Cozy cabin on the river! Steps from the water, amazing views of river & wildlife

1 bathroomSleeps 346 sq m

Popular amenities

Kitchen

Free WiFi

Air conditioning

Outdoor space

Water view

Barbecue grill

Check out the area

Traverse City, MI

Spider Lake11 min drive
Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)14 min drive
Turtle Creek Stadium16 min drive
Traverse City Beach17 min drive

Rooms & beds

0 bedrooms (sleeps 3)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed and 2 Double Futons

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio

Kitchen

Kitchenette

Garden

Dining Area

About this property

East Bay Township STR License #STR2022-0004

Rivershire is on Ottawa and Chippewa land. As stewards of this land, we practice sustainability, inclusiveness, and welcome diversity.

The Retreat at Rivershire offers rustic cottage charm on the banks of the Boardman River, a Blue Ribbon trout stream. Open floor plan features picture window with amazing river views and possible wildlife sightings (trout, blue heron, beaver, otter, marten, muskrat, etc.), A/C, queen bed, comfortable futon, private bath, complete kitchen with dishes, glassware, pans, and utensils if you enjoy cooking your own meals, charcoal grill, private dock, and riverside patio. Cozy comfort awaits just steps from the river and minutes from downtown Traverse City. Shopping, restaurants for any taste and budget, and wineries/breweries/distilleries all nearby. Bring a book, your own kayaks, and fly-rods for peaceful relaxation and river enjoyment. Hiking trails just minutes away. Take in the scenic beauty of Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore, Lake Michigan and Grand Traverse Bay beaches, Brown Bridge Quiet Area (just two minutes away), Leelanau County, Benzie County, Old Mission Peninsula and more within minutes by car.

Located just 10 minutes from Traverse City, The Retreat at Rivershire Cabin offers peace and quiet in a natural setting with easy access to all that Traverse City and the surrounding area has to offer. Gaze up at the stars and planets in the night sky as the river flows smoothly by. Minutes away from Brown Bridge Quiet Area for accessible nature hikes and Ranch Rudolph for kayak rental and horseback riding. If you're looking for quiet, cozy comfort and plenty of rustic, natural charm, The Retreat at Rivershire Cabin is for you! Owner lives on the property and looks forward to welcoming you!

Please note: The Retreat at Rivershire offers quiet relaxation and enjoyment of property in a scenic nature setting. Fraternity/sorority gatherings and bachelor/bachelorette parties are not permitted. Also, per our house rules, only children ages 13-17 are permitted with accompanying adult(s). Minimum age for an accompanying adult is 25. Thank you for understanding and following these guidelines.

Keywords: Waterfront, Pure Michigan, Boardman River, East River Road, Traverse City, National Cherry Festival, Wineries, Beaches, Kingsley, Mayfield Township, Grand Traverse Bay, Paradise Township, Grand Traverse County, Kayaking, Fishing, Golfing, Swimming, Mountain Biking, Hiking, Restaurants, Dining, Distilleries, Breweries, Shopping, Rafting, Tubing, Camping, Shopping, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Orchards, Vineyards, Canoeing, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Traverse City Film Festival, Horse Shows By the Bay, Leelanau County, Old Mission Peninsula, Leelanau Peninsula, Benzie County, Dune Climb, Scenic Drives, Horseback Riding, Color Tours, Leaf Peepers, Water Frontage, Recreational, Photography/Painting/Viewing, Rivershire Retreat.

Property manager

Tricia Frey

Premier Host

Languages

English

Amenities

Kitchen

Free WiFi

Air conditioning

Outdoor space

Water view

Barbecue grill

Breakfast included

Kitchen

Free WiFi

Air conditioning

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 25

Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Adults only

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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 and a deadlock

About the area

Traverse City

Located in Traverse City, this cabin is in a rural area and on the waterfront. City Opera House and Village at Grand Traverse Commons are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Lake Michigan and Grand Traverse Natural Education Reserve. Centre Ice Arena and Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

Traverse City, MI

What's nearby

Spider Lake - 11 min drive
Turtle Creek Stadium - 16 min drive
Traverse City State Park - 17 min drive
Traverse City Beach - 17 min drive
Front Street - 18 min drive

Getting around

Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital) - 15 min drive

Restaurants

Peegeo's - 16 min drive
Village Ice Cream Shoppe - 8 min drive
Taqueria TC Latino Dos - 11 min drive
K I Bar And Grill - 8 min drive
A. Papano's Pizza - 8 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Cozy cabin on the river! Steps from the water, amazing views of river & wildlife pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Cozy cabin on the river! Steps from the water, amazing views of river & wildlife?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Cozy cabin on the river! Steps from the water, amazing views of river & wildlife?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Cozy cabin on the river! Steps from the water, amazing views of river & wildlife located?

Situated on the waterfront, this cabin is 1.6 mi (2.6 km) from Forest Lakes and 1.8 mi (2.9 km) from Arbutus Lake. Spider Lake and Rennie Lake are also within 6 miles (10 km).

9.6

Exceptional

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

Learn more

9.6/10

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

10/10 Excellent

Carol G.

