Did you know that you can rent a cabin in the UP and you get to set the price? That is what happens at the Keweenaw Land Trust, where payment is set up as a tax-deductible donation. They recommend a donation of $125 per day for use of specific facilities like the Marsin Nature Retreat, while general reservations for their rustic structures are supported by free-will, after-use donations.
What to Expect
- Rustic Living: Most locations do not have internet, cell service, or indoor plumbing.
- Self-Cleaning: Staff do not clean the cabins between visits. You must clean the space yourself before you leave.
- Pack Essentials: Guests usually need to bring their own drinking water, bedding, and supplies, depending on the specific site.
Some, but not all, of the pictures below were from the Keweenaw Land Trust website.
Cabin Locations
Point of View Cabin
Point of View: A secluded spot on Lake Superior near L’Anse. It features an outhouse, a separate sauna, a propane stove, and a fridge, but no electricity.
The Point of View cabin by the Keweenaw Land Trust is located on the shores of Lake Superior off Point Abbaye Road, just north of L’Anse, Michigan, in Baraga County
This is the cabin that our friends Autumn and her family, Amy, and I rented. Our cat, Isis, came along with us because I had to give her medicine twice a day. Sadly, she passed away about a year later. She had a very good last couple of years, going camping with us.
One day we went out to visit Point Abbaye and went on the hiking trails there, and the view of Lake Superior and the rock formations there was an incredible sight!
In the first picture, I had to take a picture of the unique weight and pulley setup used for the bathroom and sauna. We got to see the Northern Lights when we rented this cabin, and it had the most beautiful scenery. Some days the waves got pretty high, so you have to be careful when you go swimming. The cabin itself had everything you needed and some extra things that past renters left behind for us.
Lightfoot Bay
Lightfoot Bay: Located on Huron Bay in Baraga County. It offers two remote, rustic log cabins next to sandy beaches and diverse wetland trails.
The Lightfoot Bay cabins of the Keweenaw Land Trust are located in northern Baraga County near Skanee, MI 49962, sitting less than a mile northeast of Witz’s Marina off Pinery Cemetery Road along Huron Bay.
We visited but did not stay at the Lightfoot Bay cabin. This was the one we thought we rented from the website, but it turned out to be the Point of View cabin, which ended up being even better.
Here are some images of abandoned buildings next to this cabin. While hiking and exploring, I came across these abandoned buildings then got shocked by the nice cabin next to them. I found the sign, took down the information, and proceeded to rent one of the cabins.
Marsin Nature Retreat
Marsin Nature Retreat: A larger property featuring a main retreat center and the smaller Marsin Cottage. This site includes indoor bathrooms, canoes, and paddle boats.
The Marsin Nature Area & Retreat is located off Red Brick Road in Houghton, Michigan (49931), near Oskar Bay along the Portage Waterway.
All of these images came from the Keweenaw Land Trust website because I never visited this cabin. It looks like someone had a great wedding here.
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