This woodland cabin has all the modern conveniences of home (air conditioning, fast wifi, whirlpool tub!) while offering northwoods peace and quiet. Surrounded by public forest and near the Sturgeon Lake chain, hours of outdoor activities await you. If you'd rather spend your time indoors, this comfy cabin has everything you need for a romantic getaway, a family vacation, or a weekend with friends.
We welcome pets (and their owners)-- please review our pet policy before booking (see below!)
The space
Chickadee Hideway is a wonderful retreat for all seasons. Whether you're looking to relax indoors by the fire or go on a wilderness adventure, you are welcome here. Enjoy a private, five acre property that borders George Washington State Forest.
OUTDOORS
For the outdoor enthusiast, there's a bird-watching bench, yard games, and nearby trails through the pines. There are mountain bikes (two adult, two kid-sized) you can borrow to ride to town or hit the Mesabi Trail. We have two high-quality inflatable kayaks (Sea Eagle 370s) that can serve as either tandem or solo kayaks. Easy to throw in the car and inflate with a foot pump at the lake. Or use our car-mounting kit to put the canoe on your roof and pick a lake to paddle.
Listen to the frogs croaking in the evening as you sit around the fire pit, or watch dozens of birds flock to the feeders in the morning. When the sun sets, you'll see a beautiful sky full of stars, and sometimes even the northern lights. Though we are not directly on the shore, we have a chain of five lakes nearby, connected by streams and canals. McCarthy Beach State Park is a ten-minute drive away, with a swimming beach, modern changing facilities, and canoe rental.
*INDOORS*
On a rainy day, you can pick out a game or a puzzle to work on at the game table, watch a DVD or stream your faves on the cozy couch, read by a roaring fire, or cook a gourmet meal in our fully equipped kitchen. No matter the season, your vacation can be as relaxing or action-packed as you like.
*SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS*
The cabin has convenient single-story sleeping arrangements: two bedrooms with comfy wooden beds, including a queen with double-thick mattress in the master bedroom and a twin-over-full bunk bed to ensure everyone gets a great night's sleep. A queen-sized futon and pull-out loveseat in the common space can sleep a few more. The master bedroom has an en-suite bath complete with oversized whirlpool tub, and there's a family bathroom as well with its own shower. The entire cabin is on one level-- no steep stairs to navigate!
*LOCAL ATTRACTIONS*
The Side Lake area has some great places to eat that are full of local character, plus attractions ranging from bike trails and nature programs to museums, trivia nights and farmers markets. The Iron Range offers events throughout the season with summer festivals (including Tall Timber Days, Mines and Pines, and the Blueberry Festival), music (including Northern Lights Music Festival, Bands and Brews at the MN Discovery Center, and local bands in Chisholm’s Pocket Park), and guided outdoor activities (including birding Field Trips at Sax Zim Bog, Soudan Underground Mine tours, or intro to mountain biking workshops). We have an extensive guest guide with recommendations and can offer ideas tailored to your interests.
Send us a message today if you have any questions about our place-- we're always happy to provide more detailed information.
****PET POLICY****
Your furry friend is very welcome at our place! Our guidelines for dogs include four main items, which are all about making sure your dog enjoys a safe and fun vacation with you (and also making sure future guests don't step in dog poop).
* First, please clean up after your pup outdoors.
* Second, be respectful and cautious around local wildlife. That includes not only the fun-to-chase variety like squirrels, hares, and deer, but also the sharp-toothed-and-might-chase-back variety, including bears, coyotes, wolves, raccoons, fishers, and porcupines. We don't want anyone to get hurt! You may want to keep your dog on a leash unless the dog always comes back immediately when called.
* Third, please keep a close eye on your dog anytime they're outside, even if they're leashed. (See note above, about the sharp-toothed wildlife. You may not see them, but they're definitely around.) Be alert for bear activity, especially around dawn and dusk.
* Finally, we ask that you be mindful of how your dog might handle being left alone in the cabin, and do what you can to help the dog feel safe and comfortable in the space before leaving them (especially if they tend to be anxious and/or destructive when left alone in new places). A few strategies that may help:
- Before leaving them alone, aim to spend a bit of time at the cabin with your dog after you arrive, to help them acclimate to the place in the presence of their favorite humans.
- If your dog is accustomed to being crated, we recommend crating them when they're alone in the cabin.
- If your dog is not used to being crated, then you could consider confining them to a smaller area (like the master bedroom/bathroom) when they're alone in the cabin.
- If all else fails, consider taking your dog with you when you leave to explore the area. We're happy to provide recommendations of dog-friendly things to do nearby.
Note that we have a 2-pet maximum. The $50 pet fee included in the booking is for one pet. If you're bringing a second pet, there will be an additional $50 pet fee charged after booking. These fees help us cover the more extensive cleaning required. Feel free to include the name(s) of your pet(s) when you make your booking.
We're also open to hosting pets other than dogs - your cats, rabbits, hamsters, lizards, ferrets, goldfish, guinea pigs, birds, turtles, and any other beloved creature of yours - so feel free to message us to discuss!
Guest access
You'll have the house to yourself, including the yard and five acres of surrounding woods.
There is a caretaker house on the property a short distance from the main house, and we may be there during your visit, but we will leave you to your privacy unless you need us.
Other things to note
Our northwoods location means we coexist with wildlife on the property, so we recommend that you be prepared to encounter some critters on the grounds and once in a while in the house-- part of the joy of living in the wild! We'll provide a handy visitor's guide to animals you may encounter. Most of the wildlife is wonderful, but we suggest bringing some bug spray in the warm season to deter the less-wonderful varieties of wildlife.
We recommend bringing slippers or flip-flops on your trip, as we ask folks to remove shoes in the house, and the tile floor can sometimes feel chilly!
If you have questions about this, do drop us a message.
