Entire home

Backwoods Retreat | Abutus Lake | Pontoon Rentals

Enjoy serene nature views from your private porch in Traverse City!

Kitchenette: Modern design with sleek appliances and a panoramic beach view for delightful meals!

Enjoy light-filled moments in a stylish space with comfy seating and a functional kitchen!

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

Excellent

2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 41000 sq ft

Popular amenities

Hot tub
Pet-friendly
Barbecue grill
Kitchen
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

Explore the area

Traverse City, MI

Arbutus Lake
‪1 min drive‬
Spider Lake
‪7 min drive‬
Traverse City Beach
‪18 min drive‬
Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
‪14 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Primary

1 Queen Bed

Secondary

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom

Bath #1

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio

Porch or lanai

Kitchen

Garden

About this property

Backwoods Retreat | Abutus Lake | Pontoon Rentals

Escape to this rustic and updated lakefront resort on all-sports Arbutus Lake, just 20 minutes from downtown Traverse City! This unit has two separate bedrooms and one bathroom. This pet friendly space is perfect for families and groups. You will have access to the resort's sandy beachfront, docks, rental boats (please inquire for availability) with interiors designed for modern comfort.

🍷 Discover Traverse City & Beyond:

✔Leelanau & Old Mission Peninsula wineries – Award-winning wine tours
✔Downtown Traverse City – Boutique shopping, craft breweries & fine dining
✔Turtle Creek Casino – Gaming, live entertainment & nightlife
✔Grand Traverse Bay Beaches – Relax at East Bay Park & Clinch Park
✔Grand Traverse Resort Golf Course-Set a tee time at the Bear, the Wolverine or Spruce Run
✔Grand Traverse Commons-Experience unique boutiques, galleries, restaurants or a guided historical tour

⛷️ Outdoor Adventures Year-Round:

✔Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore – Scenic hikes & breathtaking overlooks
✔Brown Bridge Quiet Area-1300 acres with 6 miles of trails to explore the Boardman River
✔TART Trail – Walking & biking with stunning views
✔Skiing & snowboarding at Mt. Holiday & Crystal Mountain
✔Vasa Trail – Mountain biking, cross-country skiing & snowshoeing (3K-25K loops)
✔Fishing, kayaking & boating on the region’s beautiful inland lakes

🎉 Nearby Events & Festivals:

✔Keystone Soccer Complex – Perfect for tournament teams & families
✔Great Lakes Equestrian Festival at Flintfields Horse Park
✔National Cherry Festival – A celebration of Traverse City’s rich cherry heritage
✔Traverse City Restaurant Week – Prix fixe dining at top local eateries
✔Traverse City Comedy Festival – Laugh therapy with top comedians
✔Iceman Cometh Challenge – Epic 30-mile mountain bike race every November

Whether you're seeking a peaceful lakeside retreat or an adventure-packed getaway, this prime location offers something for everyone in every season.

Book now and make unforgettable memories in Traverse City on Arbutus Lake!

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Find out more

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Hot tub

Kitchen

Pet-friendly

Free WiFi

Air conditioning

Water view

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Hot tub
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 21

Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

Pets allowed

Must be leashed, picked up after in the yard, not

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.

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 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 that there is a smoke detector on the property

Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

If you cancel your booking, you'll be subject to the host's cancellation policy. In accordance with UK consumer law, property booking services are not subject to the right of withdrawal.

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Traverse City

Located in Traverse City, this holiday home is on the beach. Shoppers can check out Front Street, while everyone can enjoy the natural beauty of Lake Michigan and Grand Traverse Bay. Centre Ice Arena and Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf are also worth visiting.

View more Holiday homes in Traverse City

Traverse City, MI

What's nearby

Arbutus Lake - 1 min drive - 0.0 km
Spider Lake - 7 min drive - 5.4 km
Centre Ice Arena - 13 min drive - 10.8 km
Traverse City Beach - 18 min drive - 17.3 km
Traverse City State Park - 19 min drive - 17.2 km

Getting around

Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital) - 13 min drive

Restaurants

‪Peegeo's - ‬12 min drive
‪K I Bar And Grill - ‬9 min drive
‪Village Ice Cream Shoppe - ‬9 min drive
‪Taqueria TC Latino Dos - ‬10 min drive
‪Subway - ‬9 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Backwoods Retreat | Abutus Lake | Pontoon Rentals pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Backwoods Retreat | Abutus Lake | Pontoon Rentals?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Backwoods Retreat | Abutus Lake | Pontoon Rentals?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Backwoods Retreat | Abutus Lake | Pontoon Rentals located?

Situated on the beach, this holiday home is steps away from Forest Lakes and Arbutus Lake. Spider Lake is 2.4 mi (3.9 km) away.

8.8

Excellent

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

9.0/10

Cleanliness

8.8/10

Check-in

9.2/10

Communication

8.8/10

Location

9.2/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Cara A.

16 May 2024

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

Wonderful Place to Stay!

My husband and I absolutely loved our weekend spent here! The area surrounding the building is extremely peaceful and it’s a close distance from just about everything!

Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Nathaniel W.

29 Sept 2024

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

Awesome place for glamping with friends!

Cabin #4 was amazing. Had all the comforts of home combined with all the fun of camping. The owners were incredibly easy to reach, super friendly and answered all my questions quickly. Overall an awesome place to stay and I’d highly recommend!

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Griffin C.

14 Jun 2024

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

Quick Getaway

Great little place for our family of five for a quick up north getwaway. House was clean and fresh and cozy. Nice view of lake from porch. Only comment is parking was on a slope and not ideal but it was doable.

Stayed 1 night in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sarah H.

6 Aug 2023

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

Modern cabin with everything you need!!

Awesome stay! Beautiful location with a modern cabin! All new appliances, larger bedrooms PLUS everything you need to have that home away from home feeling. We used this property as a home base while exploring Traverse City (about 13 min away) and Sleeping Bear Dunes ( about 50 min away). Would love to stay longer next time and explore the beautiful lake with one of the pontoon rentals! 5/5 stay and will be returning!!!

Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Guy S.

12 Oct 2023

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

Arbutis

My family vacationed here for years. Then it was sold. Sold again and the new owners have done a great job of rehabing the place. Can't vwait to get back.

Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2023

8/10 Good

D M.

11 Aug 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peace and Quiet

A decent place. Beds were comfy . Appliances all new. Could use more towels. AC worked great. Very quiet area. If you want to avoid traffic and crowds this is the place. Lake is beautiful.

Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Cindy L.

20 Aug 2023

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

Wonderful Stay #4

We stayed in cabin #4. Beautiful view off the deck looking out over the lake. Cabin was clean and just what we expected based on the accurate pictures. We brought our own kayaks, however they have kayaks you can use. We rented a pontoon to enjoy the beautiful clear lake. Would definitely stay there again. Only suggestion would be to have cleaning stuff available, such as a broom and dustpan to keep up on the sand that gets tracked in.

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

2/10 Terrible

Carol S.

16 Sept 2023

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

Very Very Disappointed with area

We did not feel safe in the area at all. Also the area was surrounded by construction materials & not very nice cabins. Absolutely not a vacation area. We did not stay at the property. We asked for a refund & the property owner refused. I will be contacting my cc company to dispute the charges.

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023