17 Nov 2023

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

Wonderful River Cabin

We really enjoyed our stay here and meeting Tricia. She was very friendly and helpful. The cabin came with all the amenities we needed. It's location along the river is beautiful. We were close enough to stores and restaurants to not be inconvenienced. Trips to the nearby lighthouses, state and national recreation areas could easily be made.

Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Vanessa S., Midland, Michigan

8 Oct 2023

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

Wonderful Stay.

Absolutely everything we were looking for. Beautiful, peaceful, adorable cabin on the Boardman River. Tricia our Host was absolutely amazing. We are already checking out next years dates to visit this location again! RiverShire is everything and more.

Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023

8/10 Good

Suzie L., Kalamazoo, MI

6 Oct 2023

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice stay!

Great communication, assisted us with unexpected early check in, friend watching property was just SUPER! Was everything we needed for the stay. Folks, this a cabin on the river, if cobwebs/bugs or a bit of a musty smell, etc is going to bother you, this may not be the place for you. It was very clean otherwise, bathroom linens fresh and well appointed for our stay. Only negative was there wasn’t much for privacy. Neighbor was blowing leaves most of a day, a lot of time right outside the window. There is a dock across the river that people were frequently fishing from, staring directly in bay window (blind is there but tied in a fashion we did not feel it was intended to be lowered) and of course random kayakers going by. Not a big deal for us, but could be important to others. I would 100% stay again!

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Bonnie J.

11 Sept 2023

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

Quaint and cozy!

We loved Rivershire❤️ Nice, quiet, and very clean.

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tammy M.

6 Sept 2023

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

Found some inner peace

I booked the Rivershire to have peace at the one year anniversary of my husband’s passing. I knew I needed to be near water and in the woods as that’s where we found our peace and joy when together. I could not have asked for a more perfect setting. Tricia even left flowers from her garden and a beautiful card outside my door when she found out the reason for my stay.I slept 9-10 hours each of the 4 nights! That’s not like me at all, I’m lucky to get 7 most nights. Tricia’s book is a must read as well. I couldn’t be happier with my stay.❤️☮️

Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

About the host

Hosted by Tricia Frey

My name is Tricia Frey and I will be your host at Rivershire although you may never see me. My sister Sandra and I co-own the property and allow guests the space and quiet relaxation they desire without intrusion. Of course, if you need something, I am here to help and take care of any issues promptly.

We love the beauty and wonder of the Boardman River and enjoy kayaking, gardening, watching for wildlife, and relaxing by the river with a good book (and a glass of wine!) ... we know you will, too. (And no, you won't be expected to garden while you're here!) Please bring your own kayaks, canoes, or innertubes (these are not provided) or let the trusted folks at Ranch Rudolph (just a few miles up the road) take care of the details by providing kayaks and taking you four miles upstream for a lovely float back to the ranch to pick up your car. They also provide horseback riding.

I'm also the author of two books, both of which are set at Rivershire and feature two very special pets: a Sheltie named Sheldon and a Cat named Snickers. You can read all about them in my 2020 memoir River Love: The True Story of a Wayward Sheltie, a Woman, and a Magical Place Called Rivershire and its children's book counterpart Sheldon's Journey: The Story of a Sweet-Natured Dog in Search of His True Home. Copies of the books are in the cabin for your reading enjoyment.

If you're a writer or an artist, Rivershire is a great place for doing both. Bring your creative spirit!

We hope you make your way to Rivershire!

Tricia & Sandra

Why they chose this property

Rivershire is a magical place! The flowing Boardman River, stately pines and hardwoods, lovely gardens, and relaxed, natural setting make it the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

However, should you want hustle and bustle, nearby Traverse City has plenty to offer including a plethora of restaurants and shopping venues for every taste and budget, breweries, distilleries, and entertainment options galore. (Interlochen Center for the Arts is just 15 minutes away ... downtown Traverse City offers two historic, state-of-the-art movie theatres ... and Turtle Creek Casino is a 20 minute drive from here if you're feeling lucky!)

Did someone say beaches, dunes, boating, and wine? Walk a Lake Michigan beach or climb a dune at Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore ... both are just 45 minutes away. Grand Traverse Bay is 20 minutes north of Rivershire for beaches and boating. The area offers many small inland lakes for boating and floating, too. And both Old Mission and Leelanau peninsulas offer plenty of wineries, orchards, and stunning views.

And don't forget hiking and bike riding! Grand Traverse, Leelanau, and Benzie counties have more hiking and biking trails that we can count and all are an easy trip from Rivershire. As a matter of fact, Brown Bridge Quiet Area is just TWO minutes away and many other trails can be accessed within 5- 10 minutes. Bring your bike or go for a hike!

If that sounds like more effort than you bargained for, simply spend your lazy days by the Boardman River. Bring your own kayaks, canoes, innertubes, and fly rods for a leisurely river experience. Put your feet up. Read a good book. Pour a glass of wine.

And, with high speed internet on the property, your devices will run perfectly for streaming or whatever may be to your liking. We've got your covered.

We can't think of any reason why you wouldn't want to visit Rivershire!

What makes this property unique

Hmmm ... pretty much covered "unique benefits" in the space above, but how about this? You may see a couple of martens playfully running on the opposite bank of the river. How's THAT for unique? Who knows what else you may spot if you keep your eyes open. Don't forget to look up ... an eagle may just soar overhead. Magical!