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Entire home

The "Bear Den" Betsie river waterfront Guest home.

Lakefront vacation home with kitchen and fireplace

Photo gallery for The "Bear Den" Betsie river waterfront Guest home.

Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Interior
Interior
Smart TV, fireplace
Property grounds
Situated on the serene Betsie River, this guest home offers a tranquil retreat. Enjoy canoeing and kayaking or try your luck at fishing for steelhead in spring and Salmon in fall. With its proximity to Crystal Mountain ski and golf resort, explore the nearby wineries or take in the breathtaking views of Northern Michigan's fall colors.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Washer
  • Fireplace

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.

The "Bear Den" Betsie river waterfront Guest home.

Beautiful Betsie river front guest home main house also at times available as well to rent .HOLIDAYS REQUIRE 3 NIGHT MINIMUM. Great riverfrontage for canoeing and kayaking or great fishing for steelhead in spring and Salmon in fall. only 5 miles from Crystal mountain ski and golf resort, great location to tour the wineries or do a fall color tour in northern Michigan. A beautiful short drive to Lake Michigan in Frankfort or head to Traverse City, get your exercise by climbing Sleeping Bear sand dunes such a great view from the top any time of year!
Main house also on property see booking @ Vrbo.com/3482644

Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach nearby

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

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

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 1 bathroom
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Fireplace
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Smart TV

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Firepit
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • Welcoming dogs only
  • One pet total

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoking not allowed

Services and conveniences

  • Housekeeping (on request)
  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • In a rural location
  • In the city center
  • In the mountains
  • On a lake
  • On a river
  • On the waterfront

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)
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Garden
  • Housekeeping (on request)

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Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 25

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

Check-out instructions

The host requires you complete the following before checking out:
Remove personal items and remove leftover food and drinks
Turn off the lights and lock the doors
Throw the garbage in the dumpster by the road if you have time and turn the heat to 65 or air conditioning to 76.lights off window shut/locked. I would appreciate it and Have a safe journey home. 🙂
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

Rules

If fishing take filet and return all fish parts to river. Do not throw fish in garbage this brings bears in. Smoking cleaning fee of $350 extra clean
Holidays are minimum 3 night stay.
4 people max add up to 2 more @ $40 per night. Dogs ok must clean up inside/out after the pet. Not allowed on furniture. Garbage in outside curbcart

Pets

Pets allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs only
1 total pets
Restrictions apply; for more information contact the property at the number on the booking confirmation
Note from host: Extra $150 cleaning fee 4 pet hair on furniture

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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 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

Property is also known as

House
450' Betsie River Waterfront
450' Betsie river waterfront guest Home. Thompsonville
450' Betsie river waterfront guest Home. Private vacation home

About the neighborhood

Map
MI, Thompsonville

What's nearby

  • Iron Fish Distillery - 3 min drive - 1.5 km
  • Crystal Mountain - 5 min drive - 4.0 km
  • Mountain Ridge Golf Course - 7 min drive - 5.4 km
  • Michigan Legacy Art Park - 8 min drive - 6.5 km
  • Misty Acres Preserve - 10 min drive - 8.0 km

Getting around

  • Manistee, MI (MBL-Manistee County-Blacker) - 30 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Rosie's Country Cafe - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Iron Fish Distillery - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪The Thistle Pub & Grill @ Crystal Mountain - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪A. Papano's Pizza - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪The 231 Bar & Grill - ‬9 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is The "Bear Den" Betsie river waterfront Guest home. pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 1 total). 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 The "Bear Den" Betsie river waterfront Guest home. ?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The "Bear Den" Betsie river waterfront Guest home. ?

Check-out is at 11:00 AM.

Where is The "Bear Den" Betsie river waterfront Guest home. located?

Located in the heart of Thompsonville, this vacation home is within 6 mi (10 km) of Crystal Mountain, Iron Fish Distillery, and Michigan Legacy Art Park. Misty Acres Preserve and Glovers Lake are also within 9 mi (15 km).

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Reviews

The "Bear Den" Betsie river waterfront Guest home. Reviews

10

Exceptional

9.8

Cleanliness

9.8

Location

10

Eco-friendliness

10

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 37 out of 39 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 39 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 39 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 39 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 39 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Angie

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
The Bear Den was incredibly cozy. Perfect size for the three of us. Felt newer, was very clean and you can’t beat the peace and quiet. Check In/Out was super easy.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Steve F.

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

Wonderful little gem

Very cute cottage. Family of four really enjoyed our stay. Would be happy to rent it again.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Carey A.

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

Get Away

Nice cabin in one of our favorite areas.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kevin M.

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

Beautiful Setting

We really liked our stay here.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Andrea S.

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

Cute cabin

We picked this cabin because it was pet friendly, close to the places we wanted to visit and also had good reviews regarding cleanliness. We had a good time and would recommend to others.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Daniel B.

