Hephzibah’s Haven: Up North cabin with Lake Access

Entire cabin in Gaylord, Michigan

  1. 6 guests
  2. 2 bedrooms
  3. 4 beds
  4. 1 bath
Hosted by Audra
  1. Superhost
  2. 8 years hosting

Listing highlights

Top 5% of homes

This home is highly ranked based on ratings, reviews, and reliability.

By Otsego Lake in Northern Michigan

Steps from Otsego Lake with a county park about a 10-min walk away

A well-stocked kitchen

Stocked with cookware, spices, and pantry basics so meals are easy from day one

Audra goes above and beyond

Guests consistently praise host Audra for thoughtful welcome treats and quick responses
Hephzibah's Haven is a cozy A-frame cabin in the heart of Northern Michigan. It is nestled in a neighborhood of cabins by Otsego Lake. Despite the vintage decor, the cabin offers modern conveniences and a great kitchen! Regardless of which season and level of adventure you are seeking, you will find Hephzibah's Haven to be a great home-base for your time Up North. Guests will have access to Otsego Lake, and all of the Northern Michigan favorites are within 45 minutes to 1.5 hours away!

The space
Hephzibah's Haven is very near and dear to my heart. It is the first house I purchased, and I lived there for a little over 3 years (yes, I slept in the loft every night!). I absolutely loved my time in the cabin, and I am excited to share my place with guests! I bought the cabin next door, so I am not too far away.

The cabin is on the west side of Otsego Lake. While it is not on the lake, you can see the lake at the end of the road. There is "unofficial" lake access at the end of the block, and official lake access a couple of blocks away. You can keep your boat in the lake at the lake access site. Depending on the boat traffic, there may be a space available at the dock. At minimum, you can anchor it in the water nearby. Otsego County Park is only a 1/4 mile away; there is a path through the woods at the end of the neighborhood, if you want to walk. It's a beautiful park! Also, Otsego Lake State Park is about 5 miles away, kitty corner from where my house is located on the lake. It is also a beautiful park!

Hephzibah's Haven feels like you are truly "Up North," but you are only 5 minutes away from modern conveniences! Gaylord has Walmart, Meijer, Kohl's TJ Maxx, Panera Bread, and 5 Guys (among other things....and many amazing local options!). Between the cabin and it's location, you will be able to do just about anything you wish to do! Gaylord is a golf mecca and also has ski resorts, cross-country ski and snowshoe trails, snowmobiling trails, and a multitude of lakes! Drive time to local attractions is as follows:

- Grayling, 30 minutes
- Petoskey, 45 minutes
- Charlevoix, 1 hour
- Boyne Mountain, 35 minutes
- Traverse City, 1.25 hours
- Sleeping Bear Dunes, 1.5 hours
- Alpena, 1.5 hours
- Mackinac Bridge, 1 hour
- Mackinac Island, 1 hour
- Tahquamenon Falls, 2.5 hours
- Sault Ste Marie, 2 hours
- Pigeon River Country, 30 minutes

If you would prefer to relax at the cabin, you are welcome to do that, as well! There is a well-stocked library, games, a deck and bistro set, a fire pit (including chairs and everything needed for a bonfire), a TV and DVD player, and wifi. I also enjoy cooking and baking, so I believe in having a well-stocked kitchen. You should find everything you need to make a feast. If you don't have something you need, let me know! I would be happy to lend it to you. I'll also have a picnic basket and a hammock available for your use.

This cabin will sleep six people comfortably. The downstairs bedroom is the main bedroom. It has a small closet and dresser, along with a double bed. There is a large jacuzzi tub in the bedroom, as well. It is currently not available for "regular" use. Feel free to use it to wash kiddos or anything else you might need. It simply takes too long to fill and does not have the capacity to keep up with the hot water demand. I'm hoping to fix this, but for now is only available for smaller uses.

The other four sleeping spots are in the loft (or the sleeping hatch, as my sister calls it!). There is a beautiful Queen bed and two twin air mattresses that are made up like normal beds (including foam pads). This is the warmest place to sleep in the winter! The ladder is steep, but very sturdy! There is a nightlight plugged in at night, which helps tremendously if you need to climb down during the night. In 3 years of sleeping up there, I have never fallen. I would not recommend changing or storing clothes up there, as it can be difficult to carry things up the ladder and the windows are a bit revealing. I typically stored everything in the downstairs bedroom, and slept upstairs. The loft can also be a great place for kids to play during the day, which can free up the main room. I have provided a backpack (in the closet downstairs) to aid with taking things up and down the loft ladder.

The cabin is perfectly cozy with all of the "UP North" vibes during every season of the year. There is no AC during the summer, but there are very few days when you will feel like you need it. Typically, opening the windows and using the ceiling fan will suffice. During the winter, there is radiant floor heating (a furnace) that acts as the main source of general heat (when you are away or at night). When you are home, the gas stove heats the room beautifully - and quickly - with a single switch. Keep in mind, this is a cabin in the woods; there are occasionally insects, spiders, etc. that make appearances.

There is a washer and dryer available. You are welcome to use it! Due to the hard water, I would recommend not washing whites. Everything else is fine to wash. Laundry soap and dryer sheets are available.

Cabin amenities include: Coffee pot, toaster, microwave, blender, small crockpot, washer/dryer, hair dyer, iron, small ironing board, library, games, coloring books, towels, beach towels, DVD player, DVDs, wifi, TV with Roku stick (Netflix, SlingTV - including ESPN, Amazon Prime, and other free channels), a fire pit, camping chairs, roasting sticks, a stack of wood (if you need additional, you will need to purchase), bistro table on the back deck, a picnic basket, a hammock, alarm clocks with radio and auxiliary cords, shampoo/conditioner, soap, a backpack to carry things up and down the ladder, clothesline, and a binder with useful information and tips.

All of the photos posted are my personal photos, taken on my adventures while living at Hephzibah's Haven. I have truly enjoyed exploring Northern Michigan, and I hope you do, as well!

Guest access
The cabin sits on a lot with road access on either end. You will typically drive in and park on the front side of the house, but the back road will allow easy access to the shed, the fire pit, and a walk to the lake. There is a back deck with a bistro set. Guests can use the shed if they would like. The garbage cans are housed there, along with the wood and campfire equipment. However, there should be plenty of extra room if they would like to store items inside. There is also access to the lake available.

Other things to note
The water at the cabin is very hard. It is perfectly fine for washing dishes, showering, etc. There is a filter in the shower, which helps a lot. You are welcome to drink the water if you desire to do so (I have guests who do!). I personally do not like the taste of the water, so I have provided purified water for your convenience. Keep in mind the water does color things at times (like the toilet). It is clean! It just stains easily with the water.

I have had skunks walk through my property over the past few summers. I have never once been sprayed! Most of the time, I just turned on the back deck light and did a quick scan before heading out back at night. As long as you stay calm and don't threaten them, you should be fine. I also won't be throwing out my veggies in the woods anymore, so that should help!

Where you’ll sleep

What this place offers

Beach access
Kitchen
Wifi
Free parking on premises
TV

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Rated 4.97 out of 5 from 465 reviews.

Guest favorite
This home is in the top 5% of eligible listings based on ratings, reviews, and reliability

Overall rating

  1. 5 stars, 98% of reviews
  2. 4 stars, 2% of reviews
  3. 3 stars, 0% of reviews
  4. 2 stars, 0% of reviews
  5. 1 stars, 0% of reviews

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for cleanliness

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for accuracy

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for check-in

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for communication

Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars for location

Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars for value

Guest reviews mention

Where you’ll be

Gaylord, Michigan, United States
This listing's location is verified and the exact location will be provided after booking.

Neighborhood highlights

The cabin is nestled in a neighborhood of cabins. There are a mix of year-round residents and seasonal cabins. On holiday weekends, there is a lot more activity, as many of the seasonal folks are around. The lot across the street is empty, though they do park trucks and equipment there periodically throughout the summer. There are a couple of cabins that need a bit of love, but the rest of the neighborhood is nice. I have never had any issues or concerns for safety in the time I've lived here. Overall, you feel as though you are "UP North," but you are only about 5 minutes from Walmart!

Meet your host

Superhost
529 reviews
4.97 out of 5 average rating
8 years of hosting
Where I went to school: Spring Arbor University
My work: Jimmie Jack Fishing
I am an adventure-loving, outdoor enthusiast! I love to travel, hike, camp, explore, and enjoy beautiful places. I purchased a kayak last fall, so I'm sure I'll be enjoying that more, as well. Though I grew up in Michigan, I spent time living and working in Colorado, Grand Teton National Park, Lake Tahoe, and Redding, CA. I moved back to Michigan in 2012 - and moved North at the first opportunity (2014). I grew up visiting a cabin of a family friend, so I knew I wanted my own "Up North" cabin. I've enjoyed making that dream a reality! I also enjoy cooking, baking, playing games, reading, and relaxing. I participate with a local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm and I enjoy eating well, so I spend A LOT of my time making and preserving food! I currently work as an Admissions Representative for Spring Arbor University's extension campuses in Gaylord and Traverse City. I do travel and camp as much as possible. I have found my need to travel has dwindled a bit as I have taken more time to explore Northern Michigan and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. But I still get an itch a couple of times a year. :) Last year, I was able to take an Alaskan cruise - and this past spring I rented a campervan through Airbnb and went camping in Maui! Life is always better after a good adventure. I am a huge fan of Airbnb when I travel. I love experiencing places through the eyes and experiences of the locals, whenever possible. I also typically travel on a budget, so having the opportunity to cook is hugely helpful! I am excited to be able to share my cabin with others through this site, as well!

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Host details

Response rate: 100%
Responds within an hour
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Things to know

Cancellation policy
House rules
Check-in after 3:00 PM
Checkout before 11:00 AM
6 guests maximum
Safety & property
May encounter potentially dangerous animal
Carbon monoxide alarm
Smoke alarm