See all properties
Entire home

Houghton Canal Rocky Shore Retreat

Lakefront holiday home with kitchen and patio

Photo gallery for Houghton Canal Rocky Shore Retreat

A little bit of country close to town.
Large yard for fun outdoor activities and room for tents!
outdoor eating and grill
The Ranger III
large fire pit

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
6 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 14241.5 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Air conditioning
  • Kitchen
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

View map
Houghton, MI
  • Place, Houghton–Hancock Bridge
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Place, Isle Royale Houghton Visitor Center
    ‪8 min drive‬
  • Place, Michigan Technological University
    ‪9 min drive‬
  • Airport, Hancock, MI (CMX-Houghton County Memorial)
    ‪21 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

6 bedrooms (sleeps 14)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Queen Beds

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 4

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 5

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 6

2 Double Beds

3 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet

Bathroom 3

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Houghton Canal Rocky Shore Retreat

Large and spacious home on Portage Canal with beautiful views. Fire pit, grill, outdoor eating.
Fully equipped kitchen. Central air conditioning, WIFI, and cable TV. Rural yet close to town (3 miles from all attractions, restaurants, universities, shopping, etc.) All you need to bring is food, soaps, and toiletries. We have plenty of parking for trailers and snowmobilers machines.
Reservations are from Saturday to Saturday (June 15-30, July, and August) Sept-June 15th is a 3 day minimum stay.

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
Lake view

Have a question?

AI iconBeta

Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.

Similar properties

Outdoor Entertaining Space. Shared with our Carriage House Rental.
Kemp's Rentals Luxurious Executive Retreat Portage Lake-Beach-Firepit & Pavilion
  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Air conditioning
10.0 out of 10, (87 reviews)
Kemp's Rentals Luxurious Executive Retreat Portage Lake-Beach-Firepit & Pavilion

House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 11:00 AM
default

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
default

Events

Events allowed
default

Pets

No pets allowed
default

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Please leave house UNlocked and leave keys and garage door opener on the kitchen counter. Also please text me when you depart. Thank you!
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
$500.00 fee for smoking in home.
Please don't have your visitors/guests bring a pet to Rocky Shores Retreat. We really want it to be Pet Free for our guests who suffer with allergies.

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
Parties and events are allowed on site
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a deadlock

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Houghton

Located in Houghton, this holiday home is in a rural area and on the waterfront. Houghton–Hancock Bridge and Quincy Mine are local landmarks, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Mine Shaft and Husky Chair Lift. Travelling with kids? Consider A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum, or check out an event or a game at Gates Tennis Center. Take in the nearby slopes with cross-country skiing and snowboarding, or try out other outdoor activities such as snowmobiling and sledging.
View more Holiday homes in HoughtonOpens in a new window
Map
Houghton, MI

What's nearby

  • Houghton–Hancock Bridge - 6 min drive - 7.3 km
  • Isle Royale Houghton Visitor Center - 8 min drive - 8.1 km
  • Michigan Technological University - 9 min drive - 9.6 km
  • Mont Ripley Ski Area - 9 min drive - 9.2 km
  • The trail to Copper Harbor - 9 min drive - 9.2 km

Getting around

  • Hancock, MI (CMX-Houghton County Memorial) - 19 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Dunkin’ / Baskin Robbins - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Taco Bell - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Culver's - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Ambassador Restaurant - ‬7 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Houghton Canal Rocky Shore Retreat pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Houghton Canal Rocky Shore Retreat?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Houghton Canal Rocky Shore Retreat?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Houghton Canal Rocky Shore Retreat located?

Located on the waterfront, this family-friendly holiday home is within 6 mi (10 km) of Great Bear Chase Ski Marathon, Mine Shaft, and A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum. Lake Superior and Michigan Technological University are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 162 out of 168 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 6 out of 168 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 168 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 168 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 168 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Jill H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Clean! Comfortable! There were 12 if us, and it was spacious. Lots of parking for trucks and boats. Well stocked kitchenware. Dock provided tie-up for boats and ladder for swimming.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ryan M.

