place, Dismals Canyon
  • Place, Lewis Smith Lake

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Hair dryer

Bathroom 2

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Dining area

About this property

Looking for a remote location? The country life? Forests, Creeks, and Sipsey!

Need a quiet place to unwind and relax? You can take a relaxing few days away from the crowds and worries of our current world situations.

This farm is 600 acres of oaks, dogwoods, pines and wildflowers surrounded by the Bankhead National Forest! You can truly disconnect for a few days… No Internet, and no cable TV. We have a TV and DVD player, as well as a collection of good books, for entertainment, but the true entertainment is going for a walk to the creek and our Secret Beach! Or sitting on the gazebo with a glass of wine! 

Why do we call it the River Art Cabin? It sits on a bluff overlooking Clear Creek, the 'River' part. It was constructed by an artist named Art Fowler, whose original art still hangs throughout the cabin. Amazing!

You may want to spend your days fishing or tubing the creek or exploring the incredible canyons of the Sipsey Wilderness just a few miles away. Perhaps you would enjoy mountain biking the miles of Bankhead National Forest roads nearby. Love hiking and backpacking, the Sipsey has many miles of hiking trails.

Love to hunt? Check out the Bankhead National Forest! You can drive just a few miles and hunt on National Forest land.

Enjoy birdwatching? What about a night with no street lights for perfect stargazing? This is the place for you!

There is a charcoal grill for the grill master in the family. BYOC… bring your own charcoal!

There is a full kitchen, but if you'd rather not cook, hop in the car and run to Double Springs for a home cooked Italian meal at the Sapore Grill! or go to Jasper, just a few miles further to the south and select from delicious Mexican to brewpub treats.

There are two bedrooms in the River Art Cabin, the Master bedroom has a king size bed and a private upstairs deck with a sliding glass door. There is a private Master bath also. The second bedroom has twin beds.

One of my favorite parts of the place is the Gazebo, a beautiful structure set atop a sandstone bluff overlooking a shoals of Clear Creek about 70 feet below. You can enjoy a sunset with a glass of wine sitting on the gazebo listening to the rippling creek below. Or wake up early and walk down the path to the gazebo with a hot cup of coffee. The gazebo is only a short stroll down a path from the front porch.

You can stroll for miles on our dirt roads or walk down the path to Clear Creek and take a dip in the cool waters that are a tributary to Smith Lake.

Truly remote. This cottage is at the end of the road... literally! You will drive down a small country road for about 4 miles and when the road ends... you are home!


Keywords: Cottage, cabin, gazebo, creek side, tubing, Bankhead National Forest, Sipsey Wilderness Area, birding, Smith Lake, Camp McDowell, hunting, fishing

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 23 kg per pet (limit 2 pets total)
We require an additional $50 pet fee.
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Start the dishwasher
Gather used towels
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights
I have a detailed template about check out that I will text to you. If you haven’t gotten it the day before your departure please ask via text!
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

Important information

You need to know

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

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts
A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Double Springs

Located in Double Springs, this cottage is on the waterfront. Travellers eager for a bit of culture can stop by The Lily Pond an Art Gallery & Tea Room, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Lewis Smith Lake and Tiger Field. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking and power boating nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with mountain biking and hunting.
View more Cottages in Double SpringsOpens in a new window
Map
Double Springs, AL

What's nearby

  • Lewis Smith Lake - 26 min drive - 13.2 km
  • Houston Historic Jail - 48 min drive - 39.6 km
  • Natural Bridge Park - 53 min drive - 51.0 km
  • Bankhead National Forest - 55 min drive - 44.6 km
  • Jasper City Hall - 59 min drive - 49.6 km

Restaurants

  • ‪Wal-Win - ‬24 min drive
  • ‪Walston Bridge Restaurant - ‬18 min drive
  • Izzy's Deli
  • ‪Blue Moon Restaurant - ‬26 min drive
  • ‪Obryan's Family Steakhouse - ‬19 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Looking for a remote location? The country life? Forests, Creeks, and Sipsey! pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

How much is parking at Looking for a remote location? The country life? Forests, Creeks, and Sipsey!?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Looking for a remote location? The country life? Forests, Creeks, and Sipsey!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Looking for a remote location? The country life? Forests, Creeks, and Sipsey!?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Looking for a remote location? The country life? Forests, Creeks, and Sipsey! located?

Situated on the waterfront, this cottage is 10.7 mi (17.3 km) from Lewis Smith Lake and within 25 miles (40 km) of Houston Historic Jail and Bankhead National Forest. Randolph Trailhead and Gamble Park are also within 25 miles (40 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 272 out of 291 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 13 out of 291 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 291 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 3 out of 291 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 291 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

8.0/10

Amenities

8.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Larry M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful secluded cabin.in the woods
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mark B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Clean, spacious, quiet, modern.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Michelle V.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Absolutely perfect location to get away from it all! Enjoyed every minute of the tranquil cabin and the private beach! This was our second time there and hope to be back!!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

MsDoublePRanch

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent Vacation spot!

