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Lakefront cottage close to Traverse City, Sleeping Bear Dunes & Crystal Mountain

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Welcome to Whitetail Cottage on Bass Lake in Traverse City, Michigan!
Two kayaks are provided for your use during your stay at Whitetail Cottage.
Whitetail Cottage includes parking out front.
View of front entryway into Whitetail Cottage.
The kitchen is the first room upon entry to Whitetail Cottage.

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 492.9 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Beach view
  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Washer
  • Air conditioning

Explore the area

View map
Traverse City, MI
  • Bass Lake
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Great Wolf Lodge Water Park
    ‪10 min drive‬
  • Turtle Creek Stadium
    ‪13 min drive‬
  • Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
    ‪18 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathroom 2

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen

About this property

Lakefront cottage close to Traverse City, Sleeping Bear Dunes & Crystal Mountain

Just 10 minutes from Traverse City, 30 minutes from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, and 35 minutes from Crystal Mountain, Whitetail Cottage is nestled on the shores of Bass Lake. Although it's an all-sports lake, it is best suited for fishing and kayaking. With 500 feet of shared sandy beach frontage, Whitetail Cottage has a gas grill on the deck overlooking the water as well as a beachfront fire pit. Two kayaks are available for renters to use for free and two child-size kayaks are available upon request. We also have paddle boards and bikes that can be rented for a separate fee by the day based on availability.

The cottage has two bedrooms with queen beds. There is a strict 4 person limit due to township rules. The upstairs bathroom has a tub and the downstairs bathroom has a newly renovated, walk-in shower.

A few quirks to note:
- The upstairs, where the bedrooms are located, has lower than standard ceilings, so if you are more than 6 feet tall, please take that into consideration.
- Whitetail Cottage has window air conditioner units in place during the summer - one downstairs and one upstairs (as pictured). Traverse City summers tend to be temperate and while these should do the trick, additional fans are also provided.
- The dock at Whitetail Cottage is not big enough to tie up motorized boats. Please contact us first if you plan to bring a boat and we will see if we can help!

Unfortunately, we don't allow guests to have pets; however, the property owners have doodles that love people and will want to say hi at some point, guaranteed!

While Traverse City is well known for its festivals, shopping, and restaurants, easy access to a quiet lake and extensive trail system are what sets our property apart. Plus, our proximity to Sleeping Bear Dunes and Crystal Mountain makes it a perfect location for those seeking natural beauty, freshwater beaches, and more.

Here are some of our favorite leisure activities by season:
- Summer: Beach days, fishing, kayaking, rock hounding, paddle boarding, and berry picking
- Fall: Mountain biking, leaf peeping, hiking, beer/cider tasting, and apple picking
- Winter: Cross-country/downhill skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing, sledding, and snowmobiling
-Spring: Cherry blossoms, trail biking, bird watching, winery hopping, and morel mushroom hunting

We are more than happy to offer local insight on our favorite spots to do all the above - except for morel mushroom hunting - you're on your own :)

Lastly, we are a family-run property with multiple listings, so if you're interested in coordinating several cottages for a larger group, please don't hesitate to contact us. Thanks for considering Whitetail Cottage and please reach out with any questions!

Long Lake Township Certificate Number: STR22-00071

Property manager

Katlyn Martin
Premier Host

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Amenities

Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Strip any used beds and gather used towels
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
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
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts

About the area

Traverse City

Located in Traverse City, this holiday home is on the beach. Shoppers can check out Front Street, while everyone can enjoy the natural beauty of Lake Michigan and Traverse City Beach. Great Wolf Lodge Water Park and Great Lakes Children's Museum are also worth visiting. Kayaking and power boating offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hiking/biking trails nearby.
Map
Traverse City, MI

What's nearby

  • Bass Lake - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
  • Great Wolf Lodge Water Park - 10 min drive - 10.8 km
  • Grand Traverse Mall - 11 min drive - 11.2 km
  • Turtle Creek Stadium - 13 min drive - 10.5 km
  • Front Street - 14 min drive - 15.5 km

Getting around

  • Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital) - 17 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Chick-fil-A - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Culver's - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Buffalo Wild Wings - ‬10 min drive
  • Burger King
  • ‪Taco Bell - ‬11 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Lakefront cottage close to Traverse City, Sleeping Bear Dunes & Crystal Mountain pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Lakefront cottage close to Traverse City, Sleeping Bear Dunes & Crystal Mountain?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Lakefront cottage close to Traverse City, Sleeping Bear Dunes & Crystal Mountain?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Lakefront cottage close to Traverse City, Sleeping Bear Dunes & Crystal Mountain located?