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

Beautiful Cabin on the Betsie

We had a great time fishing and sightseeing the area. Close drive to Lake Michigan
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Heather D., Hudsonville, MI. USA

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

Always wonderful!!

We are becoming regulars here at the Bear Den!! Love the location and quaint atmosphere. Well appointed and so very relaxing. Ski weekends are made so much better staying here when we come up.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Cheryl

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very very nice updated cabin.Comes with everything you need.Great fishing too
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Melissa L.

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

Labor Day Getaway

Booked this for a fishing weekend with our 8yo son. It was perfect for the three of us. A 1 minute walk to the River, clean, large parking area for truck and boat super easy check in/check out. Would love to book again with extended family on the main house!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Amber D.

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

Lovely!

We had a wonderful time staying at the Bear Den! Cabin was very clean, super cozy and had everything we needed. Loved going down to the river to watch the salmon. Hope to be back again!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

PAT S.

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

Wonderfull Weekend

Had the opportunity to get away for a few days with close family. Cabin and location were perfect. Had everything we needed to enjoy exactly what we were doing. This will likely be a yearly get away as everyond had a great time!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Stephanie L.

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

Awesome!

Super cute cabin, very clean, and nice amenities. Close to the Crystal- would highly recommend.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Heather D., Hudsonville, MI. USA

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

3rd stay!!

We LOVE this property. We stayed 3 times this winter and loved each visit. So close to Crystal Mountain. The perfect cozy getaway for our family. We will be back again and regular guests next ski season.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Drew L.

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

Very nice stay

Very nice cabin, just the right location for what we wanted to do in nw northern Michigan. Host was very communicative and even offered to purchase age appropriate board games for our younger children. Everything in the cabin functioned well and was nicely updated. Would definitely recommend.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Katherine

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
incredibly Clean, adorable, and surrounded by nature. close to alot of great towns and Crystal Mountain. The host was kind and responsive. Check-in was seamless. will definitely be back!!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Heather D., Hudsonville, MI. USA

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

Another GREAT visit!

We have stayed at the Bear Den multiple times for our ski weekends at Crystal Mountain and absolutely love this tiny home. Perfectly wonderful every time! Going again in 2 weeks. Can’t wait!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michael B.

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

Fishing and Skiing

Very clean and comfortable. 7 minutes from Crystal Mountain. Beautiful stretch of the Betsie River. Beautiful renovated cottage.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Theresa S.

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

Clean, new, perfect!

The cabin was really clean and everything in it is new or newer. Only 200 feet from the Betsie River with a well maintained path, we had fun fishing and wading. Pets are allowed and that made this an outstanding stay. Lots of things to do nearby. The owner Chris is a delight to talk to and is a great communicator when we were booking it.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Amy Y.

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

Family vacation

This sweet little cabin was perfect for our family of four. Cozy, clean, secluded and within a reasonable driving distance from everything we wanted to explore while in Michigan. Chris was great and gave us a ton of suggestions on places to go and things to try. Thank you for the memories!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Heather D., Hudsonville, MI. USA

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

2nd visit - wonderful stay (again)

This is our second time to this little cabin in the woods. It is the perfect size for the 4 of us and so close to Crystal Mountain! Had a great time skiing and spent our evenings warm and toasty playing games and watching movies in the cabin. We are heading up again to stay in 3 weeks. Can’t wait!!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sherette M.

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

Very comfortable and impressive

Perfect cabin for my daughter and I and her 2 dogs. Very comfortable. All the amenities we needed. We floated in the river right on the property during the day and had a fire at night. We enjoyed our stay so much we're figuring out when we can go back. There's so much to do.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sara W.

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

Cute little cabin

My family of 3. Two adults and our 7 year old son had a wonderful time. We also had our 2 dogs with us. It is a cute little cabin nestled in the woods. Very peaceful! My son went fishing for the first time on the Betsie River and although he did not catch anything he had a great time! We would definitely book again!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

6/10 Okay

Trisha D.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location

West side of Michigan

If I were a VRBO owner and had guests coming I would cut the grass for those guests! There were 2 gentlemen that stayed in the big house directly in front of our rental. They were gone fishing most of the time so we had the area to ourselves with our dog. However, the grass was almost to our knees. With ticks being high in the state of Michigan I did not to not want to spend much time on the property itself. The river area would of been delightful area to take our chairs and sit by the water but the grounds were not maintained there either. For the price we paid .... Just disappointed
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Cindy H.

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

Bear den updated

Very cute house and property amazing, beds could use a little more comfort. House is private only if the other home on property is not reserved. Had no idea two homes on same property.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kathleen P.

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

Awesome Little Cabin

We had a great stay at the Bear Cabin in Thompsonville. The cabin was very clean and accurately represented in the rental listing. It's plain on the outside, but very bright and updated on the inside. We enjoyed being able to bring our two small dogs with us. Communication with the owner was easy and responsive. The only thing we would recommend is maybe adding a wooden deck or something similar in front of the cabin, it would help keep people from tracking sand into the house, which we did a lot.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023