See all properties
Entire home

Relax at Hilltop Cottage - By Lake Margrethe "Dog Friendly & has a Game Room!!"

Photo gallery for Relax at Hilltop Cottage - By Lake Margrethe "Dog Friendly & has a Game Room!!"

Let Hilltop Cottage be your home base while enjoying northern Michigan.
Front room
Dining Room, seats 6+
Dining room, deck entry
Dining Room, seats 6+

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 8105.9 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Parking available
  • Washer
  • Kitchen
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

View map
Grayling, MI
  • Au Sable River
  • Hartwick Pines State Park
  • AuSable Artisan Village
    ‪9 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 4

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms

Downstairs Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Upstairs bathroom

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Separate dining area

About this property

Relax at Hilltop Cottage - By Lake Margrethe "Dog Friendly & has a Game Room!!"

Come enjoy the spacious Hilltop Cottage located near the gorgeous Lake Margrethe! Conveniently located 2 walking blocks from the waters edge and close to snowmobile and ORV trails, this cottage has everything needed for a great up-north getaway. Snowmobile trails are less than a 1/4 mile away! Snowmobile from the front door to the trails, or from the trailhead nearby. Road end lake access, as well as 1.2 miles from the only public boat launch and state park on the lake.

Located on a secluded road end, this cottage allows privacy for all group types. This cottage is set up for your convenience. Rental includes towels, bedding, kitchen equipment, etc. for a simple stay away from home.
All three queen size beds are Sealy Posturepedic pillow tops, making for an amazing night of sleep!

We are working on remodeling the 1970's era finished downstairs with new furniture. It currently has one bedroom (with queen bed) and 1 bathroom. There is also a pool table, foosball table, air hockey, and table tennis. A small bar (sadly not stocked) is also located downstairs. We find that many guest enjoy hanging out down there after a full day of play. The downstairs is a walkout, and is also a great space to enter from the backyard and leave snowmobile suits and gear.

Guest have access to the entire house and yard. Fire pit area in the back yard with some fire wood supplied (enough to start your fire). Large picnic table located out there year-round. No separate seating provided out there during the winter mounts. 8 chairs provided during summer months, but stored up near house. Grill on the back deck May-October.

Property manager

Brenda Challender
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

Have a question?

AI iconBeta

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

Similar properties

Private kitchen

NEWLY REMODELED Cozy 2-bedroom home in quiet neighborhood

  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Pet-friendly
9.8 out of 10, (28 reviews)
NEWLY REMODELED Cozy 2-bedroom home in quiet neighborhood

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

No events allowed
default

Pets

Pets allowed
$50/pet refundable deposit. Limit 2 dogs
default

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Smoking outside only
-Typically boats and trailers will need to be backed in to the lower driveway (15-20 yards from front door) and cars/trucks can park near entry.
-Parking on site available day of checkout if not leaving the area immediately, we know a full vacation day is enjoyed!
Monthly stays are considered. Deposits increase to $800, and cleaning fees increase to $200. If interested in a monthly rental, please contact us for

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

Grayling

Located in Grayling, this holiday home is in a rural area and on a lake. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Hartwick Pines State Park and Huron-Manistee National Forest, while Crawford County Historical Museum and AuSable Artisan Village are cultural highlights. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Grayling, MI

What's nearby

  • Hanson Hills Recreation Area - 9 min drive - 8.7 km
  • AuSable Artisan Village - 9 min drive - 9.5 km
  • Grayling Country Club - 10 min drive - 10.6 km
  • Grayling Hospital - 11 min drive - 10.5 km
  • Wakeley Lake - 11 min drive - 10.9 km

Getting around

  • Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital) - 67 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Burger King - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Paddle Hard Brewing - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Tinker's Junction - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Westside Diner - ‬6 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Relax at Hilltop Cottage - By Lake Margrethe "Dog Friendly & has a Game Room!!" pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Relax at Hilltop Cottage - By Lake Margrethe "Dog Friendly & has a Game Room!!"?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Relax at Hilltop Cottage - By Lake Margrethe "Dog Friendly & has a Game Room!!"?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Relax at Hilltop Cottage - By Lake Margrethe "Dog Friendly & has a Game Room!!" located?

Located on a lake, this family-friendly holiday home is within 6 mi (10 km) of Hanson Hills Recreation Area, Wakeley Lake, and Rayburn Property Trail. Grayling Country Club and Crawford County Historical Museum are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

9.8

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. 89 out of 101 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 11 out of 101 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 101 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 101 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 101 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Sherry S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Another wonderful stay! Host is awesome to work with! This was our second year in a row staying here! Works great for our family vacation!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Beverly B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Nice place that accepts dogs! Didn’t have any pet smells. Great location for us and had all the space we needed. Check-in was easy. Would stay again.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tracy M.

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

family get away

We enjoyed our stay and will definitely come back. The place was roomie, clean, and the location for us was perfect. Brenda was pleasant and communication was great!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Julie H.

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

Cute house on the hill.

Very roomy and comfortable. Bedrooms were very nice. Nice location. Very private.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Charlene L.