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

Excellent

Great stay and great hosts!
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

DAVID S.

Great place!

We had a group of 6 for snowmobiling in the area, house was perfect for our needs, plenty of parking for snowmobile trailers.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2018

10/10 Excellent

PAUL S.

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

Portage Lake getaway

The home is perfect for a big group, great deck overlooking the water, nice dock on the water and the host's are fantastic.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kelly H.

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

MTU Graduation celebration

Amazing property, lots of space, hosts were very accommodating and helpful. Views were spectacular and the amenities of the property were fantastic!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Geoff E.

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

Nice place and great host

This place was nice! Clean and host was excellent! I wouldnt hesitate to stay again. Easy to get to the snowmobile trails. 2 thimbs up. Thank you!
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sara S.

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

Amazing

This home has all of you needs for an amazing vacation! Owners were friendly and very attentive. Would love to come back
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Nora B.

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

Group hiking trip

We had a group of 11 stay at the Houghton Canal Rocky Shore Retreat for 3 nights and had a wonderful time. The location is beautiful and peaceful. We were close enough to all the hiking we wanted to do and even dinner in downtown. The house was clean and well organized and our hosts were incredibly kind and communicative. We cannot recommend this place enough!!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Julie R.

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

Family Fun!

We had an absolutely amazing time at this beautiful home! Everything was perfect and the hosts were absolutely fabulous with responding to any question or need that arose! Thank you for a memorable week!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Mindy S.

Beautiful, well maintained, very clean and well stocked home!

We have stayed in this beautiful home a few times now. The owners are wonderful to deal with and I love that this place can sleep an army! The kitchen is stocked very nicely! Everything is very clean.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2018

10/10 Excellent

Hannah H.

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

The Best

Houghton is my favorite city in Michigan. Lori and Phil have a beautiful house on the canal. Very clean and organized, and had additional items such as spices and coffee! I love the curtains, and the ships passing. I never wanted to leave! Lori and Phil again! Thank you!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Lily Z.

Clean. Great location. Highly recommend!

Lori and Phil were so kind! Very helpful. The house was spacious and we were are so comfortable and happy. Enjoyed the beautiful fall colors in UP Michigan
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2017

10/10 Excellent

Nicole B., Minneapolis, MN

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

Another great week!

This is our third year spending a week at Rocky Shores and we hope to keep coming back. Phil and Lori are great and very responsive hosts. The house fits our group of 13 perfectly. We love fishing and swimming off the dock and enjoying evening bonfires. The location is great with easy access to grocery stores, local restaurants and shops.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Pamela H., Menominee, Menominee County

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

Houghton Portage Canal Vacation

Very clean, spacious, cottage. With numerous sleeping options. We had a very comfortable stay. I liked that the owners were close by, but it was still private. Easy, friendly communication with them. We had numerous fires in the fire pit. Grilling out on the large deck. The children did some fishing, they all caught at least one. Also did some swimming off the dock. We brought a boat and motor and a kayak to use. Convenient location near town and all the parks. I highly recommend this rental!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Betty C.

Can't wait to go back!

We loved our week here! The house is large, clean and is in a beautiful location. I had forgotten how wonderfully quiet it is in the U.P. We were there with our sons and their wives and children, 10 in all, and were very comfortable. The place is well equipped. The teenagers enjoyed kayaking and swimming in the lake and we all enjoyed the nightly bonfires in the fire ring. We had a large family reunion picnic and the place was perfect - a good grill and plenty of seating. The only thing I would like to see added are bedside lamps for those of us who like to read before going to sleep. A few books around would be nice, too.

10/10 Excellent

Danielle K.

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

Excellent for access to all the adventures

We had 3 families for our annual week and this was our first time to Houghton. Kids range from 9-16. House was perfect location with easy access to many of the places we explored, most within an hour. Yard was great for wiffle ball and volleyball. Fire pit large enough for all to enjoy. The deck and dock were perfect for watching the ranger and sipping a cup of coffee. 11 minute drive to Breakers to watch the beautiful sunsets. As expected per the instructions, we needed to bring all toiletries (soaps, shampoo, conditioner). Kitchen has enough pans, utensils, dishes to make large meals so just bring the food. Bring beach towels and blankets for the beaches.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Gary K.