This Traverse City holiday home is on the beach, steps from Bass Lake and within 6 mi (10 km) of The Crown Golf Club and Fisher's Run. Lake Michigan and West End Beach are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 71 out of 85 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 10 out of 85 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 4 out of 85 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 85 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 85 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

James G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great location!!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mark G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beach was great! Proximity to both Traverse City and Sleeping Bear made for a great vacation. Would definitely rent again!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Diane S.

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

Great cottage

We enjoyed our stay. We had everything we needed to just rest and relax. Nice sandy beach.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Courtney O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Loved it! Thank you to awesome hosts, great location- peaceful and short drive to TC!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Derek B.

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

Nice awesome Lakeview front house for vacation.

Overall it was what our family was looking for for our vacation mini trip! Has exactly what everything we needed and more! Was a fun trip to get out of the city life and fish from the dock and do alot of exploring!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sara L.

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

Cute cottage perfect for family getaway!

Stayed with my two kids (4 & 1.5 yo) & my mom and it was the perfect space for us. Great location to explore Traverse city. After a busy day trip downtown it was nice to come back and relax by the water.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Lorna N.

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

Comfortable, and perfect location for us

Cute and cozy. Great view. Great communication with host.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jessica W.

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

So relaxing

The property has everything needed to relax, kayak, fish, enjoy the incredible view. Very clean lake, quiet lake.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jessica Q.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect for a short girls trip! My daughter and I used the kayaks for a trip around the lake, relaxed on the beach with my mom, took a day trip to Sleeping Bear Dunes and played games inside at night. Jody and Katlyn were great hosts! They found a tube pump so my daughter could float around on the lake during the day.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

6/10 Okay

Kimberly J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Interesting

Had some issues. Manager did everything they could but had to leave a day early due to extreme heat and air conditioner not working and hot water kept going out.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Brian C.

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

A great stay!

We enjoyed our accommodations and our vacation was very nice. Clean & quiet. Had a great time at Sleeping Bear dunes.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kory B.

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

Northen Michigan lake cottage

The hosts were very nice people and very accommodating with great and prompt communication. The cottage is quaint and has everything you need.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Susan C.

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

Great Getaway

Great place to stay. Kayaked, biked & just relaxed. Lake is beautiful. Hosts are awesome, so very friendly & helpful. Highly recommended anyone considering, you won’t regret the stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michael E.

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

Nice Quiet Cottage

We enjoyed our nice quiet mornings on the beach drinking our coffee.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Adria L.

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

Quiet Rustic Retreat

A beautiful setting that was very relaxing. Nice amenities provided to enjoy the lake.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

gail T.

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

Girls getaway

Spent 3 nights enjoying the lake and nearby attractions. Short drive into Suttons Bay and up to Fishtown. Host was very sweet.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

8/10 Good

kim z.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Lake house

Beautiful view of lake. Fun to kayak and fish.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mariel C.

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

The perfect get away!

This was the perfect place for our friend weekend getaway. The house is right on the lake, which was so perfect and serene. Location is close to downtown Traverse City and Sleeping Bear dune. Jodi was super responsive to our messages and questions - we look forward to staying here again.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Bill W.

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

Beautiful place to stay they let us use their kayaks and we really enjoyed our stay

The owners are very helpful and very nice
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Cindy F.

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

Cute cottage

We had a nice time with our two kiddos. Great fishing, kayaks provided, super nice host, and convenient location. We checked out the Cherry Featival in TC and Sleeping Bear Dunes. Would stay again!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michele W.

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

Beautiful spot on the lake

Quaint and quiet cottage right on the lake. Enjoyed having the kayaks available. Also, enjoyed the fire pit on the beach. Close to Traverse City and all it has to offer.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Daniel M., Bowling Green, OH

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

Great place to stay

The house was a great place for our family. The sandy beach was perfect for our young children to play. The house was clean and we had everything we needed. We would definitely stay again!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sherry C.

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

A little slice of heaven

The cabin was everything we had hoped for and more. The lake is beautiful and quiet. Absolutely enjoyed our stay. I would definitely recommend this cabin to friends and family.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022

8/10 Good

A S.

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

Beautiful View

The cabin location was fanastic, right on the lake. Bass lake was quiet and peaceful. I enjoyed the kayaks and my son loved fishing on the dock. The house was clean and rustic. The neighborhood was private and felt safe. We enjoyed adventuring around TC and other surrounding areas. The host was easy to communicate with. We enjoyed our stay!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kristin D.

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

Great Family Vacation

We had an awesome time at Whitetail cottage. My boys love the sandy beach and fishing off the dock. This cottage is the perfect location too! Thanks for being awesome hosts!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022

About the host

Hosted by Katlyn Martin

Host profile image

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests