Entire home

The Best of Birch Lake

Photo gallery for The Best of Birch Lake

A circular fire pit with a metal bowl, surrounded by brick, and two green Adirondack chairs facing a calm lake with a dock and boats.
A bedroom with a bed, a nightstand, a window with blinds, and two wall art pieces.
A kitchen with a refrigerator, microwave, sink, and wooden cabinets.
A living room with a brown sofa, a coffee table, and a bookshelf.
Kayaks on a sandy beach with a calm body of water and a dock in the background.

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful

Highlights

  • On the beach
    A rare beachfront property in the area - enjoy direct access to the beach and sea.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Near Grand Traverse Bay

Popular amenities

  • On beach
  • Patio
  • Barbecue grill
  • Refrigerator
  • Internet
  • Washer

Explore the area

View in a map
Elk Rapids, MI
  • Place, Elk Lake
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Place, Grand Traverse Bay
    ‪18 min walk‬
  • Place, Torch Lake
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Airport, Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
    ‪30 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 2

4 Twin Beds

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Dining area

Add dates for prices

Similar properties

Property grounds
Walk to Elk Rapids.Close to Traverse & Charlevoix
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  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Free WiFi
9.8 out of 10, Exceptional, (9 reviews)
Walk to Elk Rapids.Close to Traverse & Charlevoix

About the neighborhood

Elk Rapids

Located in Elk Rapids, this cottage is on the beach. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Lake Michigan and Torch Lake. Guntzviller's Spirit of the Woods Museum and Music House Museum are also worth visiting. Spend some time exploring the area's activities, including winery tours.
View more Cottages in Elk RapidsOpens in a new window
Map
Elk Rapids, MI

What's nearby

  • Elk Lake - 6 min walk - 0.5 km
  • Grand Traverse Bay - 18 min walk - 1.5 km
  • Torch Lake - 7 min drive - 6.6 km
  • Front Street - 28 min drive - 37.7 km
  • Boyne Mountain - 58 min drive - 79.4 km

Getting around

  • Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) - 26 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Oasis Tavern - ‬15 min walk
  • ‪Johnny's Torch Riviera - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Pearl's New Orleans Kitchen - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪The Dam Shop - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Riverwalk Grill and Taproom - ‬5 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is The Best of Birch Lake pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at The Best of Birch Lake?

As of Nov 1, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The Best of Birch Lake on Nov 2, 2026 start from $218, 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?

Onsite parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at The Best of Birch Lake?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Best of Birch Lake?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is The Best of Birch Lake located?

Situated on the beach, this cottage is within 1 mi (2 km) of Elk Lake and Lake Michigan. Grand Traverse Bay and Elk Rapids Golf Club are also within 3 mi (5 km).

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labeled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 4 out of 7 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 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

8.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

8.4/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Little blue cottage in late June

Fabulous cottage that was perfect for our family! We loved coming back to Birch lake and the community of cottages was so welcoming. Close to Village market and Elk Rapids. Shallow water with sandy bottom was great for 10 year old, while my husband and older boys loved kayaking around the lake. The wildlife (loons, ducks, and even a turkey) was just amazing to watch while relaxing by the lake. Stephanie was very helpful and responsive to questions. We can’t wait to visit again next year!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

6/10 Okay

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

Memories

Love Birch Lake!!
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great place to relax!

This property was perfect for a week to enjoy family and the lake. I couldn't have asked for a better location or weather for the week. The lake was warm and the sandy beach entrance and gradual change on water depth was great for my grand daughter to play on the water. Overall my family had a wonderful time.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Listing accuracy

Sister's vacation

Stephanie was excellent at getting back to us with questions and was very helpful. If you are looking for quiet, peaceful, laid back, this is perfect. If you need to be entertained maybe not your place. It was cold and wet when we were here, kids would not have done will. The beach area is beautiful, fire pit is great and has a nice gas grill. If you come for water sports there are lakes everywhere. The lake at house is small and shallow, very clean and sandy, perfect for smaller kids and fishing. But big lakes are very close for fast boats. A couple things there were missing in the listing to be aware of. There is no air or heat. There are box fans and shade on lake side of house. Not sure if fans are enough because it wasn't got when we were here. There is a small electric heater. It got down to 48 one night when we were here and it heater the place up nicely. We kept it on most of the time because it was wet and chilly all week. You do need to keep the porch closed to hear thing up. We were here for relaxation and catch up time and it was perfect for us.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Little Blue Cotrage

Had a great time, lots of toys.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2019
Archival

8/10 Good

Late summer stay on Birch Lake in Elk Rapids

Great location right on the lake for this family friendly cottage. There are kayaks and a dock for mooring a boat. The lake has a bit of a sandy beach and the water is clean and shallow for children. The cottage is roomy for a family and has a separated porch area for play or relaxation. Just a few minutes away from downtown Elk Rapids and the Shorts' production facility and Pull Barn open during the summer months. Located in a quaint lakeside neighborhood that begs to be walked.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2017
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Loved our stay at the little blue cottage!

We had a chance to stay at this lakefront cottage recently and it was just exactly what he needed. From the minute we walked in we felt right at home. Waking up and walking out on the dock to watch the sun rise was so peaceful, the lake was like glass. The water is so clear and it's shallow for a long way out, which is nice. Even when it rained we enjoyed the lake from the screened-in porch. We loved the "diner" style table and played cards to our hearts content. The kids enjoyed watching DVD's and playing with the Wii games. The cottage itself is simple and clean and decorated in warm, inviting colors. We appreciated the fact that there were two bathrooms also. If you stay here you really should check out the library in Elk Rapids which is right on the hill at the Marina. It has an enclosed porch with rocking chairs where you can read and look out on to Lake Michigan. We loved the pizza at Chef Charles and all the little shops and boutiques in town. There is a public beach in town that is lovely and we took long walks there as well. There is a hardware and pharmacy, a coffee shop and bakery-what more could we need? The Village Market grocery store was close by too and they carried a great variety. We try to bring up as much food as we can, but it's good to know that there is a place close by that has anything you might need. At the end of our stay we didn't want to leave. We have rented various places in the past but will definitely be booking our week here for next year-this place is a gem!
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