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

Lake Tour

The Hilltop Cottage was topnotch. Centrally located to Torch Lake, Indian River, and Higgins Lake. Brenda is an amazing host. Her cottage is clean, beds are comfortable, ample parking, and equipped with everything you need. We enjoyed our stay, it will be on our return to list.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

randall H.

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

It was exactly what we were looking for and it was exactly what it was presented as she was a great

It was a wonderful stay we enjoyed the house thoroughly I would recommend it to anybody it was just the right spot where we needed to be and close enough to town and close enough to the trails we will be going there again no doubt
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Julie W.

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

cozy and comfortable

We are just a group of friends who want to get away once a year and do nothing but visit, laugh, play games, eat and have a few drinks without all the distractions of home.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

bob r.

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

For storm damge

Excellent place to stay no matter the reason
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Shelly L.

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

Summer 2025

Lots of space to spread out.Gameroom loved by all.Short trip to beach .. perfect!Bonfire pit for smoresThe outlets in the basement bedroom struggled to hold the plug in the wall.The tv/dvd/vhs in the basement... we couldnt get it to work
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Craig L.

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

Great quiet location with access to outdoor adventure

Six of us (my parents, brother, wife, adult daughter, and I) stayed with our two small dogs, and we had plenty of space when we needed quiet and plenty of activities (game room, board games, we’ll-equipped kitchen for cooking and grille) for when we wanted to be together. Having two bathrooms was a nice feature, as was on-site laundry if we would have gotten clothes dirty or wet when some of us went fly fishing on the AuSable. I would highly recommend this place for your next adventure up north.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

lacey b.

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

Ice fishing and snowmobiling

3 couples got together for this weekend getaway and the house was great! Half of us went fishing on lake margrethe and half stayed back crocheting and cooking. The kitchen was well stocked. We had a wonderful time and would return!
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

shawn c.

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

Great place

Great location, great host.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Wendy K.

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

Fall Colors

We enjoyed the property very close to ORV trails and nice location for other adventures
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

kassandra b.

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

Perfect stay

Everything about this stay was perfect and easy going. Highly recommend staying here and the game room was a huge bonus. Only down fall was the oven which is very old and could be updated But still worked decently
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Genevieve B.

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

Family vacation

We loved our stay here! Great location! Close to necessities and nice for day trips. We loved the gaming tables in the basement. All in all, a great place!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

8/10 Good

Crystal W.

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

Great location for snowmobiling!

Great cabin close to snowmobile trails. Map provided was very helpful with local seasonal roads to get to trails. Kids love the game room in the basement. After fresh snowfall, the hill can make it tricky to park the truck and trailer in the dark. In the morning, we were able to move it around in daylight after it was plowed. Great stay!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kimberly S.

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

Family Weekend

The cottage was just as described- cozy, clean. A great base location for our winter activities vacation.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Frederick G.

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

Fishing trip

Had a great time , did some fishing , played cards , we have been fishing for many years with the same group of guys , we enjoy this house and its location , THANK YOU
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Naida A.

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

Hilltop Cottage

We very much enjoyed our stay. Beds very comfortable and we had everything our family of six adults and one dog needed for our week long stay. We especially appreciated the "quietness" of the area and being on a private road with no traffic.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Zach J.

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

Great Northwood Getaway

Great layout for multifamily groups, with plenty of space. The downstairs space gave everyone a chance to spread out and socialize. Beautiful location that is excellent for any season, and close to tons of family-friendly outdoor activities. Conveniently located for easy access to Graying and the outdoors.Brenda was a great host who always took our calls and gave us a very clean and comfortable stay.If coming in the winter make sure to have all-wheel drive. The approach to the property can be just a bit steep for lesser-equipped vehicles.We look forward to coming back!
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2025

8/10 Good

Charles S.

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

Happy

Very good accommodations for the price point!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kevin H.

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

Guys Sxs/Atv Weekend

Place was just as described. Was close to the trailhead and worked out perfectly for what we needed for a long weekend of riding. Had a great time and plan to come back in the future.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Molly W.

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

Fall Hunting Trip

We had a great time and the house was very accommodating and in a great location.
Stayed 8 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Tina A.

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

Great hosts!

Great location with great neighbors. Very impressed with the wonderful communication, response time and kindess of the hosts!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

8/10 Good

Karen J.

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

Winter fun trip

Was a great location to use for access to snowmobile trails
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2022

About the host

Hosted by Brenda Challender

Host profile image
We grew up downstate near Lansing, but have spent many weekends and vacations in Grayling at our place nearby. Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter there is always something that we love to do up there! We love traveling in general, whether it be around the US or the world.

Why they chose this property

The property is close to the lake, but far enough off to not be overcrowded. There is a nice size backyard for outdoor games and fires. It is also adjacent to a large wooded area that is absolutely gorgeous to sit on the deck and look out over. Its at the top of the hill, so the deck looks down and over the ravine. Lots of deer, two foxes, and other various creatures are seen in there regularly.

What makes this property unique

We like the seclusion of being on the private road, but a quick walk to the lake and a very quick ride to the snowmobile trails, ORV trails, and everything else to do in the area. Located just outside of town, it is close enough to Grayling to do everything you want to!

Languages:

English

Premier Host

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