Entire home

Wildwood Cottage, Duluth, private wooded retreat on the North Shore

Riverside holiday home with kitchen and fireplace

Photo gallery for Wildwood Cottage, Duluth, private wooded retreat on the North Shore

Trout Fishing on the river
Front Entry Porch
Kitchen and Dining Area
Living Room
Cozy Fireplace

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6122.6 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Air conditioning
  • Kitchen
  • Fireplace
  • Dryer
  • Washer

Explore the area

View map
  • Place, Tom's Historic Logging Camp
  • Place, University of Minnesota Duluth
  • Place, Aerial Lift Bridge
  • Airport, Duluth, MN (DLH-Duluth Intl.)

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

2 Single Beds

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Wildwood Cottage, Duluth, private wooded retreat on the North Shore

Wildwood Cottage is a newly built, Scandinavian Modern designed, 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom retreat, nestled into the woods. There are 80-plus acres of forested state land to the south of the property with a walking trail from the cottage to the Sucker River.

Located 20 minutes from Canal Park and Downtown Duluth, 5 minutes to Stoney Point and Knife River Marina Beach, and 10 minutes to Brighton Beach makes this a fabulous location one mile north of Lake Superior and the North Shore Scenic Drive (Grandma's Marathon route).

The home is all on one level, with easy access on grade, plus all doors are 3 feet wide. The floors are all hand-stenciled, and original artwork by area artists fill the cottage.

One bathroom has a tub/shower combination unit, the second bathroom a good sized shower.

Outdoors has plenty of area for lawn games, plus a fire pit and chairs out front. All firewood and gas grill provided.

The x-long twin beds are very comfy for adults, as well as for children. Board games, blue-ray DVD player and Smart TV with lots of movies, will easily help when you just want to chill out.

The kitchen is fully outfitted with almost anything you would need and your hosts live just 1100 feet away and will easily accommodate anything that you may need.

Hi Speed Wi-Fi

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
Parking available

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No motorized rec vehicles can leave from the property.
OWNERS RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CHARGE A LATE CHECK OUT OR EXCESSIVE CLEANING FEE.

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 and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Duluth

Located in Duluth, this holiday home is in the city centre and on a river. Lester Park Golf Course and Castle Danger Brewery are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Lake Superior and Flood Bay State Wayside. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Duluth, MN

What's nearby

  • Tom's Historic Logging Camp - 12 min drive - 6.4 km
  • Glensheen Historic Estate - 31 min drive - 29.7 km
  • University of Minnesota Duluth - 33 min drive - 31.9 km
  • Aerial Lift Bridge - 36 min drive - 35.8 km
  • Miller Hill Mall - 42 min drive - 39.1 km

Getting around

  • Duluth, MN (DLH-Duluth Intl.) - 35 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Russ Kendall's Smokehouse - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪New Scenic Cafe - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Larsmont Trading Post - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Gill's Cheese & Smokehouse - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Ledge Rock Grille - ‬13 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Wildwood Cottage, Duluth, private wooded retreat on the North Shore pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Wildwood Cottage, Duluth, private wooded retreat on the North Shore ?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Wildwood Cottage, Duluth, private wooded retreat on the North Shore ?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Wildwood Cottage, Duluth, private wooded retreat on the North Shore located?

Located in the heart of Duluth, this holiday home is 2.7 mi (4.4 km) from Lake Superior and within 6 miles (10 km) of Tom's Historic Logging Camp and French River Hatchery. Knife River Beach and McQuade Small Craft Harbor are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy
Rating 10 - Excellent. 108 out of 109 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 109 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 109 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 109 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 109 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Great place for quiet relaxing time
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ryan W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Our family had a great time visiting Wildwood Cottage. Amy and Rita were
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Samantha J.

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

Great stay!!

We had the most wonderful time at the cottage! The waterfalls were a short walk and so beautiful. The cottage was very clean and a short drive from the highway making it easy to trek into Duluth or Two Harbors.Thank you Rita and Amy for sharing your beautiful property with us.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Dawn H.

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

tranquil

Wonderful place the find peace and tranquility.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Marty C.

