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Unwind at Hilltop Cottage - By Lake Margrethe "Dog Friendly & has a Game Room!!"

Lakefront vacation home with kitchen and patio

Photo gallery for Unwind at Hilltop Cottage - By Lake Margrethe "Dog Friendly & has a Game Room!!"

Property grounds
Property grounds
Beach
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Exterior
Escape to Hilltop Cottage, nestled near the serene Lake Margrethe. Enjoy a peaceful retreat with 3 queen size Sealy Posturepedic beds and convenient amenities like towels, bedding, and kitchen equipment. Explore the spacious downstairs area featuring a pool table, foosball table, air hockey and more games for endless fun.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 81140 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Parking available
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Kitchen

Add dates for prices

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Unwind at Hilltop Cottage - By Lake Margrethe "Dog Friendly & has a Game Room!!"

Come enjoy the spacious Hilltop Cottage located near the gorgeous Lake Margrethe! Conveniently located 2 walking blocks from the waters edge and close to snowmobile and ORV trails, this cottage has everything needed for a great up-north getaway. Snowmobile trails are less than a 1/4 mile away! Snowmobile from the front door to the trails, or from the trailhead nearby. Road end lake access, as well as 1.2 miles from the only public boat launch and state park on the lake.

Located on a secluded road end, this cottage allows privacy for all group types. This cottage is set up for your convenience. Rental includes towels, bedding, kitchen equipment, etc. for a simple stay away from home.
All three queen size beds are Sealy Posturepedic pillow tops, making for an amazing night of sleep!

We are working on remodeling the 1970's era finished downstairs with new furniture. It currently has one bedroom (with queen bed) and 1 bathroom. There is also a pool table, foosball table, air hockey, and table tennis. A small bar (sadly not stocked) is also located downstairs. We find that many guest enjoy hanging out down there after a full day of play. The downstairs is a walkout, and is also a great space to enter from the backyard and leave snowmobile suits and gear.

Guest have access to the entire house and yard. Fire pit area in the back yard with some fire wood supplied (enough to start your fire). Large picnic table located out there year-round. No separate seating provided out there during the winter mounts. 8 chairs provided during summer months, but stored up near house. Grill on the back deck May-October.

Property amenities

Ski

  • Cross-country skiing nearby
  • Snowboarding nearby

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Car required
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Ice maker
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 4 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Living room
  • Separate dining area

Entertainment

  • Books
  • DVD player
  • Games
  • TV with cable/satellite channels

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Firepit
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Patio
  • Yard

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly

Suitability/Accessibility

  • No elevator
  • Smoking not allowed
  • Note from host: Smoking outside only

Location highlights

  • In a rural location
  • Near a hospital
  • On a lake

Things to do

  • Air hockey
  • Arcade/game room
  • Billiards/pool table
  • Foosball table
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Hunting nearby
  • Jet skiing nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Sledding nearby
  • Snowmobiling nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Water skiing nearby
  • Water tubing nearby
  • Wildlife walks nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • At least 80% lighting from LEDs
  • Unit size: 1,140 square feet

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Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 21

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Rules

-Typically boats and trailers will need to be backed in to the lower driveway (15-20 yards from front door) and cars/trucks can park near entry.
-Parking on site available day of checkout if not leaving the area immediately, we know a full vacation day is enjoyed!
Monthly stays are considered. Deposits increase to $800, and cleaning fees increase to $200. If interested in a monthly rental, please contact us for

Pets

Pets allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Restrictions apply; for more information contact the property at the number on the booking confirmation
Note from host: $50/pet refundable deposit. Limit 2 dogs

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Smoking outside only

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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

We should mention

This property does not have elevators
A car is required for transportation to and from this property

Property is also known as

Hilltop Cottage Your Upnorth Getaway Lake Margrethe House
Hilltop Cottage Your Upnorth Getaway Lake Margrethe Grayling
Hilltop Cottage Your Upnorth Getaway Lake Margrethe
Hilltop Cottage You Up North Getaway Lake Margrethe 4 Bed/ House
Hilltop Cottage Your Upnorth Getaway Near Lake Margrethe
Hilltop Cottage You Up North Getaway Lake Margrethe Pet Friendly
Hilltop Cottage Your Upnorth Getaway Near Lake Margrethe
Hilltop Cottage Your Upnorth Getaway Near Lake Margrethe
Hilltop Cottage Your Upnorth Getaway Near Lake Margrethe

About the neighborhood

Map
Grayling, MI

What's nearby

  • Au Sable River - 6 min drive - 4.3 miles
  • Hanson Hills Recreation Area - 8 min drive - 5.4 miles
  • AuSable Artisan Village - 10 min drive - 5.7 miles
  • Grayling Hospital - 11 min drive - 6.4 miles
  • Grayling Country Club - 12 min drive - 6.4 miles

Getting around

  • Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) - 67 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Taco Bell - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Paddle Hard Brewing - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Tinker's Junction - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Spikes Keg O Nails - ‬8 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Unwind at Hilltop Cottage - By Lake Margrethe "Dog Friendly & has a Game Room!!" pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

How much is parking?

