Sandy beach cottage on Torch Lake, Alden

Photo gallery for Sandy beach cottage on Torch Lake, Alden

A covered patio with a stone pillar, a round table, and a view of a lake with a dock.
A house with a porch, a covered outdoor seating area, and a stone pillar.
A lakeside property with a dock, a small shed, and a house with a covered porch.
A cozy living room with a stone fireplace, a sofa, a dog, and a window with curtains.
A bedroom with a bed, dresser, and two windows with curtains.

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful

Highlights

  • Scenic water view
    Relax and unwind with top-rated water views, offering a scenic experience.
  • On the beach
    A rare beachfront property in the area - enjoy direct access to the beach and sea.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Near Torch Lake

Popular amenities

  • On beach
  • Patio
  • Barbecue grill
  • Pet-friendly
  • Air conditioning
  • Refrigerator

Explore the area

View in a map
Alden, MI
  • Place, Torch Lake
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Front Street
    ‪35 min drive‬
  • Place, Boyne Mountain
    ‪42 min drive‬
  • Airport, Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
    ‪36 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Twin Beds

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 4

2 Twin Beds

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

Add dates for prices

Similar properties

Terrace/patio
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  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Air conditioning
10.0 out of 10, Exceptional, (15 reviews)
Tamarack Lodge, Waterfront on Lake Bellaire

About the neighborhood

Alden

Located in Alden, this vacation home is on the beach. Twisted Fish Gallery and Guntzviller's Spirit of the Woods Museum are cultural highlights, and some of the area's landmarks include Elk Rapids District Library and Historic Elk Rapids Town Hall. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking and water skiing nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking/biking trails and cycling.
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Map
Alden, MI

What's nearby

  • Torch Lake - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • Traverse City Beach - 29 min drive - 41.8 km
  • Front Street - 35 min drive - 47.2 km
  • Boyne Mountain - 42 min drive - 70.0 km
  • SkyBridge Michigan - 50 min drive - 77.6 km

Getting around

  • Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) - 40 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Oasis Tavern - ‬17 min drive
  • ‪Johnny's Torch Riviera - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Pearl's New Orleans Kitchen - ‬21 min drive
  • ‪Blue Water Bistro & Pizzeria - Torch Lake Pizza - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Alden Bar - ‬3 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Sandy Beach Cottage on Torch Lake, in Alden pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Sandy beach cottage on Torch Lake, Alden?

As of Nov 12, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Sandy beach cottage on Torch Lake, Alden on May 27, 2027 start from $712, 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 Sandy Beach Cottage on Torch Lake, in Alden?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Sandy Beach Cottage on Torch Lake, in Alden?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Sandy Beach Cottage on Torch Lake, in Alden located?

Nestled on the beach, this Alden vacation home is 0.1 mi (0.1 km) from Torch Lake and 1.4 mi (2.2 km) from Torch Lake Park. Thayer lake and Grass River Natural Area are also within 6 mi (10 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. 48 out of 66 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 7 out of 66 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 4 out of 66 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 4 out of 66 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 3 out of 66 reviews

8.6/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Check-in

9.4/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.0/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
It was terrific place for our family of 7 adults and two dogs. I loved the oldCabin feel while having all of our conveniences. Chris was great to respond when we had questions etc. Also, it was easy to keep our boat tied up and use the dock.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Host was very friendly, cottage clean and charming. Great cottage for family fun. Plenty of room to dine together, watch tv on rainy days, & play board games. Outdoor grill and picnic table. Side yard for yard games. Lake is shallow far enough out to be perfect for me and the grandkids. Beautiful view of the lake from on dock, near fire pit, or even from the screened in porch. Gorgeous sunsets. Walking distance to town, too!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Absolutely perfect location for Torch Lake and Alden access. Great paved Lane for walking, strolling. Owner responsive and available for as needed interaction. Minimal improvement in curtains (could be thicker) and power outlets (need more 3-prong) for larger groups. Overall wonderful experience.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Super cute, vintage lake house! Pet and family friendly! Beachfront and Walkable to the town of Alden. Was the perfect low key family getaway
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This is the perfect house for family fun. You are right on the water for daytime activities. Perfect for playing board games in the evening! We had a blast!
Stayed 9 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
What a beautiful lake and wonderful location!!! We had an awesome family vacation - close enough for day trips to Mackinaw Island, the Dunes, lighthouses, and wineries. Chris was great! The house is stocked with everything we needed - even a family game we loved! The quiet street was great for walking the baby and short walks to Alden.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Family vacation on the lake

We loved staying in this house! The ease of being able to walk to Alden and access the beach were exactly what our family was looking for. While some parts in the home are older the view and space were well worth it.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Bachelorette weekend

Great little lake cottage. Has pretty much all you need, Beautiful view, quick easy walk to downtown Alden. Not to far from shorts brewery. Chris was friendly and easy to talk with.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Beautiful & Relaxing

Perfect cottage for one or two families. Beautiful view of the lake from inside, screened-in porch, and multiple outdoor seating areas. Sandy beach with a dock for the kids. Walking distance to Alden, which I didn't think would matter, but it was so nice to walk for coffee and muffins in the mornings. Very clean and comfortable. Can't wait to stay here again!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great Torch Getaway

A quaint comfortable cottage with plenty of room and amenities, with an incredible view of the lake and sunsets! The host was ALWAYS quick to respond to questions and went out of his way to make sure we had everything. We will be back!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Torch Lake in your backyard is an absolute dream. We seemed to be the only people on the lake at times in late August. It was eonderful to be able to swim, snorkle and float. We did not see a need to rent a boat but it is an option in the area. Gorgeous, quiet neighborhood with a couple restaurants a very short walk away, several places to walk your dog or yourself and stop and enjoy the views. House is older but open layout and good AC are a real plus. Beds were comfy, too.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great Lake house!

This is a comfortable home right on the lake. Plenty of space for 3 of us and a large dog. We didn’t even use 2 of the bedrooms. Torch Lake is crystal clear and so beautiful! Chris is easy to work with and we enjoyed meeting him! We will return.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2024
Verified review

8/10 Good

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

Comfortable

Comfy home and comfy bed. Enjoyed the screened in porch. No contact person phone number was given to us before arriving. No contact person phone number was posted at the cottage. Up the creek if something happened and needed to contact someone.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Listing accuracy
The house was in a perfect location, and we loved that it was pet friendly. We loved the view of the lake, and the beach was beautiful. The host was very nice and helpful! The problem we had was with vrbo. The cabin was listed as having a hot tub, and it did not. When we asked the host, he stated he knew nothing about it showing it had a hot tub. That was something we all looked for to enjoying. Sitting in the hot tub and enjoying the view. I have already stated this with vrbo and have heard nothing from them. This is my first time using vrbo and I'm not satisfied with vrbo at all! That is why I gave them 1 star!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The place is in an excellent location and beautiful sunsets over lake, and close walking distance to a very small quaint town. Cottage is cute and has been updated in some places very nicely. As it does state it truly is "Grandfather's Cottage". The downside we felt were lack of privacy curtains in the bedrooms. There were very sheer white curtains that were completely see through. It would be very nice if actual privacy curtains or blinds there, so if you wanted to change in a bedroom or shut for some morning sleep in time, not have entire bedroom light at sunrise. The 2 small windows in living room would be nice to have a pull down blind option (there is nothing on these windows) to have privacy from close neighbors if you wanted. There were only two of us, so we hung some bed sheets in bedrooms & improvised with towels in the living room. Electrical outlets are very minimal and very outdated (thus to be expected with age of home). Tough if needing to work with a computer or electronic devices in certain spots/limited capacity. I give it an 8.5/10 for being clean (will admit, I probably have a little OCD on the cleaning scale). Great place if you want to be directly on lake and have the views, along with the BEST feature of being able to bring your fur babies along. Thanks for the adventure!
actual curtains
our makeshift curtains
makeshift living room curtain
cleaning staff "miss"
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025
Verified review

4/10 Poor

Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy
Extremely disappointed with this stay.House was very dirty, didn't appear cleaned recently, spiderwebs/bugs, filth under couch cushions, bedding had stains; oven didn't work; walk-in shower valve broke or required adjustment from host multiple times; washer/dryer are shared, then couldn't use due to washer malfunction; fenced yard is shared, unable to freely use for our dogs due to hosts dogs; window coverings were to sheer/translucent to provide privacy, even in the bathrooms; french doors to back patio were unable to be locked, door knob was broken; patio screen door and screen windows were torn allowing for insects/bugs to enter; box steps down to water from house were in disrepair, making it very difficult for our daughter with special needs to walk down. We ended our stay early due to these continuous problems, culminating with my wife waking to approximately three dozen bug bites on her body. Chris suggested it was probably swimmers itch, but it did not look like a rash.The host, Chris, was staying next door. He was very friendly, but admitted he's never had guests experience as many issues as we had. We feel some kind of compensation and/or a refund would be appropriate, but he made no offer to do so.
Torn screen patio door; adjacent window screens were the same
Box steps to lake
Filth under couch cushion with old dryer sheet
Sheer window coverings; added blankets for privacy in all bedrooms
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

2/10 Terrible

Liked: Check-in, location
Disliked: Listing accuracy

Beautiful sunsets, unsafe security for children from lake & biting bed bugs!!

We loved the features & character of this old cabin with a Great location & Beautiful sunsets!! This place is very neglected which is so sad seeing it was his grandpas…he would be ashamed! Clearly he just cares about the money coming in! No proper security on lake side or secure fencing in front (wobbly Chicken wire between homes 🙄) Our biggest problem was the owner NEVER RESOLVED the safety issue that we addressed the very first night we arrived!! I texted 2 times which he answered with promises & he came over twice which was nice but what good is it if you never help to resolve the issues & make excuses!! He just doesn’t care! No door knobs on the water side of the lake with only a little slide lock on French doors that clearly was eye level that a small child could easily figure out & a porch door that didn’t even have a door knob let alone a lock! Such a hazard for small children that could easily escape & die from drowning!! I spent 2 days of my vacation cleaning & going to the hardware to find something to make it secure the day before our 2 grandsons arrived (3yrs-9mo) to make it SAFE, clean, & presentable!! We left it better than when we arrived! The next issue we had there was biting bed bugs all over the place! My daughter & 9 mo grandson were peppered with bites & huge welts from visiting! 😥 I also encountered sleeping with this residents!! 😖 *if you don’t mind biting bugs & no locks on lake side for children then this is your place! 👍
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on Sep 19, 2023
To start off there are no bed bugs in the house, and never have been. There however can be swimmers itch in the lake, like many inland lakes in Michigan as the water warms up swimmers itch can show up, mostly in the shallows, unfortunately where kids tend to play the most. This is why the bumps only showed up on her grand kids and not anyone else in there group. Not to mention that no one else have ever mentioned bed bugs and would be an on going issue in the reviews if there were any. As far as the safety issue it is so far blown out of portion its crazy. The door at issue is an exterior screen door to a screened in porch. The handle on it did break this year, it is an antique door and I have had to special order the part to fix it. I even explained this to them that it would not be able to be fixed while they were there. The main interior door to the lake side functions more than properly to prevent any sort of safety issue for kids. The fenced in back yard is "shared" with our cottage next door and a renter this year put up the chicken wire on there own accord since they had a potentially aggressive dog they wanted to keep separate. I decided to leave it for the rest of the season so there was some separation of the yards since we allow dogs at both places. For next season we will be doing a more permanent/better solution for separating the two back yards.
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Liked: Location
Disliked: Check-in, communication

Amazing Location, Disappointing Details

READ ENTIRE REVIEW: The location is PERFECT. A few minute walk to downtown Alden with shops, food, and more. The public boat launch is down the road and of course you are directly on Torch Lake with a short boat ride to the sand bar or Torch River. The house itself is a great layout and very spacious. Split essentially into two wings with 2 rooms and 1 bathroom on each side with a great large living and dining area. The screen in porch is great. BUT, the house itself does need A LOT of TLC. The house is lacking for the price you pay. Things like not having handles for doors (ropes as latches), screens with holes letting bugs in (barely held together with tacks which I ended up stepping on one), painters tape in a half painted kitchen, etc. It also lacked the essentials you'd assume to have (spices, Tupperware, charcoal or a lighter for the grill, etc.). Chris is hard to get ahold of. I had messaged him for weeks asking for details on items within the kitchen, clarity on check-in, etc. I heard from him once via text, once in person (just to clear up the confusion on being double booked), and never heard from him on the check out process. We couldn't use one shower for multiple days due to the septic. The yard is fenced, but is SHARED with the house next to you, also "divided" by chickenwire. NOT what the listing says. Also the laundry is again, SHARED with your neighbor. Extremely disappointing to pay so much for items you aren't fully given the true details on.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Torch Lake water is so clean and clear; it was amazing! The location of the cottage is waterfront with a small sandy beach into the lake which was great for launching floatables and for dogs and people walking in for a dip. We enjoyed the cottage accommodations; the beds were comfortable and bedrooms tidy, and the living room/dining room gave our 9-month crawler plenty of space to move about and investigate her toys and the recyclable bottles and cardboard boxes which we had emptied in the course of our stay. It was great being so close to the coffee shop which was an every day event during our stay. The street side provided a great strip for dog walking and greeting neighbors vacationing there and taking the stroller out for a nap time walk. We sat at the end of the dock to enjoy the Perseid Meteor Showers due especially to the New Moon but also to limited light from other sources in the area midweek. The host was helpful and communicated well during our stay, although I did have a challenge getting in touch during the winter to spring. Thanks for the great lake front vacation week!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A very classic cottage in the Northwoods! The sunsets were spectacular and we took full advantage of the daily spectacular show. Chris is an excellent host and was there for us in a jam and otherwise. Wonderful fireplace! Get some firewood!This one is a Gem!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Cottage on the lake

A lovely rustic cottage on the shore line of Torch Lake. A perfect view of Torch Lake through the windows looking out on the lake. There's nothing like listening to waves. The cottage is rather spacious, great location for a short walk into down town Alden. Owner, Chris, quick to respond.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Torch Lake

Comfort Cottage as described
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Beautiful & Relaxing Long Weekend

The property is absolutely beautiful with a sandy shoreline on Torch Lake. We had a truly amazing long weekend with our friends and pups. The cottage is very clean, well appointed and in a great location (very short walk into downtown Alden). The owner Chris was great with communication and we enjoyed having the opportunity to meet him. All in all a wonderful trip!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Lovely

Tall ceilings, spacious rooms, and tasteful decor greeted us as we were transported back to the 1940’s in this lovely cottage. The beach is perfect, the water clear, and the view beautiful. Our only disappointment was one small bedroom containing a trundle bed, which was the access point to a bathroom and another bedroom. It is a memorable place that I’d love to revisit.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022
Verified review

4/10 Poor

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

cottage on torch lake

The property was in a nice location. The property itself didn't meet the standards that we are used to when renting through VRBO.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022
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