Valley View, Spectacular Dome

Dome 6 has the best setting and views on the property and catches the first morning light. The king bed is up in the loft with a queen sofa bed on the main floor, so it sleeps up to 4. Heads up: the bathroom is downstairs, so it's a ladder climb at night. Full-size fridge.

Six geodesic domes on 447 wooded acres on the Cumberland Plateau, near the rim of a 100-foot canyon above the Sequatchie Valley, outside Pikeville, Tennessee. Every dome has a private hot tub on a deck with a 48-inch railing, a kitchen and a bathroom.

Climbers: Pond Creek, the climbing area right on the property, has 150-plus routes from 5.6 to 5.14, mostly bolted with some trad. Winter is prime season here.

Getting here: about 1 hour from Chattanooga, 2 hours from Nashville and Knoxville. The last two miles are dirt and gravel. Clearance matters more than four-wheel drive, so take it slow. Search "The Canyon at Pond Creek" in Google Maps rather than typing the street address.

Nearby: Dunlap 20 minutes, Fall Creek Falls State Park 30 minutes, Savage Gulf State Park 35 minutes, Stone Fort bouldering 49 minutes, The Caverns music venue in Pelham about 1 hour.

Good to know before you book:
- Domes are 90 to 300 feet apart. You'll know other guests are here, and you'll see more of the neighboring domes in winter with the leaves down.
- Off the decks the canyon edge is natural and unfenced. Keep kids close and stay back from the rim, especially after dark.
- This is wild land. Timber rattlesnakes and copperheads live here, so stay on trails and use a light at night. Ticks are common, so check yourself after hiking. Black bears are around but rarely seen; don't leave food or trash outside.
- We keep lighting low on purpose to protect the night sky. Each dome has string lights on its pergola, but the walk from parking is dark, so bring a headlamp.
- Your water comes from a spring on the property, through sediment filters, a softener and UV treatment. Safe to drink and it tastes great.
- During hunting season you may hear distant shots from a camp about two miles away. No risk to guests.