The Hermitage: An unplugged getaway in the woods on gorgeous Madeline Island.

This sweet, rustic log cabin is set back from the road and surrounded by trees. With no TV, no Wi-Fi, and poor cell connection, it's a great place for a digital detox. Relax and listen to the music of the wind in the trees.

The cabin is completely wood construction, with a cozy open plan. Downstairs has a living area with a wood stove for chilly evenings, a well-equipped kitchen with a large island, a separate dining room (great for playing board games), and a small bathroom with shower and laundry. Upstairs are two open* loft sleeping spaces, separated by a catwalk, each with a queen-size bed. The upstairs loft spaces are under the eaves and have a little less than 6 feet of clearance at the center beam and in the dormers; elsewhere the ceiling slants down at an angle. (*By "open," we mean there is no fourth wall, so not a lot of privacy.)

There is a large screened-in porch where you can enjoy the view of the woods in all weather and an open-air back deck that catches sun throughout the day. A separate yoga studio with large windows and tatami mats provides a lovely, light-filled space to stretch or meditate. Additional amenities include a spacious outdoor shower cubicle with hot and cold water, a fire pit, and a Weber BBQ grill. Wooden walkways surround the cabin for ease of access to the back yard, shower, and yoga studio.

The cabin was originally built as a spiritual retreat. We love it as a place to truly get away--disconnect from the grid and reconnect with the basics of life. There is a landline telephone with local service for any necessary calls, but there is little or no cell signal, no internet, and no TV to interrupt your serenity. Window fans typically provide sufficient cooling in summer (no AC). Cabin is kept warm and cozy in cooler months by the wood stove and propane heating unit.

About a mile and a half away is the town beach, where you can walk sandy beaches, hike through the woods or along the shoreline path to Big Bay State Park, rent a canoe and paddle on the lagoon or to the nearby cliffs, and, of course, swim. In town, about six miles from the cabin, you’ll find groceries, galleries, the Madeline Island Museum*, a fabulous library (with Wi-Fi if you need to connect), and a variety of delicious dining options.

* From the museum’s website: The Madeline Island Museum celebrates all of the cultures who have called the island home. The Ojibwe and other tribes made their home on Madeline Island, the largest of the Apostle Islands, for hundreds of years before European contact. The island was also one of the earliest areas of European exploration and settlement in the interior of North America, serving as a post for the fur trade, commercial fishing, and missionary activities.

FOR REVIEWS, please see our listing on another site, which should come up with a search of "Hermitage Cabin 37659546". We have moved our listing from the other site as of April 2025, so you won't be able to book there, but that's where the reviews live for now.