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

We enjoyed our stay.

This was our third year here for family weekend.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Betsy S.

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

Beautiful stay

Third time at this lovely cottage!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Todd M., Buffalo, MN

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

Great time at Wildwood Cottage

Great stay! Perfect for our family. Location was great to reach attractions on the north shore.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Shel S.

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

Fabulous hideaway in the woods

Perfect accommodations for our North Shore getaway. The house was pristine and had everything we needed. The location is close enough to Duluth to enjoy activities in the city and easily come back “home” to a campfire in the woods, as well as being already on the way up the north shore for hiking and sightseeing. We will definitely stay here again!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Doreen P.

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

It was a great place

The house and the yard was very relaxing
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ashley V.

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

Nestled In The Woods

We had a great stay at Wildwood Cottage! This is one of the most organized, clean, and well laid out Vrbo properties we have stayed in. The attention to detail was immaculate and the cottage was super cozy. Amy and Rita were great hosts and we can’t wait to stay again!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kristina B.

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

Snowy stay

We had a wonderful stay with lots of snow! The kitchen had everything we needed, best of the rental properties we have stayed at. Amy and Rita are wonderful hosts.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jeremy F., Overland Park, Kansas

Cozy Wilderness Cottage

We had a wonderful experience! Great for kids, hiking, and beautiful scenery. Owners were great, and they have a great vision to continuously improve guest experiences over time. Great place!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2018

10/10 Excellent

Denise P.

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

Friends get-a-way

We loved our stay at Wildwood Cottage. It was very welcoming, and furnished with everything we could possibly need. It was the perfect location to go up to North Shore activities or make the quick trip to Duluth.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Marty C.

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

2023 Super Bowl Weekend

This was our second time staying here and plan to return next year.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Shawn C.

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

Beautiful property with all the comforts of home

The house was clean, organized, and well-stocked with everything we could possibly need. It was even better than pictured, I loved the decor. The owners were friendly and helpful. We will stay here again if travel brings us back that way.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Shane D.

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

Absolutely fantastic!

The property is immaculate and in a beautiful, private location. The owners are exceptionally responsive and easy to work with. This was one of our best vacations ever.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Jeffrey D.

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

Great rental in The North Shore

This cabin was super! Loved how it offered every amenity you could want. Lots of extras such as throw blankets and pillows made it super comfy. One of the cleanest rentals I’ve stayed at. I would recommend this to anyone visiting the area.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Cheryl K.

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

The Best place to stay north of Duluth

I needed this place. It had all the things, peace and quiet, beautiful woods and river, and a Beautiful House with all the comforts of home. My sister went shopping but I stayed at the House and enjoyed the river and the area with no other people to bother my Zen. I didn't know what Zen means but I found it.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Dawn C.

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

Girls hiking trip

4 friends from TX and ND who love to hike decided months ago that the Northern Shores of Minnesota would be fun. We found this on VRBO and thought it looked right for our group. It was perfect! So clean, quaint and well stocked. We would definitely recommend it to any friend!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ann C.

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

Cottage in the woods offers rest and rejuvenation

Newer construction is very well maintained. Enjoyed exploring unique decor. Plenty of open space with high ceilings. A perfect get away for 4-6 people. Easy check in and out. Owners close if needed. Outdoor space for fire and gas grill, we used both. Linens all good quality. The walking path to the Sucker River shouldn’t be missed.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Thomas P., Kalamazoo, MI

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

Country Contemporary

Quiet, comfortable, and well cared for. Our experience here was just what we wanted. The home is newly built and very well equipped. The furniture is new, the kitchen has everything you need. There is a great campfire ring and plenty of wood provided for lots of fires. The beds are very comfortable. Lake Superior's lakeshore drive is near as is Duluth and all it has to offer. Being a guest here is "no worries."
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Shana C., Hudson, WI

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

Wonderful Experience!

