Welcome to Lake Avalon! This crystal clear lake is Michigan's best kept secret! Featured in the National Geographic as one of the cleanest lakes in the world!!! Fishing, boating, swimming or just kick back and relax. This seasonal rustic cottage has been freshly painted, has crisp a/c, has new stainless steel appliances in the kitchen and has some of the best views on the lake. It has a brand new dock with a huge seating area at the end (2025). Its nestled among the trees, but is only 40 steps from the water. Its beauty is unrivaled between the crystal clear waters, unbridled nature and picturesque surrises and sunsets.
The house is directly on the water with 95 feet of private lakefront footage, with a view like no other! The house, lovingly named the Treehouse, is nestled hillside in the trees with a perfect view of the lake from nearly every room in the house. Perfect for privacy and tranquility. The deck expands the length of the home and has ample seating for everyone. Sleeps up to 10, fully stocked with linens, pots, pans, Keurig coffee maker, Weber gas grill, cable TV, kayaks, canoe, paddle boat, washer/dryer, fire pit with firewood provided and optional add-on pontoon.
•Dock, 4 kayaks, a canoe, a paddleboat, a pontoon raft for the kids to jump off of all provided free with rental. •Available for rent...pontoon for $2,000 weekly. No partial rentals...sorry. •Saturday to Saturday weekly rentals only. Check-in 4pm, check-out 10am.
****If this property is already taken for the dates you’d like or you need more space…check out our other listing which is directly across the lake. Property #3006062 (the yellow beach house). This property sleeps 15, has a/c, 2.5 baths and is $750/night.
Hillman is home to the ThunderBay Golf Resort. They offer fall color tours and elk viewing tours during the Fall months and elk drawn sleigh rides in the winter. The Treehouse is approximately 25 miles to Alpena (Lake Huron) and roughly one hour from the Mackimaw Bridge. Perfect for a day trip!
Sorry...no pets/animals allowed and NO SMOKING/VAPING!
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The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Load and start the dishwasher
Gather used towels
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights, lock the doors and return the keys
Be sure to clean and cover BBQ.
Make sure all dishes are done and put away.
Please put key back under doormat before departing.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
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
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
Hillman
Located in Hillman, this cottage is on the waterfront. Brush Creek Mill and Elowsky Mill are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Clear Lake State Park and Turtle Lake. Enjoy the area's slopes with cross-country skiing and snowboarding, and don't miss out on the snowmobiling and sledging.
Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary - 42 min drive - 60.7 km
Ocqueoc Falls - 43 min drive - 58.1 km
Grand Lake - 46 min drive - 81.1 km
Getting around
Alpena, MI (APN-Alpena County Regional) - 31 min drive
Restaurants
Black Squirrel - 8 min drive
Chauncey's Pub - 10 min drive
Dairy Queen - 8 min drive
Jacques Restaurant - 8 min drive
On Top Of The Hill - 10 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Lakefront Cottage on Gorgeous Lake Avalon pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Lakefront Cottage on Gorgeous Lake Avalon ?
As of 8 May, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Lakefront Cottage on Gorgeous Lake Avalon on 7 Sept, 2026 start from S$622, 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 Lakefront Cottage on Gorgeous Lake Avalon ?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Lakefront Cottage on Gorgeous Lake Avalon ?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Lakefront Cottage on Gorgeous Lake Avalon ?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Lakefront Cottage on Gorgeous Lake Avalon located?
This family-friendly Hillman cottage is located on the waterfront, 4.9 mi (7.9 km) from Brush Creek Mill, and within 20 mi (32 km) of Clear Lake State Park and Turtle Lake. Lee's Miniature Golf and Laser Team Challenge are also within 32 miles (52 km).
Reviews
9.2
Wonderful
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Amazing trip! Outstanding location! The mix of hard packed sand and rocks near the shore was perfect for our group of ladies who love rock hounding, boating and just floating in the lake. Lake Avalon is a hidden gem!
Absolutely stunning lake. Water looks like the Carribean...just a little colder. Cottage was very nice with all of the amenities that you need. 4 bedrooms make it very nice for larger groups as well. Also, it is a private lot and you feel isolated from the rest of the lake which is very nice.
Lake and area is beautiful. House is decent, excellent view of the lake. Beach area is swimmable and sandy. Rented the pontoon which worked great for my group.
We had a very relaxing stay on this beautiful lake! We got to be the first renters at the Treehouse! We absolutely loved kayaking every morning & got to use the pontoon boat on our last day...thanks for a great start to our vacation!
Michelle R.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 7 Aug, 2023
It was wonderful having you as our first renters at the treehouse!
The view is what you stay for! The dock was such a great addition. We kayaked daily. The house had everything we needed. It is an older house, the floors are uneven and of course you will have a bug or two but it was all apart of the charm for us! We plan to return again. :)
The property was amazing. Very clean and welcoming. Communication with the owners was excellent. The owners nicknamed this house, the treehouse, which is an excellent name as you sit above the lake with great views not only of the lake but the sunset. Our family spent most of our time on the private dock which was big enough for four chairs and plenty of room for others to sit with their feet in the water. We also really enjoyed swimming out to the private pontoon raft. The lake was not busy and we took advantage of the kayaks never being concerned with too many boats on the lake. In the evenings the outdoor deck was perfect for watching the sunset, eating as a family and playing games. Tons of room! We also really enjoyed having a fire pit with plenty of wood. This was our first time renting this house and we will definitely be back.
Amanda M.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025
Verified
4/10 Poor
Judy R.
3 Sept, 2023
Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy
Great location, house is not as described.
House was poorly described and not what we expected. Infested with chipmunks running through the house leaving fecus and urine in the cabinets and on dishware. Floors in the house were soft and the deck was mismatched and not to code along with some boards that were very soft. The dock was unstable and leaning by the end of the week.
The lake was amazing and sandy. We spent most of our time in the water.
Judy R.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 4 Sept, 2023
The house is described as rustic and in the woods, with that comes an occasional unwanted guest as it is in the middle of the woods. When the renter informed us of a chipmunk, we promptly took care of it. We haven't had an issue since. The house is on a cement slab, so I'm not certain how the floors could be soft. There is new laminate wood flooring throughout the home. No carpet in any of the rooms. It did appear that a past renter must have bumped into the dock making it lean, which was stabilized after their check- out. Had we been informed of this issue during their stay, a maintenance man would have been sent to repair it promptly.
Our family of 5 (including two teens) had a fantastic week at this gorgeous lake and lovely cottage and community. The owners thought of most anything we might need including beach towels, lake toys, games, firewood, laundry essentials, a well-stocked kitchen, etc. They were excellent about communicating with us. We spent the week, enjoying the gorgeous clear lake water, kayaks, paddle boat, pontoon dock, and pontoon boat. This is a gem of a lake! The cottage has amazing views and has been renovated to provide a very peaceful environment inside and out.
The Hillman community is quiet and very friendly. My husband enjoyed a visit to the local barbershop. Our family enjoyed the local pizza shop and Hillman Market/Grocery store.
Our family likes to bike. We took advantage of the proximity to Mackinac Island (1 hour to ferry) and the Huron Sunrise Trail (Rogers City - 30 min away) to enjoy some beautiful bike rides.
Beth M.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 7 Aug, 2023
Thank you for your kind words! We hope to see you in the future!😎☀️💛
The address is actually 17569 Avalon Drive Hilman, MI. If you use the address on the listing you will be lost. Also the number for the cabin is on tree by the entrance of the driveway. We spent an hour searching for the property. There are a lot of steps to get down to the lake so anyone with issues with steps (elderly/problems with walking etc) this would not be the best place for you.
The home provided all the essentials we needed to keep us comfortable. The beds were so comfortable & we all slept really well! The kitchen had plenty of dishes and pots/pans so we could cook.
The cabin had games, movies, books, floaties and kayaks (we didn’t use the kayaks) but it had essentials for a family to enjoy afternoons together inside and out.
Towels and linens were provided which was wonderful! My kids LOVED the heavy fluffy comforters in the porch room!
Communication with host was great! If we are in the area ever again I would definitely rent from them again!
We’re a family of five with kids ranging from 5 to 11. We had a great time staying here. We rented the pontoon and used it every day. The kids especially enjoyed the paddle boat. It was their “yacht” and they made numerous trips back and forth between the dock and the swim platform. The lake is as advertised, with crystal clear water, and a shallow sloping entry without any weeds. It was beautiful. The area is quiet but we were able to get everything we needed in Hillman. We ventured over to Alpena to see Lake Huron, had a blast at Arzo sports and amusement park and tried several local restaurants. Overall it was a great experience.
Lake Avalon is a true gem! The lake is insane beautiful, warm and fun for any activities our family wanted to do. The pontoon rental was perfect. Sunsets out on the lake were truly magical. Plenty of space for my husband and I and 4 teenagers. We cooked dinner each night and enjoyed relaxing on the deck overlooking the lake. Enjoyed some family time around the firepit as well. The hosts were awesome communicators and were immediately responding when we reached out. Keep in mind this is an up north lake cabin in the woods, not a 4 star resort. If you come with those expectations, you will not be disappointed. We would definitely return just for the sunsets alone :)
The water is the color of the Caribbean when the sun hits it. This listing does not have a sandy beach, air or heat however none of those are needed as a nice breeze goes through the cabin and fans are provided. Beds and house is clean and comfortable. Make sure to rent the pontoon for added fun. House has a large assortment of movies and games. Owners are very responsive if needed. Will stay again if available and in the area.