Welcome to The Black Bear Cottage at East Lake, a 3BR lakefront cottage built for year-round Up North escapes. Enjoy the dock, kayaks, canoe, SUPs, lakeside fire pit and 1.5 acres to spread out. Bring the boat, ORVs or snowmobiles with plenty of parking and Trails 55 & 76 nearby. Inside, enjoy a stocked kitchen, coffee bar, Roku TVs and pellet stove. The separate game room features a pool table, darts and a jukebox. Boat launch just .2 mile away. The cottage has something for everyone.

The Black Bear Cottage at East Lake is a year-round 3-bedroom, 1-bath lakefront cottage that sleeps six, designed for everything from summer lake trips and fishing weekends to fall ORV adventures and winter snowmobile getaways.

Inside, two bedrooms feature queen beds and the third has two twin beds. The living room includes comfortable seating, a Roku Smart TV and a pellet stove for extra warmth and atmosphere. The home’s primary heat source is a wall heater located in the hallway. A second Roku Smart TV is located in the front bedroom.

The fully stocked kitchen makes it easy to prepare meals, and the dedicated coffee bar is stocked for your morning caffeine fix. The cottage also includes board games for quieter nights in.

One of the highlights of the property is the separate game room located inside a portion of the pole barn, complete with a pool table, dartboard and jukebox.

Outside, guests have plenty of room to enjoy the property. Relax on the deck with table and chairs, gather around the lakeside fire pit, or head directly to the water. Guests have access to a dock, kayaks, canoe and stand-up paddle boards, making it easy to spend the day exploring East Lake. There is also ample space for boats, trailers, snowmobiles, ATVs and four-wheelers, with plenty of parking for groups bringing their own machines.

The Black Bear Cottage is especially well suited for anglers, boaters, snowmobilers and ORV riders. Bring your fishing gear, boat, sleds or four-wheelers and make this your Up North home base. The East Lake boat launch is just .2 mile away, and nearby trail access makes it easy to spend the day riding before coming back to relax by the lake or challenge the group to a game of pool.

Whether you’re planning a family lake vacation, fishing trip, snowmobile weekend or ATV getaway, The Bear’s Den offers the space, amenities and year-round access to make the most of Northern Michigan.

Guests have private access to the entire cottage and the dedicated game room located inside the pole barn.

You’re welcome to enjoy the home, deck, yard, lakefront, dock, fire pit and outdoor recreation areas throughout your stay.

A few areas are reserved for owner use and are not accessible to guests:

*The remaining portion of the pole barn beyond the game room
*The locked outdoor shed
*One locked owner’s closet inside the cottage

All other guest areas shown in the listing are yours to enjoy.

We’re available anytime during your stay and want you to feel comfortable reaching out whenever you need us. If you have a question, need help with something at the cottage, run into a problem, or simply have a suggestion, please message us.

We’re here to help make your stay at The Black Bear Cottage as easy and enjoyable as possible, so don’t hesitate to contact us for anything you need.

Explore Northern Michigan: The Black Bear Cottage gives you a peaceful lakefront home base within easy reach of Traverse City, Torch Lake, Bellaire, Shanty Creek, Grayling and Gaylord. Spend the day shopping and dining in Traverse City, skiing or visiting SkyBridge Michigan at Boyne Mountain, exploring the Au Sable River, golfing, riding nearby ORV and snowmobile trails, or visiting Sleeping Bear Dunes. Even Mackinac Island makes a great full-day adventure from the cottage.

A vehicle is recommended for getting around the area. The Black Bear Cottage offers plenty of on-site parking for cars, trucks, boats, snowmobile trailers and ORV trailers, making it easy to bring all your Up North toys.

The East Lake public boat launch is just two driveways away, so launching and retrieving your boat is quick and convenient.

Downtown Kalkaska is only a short drive away for groceries, fuel, restaurants and supplies. Traverse City is about 25 minutes away, with easy access to nearby lakes, golf courses, snowmobile and ORV trails, and other Northern Michigan destinations

Well Water
The cottage is on a private well. The water is suitable for normal household use, including showering, brushing teeth, cooking and washing dishes. Because well water can have a different mineral taste than city water, we recommend bringing bottled or filtered drinking water for your stay.
Absolutely no smoking or vaping is permitted inside the cottage or game room. A $500 fee will be charged if there is evidence of smoking in either area.

Only registered guests are permitted on the property. Parties, gatherings, events, or additional visitors are not allowed without prior approval. Any exception must be approved before booking.

Quiet hours are 11:00 PM to 8:00 AM. Please keep outdoor noise, music, voices, and activity at a respectful level during these hours out of consideration for our neighbors.

Pets are allowed only with prior approval and are subject to a pet fee. Cats are not permitted.

Lake Rules: East Lake permits high-speed boating and water skiing only from 11:00 AM to 7:30 PM. Outside of those hours, high-speed boating and water skiing are prohibited. Please follow all posted lake and boating rules and be respectful of neighboring properties and others enjoying the lake.

Complimentary Firewood
Firewood is provided for guests to enjoy during their stay. To help us keep a steady supply available for everyone, please bring only 3-4 pieces of firewood at a time from the woodpile near the pole barn to the fire pit.

When you need more, simply grab another 3-4 pieces. Please do not stockpile firewood at the fire pit or remove firewood from the property.

Thank you for helping us keep complimentary firewood available for all of our guests!