Can’t wait to come back! So peaceful!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Vanessa M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
It is definitely a remote location, but it is easy to find and they provide great directions on how to get to the house and to the secret beach. We had a nice and relaxing stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Nicole H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Our stay here was perfect! From the creek to the upstairs porch watching the moonrise- we enjoyed every minute. We spent time exploring the property, cooked in the kitchen, and ate dinner outside in the wonderful weather each night. During our stay, I also explored the local national forest and hiked in Bankshead. We also went to Tallulah Brewing in Jasper- great dog friendly spot! The hosts of this property clearly care and it is obvious in the cleanliness of the home. I can't wait to return and see the progress on the trails they are working on and my husband can't wait to fish more in the creek!Things we brought or would bring next visit: Baby gate to keep the dogs on the porch because ours don't have the best recall. Extra dog towels if you have super fluffy dogs (we do).
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Rick B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Rest, Relax, & Recharge

We thoroughly enjoyed the peace and quiet of this isolated cabin.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tammy M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This was hands down the best stay in a long time every thing was perfect stocked with everything you could possibly need clean and decorated so cute loved the record player and records air was cold and it was hot those days. Maggies attention to every detail to make sure we enjoyed our stay was nothing short of amazing. Be sure and follow her directions to find the house cause google will leave you miles away lol easy to find if you follow her directions tho. Thw beach is great but it is about a 10 min walk up and down hill but so worth it we saw so many deer just in the front yard alone there is no way you will find a better place to stay in this area even at twice the cost wish we could have stayed longer
Beach
Secret beach
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Deborah M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great secluded getaway

A great place in the woods with everything you need to relax and enjoy nature.
Stayed 8 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

John L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect Getaway

This is the third year that my wife and I have stayed at this property and we hope to keep coming back! The remoteness of the house, the accommodations within the house, great communication with the hosts, and the beautiful surroundings all combine together to make the perfect vacation spot for us and anyone looking to truly get away for a while.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michelle H B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

River Art Cabin

This is my fourth stay at the cabin, and I absolutely love it. It is such a wonderful place to disconnect and just enjoy nature and solitude. I try to go twice a year and would highly recommend it to anyone needing a good getaway.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tammie W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Hideaway!

We had a wonderful time! What a wonderful tucked away Place away from "life". The secret Beach was wonderful and my dogs enjoyed it immensely
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Julie B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect place to totally disconnect and relax !

We enjoyed our stay and reconnection together, esp with our son on break from school with good ole uninterrupted conversation, fresh air from the hemlocks/pines/laurels, exercise with hiking/fishing and a margarita at night on the porch swing. Our dogs loved it too. Thank you for the lovely accommodation!!
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

John L., Birmingham, AL

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect Getaway

This was our second trip here - PERFECT house away from it all. Hosts were outstanding (as always), house has everything one might need for a few days. We plan on staying again!
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Allen B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful stay

This getaway was exactly what I needed. The atmosphere was so calming and beautiful. I will definitely be back.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Gary A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cabin Get Away

We love the location, property and (don’t tell anyone) the secret beach. We will definitely be back.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Julie M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Best Rural Getaway in Bama!

This was our second stay at Clear Creek and the first time with the dogs! We all had a wonderful time. Great kitchen, we made chili and tacos. Don’t miss the pond, the pier is a great place for journaling and just being in the peaceful forest. See you again in November!
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Melissa M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Quaint, secluded property

This property is just what we needed for our trip to Bankhead/Sipsey area. It gave us the privacy/seclusion we are always looking for but wasn't too far from a town with a grocery store. The flannel sheets on our bed kept us toasty at night & we enjoyed the wood burning fireplace. The directions to the house were perfect & our host was both proactive & responsive to our questions. Our check in process was both simple AND sweet as she left us some homemade goodies. YUM!!!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Colleen S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Location on a Beautiful Creek

We loved our visit here! The cabin had everything we needed. It’s in such a quiet spot, and the creek was wonderful. Our boys had fun playing in the creek with our dog at the Secret Beach. It’s a great place to relax and get away from it all.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jessica J. J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect getaway!

This was such a beautiful place. Tucked away in nature and away from the stress of today's world. The house was very cozy and clean and Maggie and Mark were wonderful hosts! Can't wait to come back!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2021

10/10 Excellent

Diane F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing

Had a wonderful time visiting with friends, sharing the beauty of the woods in the house, and the private beach was a definite bonus
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peaceful Getaway

Family of 4 plus our large dog stayed here during the hottest time of year and couldn’t have been more happy with our stay. Driving to our next destination and already want to turn back!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Brent C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful summer break.

Beautiful property allows much needed recharging and reconnection with the great outdoors.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2020

10/10 Excellent

Malinda G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Unplug and Relax

Love this property! The kids enjoyed playing at the creek and such a peaceful place. Away from it all. Mark and Maggie are amazing hosts. Thanks for everything!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Chad H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peaceful and private ☺️

If you love nature this place is perfect! Quiet little oasis in a very secluded area perfect for family gatherings or just couples. This was actually our second visit! We loved the seclusion, private beach and surrounding National Forest area. So many beautiful trails and sites to see in this area of Alabama and not enough time to get them all in. We’ll definitely be back again and would suggest friends and family to visit as well 😊❤️
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

About the host

Hosted by Maggie Johnston

Host profile image
Maggie is the Director of Educational Programs at Camp McDowell. She manages the McDowell Environmental Center and Farm School, as well as Magnolia Nature Preschool.
Mark recently retired from 26 years as the Executive Director of Camp McDowell, near Jasper, Alabama. Mark is now working towards a new goal... being the first Independent Governor of Alabama! GO to his Facebook page Mark Johnston weneedmark.info to learn more.
They are proud of the work they do to protect and educate people about the natural world around us.

Why they chose this property

We bought this place for the pure joy of owning a remote piece of Nature on the banks of Clear Creek!

What makes this property unique

There is nothing quite like communing with nature in a beautiful place near a moving stream. You will find it valuable to spend some quiet time just sitting on the porch or gazebo and listening to nature!

Languages:

English

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