Skip to main content

This Vacation House Rental is a Modern-Day Woodland Retreat

Before succumbing to cool-weather hibernation and weekends on the couch watching football, indulge your inner bear by escaping to this isolated vacation house rental northeast of Toronto in Gooderham, Canada.

They call it Bear Stand.

Recommended Videos

If iconic poet Henry David Thoreau was alive today, sipping cold brew and tightening his man bun, he might have written these famous lines about Bear Stand:

“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived … I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms …”

Designed by the award-winning firm Bohlin Cywinski Jackson in association with Bohlin Grauman Miller, Bear Stand is an ideal woodland retreat for fall, offering an escape to nature between the shores of Contau Lake and nearly 100 acres of trees blushing red, orange, and yellow with the change of season. To one side of Bear Stand you’ll find canoe docks and boardwalks, and, to the other, an expansive private trail network exclusive to the property (no roads exist beyond this point).

bear stand vacation house rental
Photo courtesy of Bohlin Cywinski Jackson and Nic Lehoux Image used with permission by copyright holder

Just between the lake and an epic granite rock-face is Bear Stand itself: a two-story residence that blurs the lines between indoors and outdoors, rustic and modern. Inside, rafts of exposed Douglas fir beams and stained cedar sidings recall the grains and textures of the surrounding forest. Finishing touches — like fir windows, wire brushed walnut flooring, benches and bar tops reclaimed from a nearby barn, and hand-crafted tile — add to this illusion.

Despite its natural influences, Bear Stand growls with high design, noted in its monolithic fireplace clad in locally sourced granite, private sauna, ofuro soaking tub (a Japanese-inspired outdoor bath), hot tub, modern bar, and expansive floor-to-ceiling bedroom windows that showcase the land and lake.

The 3,400-square-footretreat sleeps 12, with five bedrooms and three bathrooms, including one bunk-bed room for kids (or grown-ups who act like kids). In terms of recreation— other than watching the leaves change beside a roaring fire— expect fishing, hiking, sailing, bird watching, horseshoes, and mountain biking.

After a visit to Bear Stand, you’ll return to civilization with a renewed calmness and, as Thoreau says, a drive to “”live deliberately”. You may also return with a desire to go back to Bear Stand. Lucky for you, this retreat is open all four seasons … although fall takes the cake.

Jahla Seppanen
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Born and raised off-the-grid in New Mexico, Jahla Seppanen is currently a sports, fitness, spirits, and culture writer in…
Where to travel internationally this summer without breaking the bank
Cancún, Mexico is this summer's top spot
Sayulita, Cancun

Dollar Flight Club’s newly released Summer 2025 Travel Report highlights the most affordable international destinations for U.S. travelers based on over 500,000 airfare data points and member preferences.

Analyzing flight pricing from the 10 busiest U.S. airports, the report reveals the best bang-for-your-buck destinations – those that consistently offer low fares and high travel value. Topping the list is Cancún, Mexico, with average round-trip airfare ranging from just $226 to $341. Known for its nightlife, luxury resorts, and sunny beaches, Cancún is not only budget-friendly, but also easily accessible from many major U.S. cities.

Read more
This popular European country has been issued a travel advisory despite record tourism in 2025
The United States is cautioning travelers who are visiting Spain this summer
Madrid

Spain may be breaking tourism records in 2025, but that hasn’t stopped new warnings from government officials.

The United States is cautioning travelers heading to Spain this summer, where over 17 million visitors arrived in just the first quarter, a 5.7% jump from last year and the busiest tourism season ever recorded in the country. But as visitor numbers soar, so do safety concerns. 

Read more
Americans urged to avoid parts of this Southeast Asian vacation spot in new travel warning
The U.S. has updated its travel advisory for Indonesia
Indonesia

The U.S. State Department has issued a renewed travel warning for Indonesia, a country often favored by American tourists for its cultural heritage and island getaways like Bali. While many areas remain open to travelers, officials are now urging Americans to avoid certain regions altogether due to escalating violence and political unrest.

The advisory specifically highlights Central Papua (Papua Tengah) and Highland Papua (Papua Pegunungan) as no-go zones. These areas have long been the site of conflict between government forces and armed separatist groups, and recent months have seen a surge in violent demonstrations, civil unrest, and targeted attacks, putting foreign nationals at significant risk.

Read more