Bear Cottage is an original logging camp and was built in the late 1800’s when the area was a booming mill town. The history of Bear Cottage has been told for generations and it remains one of the oldest, if not the oldest, cabin on the treasured and pristine Star Lake.
In fact, the cabin was built miles from where it currently stands and later dragged via a team of horses across a frozen Star Lake in the early 1900's. Over the years it has been a place for resting during the area’s logging days, and more recently, was one of the camp cabins at the renowned Tony Rizzo’s Silver Musky Resort, where top anglers stayed and enjoyed the bountiful fishing at Star Lake.
In an effort to retain its history, minimal improvements have been made to the two-bedroom cabin, however, there is now a fully functioning kitchen and remodeled bathroom, air conditioning for the hot summer nights, and a natural gas fireplace for cool spring and fall mornings.
Bear Cottage is just steps away from a sandy lakefront with a private pier for your swimming, boating, or fishing enjoyment. It also sits at the mouth of Little Star Creek, which flows into the lake. Here, you'll find yourself enjoying a late night around the lakeside fire pit, or an early morning cup of coffee in the screened porch listening to the gentle flow of the creek, the croak of a bullfrog, or the call of a loon.
If you are looking to enjoy all that the Northwoods has to offer, as well a piece of history and an unplugged budget-friendly lakeside cabin, then Bear Cottage is the place for you.
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Spend your Vacation Sleeping right on the shore of Beautiful Star Lake!
Star Lake
Spend your Vacation Sleeping right on the shore of Beautiful Star Lake!
Pets allowed: dogs less than 23 kg per pet (limit one pet total)
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Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Important information
You need to know
Property # 2193744vb
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 indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
About the area
Sayner
Located in Sayner, this cabin is on the waterfront. Heart of Vilas County Bike Trail - Boulder Junction and Saint Germain Golf Club are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Sylvania Wilderness and White Birch Lake. Eliason Hardware and Lumber and Elmer's Fun Park are also worth visiting. Looking to get your feet wet? Jet skiing, waterskiing and power boating adventures can be found near the property.
Eliason Hardware and Lumber - 16 min drive - 16.3 km
Vilas County Historical Museum - 16 min drive - 17.3 km
Big Saint Germain Lake - 21 min drive - 24.9 km
Getting around
Rhinelander, WI (RHI-Oneida County) - 68 min drive
Restaurants
Sayner Pub - 17 min drive
Stillwaters - 18 min walk
Murmuring Waters On Lost Lake - 20 min drive
The Hillside Tavern & Grill - 9 min drive
Sterns M and M Ice Cream - 16 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Rustic Cabin Steps From The Water On Star Lake pet-friendly?
Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 1 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.
How much does it cost to stay at Rustic Cabin Steps From The Water On Star Lake?
As of 9 May, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Rustic Cabin Steps From The Water On Star Lake on 10 May, 2026 start from S$226, 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 at Rustic Cabin Steps From The Water On Star Lake?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Rustic Cabin Steps From The Water On Star Lake?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Rustic Cabin Steps From The Water On Star Lake?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Rustic Cabin Steps From The Water On Star Lake located?
Situated on the waterfront, this cabin is within 9 miles (15 km) of White Birch Lake, Dorothy Dunn Lake and White Sand Lake. Eliason Hardware and Lumber and Vilas County Historical Museum are also within 9 miles (15 km).
Reviews
9.4
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Such a delightful place! We love Bear Cottage and look forward to staying there again in the future. Rob is a fabulous property manager that is always available to take care of your needs.
We had a great time sitting by the lake, kayaking and hiking. I asked the host Rob for directions to a couple hiking trailheads and he got back to us immediately with the details. Glad we chose this vacation.
The cabin is very rustic on outside, but inside is very comfortable. It was nice to meet property manager. We had a blast catching fish and enjoying the lake and many establishments in the area.
Had a wonderful late summer stay at Bear Cottage on the shore of Star Lake. A lovely visit with loon, beaver, muskrat, and eagle sightings. Can't wait to be back soon!
Bear Cottage is our Happy Place. From the rustic cottage, to the beautiful lake, the animals, fowl, reptiles to the everything nature it is perfect on all levels. A it if futhings to do in the area including hiking, swimming at other lakes ( we do lake chasing), waterfall casing ( so any to see), horseback riding at theGrassyCreek ranch, farmers markets, flea markets……. Hosts are amazing!
This is a wonderful small cabin. If you enjoy the historical value of the property, don’t pass this up. Wonderful sandy area steps away from the door to enjoy the clear water of Star Lake. This cabin is perfect for getting the rest you need or a break from the sun.
We were very comfortable in this cozy cabin. Had fun fishing and biking. We took advantage of the row boat provided. Only drawback, for us, was that the shore was weedier than we would have liked… so we did not swim.
We really enjoyed our stay there! We got to feed the ducks and caught a lot of blue gills. The view was amazing and everything inside was very clean. Rob was very great to work with & gave us some restaurant names to try! The neighbors were friendly and the cute and friendly dog came over to say hi! Highly recommend staying here.
Property was clean and any problem we had we could text Rob and it was taken care of. Slightly crowded in the cabin, maybe less furniture and more table/counter space would be nice. Loved the screen porch.
We really enjoyed our time at Bear Cottage. Only a few feet to waters edge allowed us it see ducks a beaver, 2 bald eagles a heron and other birds! A short ride brought us deer, porcupines, a partridge, and gorgeous trees. The night sky was so clear we could see the Milky Way. We’ll be back!!
Third year staying at Bear Cottafe did not disappoint. Great family destination for quality positive time together. Close to trails, horse back riding ect…. The lake is beautiful as is the Northwoods. Animal sittings are amazing! Lake is quiet and the cabin is beautiful! Rob and his wife are amazing to deal with if there are any issues! We are sad to leave every year!
We thought it was a little pricey. Pretty small cabin. Dresser drawers were hard to open and close. Pier should extend out farther as boat bottomed out as very shallow. Host was great!
We had a great time. A few errors in the posting and no hot tub. The shower is quite a tight squeeze. The beds were good and the location is amazing. Kitchen is small if you like to cook hard to find spots to prep. Overall we would absolutely go back. Communication with host was good and easy
It rained almost nonstop during our 7 days.
So we were stuck inside a lot, the cabin is “nice” but it would have been better with Wi-Fi.
Property manager was great. The location feels like you are staying in someone’s yard. We wanted to bring our little dog with us, so our choices were limited, we don’t usually vacation during peak season either but it seemed pricey.
This property strikes a charming balance between quaintness and modern amenities, making it perfect for today's needs. It offers a delightful retreat back to nature, where you can feel the soft ground beneath your feet and relax by the shore with your toes in the water, or snuggle next to a cozy fire outside. Ideal for a getaway, you can spend your time catching small bluegill off the dock or take your boat out to explore the many other fishing opportunities around the lake. I absolutely love this place and will definitely continue to stay here.
Love being on Star Lake but the Bear Cottage needs work. The screen porch is great but the door does not close so it is defeating the purpose. Rooms are dark and crowded. Why are there serving pieces for 36 people when there is hardly room for 3? Was hoping it would be better this time but it was not. Kind of a bummer.
Our family had a wonderful week on the shores of Star Lake in Bear Cottage. The cottage was very clean, comfortable, and cozy. A campfire by the water under a full moon can't be beat! A great retreat and setting to spend a week in the northwoods. Our dog had a great time and we loved that it was pup friendly! We will be back next year.
Love Bear Cottage! Second year here and we will be back next year! Perfect destination for rest and relaxing in a beautiful setting! Wish I can be there all year round!
Kimberly W.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022
About the host
Hosted by Rob Errington
Languages:
English
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests