Swimming, Snowmobiling, Serenity! Lakefront Cottage on Big Manistique Lake

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Entire home

View from the lake, before the new exterior paint

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

Exceptional

2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 5102.2 sq m

Popular amenities

Dryer
Parking available
Washer
Kitchen
Pet-friendly
Air conditioning

Explore the area

McMillan, MI

South Manistique Lake
‪7 min drive‬
East Lake
‪12 min drive‬
Seney National Wildlife Refuge
‪22 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 5)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed and 1 Single Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shampoo

Spaces

Deck or patio

Kitchen

Dining area

About this property

Welcome to the Bluffs at Helmer Bay. Sitting on nearly 300 feet of lake frontage and a one acre yard, this completely renovated 1903 log cabin brings you back in time. It has two bedrooms that comfortably sleep 5, one bath with washer/dryer, luxury kitchen with modern appliances, and seating for 6 at the dining table. Relax in front of the 43 inch smart TV as you settle in after a long day of snowmobiling. Enjoy the westerly winds off the lake on the large deck after a day of swimming or pontooning. With direct access to big Manistique lake, a 10,000 acre freshwater sanctuary, you will certainly find serenity during your stay.

Property manager

Derek Chamberlain

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Pet-friendly

Free WiFi

Air conditioning

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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 less than 23 kg per pet (limit one pet total)

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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

Long-term renters welcome

Host has indicated that there are no carbon monoxide detectors or gas appliances on the property

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

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts

About the area

McMillan

McMillan is home to this cottage. While the natural beauty of Seney National Wildlife Refuge and South Manistique Lake can be enjoyed by anyone, those looking for an activity can head to Newberry Country Club.

McMillan, MI

What's nearby

South Manistique Lake - 7 min drive - 7.0 km
East Lake - 12 min drive - 11.1 km
Newberry Country Club - 18 min drive - 22.4 km
Seney National Wildlife Refuge - 22 min drive - 21.1 km
Oswald's Bear Ranch - 38 min drive - 41.4 km

Getting around

Sault Ste. Marie, MI (CIU-Chippewa County Intl.) - 86 min drive

Restaurants

‪Tally Ho - ‬8 min drive
‪Moose du Nord - ‬3 min drive
‪The Shipwreck Bar & Grill - ‬8 min drive
‪Chet & Pat's Ice Cream Parlor - ‬8 min drive
‪Chamberlin's Ole Forest Inn - ‬6 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Swimming, Snowmobiling, Serenity! Lakefront Cottage on Big Manistique Lake pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 1 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet.

What time is check-in at Swimming, Snowmobiling, Serenity! Lakefront Cottage on Big Manistique Lake?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Swimming, Snowmobiling, Serenity! Lakefront Cottage on Big Manistique Lake?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Swimming, Snowmobiling, Serenity! Lakefront Cottage on Big Manistique Lake located?

Located in McMillan, this family-friendly cottage is 4.3 mi (7 km) from South Manistique Lake, and within 12 mi (20 km) of East Lake and Mitten Lake. Kaks Lake and Stuart Lake are also within 12 miles (20 km).

9.6

Exceptional

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

Learn more

9.8/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Rocky R.

2 Feb 2025

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

Cozy place with a great view

Stayed here for a family snowmobile trip. 1 group from Muskegon Mi the other Clinton Twp Mi both about a 5 hour drive. I personally didnt like crossing the lake to get to the snowmobile trail but the other 4 people didnt have a problem with it. Great place to stay. Nice and cozy. Beautiful view. Kitchen was well stocked with pots/ pans/ plates/ silverware etc. Communication with the owners was great. We have already talked about planning a summer/fall trip to enjoy a different season at this great little cottage. The Rathsburg Family

Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2025

8/10 Good

Heather W.

24 Jan 2025

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

Snowmobiling fun!

Location was good since there was a lot of snow. If there wasn't we would have had to trailer the sleds to the trails.Cute place right on the water

Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Rebecca W.

5 Nov 2024

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

Absolutely Fantastic Property and Location

This adorable, waterfront cabin/cottage is perfect! It's newly redone and has everything you could ask for in a short term rental. The kitchen has all the things needed to cook, eat, grill. A big complaint I've had over the years is how the silverware at some rentals seems to dwindle down to several small forks and a couple spoons, but not at this place! Everything was tip top shape and so very welcoming. Would highly recommend to anyone who loves the area.

Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

John G.

22 Oct 2024

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

Time away!

This is a quaint little cottage on Big Manistique Lake, the wife and i were looking for a few days away, it worked great for our mini vaca! Nestled on the lake shore, too cold to enjoy the water, but that's fine, just a nice place to stay!! Clean and Cozy!! Just what we needed and will keep in mind for future ventures. Thanks!!

Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024

8/10 Good

Christine A.

7 Oct 2024

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

Vacation

The weather was unusually hot and unfortunately the AC was not sufficient.The back bedroom was unbearable. Beautiful lake but you cannot swim because of the muck and weeds. Washed a load of towels and they came out with rust stains. So glad I did not do any of our laundry. For women you will have to get a hair treatment when you get home because of the rust in the water. The best part was meeting the property managers, Curt and Denise. They went out of their way to help us manage.

Stayed 9 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

J k.

7 Oct 2024

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

Great property i will be back

Cozy little cabin on the lake with plenty to do near by

Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Monique G.

16 July 2024

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

Birthday Weekend

We had a wonderful stay at this cabin! The location is perfect for those who love being by the lake. The serene environment and beautiful views made it all the more enjoyable. One of the highlights of our trip was visiting Tahquamenon Falls, which was about 45 minutes away. Additionally, the cabin's proximity to local stores meant we had no trouble finding everything we needed for a comfortable stay. We had a couple questions and the host was very quick to respond. The cabin itself was clean, cozy, and well-equipped with all the necessary amenities. We felt right at home and appreciated all the thoughtful touches. We highly recommend this place for a peaceful and fun getaway!

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Denise V.

25 Feb 2024

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

Lakefront stay on Manistique Lake

The house was just the right size for us and our pets. Plenty of property to exercise the dogs. The interior and furniture were up to date & the master bed was comfortable. The washer & dryer was a great bonus. The place could have a little more space for personal belongings & a pantry for dry food but overall everything was well stocked (dishes, pots, pans, utensils) and everything was in excellent condition & working order. We would not hesitate to stay here again.

Stayed 8 nights in Feb 2024

About the host

Hosted by Derek Chamberlain

We are Derek and Katie. Derek grew up right here on Big Lake, while Katie has southern roots. We have 4 children. Derek is in the Navy and Katie is an OBGYN. We love our time on the lake in the summer and hope you enjoy our cottage, too.

What makes this property unique

With our remodel we tried our best to retain features of the original log cabin, while still improving comfort with modern touches. We are still actively planning additional upgrades, including new exterior color, a bathroom remodel, and a mudroom.

Languages:

English

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Swimming, Snowmobiling, Serenity! Lakefront Cottage on Big Manistique Lake

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Reviews

Popular amenities

Explore the area

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 5)

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 2

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Spaces

About this property