Entire home

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

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

Beach
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Property grounds
Beach
Exterior

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 8106 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Parking available
  • Pet-friendly
  • Barbecue grill
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

Map
Grayling, MI
  • AuSable Artisan Village
    ‪9 min drive‬
  • Au Sable River
    ‪19 min drive‬
  • Hartwick Pines State Park
    ‪23 min drive‬

Room options

About the area

Grayling

Located in Grayling, this vacation home is on a lake, within a 10-minute drive of AuSable Artisan Village and Hanson Hills Recreation Area. .This family-friendly vacation home is 5.2 mi (8.4 km) from Crawford County Historical Museum and 5.7 mi (9.2 km) from Wakeley Lake.

What's nearby

  • AuSable Artisan Village - 9 min drive - 8.6 km
  • Wakeley Lake - 10 min drive - 9.2 km
  • Grayling Country Club - 10 min drive - 9.6 km
  • Au Sable River - 19 min drive - 10.7 km
  • Hartwick Pines State Park - 23 min drive - 16.7 km

Getting around

  • Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) - 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

About this property

Entire place

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

Unwind 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.
Make yourself comfortable in this air-conditioned vacation home, featuring a kitchen with a refrigerator and an oven. There's a private patio. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and a DVD player is provided for your entertainment. Conveniences include a microwave and a coffee/tea maker.
Make use of convenient amenities, which include an arcade/game room and barbecue grills.
Guests will find features like internet access and onsite parking.

Property manager

Brenda Challender

Languages

English

Property amenities

Ski

  • Cross-country skiing nearby
  • Snowboarding nearby

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Car required
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Hob
  • Ice maker
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 4 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Living room
  • Separate dining area

Entertainment

  • Books
  • DVD player
  • Games
  • TV with cable/satellite channels

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Firepit
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Patio
  • Yard

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property
  • Note from host: Smoking outside only

Location highlights

  • In a rural location
  • Near a hospital
  • On a lake

Things to do

  • Air hockey
  • Arcade/game room
  • Billiards/pool table
  • Foosball table
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Hunting nearby
  • Jet skiing nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Sledding nearby
  • Snowmobiling nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Water skiing nearby
  • Water tubing nearby
  • Wildlife walks nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • At least 80% lighting from LEDs
  • Unit size: 1,140 square feet

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 21

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Restrictions apply; for more information contact the property at the number on the booking confirmation
Note from host: $50/pet refundable deposit. Limit 2 dogs

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

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 indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock
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 required for transportation to and from this property

Property is also known as

Hilltop Cottage Your Upnorth Getaway Lake Margrethe House
Hilltop Cottage Your Upnorth Getaway Lake Margrethe Grayling
Hilltop Cottage Your Upnorth Getaway Lake Margrethe
Hilltop Cottage You Up North Getaway Lake Margrethe 4 Bed/ House
Hilltop Cottage Your Upnorth Getaway Near Lake Margrethe
Hilltop Cottage You Up North Getaway Lake Margrethe Pet Friendly
Hilltop Cottage Your Upnorth Getaway Near Lake Margrethe
Hilltop Cottage Your Upnorth Getaway Near Lake Margrethe
Hilltop Cottage Your Upnorth Getaway Near Lake Margrethe

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

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 80 out of 92 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 11 out of 92 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 92 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 92 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 92 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

bob r.

Liked: Cleanliness

For storm damge

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

10/10 Excellent

lacey b.

Liked: Cleanliness

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

Zach J.

Liked: Cleanliness

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

Crystal W.

Liked: Cleanliness

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

Wendy K.

Liked: Cleanliness

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

Frederick G.

Liked: Cleanliness

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

Christina S.

Liked: Cleanliness

Very nice stay…not handicap accessible!

This was a great property and location!! Literally right near an amazing beach for littles! My 2 year old had a blast playing in the very shallow water. The house was great - rooms were very nice. House stocked great. Now…people should note that this house is not accessible. My mom broke her hip a month before the trip, AFTER we booked the house. Hence - still a five star review because we didn’t know that she was going to fall before the trip. But her walker was not able to fit the doorway for the bathroom, and it was hard to push on the very plush carpet. Just want people to be aware of this. The house and location were seriously amazing!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

kassandra b.

