Entire home

Lakeside Cottage on Torch Lake

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Property grounds
Property grounds
TV
TV
Interior

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

2 bedrooms1 bathroom750 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Pet friendly
  • Outdoor Space
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

View in a map
alden, MI
  • Place, Torch Lake
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Clam River
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Place, Boyne Mountain
    ‪48 min drive‬
  • Airport, Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
    ‪47 min drive‬

Room options

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About the neighborhood

Alden

With a stay at this vacation home in Alden, you'll be on the waterfront, within a 5-minute drive of Torch Lake and Clam River. .This vacation home is 20.1 mi (32.4 km) from Lake Michigan and 1.6 mi (2.6 km) from Clam Lake.

What's nearby

  • Torch Lake - 2 min walk - 0.1 miles
  • Clam River - 3 min drive - 1.4 miles
  • Traverse City Beach - 39 min drive - 29.1 miles
  • Front Street - 46 min drive - 32.3 miles
  • Boyne Mountain - 48 min drive - 44.8 miles

Getting around

  • Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) - 38 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Short's Brewing Company - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪Oasis Tavern - ‬24 min drive
  • ‪M88 Morning Grind - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪Shanty Creek Resorts - ‬19 min drive

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Lakeside Cottage on Torch Lake

Lakeside Cottage on Torch Lake is a charming, 100-year-old lake cottage that offers families a relaxed, nostalgic Northern Michigan getaway right on the shores of one of the area’s most beautiful lakes. This quaint retreat is ideal for families looking to unplug, enjoy the water, and experience Torch Lake in a simple, authentic way—no frills, just timeless charm.

Located in a quiet, wooded setting just minutes from Bellaire and Alden, the cottage sits on a shared property with two other cottages and the main house. While neighbors are nearby, the cottage is set back enough to provide privacy and includes parking for two vehicles. Guests consistently describe the setting as peaceful, scenic, and perfect for relaxing.

Enjoy easy access to the shared dock, where shallow water allows for swimming and relaxing by the lake. Torch Lake’s beauty truly shines here, with gorgeous sunsets and sweeping water views just steps from the cottage. The property is also conveniently located—about a 15-minute boat ride to the sandbar and only one mile from The Dockside.

Inside, the cottage is clean, cozy, and larger than it appears from the outside. Guests love the spacious living room, comfortable beds, and thoughtfully laid-out sleeping spaces. Original fixtures and vintage details remain, adding to the old-fashioned charm that makes this cottage a “blast from the past.” The photos accurately represent the space, so families know exactly what to expect.

Outdoor living is a highlight, with your own fire pit for evening gatherings and a charcoal grill for lakeside meals. The cottage is dog-friendly with a nightly pet fee; pets must be leashed due to other guests on the property.

Please note: this cottage does not have heat or air conditioning. For non-family groups, all guests must be 25 years or older.

Lakeside Cottage on Torch Lake offers a beautiful setting, classic character, and a welcoming atmosphere—perfect for families who value time together, lake days, and unforgettable sunsets.
Make yourself comfortable in this vacation home, featuring a kitchen with a refrigerator and an oven. Conveniences include a microwave and a coffee/tea maker.
Take in the views from a garden and make use of amenities such as barbecue grills.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the house: WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Car recommended

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 1 bathroom
  • Shower
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • TV with cable/satellite channels

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Firepit
  • Garden

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • Welcoming dogs only
  • One pet total (up to 50 lbs per pet)

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoking not allowed

Location highlights

  • On a lake
  • On the waterfront

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Fire extinguisher

General

  • Garden
  • Unit size: 750 square feet

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Rules

All renters must be at least 25 years of age, except families with small children.
A Security Deposit hold is required prior to arrival and will automatically be released 14 days after check out unless there are damages or other issu
All guests must sign a rental agreement for every reservation.

Pets

Pets allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs only
1 total (up to 50 lbs per pet)
Note from host: $20 per night pet fee

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Events

No events allowed

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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
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 there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

We should mention

A car is recommended for transportation to and from this property

Property is also known as

orp5b41240x

Lakeside Cottage on Torch Lake Reviews

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 6 out of 7 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 7 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 7 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 7 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 7 reviews

9.2/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Casey C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Awesome property! Torch Lake never disappoints!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Brenna M.

Liked: Cleanliness
It was a beautiful spot, had a great dock with shallow water you can swim in. The host replied very quickly and was very helpful!
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2025

6/10 Okay

Crystal G.

Great location, but daughter got swimmers itch

I had a great time with my family at the cabin. It has an authentic cabin vibe aith limited amenities (no AC, no tub, limited utensils, etc.), which was accurate to what was described in the listing. However, the cabin had a musty smell, including some of the bedding and most towels. There was also A LOT of small black flies in the cabin when we arrived, but they didn’t persist. The cabin quirks were all things that could be tolerated, but my daughter got terrible swimmers itch from swimming in the lake. It was a bummer because she really loves the water and it made her extremely uncomfortable for a couple days until we figured out what was causing her to have welts/hives all over her body (we’re from Northern Minnesota and have never had to deal with swimmers itch). After giving her Benadryl and A LOT of topical hydrocortisone things calmed down. I found some pretreatment that allowed her to swim if she took a shower immediately after getting out of the water. All to say, it didn’t make for the best swimming/water sports experience. But we made the best of it!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Adele G.

Liked: Cleanliness
We loved our stay at the cottage! Very relaxing and beautiful sunset views.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Dan F.

Liked: Cleanliness
Excellent place to stay. Even though the weather did not cooperate we enjoyed our time at Northern Lights cabin. Great view of the sun set right off the dock. Tressi was very accommodating with our stay. Thank you for a very enjoying cabin to stay in. We will definitely be back for another visit.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Judy H.

Liked: Cleanliness

Torch Lake fun

It was a cozy and inviting cabin. The location on the lake was beautiful. We relaxed and enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Javin H.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great weekend

Was a great weekend and the location was ideal!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024