The house and property are in excellent condition. Very clean, well-stocked kitchen and up to date.

We’ve stayed here several times and have enjoyed each and every stay! We had 14 people there and it never felt small. Plenty of room to spread out and read by yourself, play games or watch a movie with small groups. We especially love the huge mud/laundry room that has a washer, dryer, shower and bathroom and tons of towels because we had lots of kids there. The kitchen was well-stocked with everything we needed to cook and serve for our large group (pots, pans, crock pot, baking dishes, etc). There is plenty of room to run around outside and there’s a nice fire pit with plenty of wood for fires. The kids loved playing by the shore and sunning themselves on the pier. My brother rented a pontoon boat in the past and had no problem getting to the pier and docking. The owners live up the hill on the property and welcomed us upon arrival and checked in with us every now and then to make sure everything was ok. If we had any questions, they answered within minutes. Can’t wait to go back!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2018
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

KarenBeth B.

Beautiful Setting for a Family Reunion

Five siblings and their families, a cousin and a Mom/Grandma gathered here for the first week of July in the town our father grew up in and where we had vacationed as kids. We hailed from PA, FL, CO, WI, NE, and MD and we were hoping to replicate those fun-filled summers and did this very successfully in this lovely red home on Portage Lake, down to the daily sauna with the lake plunge at the end. The hosts were extremely helpful from the get-go and the house and property were in top shape upon our arrival. We woke in the morning to a gorgeous view of the lake. Since our large party needed a little more living space, the owners let my husband and I park our camper on the very large lot and hook up to electricity and water which was so helpful! We all enjoyed evenings on the big deck where we could see the lake and watch the kids play baseball (with a tennis ball). There is also horseshoes which got a good workout. We highly recommend this home and location and would choose to go back there again. Thanks Lori and Phil!!! Oh, we also chartered a boat trip with Sand Point Charters with Captain Brian Helminen off of Lac La Belle and caught 17 fish between 2 days (4+13). Brian is a super nice guy with 15 kids and you can find him on the Internet if you are looking to try fishing for some declicious Lake Trout, Steelhead Trout or Coho Salmon. We also spent a lot of time on Portage Lake with our 2 canoes and 1 kayak- you can easily tie them up to the L-shaped dock at waters edge. So long for now- we hope to be back to the good ole UP someday.

10/10 Excellent

Jackie T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful, relaxing retreat. The home is well maintained and equipped! Clean rooms and easy parking. The host are very responsive.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Virginia S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Such a great place to stay. After a busy day exploring Houghton and the surrounding areas, we enjoyed relaxing on the deck, drinking wine appetizers or sitting down at the dock enjoying the sunsets and quiet.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Andy N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fantastic property. Will stay here again when I’m the area. Only recommendation would be some directions to the house or a driveway marker of some sort. It was a little tricky for us to find!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Karen H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great stay! Enjoyed paddle boarding, fishing, sunrises, and sitting around the fire! House was as described and host was very responsive! Will be back again!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kim K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This house is exceptional. Very clean and welcoming. We loved our week here and hope to return next year. Communication from the host was excellent.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Heather W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very clean and spacious. Owners very nice, accommodating and helpful.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jill C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
It was an awesome place to stay. Our boys and their families enjoyed everything about the week there. Boating, fishing, shopping and riding the trails was just awesome. The host was great to work with and would definitely stay there again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025

About the host

Hosted by Phil & Lori Anderson, Owners

Host profile image
We're a family living a simple life in the Keweenaw Peninsula and enjoying all of its natural beauty.

Why they chose this property

It is a little bit of country close to town.

What makes this property unique

It allows us to enjoy our coffee in the morning sun, barbeques and the boat traffic from the deck, and end our day with a good ole' Copper Country sauna.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
Tell us how we can improve our siteShare feedback

Hotels

Holiday Rentals