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Lakefront Branch Cottage w/ Dock, Kayaks & Grill!

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Retreat to this waterfront cottage on Emerson Lake with 3 bedrooms & 1 bathroom!
Experience the beauty of Branch, Michigan while sunbathing on the private beach.
Welcome to your Michigan vacation rental with room for up to 8 guests!
Inside, you'll find all of the comforts of home plus the amenities you desire.
Savor meals together around the 4-person dining table.

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
3 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 881.8 sq m

Popular amenities

  • On beach
  • Onsite parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Outdoor barbecue
  • Dock
  • Internet

Explore the area

View map
Branch, MI
  • Place, Pere Marquette River
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Place, Little River Casino
    ‪51 min drive‬
  • Place, Silver Lake State Park
    ‪52 min drive‬
  • Airport, Manistee, MI (MBL-Manistee County-Blacker)
    ‪50 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Additional Sleeping (Living Room)

1 Double Sofa Bed

Bedroom 1

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 2 (Loft)

+2
6 Single Beds

Bedroom 3 (Loft)

1 Double Bed

1 bathroom

Full Bathroom

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden

About this property

Lakefront Branch Cottage w/ Dock, Kayaks & Grill!

Leave your worries at home when you pack your bags for a stay at this 3-bed, 1-bath vacation rental cottage! Comfortably sleeping up to 8 guests, this is the perfect temporary home for a family or group of friends seeking a lakefront getaway. Fish from the dock and fire up the gas grill for an at-home barbecue! The home not only features a prime location on Emerson Lake, but is also close to Pere Marquette River, Ludington State Park, golf courses, and hiking!

-- THE PROPERTY --

Bedroom 1: Full Bed | Bedroom 2 (Loft): Full Bed | Bedroom 3 (Loft): 2 Twin Bunk Beds w/ 2 Twin Mattresses

When coming for a stay at this cottage, all you need is a change of clothes - everything else, you'll find is already at the home! Upon arrival, drop off your bag, lather on sunscreen, and head out the back door to your private oasis on Emerson Lake.

Fish, sunbathe, and kayak with the provided kayaks and paddle boat just feet away from the property! The dock is great for casting your line. There's even a beach outfitted with Adirondack chairs and a fire pit where you can end your day on a sweet note with s'mores and stargazing.

Retreat to the well-appointed interior for a reprieve! Inside, you'll find all of the comforts of home, plus the amenities you desire. Slip into a catnap in the cozy living room complete with flat-screen TV with DVD player and wood-burning fireplace. Wake up to the smell of barbecue wafting in from the porch, where the chef of the group is cooking up dinner's entree on the gas grill.

Easily prepare complementing dishes in the well-equipped kitchen, boasting essential appliances and cookware. Savor the meal inside around the 4-person dining table or feast alfresco on the furnished patio. After the meal, enjoy a cleansing shower in the en-suite bathroom before crawling into bed. Sleep soundly in the full bed, while additional guests and children find comfortable accommodations upstairs in the loft complete with a full-sized bed, 2 twin-over-twin bunk beds, and 2 twin mattresses.

-- THE LOCATION --

Nestled in the Huron-Manistee National Forest, this quaint cottage provides a true northern Michigan getaway where adventure and attractions are never far away!

When you're not taking advantage of the home's location on Emerson Lake, take to the west, by 35 minutes, to discover the beauty of Ludington State Park Beach located on Lake Michigan. In addition to beach activities, you'll find hiking, fishing, and free performances at the park's Amphitheater. The fun doesn't stop when winter creeps in. Enjoy cross-country skiing and snowshoeing once the landscape is covered in a pristine white blanket of snow!

Much closer, you'll find the Pere Marquette River also great for swimming, boating, and fishing. But if you grow tired of the water, take a hiatus with a long hike through the national forest that surrounds the property. Within an hour's drive, discover several scenic trails including Birch Grove Trailhead, Loda Lake Wildflower Sanctuary, and many more. Additionally, there are several golf courses in the area, like Marquette Trails Golf Course and Lakeside Links, that offer challenging games within the serene setting of the forest.

Come dinnertime, refuel with a hearty meal at restaurants found in Ludington, or travel east bites at one of Baldwin's establishments. You can even kayak or paddleboat across the lake to the new Emerson Lake Inn for a comforting meal close to home. Pentwater also offers numerous dining options and is only 35 minutes from the cottage!

-- REST EASY WITH US --

Evolve makes it easy to find and book properties you'll never want to leave. You can relax knowing that our properties will always be ready for you and that we'll answer the phone 24/7. Even better, if anything is off about your stay, we'll make it right. You can count on our homes and our people to make you feel welcome — because we know what vacation means to you.

-- POLICIES --

- No smoking
- No pets allowed
- No events, parties or large gatherings
- Additional fees and taxes may apply
- Photo ID may be required upon check-in
- NOTE: This property requires stairs to access
- NOTE: This property does not offer air conditioning

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9.8 out of 10, Exceptional, (256 reviews)
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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 18
Check out before 11:00 AM
default

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
default

Events

No events allowed
default

Pets

No pets allowed
default

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
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

About the area

Branch

Located in Branch, this cottage is on the beach. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Huron-Manistee National Forest and Pere Marquette River. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking and power boating nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hunting and hiking/biking trails.
View more Cottages in BranchOpens in a new window
Map
Branch, MI

What's nearby

  • Pere Marquette River - 4 min drive - 2.9 km
  • S.S. Badger: Lake Michigan Carferry - 29 min drive - 37.4 km
  • Caberfae Peaks Ski & Golf - 50 min drive - 85.2 km
  • Little River Casino - 51 min drive - 75.4 km
  • Silver Lake State Park - 52 min drive - 82.6 km

Getting around

  • Manistee, MI (MBL-Manistee County-Blacker) - 41 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Rendezvous - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Fin's Beach Club - ‬14 min walk
  • ‪Emerson Lake Inn - ‬13 min walk
  • ‪Country Diner - ‬2 min drive
  • ‪Oasis Bar And Grill - ‬4 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Lakefront Branch Cottage w/ Dock, Kayaks & Grill! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Lakefront Branch Cottage w/ Dock, Kayaks & Grill!?

As of 10 Apr 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Lakefront Branch Cottage w/ Dock, Kayaks & Grill! on 12 May 2024 start from AU$257, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at Lakefront Branch Cottage w/ Dock, Kayaks & Grill!?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Lakefront Branch Cottage w/ Dock, Kayaks & Grill!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Lakefront Branch Cottage w/ Dock, Kayaks & Grill!?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Lakefront Branch Cottage w/ Dock, Kayaks & Grill! located?

This Branch cottage is on the beach, 0.1 mi (0.1 km) from Huron-Manistee National Forest, and within 12 mi (20 km) of Pere Marquette River and Nugent Lake. Railroad Lake and Dockery Lake are also within 12 miles (20 km).

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

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. 10 out of 19 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 7 out of 19 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 19 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 19 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 19 reviews

8.0/10

Cleanliness

9.2/10

Check-in

9.2/10

Communication

8.8/10

Location

8.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Nick H.

Enjoyed in winter!

We stayed with 6 inches of snow on the ground, but we enjoyed it! The cottage was clean and filled with everything you would need for a stay any time of the year. We will be planning a stay in the summer.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2018
Verified

8/10 Good

Susan D.

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

Overall, nice family getaway with some improvements needed.

Overall, this property was nice. There were pros and cons to the property. We were a family of 5, a Mom, Dad, Grandmother, 14 year old boy and 9 year old girl. The cabin itself was okay, a little dated. A tad darker then what the picture shows. The upstairs loft was nice to have the shades you could pull for privacy. However, the bunk beds. I don't know how I would expect anyone to really fit on the top bunk. Even my 9 year old said no way, to tight of a fit. Plus the beds covered the windows up there. The mattresses that were on the floor were okay, although when I pulled 1 out there was dirt on the sheets. The pillows could be upgraded as they were pretty flimsy and you could tell they were cheap. We were glad we brought our own pillows. The kitchen was nicely stocked with the needed plates, pots, pans and utensils. However I would suggest some bowls that were microwave safe. (not a big deal though). The stove is not level and you cannot cook nicely with a frying pan. The kitchen drawers were very hard to pull open. A bottle of cleaning spray would be nice to have handy to spray down the counters during our stay would be nice as well. The bathroom, if you are a more than a skinny person, it is a tight squeeze with the toilet and the shower. Expect your side to be right on the shower door. The internet is very spotty, most days we could not connect. I don't think that is the fault of the owners though, more of the service. When we arrived, the neighboring kids were playing on this cabins beach.dock.water. About 4 kids in all, which actually turned us off right away on arrival. They were loud as kids are. When looking to the lake the neighbors on the left called their kids back over, but the neighbor to the left came up to us and said if they are to loud that WE could yell at them and tell them to go home. She also said the kids swim at our dock, but if we want to fish we could go to her dock. Not really what we had in mind. Luckily, that family left on Sunday and the rest of the week was quiet. The fishing was fun for the kids, baby fish. The beach and firepit were great. 2 of the chairs were broken when we got there. We had brought our own chairs so we were fine. The dock was nice, the provided kayaks and pedal boat were great too. My really biggest suggestion is to somehow provide a outside light by the patio. So, overall, what we paid for, this rental was fine.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lance L.