Liked: Cleanliness

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

Sherry S.

Liked: Cleanliness

Family Vacation

The property was beautiful, the house was very nice. Kitchen could use a little updating, but was functional. We really enjoyed our stay. It would be nice to maybe let guest know what day is garbage pick up.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Genevieve B.

Liked: Cleanliness

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

10/10 Excellent

Darla L.

Liked: Cleanliness

Comfortable and clean

Our family of 7 enjoyed spreading out in this well stocked, clean, cabin vibe setting. The new kitchen was great. The pool table was a highlight. The lake was a blast!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

8/10 Good

Tenishia G.

Liked: Cleanliness

Nice home with plenty of room

Enjoyed the game room downstairs. Plenty of parking for our 2 big trailers. Has easy trail access
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Naida A., Milan, MI

Liked: Cleanliness

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

Kevin H., Oakwood, Ohio

Liked: Cleanliness

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

Nicole F.

Liked: Cleanliness

Amazingly relaxing

We had such an amazing time. The house was warm and cozy. Our boys had a great time in the basement with all the games, mostly the pool table. So much so if we went and did something they couldn't wait to get back at it. We all had a fantastic time and will definitely stay here again.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lisa T.

Liked: Cleanliness

Fun winter getaway

Quiet location (in the winter at least). It was great having the games in the basement and being able to bring our dog. Great water pressure, warm house, comfy beds. Hostess was very responsive as well. Would definitely keep on our list of houses to return to.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kimberly S.

Liked: Cleanliness

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

Blondie B.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great place

This home was clean, spacious, and set up with two different entrance/exits if some of your party wanted to come and go without bothering anyone else. Tons of movies downstairs although I would have liked to have had some type of regular cable down there as well for football, hockey, or whatever sports teams were playing. We ended up getting snowed in for an extra day and it was no problem adding on that extra day. The property manager was very polite and easy to get ahold of as we lost power one day because of the weather and they had a crew out of fix it within an hour! Home has everything you could possibly want. The kitchen was stocked with everything you need to cook all your meals. Washer and dryer was also included. This home could sleep 10 very comfortably. 3 bed one full bath upstairs and 1 bedroom full bath downstairs plus a pull out couch. I forgot to mention the pool table, along with air hockey and ping pong table. It's centrally located in beautiful Grayling close to town which has very quaint restaurants and cute little shops for souvenirs. Close to the trails for summer and winter play on the machines. We will definitely stay many more times and I highly recommend this beautiful place for a vacation, retreat or just a long weekend! Super comfy
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kacy H.

Liked: Cleanliness

Winter Retreat

We loved the home it was perfect including the basement. Was a cozy stay inside since the weather did not cooperate.
Stayed 12 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kenny B.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great as always

Prime location for all activities. Quiet and relaxing.
Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tina A.

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

10/10 Excellent

Cheryl B., Clarklake, MI 49234

Liked: Cleanliness

Home away from home

This was our third stay at Hilltop Cottage. Every time we have really enjoyed ourselves. The owners are very friendly. Very clean and the beds are comfortable. A great home away from home!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ken V.

Liked: Cleanliness

Paddle trip

House was very clean, comfy and well stocked. If there were pets, they must have been goldfish!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

shawn c.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great place

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

10/10 Excellent

Leanna W., Indiana, United States

Liked: Cleanliness

Great get away

This property was just as it is listed. Game room was awesome for our kids ages 7-15. We SO appreciated the covered, dry fire wood and cardboard fire starters. No rental we’ve stayed in has ever provided firewood. We did have to go buy an igniter, but no big deal. The only thing we didn’t like, were the showers. We are a tall family. They guys are 6’3”. I am 5’8”. The kids are small. But, the shower head upstairs is adjustable but stripped out. So it wouldn’t stay up. We managed, no big deal. Overall, a great stay!!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023