Onsite parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Unwind at Hilltop Cottage - By Lake Margrethe "Dog Friendly & has a Game Room!!"?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Unwind at Hilltop Cottage - By Lake Margrethe "Dog Friendly & has a Game Room!!"?

Check-out is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Unwind at Hilltop Cottage - By Lake Margrethe "Dog Friendly & has a Game Room!!" located?

Located on a lake, this family-friendly vacation home is within 6 mi (10 km) of Hanson Hills Recreation Area, Wakeley Lake, and Grayling Country Club. AuSable Artisan Village and Grayling Hospital are also within 6 mi (10 km).

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Reviews

Unwind at Hilltop Cottage - By Lake Margrethe "Dog Friendly & has a Game Room!!" Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

9.6

Cleanliness

9.8

Location
Rating 10 - Excellent. 92 out of 105 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 12 out of 105 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 105 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 105 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 105 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Sherry S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Another wonderful stay! Host is awesome to work with! This was our second year in a row staying here! Works great for our family vacation!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Beverly B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Nice place that accepts dogs! Didn’t have any pet smells. Great location for us and had all the space we needed. Check-in was easy. Would stay again.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tracy M.

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

family get away

We enjoyed our stay and will definitely come back. The place was roomie, clean, and the location for us was perfect. Brenda was pleasant and communication was great!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Julie H.

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

Cute house on the hill.

Very roomy and comfortable. Bedrooms were very nice. Nice location. Very private.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Charlene L.

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

Lake Tour

The Hilltop Cottage was topnotch. Centrally located to Torch Lake, Indian River, and Higgins Lake. Brenda is an amazing host. Her cottage is clean, beds are comfortable, ample parking, and equipped with everything you need. We enjoyed our stay, it will be on our return to list.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

randall H.

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

It was exactly what we were looking for and it was exactly what it was presented as she was a great

It was a wonderful stay we enjoyed the house thoroughly I would recommend it to anybody it was just the right spot where we needed to be and close enough to town and close enough to the trails we will be going there again no doubt
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

bob r.

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

For storm damge

Excellent place to stay no matter the reason
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Julie W.

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

cozy and comfortable

We are just a group of friends who want to get away once a year and do nothing but visit, laugh, play games, eat and have a few drinks without all the distractions of home.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

shawn c.

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

Great place

Great location, great host.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Craig L.

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

Great quiet location with access to outdoor adventure

Six of us (my parents, brother, wife, adult daughter, and I) stayed with our two small dogs, and we had plenty of space when we needed quiet and plenty of activities (game room, board games, we’ll-equipped kitchen for cooking and grille) for when we wanted to be together. Having two bathrooms was a nice feature, as was on-site laundry if we would have gotten clothes dirty or wet when some of us went fly fishing on the AuSable. I would highly recommend this place for your next adventure up north.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Shelly L.

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

Summer 2025

Lots of space to spread out.Gameroom loved by all.Short trip to beach .. perfect!Bonfire pit for smoresThe outlets in the basement bedroom struggled to hold the plug in the wall.The tv/dvd/vhs in the basement... we couldnt get it to work
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

lacey b.

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

Ice fishing and snowmobiling

3 couples got together for this weekend getaway and the house was great! Half of us went fishing on lake margrethe and half stayed back crocheting and cooking. The kitchen was well stocked. We had a wonderful time and would return!
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Wendy K.

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

Fall Colors

We enjoyed the property very close to ORV trails and nice location for other adventures
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

kassandra b.

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

Perfect stay

Everything about this stay was perfect and easy going. Highly recommend staying here and the game room was a huge bonus. Only down fall was the oven which is very old and could be updated But still worked decently
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Genevieve B.

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

Family vacation

We loved our stay here! Great location! Close to necessities and nice for day trips. We loved the gaming tables in the basement. All in all, a great place!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kimberly S.

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

Family Weekend

The cottage was just as described- cozy, clean. A great base location for our winter activities vacation.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Emily B.

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

Great experience

We stayed here for a long weekend family getaway and we definitely enjoyed it! We had a good experience with the house and would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2022

8/10 Good

Charles S.

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

Happy

Very good accommodations for the price point!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Naida A.

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

Hilltop Cottage

We very much enjoyed our stay. Beds very comfortable and we had everything our family of six adults and one dog needed for our week long stay. We especially appreciated the "quietness" of the area and being on a private road with no traffic.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Molly W.

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

Fall Hunting Trip

We had a great time and the house was very accommodating and in a great location.
Stayed 8 nights in Oct 2022

8/10 Good

Karen J.

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

Winter fun trip

Was a great location to use for access to snowmobile trails
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2022

10/10 Excellent

Frederick G.

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

Fishing trip

Had a great time , did some fishing , played cards , we have been fishing for many years with the same group of guys , we enjoy this house and its location , THANK YOU
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Debra K.

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

Quiet Retreat!!

Great location. A quick walk to the lake for swimming and fishing!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2023

8/10 Good

Tenishia G.

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

Nice home with plenty of room

Enjoyed the game room downstairs. Plenty of parking for our 2 big trailers. Has easy trail access
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tina A.

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

Great hosts!

Great location with great neighbors. Very impressed with the wonderful communication, response time and kindess of the hosts!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023