Escape to Kingfisher Lodge, a one-of-a-kind fall retreat perched above the wild beauty of the Escanaba River. From late September through early October, the riverbank and treetops blaze in a kaleidoscope of fiery reds, golds, and oranges, right outside your door. Paired with the gentle rush of the falls, it’s a front-row seat to autumn’s masterpiece in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Every detail inside and out is designed for comfort, ease, and enjoyment. Thoughtful touches abound: shelves stocked with classic games, a bar and shuffleboard downstairs, and windows that keep the river always in view. The open layout means no one is ever cut off — conversations flow easily from the kitchen to the dining area to the great room, whether you’re preparing dinner, pouring a drink, or curled up on the sofa. A wall of windows brings the river into every moment, adding a sense of calm to each gathering. It’s a space made to bring people together, while still offering room to relax in your own way.
It's Perfect For:
• Families with kids who need space to roam, play games, and burn off energy
• Friends planning bachelorette weekends, golf trips, or just time away together
• Couples looking for a luxurious riverside escape with hot tub soaks and starlit nights
• Anglers chasing trout, steelhead, or smallmouth on the Escanaba and nearby waters
• Snowmobilers and ORV riders who want parking space, flexibility, and freedom to roam
• Remote workers, creatives, or anyone seeking inspiration in nature’s quiet beauty
Quick Snapshot:
• 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths (sleeps 12–14)
• 3 king beds, 3 twins, 1 bunk (full/twin)
• Expansive deck, 2 fire pits, 7-person hot tub
• Fully equipped kitchen, media lounge, bar & shuffleboard
• Bikes for adults and kids, trails and country roads nearby
• High-speed internet, A/C, trailer & RV parking
Sleeping
The lodge comfortably sleeps up to 12–14 guests across three levels. On the main floor, you’ll find a king suite and a bunk room with one full and one twin bed. The airy upstairs loft sleeps five with a king, three twins, and a full bath. The lower level offers another king bedroom, two spare mattresses, and a full bath — giving everyone both space and comfort.
Step outside to more than 1,800 square feet of furnished outdoor living, with a deck stretching over the Escanaba where deer, fox, and even otters trace the river’s edge. Porch swings invite lazy mornings, while evenings glow with fire pits, sunsets in the hot tub, and skies alive with stars, meteors — even the northern lights if you’re lucky. Days slip easily from biking country roads to cornhole tournaments on the lawn, all capped by fireside stories that stretch late into the night.
Days can be as full or as easy as you choose. Explore Pictured Rocks, wander Marquette or Escanaba, tee off at Sweetgrass, ride the nearby trails, cast a line, or simply linger at the lodge and let time slow down.
For families, Kingfisher Lodge is the kind of place kids will remember forever.
Adventure out to waterfalls or trails, then return to wide-open lawns and decks where adults can linger while the kids burn off energy. With high chairs, a pack-and-play, and plenty of games, the lodge is equipped so you can pack light and focus on what matters — making memories together.
For friends, the lodge is the perfect backdrop any time of year.
Plan a bachelorette weekend, a golf trip, or simply time away together. Days can be spent chasing waterfalls at Pictured Rocks, wandering the shops of Marquette, or playing a round at Sweetgrass. Evenings call for flights at Upper Hand Brewery, a show and dinner at Island Casino, or a table at Freshwater, Horizons, or the Rusty Rail. However you fill your time, every night ends the same — back at the lodge, fires glowing, stars overhead, and the river rolling by.
For snowmobilers and ORVs, bring your rigs and ride.
We’re about 20–45 minutes from the best the UP has to offer. Not trail-side? Exactly — and that’s the beauty of it. You’re not locked into one path or stuck in a tired cabin with exhaust outside the window. At the Kingfisher, there’s space to park the rigs and freedom to ride wherever you want. And if you have significant others that like to hang back and chill, this will turn it into their getaway as well as yours — coffee on the deck, a soak in the hot tub, exploring the area, or simply being wrapped in one of the prettiest winter scenes imaginable, like their own private snow globe.
For anglers, it doesn’t get better.
The Escanaba River flows right past the lodge with world-class trout waters literally off the deck. A blue-ribbon stretch lies just upstream, and in May and June you can explore nearby tributaries for trophy steelhead and smallmouth.
Beyond the lodge, the Upper Peninsula opens wide: hike or bike the Days River Trail, float the Au Train, or view a nearby waterfall at Rose Falls. From rugged landscapes to hidden gems, adventure is always close — and always worth the trip.