Staying at Wildwood Cottage was a great experience from start to end. We booked the cottage for a family vacation, the last before our oldest child heads off to college this fall. When we searched for a vacation rental a few months back our goal was to find a place that would be both comfortable and fun, where we could create special family memories. We definitely found what we were looking for with Wildwood Cottage! The cottage has everything you'd need and more during your stay. The care put into making it a comfortable place for guests is the kind of care one would normally reserve for their own home. We've stayed in other vacation rentals before and have never before been lucky to have a vacation home that was so cozy and inviting, plus so well stocked with quality kitchen wares. I loved cooking in this kitchen and actually wished at the end that I would have had more time to cook there. The gas stove and the kitchen sink were two of my favorite items in the kitchen! Amy and Rita were amazing hosts. They came to the house to greet us a couple hours after we arrived and we all adored them from the start. They are just genuinely good people. A couple days into our stay we had a bit of a maintenance issue and Rita was at the house within 15 minutes of me texting them to get the problem solved for us as soon as possible. They both came back later in the day to make sure the issue was resolved and wouldn't cause us further problems, which it didn't. We appreciated that so much! The location of the cottage is perfect, right smack in the middle between Duluth and Two Harbors. We took advantage of the location and were up and down the North Shore throughout our stay. It is also just a 5 minute drive to one of the best kept "secret" lake shore spots, Stoney Point. Back when we used to live in the Duluth area I spent a lot of time at Stoney Point taking photos of my beloved lake and I loved being so close to it during our stay at the cottage. I'd say the only con of the cottage is that we didn't want to leave! If you have a chance to stay at Wildwood Cottage do it. And while there, if you have the time, take the trail behind the cottage to the Sucker River. The woods are beautiful and it was so much fun being at the river. Amy and Rita's dog Angel even came to hang out with us by the river our first night there and completely charmed my kids! Thank you to Amy and Rita for such a wonderful stay! We can't wait to come back!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Marla D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Always a pleasure to stay at this charming property. The house is beautiful and well kept. Location is peaceful and perfect. The hosts are kind and knowledgeable about the area.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kristin J.

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

Up North Paradise

Immersed in nature, this cottage provided the perfect setting for our family to connect and reset!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Dawn H.

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

Girls' Weekend

This is the second year that we have spent our girls' weekend at Wildwood Cottage. Wonderful place to unwind and relax. It is close to Duluth and Two Harbors and we enjoyed both cities. So very happy we found this great cottage and welcoming hosts.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

About the host

Hosted by Amy Nakamura

Host profile image
In 2012, Rita and Amy designed and built their own home, next door to the cottage, and in 2017, on the adjacent 10 acre parcel, cleared land, designed and built this cottage as our guest house. We are excited about being hosts to people from all over the world.

We love to garden and have a large vegetable garden at our home, and are passionate about cooking and baking. Rita is formerly co-owner and co-founder of the New Scenic Cafe which is only a few miles from the cottage and still the best restaurant in the region. Amy is a retired contractor and looks forward to turning her talents toward smaller projects, meeting and greeting guests, gardening, building a little jewel of a sauna, ... and the list goes on!

Why they chose this property

This land, purchased in 1993, was a 40 acre parcel totally landlocked, with no access to the potential building site(s). Rita built a half mile long road into the property and built her first home which she later sold in 2012 after subdividing so she and Amy could build their new home. Finding property on the great Sucker River was a goal and obsession for Rita as her grandma had a small log cabin upriver where Rita spent much time as a child. Later, her brother then created a cabin on the Sucker River where she spent time retreating from a busy life in the Twin Cities. Finding this glorious property on the Sucker River was serendipitous. (I'll tell you the story if you ask how I bought it sight unseen). It hosts the biggest waterfalls on the entire length of the river and hiking the woods along the River's Edge in the State Land south of the property is truly magnificent.

What makes this property unique

This land is situated not only with the Sucker River on it, but it is set back from the County Road over 1300 feet offering seclusion and wooded beauty. The location just 20 minutes from Downtown Duluth and Canal Park, makes it the best of both worlds, private retreat and easy access. The location is 1 mile north of the Hwy 61 Expressway and the North Shore Scenic Drive (Grandma's Marathon Route). We are halfway between Duluth and Two Harbors, and a relatively short drive to many of the scenic rivers that flow into Lake Superior.

Languages:

English

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