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

Three Rainy Days ...

the cabin and lake were great ... weather not so hot, but managed to relax and have fun ... kids did online school for most of the day, but managed lake-time after 3:30pm ... kids like the DVRs of Home Alone ...
Verified

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy

It was good

No complains
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Karen R.

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

Relaxation and bonfires

Our family enjoyed our vacation together with the beach area and nearby golf courses. We did pretty good 'navigating' with one bathroom and took advantage of the sand, docks, paddle boats and bonfire area. Smores anyone?
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer W.

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

Wonderful & peaceful atmosphere

Beautiful location and atmosphere. Brian the property manager was very helpful with any questions we had. He always responded back in a timely manner. The cabin was perfect and comfortable for my family and extended family to relax and get together. As a mom I personally enjoyed sitting on the back deck and watching my boys enjoy the outdoors and beach area. The neighbors were very welcoming and friendly. They recommended branch grocery for homemade pizzas the first night as we unpacked and it was perfect. Who doesn't love pizza!! I would definitely recommend staying here.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Mandy E.

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

Great little spot for a getaway

This was a nice spot for our family to get away for a few days. Our teenage boys loved the kayaks and paddle boat. Everything was clean and the kitchen had everything we needed except coffee filters (but paper towel worked ok). There is no air conditioning but the house is quite shaded and we got a nice breeze coming through when we opened all the windows. It was hot out but the house stayed quite cool. My only complaint is that there was no working smoke alarm. There was a smoke alarm stashed in a cabinet without batteries and no extra batteries to be found. Would suggest that you get that corrected.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2020
Verified

8/10 Good

Debra F.

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

Great location

We enjoyed our weekend stay very much. It was quiet and the lake is beautiful. Could have been a little more care taken of the paddle boat, we tried to use it but it was to hard with the seat back missing. Overall we had a good time.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2019
Verified

8/10 Good

Steve F.

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

Branch, Emerson Lake

As listed. Easy check in and out.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2019
Verified

6/10 Okay

Lisa H.

Disliked: Communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice for HALF of what they charge a week but, definitely NOT a WHAT they are charging a week stay!!.

Hard to find. GPS gives u wrong st. to turn down. Property owner was not very helpful in helping me find the correct location when I called him. We got hit with HORRIBLE mosquitoe season!! Hard to be outside without a TON of bug spray. Very quiet pretty private lake. Beautiful sun sets. Floating dock needs carpet. My kids said it hurts their feet horribly. Full size beds are NOT big enough for 2 people. And we are small. Cottage its self could be really nice with some upgrades. Fridge to start, should be full size. 2nd fix or replace all kitchen cabinets. As my son pulled a drawer open and it fell apart and injured his foot. Third Put a railing out back by steps so people dont get hurt. Repair awful big crack in concrete patio that we tripped on a # of times. Replace living room shades. Top bunkbeds are WAY to close to ceiling! My boys hit their knees on ceiling anytime they turned in bed. Lastly, provide a FULL size coffee maker or at least, put in the ad that renter should provide their own. Coffe maker makes 2 cups of coffee and the crazy thing is it did NOT heat coffee after it was brewed!? Like I said, Id pay HALF all day long for a week at this cottage but, definitely NOT a the price they are charging a week cottage!!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2019
Verified

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Check-in, communication

Lake house

Rental , check in and check out we’re easy. I feel like that in the rental description was a bit miss leading as far as the description of fully equipped and supply of toiletries. With multiple people staying for a week The sample size toiletries and no soap We’re misleading in description. We had to go to the store to purchase more; It would have been nice to have just known this ahead of time. There’s just the minimal cooking equipment too. Nice property; enjoyed the outside a lot. Appreciated the chromcasr. Wi do. Thanks ,Nate B
Verified

8/10 Good

Heather S.

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

Wonderful private lake access

Our family loved the location and outdoor amenities of this cottage! The dock was in good shape and allowed for lots of relaxing with our feet in the water. The kids had a blast playing in the sand and floating in the water. The kayaks and paddleboat were awesome! We used them every day! Such a wonderful little lake!! The shed also housed additional gear for fun activities, such as fishing and roasting treats over the fire. The interior of the cottage was snug but met our needs and was just as advertised. We had a couple of issues inside, including ants in the kitchen, but when we contacted the owner we got immediate responses and assistance.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2019
Verified

8/10 Good

ERICA S.

Functional, clean house with nice location

House was clean, beds are all new or look new and are comfortable. Everything works as it should. Some recommendations would be to have cable or satellite for the option of watching TV (some DVDs are provided), and do some work on the kitchen cabinets to make them shut and look nicer inside. But overall a good place, lots of parking, quiet.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2018
Verified

6/10 Okay

Nathalie B.

Broken equipment and low lake level... Disappointed

We booked this place and were very excited, as our research indicated that this was a very nice lake for swimming and that it was an "all sports" lake. Wrong. There was no boat launch (we dragged our boat up with us). Then, there's the issue with the fact that the lake level was extremely low this year (the end of the dock barely touched the water - there is a "floating" line that separates the swimming area from the neighbors and it was laying on dry, weedy dirt (where there should have been water). It would have been a nice courtesy to have warned us about the low water levels. Instead, we heard about it from the resort across the lake when we called them to ask to use their boat launch the night before going up. They advised us that we would have trouble because of the low levels. The cabin: -The beds were comfy and linens were nice, BUT -Gas grill did not work, Lit up but too low to cook anything, like the line was blocked or something -Leather couches were "sticky" and had to be cleaned -Coffee maker had mold/mildew in reservoir, so we had to go out and buy a coffee maker (gross) -We were told on arrival day that the bathroom light fixture was broken by previous renter and that they were trying to get an electrician out that day. My husband does this type of work and graciously offered to fix it. He was told he would be "paid for his services". That was not the motivation for doing the work, but we were never contacted back after we left for even a simple "thank you" for doing the repairs. -Kitchen drawer was broken and stuck, husband repaired that too. Again, no contact whatsoever after we left. It's been 2 weeks. -While these issues did exist, we still had fun. We drove out to other nearby lakes to swim and do some tubing. Had someone had the courtesy to contact us back after our initial email to them about these issues, we would have skipped the ugly review. It's the lack of courtesy that is the most upsetting. -One of the Adirondack chairs broke under my friend, when my husband reached over to try to catch her, his chair cracked under the uneven weight, so we had the decency to go out to the nearby Lowes and purchase two new chairs to replace them (and advised the owner about it in our email).
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2018
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Brian S.

Wonderful stay!

We had a ton of fun on the beach and swimming off the dock. We were only a 25 minute drive from Ludington and right in the woods. Overall it was an amazing time, house was nice and cozy, and would highly recommended!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2018
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Bethany W.

The Lakefront Cottage is the perfect Up North getaway! Comfy & clean - right on a beautiful lake!

Our recent stay at the Lakefront Cottage was perfect! We had a girls getaway and the accommodations were great! Everything worked in the kitchen - which is important when you plan to eat a lot. There is a great table for gathering to enjoy meals together and play games! The seating was comfy and the fireplace was an added bonus of extra coziness. Sleeping accommodations were great for our group - everyone having an actual bed. Linens were clean and plentiful. Bathroom was clean we had plenty of hot water. It was a late fall excursion but we still were able to enjoy the beautiful view of the lake and could imagine the fun that could be had in the warm summer months. Overall it was easy to locate, even at 11 PM in the dark. Our host was very gracious and easy to contact with questions. We would definitely stay here again - especially when we can really enjoy the outdoors. However if your looking for a cozy spot in the fall or winter months, this is the perfect place to hunker down and relax.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2017
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Lacy W.

Loved the property!

Wonderful location! Had absolutely everything we needed to keep 2 families with young children happy and comfortable for the weekend. We will be back!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2017
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Cindy A.

Wonderful Place

We enjoyed our stay very much. The house is right on the lake and the children had so much fun building sand castles, paddle boating and kayaking. The area is somewhat secluded so it was very peaceful. The lake is calm and clean. The house is about 10 minutes from WalMart and a couple of grocery stores and 20 minutes from Ludington and Lake Michigan. With 5 children and 5 adults only having 1 bathroom was not a problem. The owners have provided everything, you only need to bring food and personal items. The house is clean and well kept. We will keep this as a vacation spot to come back to.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Kristalle D.

Beautiful and peaceful cottage!

My family of 6 enjoyed our stay here. We used the kayaks and paddle boats to explore the lake and fish. The kids caught a lot of small fish, a couple of decent size bass, snapper turtles, painter turtle, and a small water snake. The fire pit area was spacious and we enjoyed sitting around the fire at night. It is very quiet and peaceful. We went to Ludington State Park one day. It was only about 30 minutes away. I liked that there was one bedroom on the main floor and the rest of the beds were upstairs. All of the kids could sleep in their own bed. The owner was a pleasure to work with. He responded promptly to all of questions! Thanks for sharing your place with us:)
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2017

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