The Family Vacation You're Looking for on Birch Lake

3 bedrooms1+ bathroomSleeps 774.3 sq m

Popular amenities

Pet-friendly

Fireplace

Kitchen

Barbecue grill

Washer

Dryer

Check out the area

Kewadin, MI

Elk Rapids Golf Club5 min drive
Torch Lake7 min drive
Torch Lake Park16 min drive
Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)25 min drive

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 7)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio

Kitchen

Outdoor play area

Dining Area

About this property

Just 20 miles north of Traverse City, Birch Lake is the family friendly lake. Warm water, sandy shore, gently sloping shallows, great for families, fishing, boating, water skiing, swimming, playing and relaxing.

The water front cottage is on the south side of Birch Lake, just 3 miles north of Elk Rapids. Cottage has 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, cathedral ceiling, full kitchen, washer.dryer, outdoor deck with charcoal grill. It has cable TV, WIFI and CD player. Sheets & towels are provided.

Amenities include: a sandy beachfront location; gently sloping shallows area for children; dock, boat tie out, full kitchen, comfortable great room, deck, picnic table, charcoal grill, fire place, beach fire pit, close to Grand Traverse Bay and Elk Rapids. Pets welcome.

Property manager

Laurie Maddex

Premier Host

Amenities

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Pet-friendly

Barbecue grill

Water view

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Free WiFi

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 25

Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

Pets allowed: dogs (limit 2 total)

Pets welcome with $100 cleaning fee.

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

No fireworks at any time, please.

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

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 indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property

Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property

Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Elk Rapids

Located in Elk Rapids, this cottage is on the waterfront. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Lake Michigan and Torch Lake. Guntzviller's Spirit of the Woods Museum and Music House Museum are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking, waterskiing and water tubing nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with cycling.

Kewadin, MI

What's nearby

Elk Rapids Golf Club - 5 min drive
Torch Lake - 7 min drive
Torch Lake Park - 16 min drive
Grand Traverse Bay - 28 min drive
Chateau Chantal - 43 min drive

Getting around

Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital) - 25 min drive

Restaurants

Oasis Red Bull Tavern - 15 min walk
Dockside-Torch Lake - 28 min drive
Pearls New Orlean Kitchen - 5 min drive
Cellar 152 - 6 min drive
Riverwalk Grill and Taproom - 5 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is The Family Vacation You're Looking for on Birch Lake pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total).

What time is check-in at The Family Vacation You're Looking for on Birch Lake?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Family Vacation You're Looking for on Birch Lake?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is The Family Vacation You're Looking for on Birch Lake located?

Situated on the waterfront, this cottage is within 1 mi (2 km) of Elk Lake and Lake Michigan. Elk Rapids Golf Club is 2.7 mi (4.3 km) away.

9.4

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

8.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.6/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.4/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Kara D.

15 Aug 2023

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

Perfect Family Retreat

We love the Red Cottage! Spent an amazing week with perfect accommodations and gorgeous weather. Enjoyed the water with our young child and loved exploring the area. Great stay!!

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Susan M.

13 July 2023

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

Great time on birch lake

We had a great time on sandy bottom birch lake. Thanks

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

David W.

24 June 2023

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

Week in june

A very clean and comfortable stay for a family of 4 with two teenagers. Enjoyed the kayaks and sitting by the water. Neighboring houses are very close but everyone in the area was very nice. Would stay here again.

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Robert H.

11 June 2023

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

The Red Cottage

We had a wonderful time at the Red Cottage. Birch Lake is beautiful and relaxing. All was provided for a fun time at the beach and it's location is perfect (Traverse City, Petoskey, Mackinaw). The hosts were awesome and very quick to respond to a couple questions we had upon our arrival. We look forward to our return!

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

2/10 Terrible

Lynn f.

15 Sept 2022

Liked: Check-in, location

Disliked: Cleanliness, communication, listing accuracy

Horrible conditon

The condition of this property is not suited for rental due to the hazardous conditions and uncleanliness. This is a liability hazard. The floor are sagging and there is plywood and rugs on the floors. we kept tripping over and almost fell. This WAS NOT disclosed ,in fact the photos of the listing are not accurate, As they do not show the condition of the floors and the dirt on everything in the cottage from dog hair to mold growing in showers and a hazard on the bed with the frame bent over. Window were filthy along with the patio chairs and washing machine The fans had so much dirt on them it blew out when you turned them on. There was no screen on the bedroom window. The microwave has on three legs and when you put food it it it spill. I can go on and on. Please clean this property and fix it. Had I know these conditions existed I would not have rented. These conditions were not revealed on this site or in photos.

Stayed 8 nights in Sep 2022

About the host

Hosted by Laurie Maddex

We are from the East Lansing area. This has been our family cottage for 60 years. As the 5 sons travel farther away, we want to let others enjoy the wonderful experiences we had growing up at this lake.

Why they chose this property

The warm lake and family access first drew our parents here. Over the years the lake has proven to be a wonderful place for creating family memories. The lake and area are beautiful, and invites you back year after year.

What makes this property unique

It was the safe, friendly, family atmosphere that drew us to Birch Lake. The clean, warm water and shallow sandy bottom makes the lake ideal for families and children. Evening campfires, beautiful sunsets, playing splash football and throwing a Frisbee in the shallows, learning to fish and water ski. These are just some of the memories you'll take home, as we did.