Cottage Perfection on Lake Superior

Entire cottage in Lutsen, Minnesota

  1. 8 guests
  2. 4 bedrooms
  3. 4 beds
  4. 2 baths
Hosted by Rebecca
  1. Superhost
  2. 10 years hosting

Listing highlights

Top 5% of homes

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

Featured in

Midwest Home, July 2020

Self check-in

Check yourself in with the keypad.
SweetWater Cottage is nestled along a secluded stretch of Lake Superior shoreline, far from Hwy 61. Its idyllic setting amidst the dynamic boreal forest of its private 3 acres is only exceeded by its distinctively designed interior and painstakingly curated décor. With an uncompromising commitment to authenticity, this entire property is meant to capture the enchantment of the North Shore and infuse it with the distinctive Scandinavian influence that is so prominent in this region's past.

The space
With 4 private bedrooms, 2 spacious bathrooms, and an open floor plan ideal for gatherings, SweetWater is perfect for hosting groups of families or friends. From interior to exterior, this cottage embodies a comprehensive approach that is unmatched in attention to detail and unrelenting in offering an inspired sense of welcome to all who visit. SweetWater can accommodate up to 8 guests. As idyllic as SweetWater is, the cottage itself is only the beginning …

SweetWater Cottage is situated in the heart of the most legendary and spectacular section of the entire North Shore. Except for a few private parcels of land right along the Lake Superior Shore, SweetWater essentially sits in the middle of pristine Cascade River State Park. Hundreds of miles of Sawtooth Mountains trails (hiking in the summer, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling in the winter) are accessible right out the front door of the cabin. Cascade Lodge Restaurant & Pub is just 1.5 miles away and features great food, drinks, and frequent live music. A trail leading to Cascade Falls is only 2 miles from SweetWater's door. And within a 30-minute drive, everything the North Shore is known for is accessible: world-class hiking, fishing, kayaking, biking trails, skiing, galleries, restaurants, NorthHouse Folk School, and a vibrant live music scene. After all, SweetWater sits in the heart of Cook County and Grand Marais, which was named by Travel & Leisure magazine as "America's Best Small Lake Town" in 2023!

--

NorthLight Lodging is a family-operated, boutique hospitality operation consisting of several guest cabins along Lake Superior’s North Shore in northern Minnesota. Ranging in size from 1 to 4+ bedrooms — and all sitting along the easternmost stretch of coveted Cascade Beach Road — NorthLight's properties are located halfway between the grandeur and skiing of the Lutsen Mountains and the charming harbor town of Grand Marais. Each cabin is nestled right along the lakeshore and has been curated with painstaking attention to detail. Our goal in designing, crafting, and appointing our cabins is to embody all the subtle enchantment of the North Shore region we so love. We aspire to offer incomparably welcoming spaces — cared for with meticulous attention to detail — that foster inspiration, connection, and wonder for all who visit.

Guest access
Aside from the wood shop and tiny house, everything at SweetWater Cottage is accessible to guests.

Other things to note
OTHER CABINS NEARBY FOR RENT: This property is uniquely equipped to accommodate a large number of guests, and we also have four other properties, Cedarwood Hollow (airbnb.com/h/cedarwoodhollow), Painted Rock (airbnb.com/h/paintedrock), WoodSong (airbnb.com/h/woodsong), and Tarnmoor (airbnb.com/h/tarnmoor), located nearby that can be combined to allow multiple families or friend groups to stay close in close proximity.

What this place offers

Lake view
Waterfront
Kitchen
Wifi
Free driveway parking on premises – 4 spaces

Select check-in date

Add your travel dates for exact pricing

Rated 5.0 out of 5 from 86 reviews.

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

Overall rating

  1. 5 stars, 100% of reviews
  2. 4 stars, 0% 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 5.0 out of 5 stars for location

Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars for value

Guest reviews mention

Where you’ll be

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

Neighborhood highlights

SweetWater Cottage is uniquely perched on one of the most stunning stretches along the North Shore! It has captured our imaginations since the first time we stumbled upon it — and still does today!

Meet your host

Superhost
783 reviews
4.99 out of 5 average rating
10 years of hosting
My work: Brushpoint
Speaks English and Spanish
We operate a boutique hospitality company in our hometown of Manhattan, Kansas, where we have spent the better part of our adult lives crafting sacred spaces that capture the magic and enchantment of our favorite places. Currently, our offerings are located in Manhattan, Kansas and on the North Shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota. With both of us native to Kansas, we made our first foray to the Northwoods of Minnesota in 1994, shortly after being newly married. Little did we know that initial 5-night paddling trip, launched from the end of the Gunflint Trail outside of Grand Marais, would lead to a lifetime of pursuing the Northwoods and everything it represents. In Kansas, we now own and operate a tallgrass prairie retreat & preserve in the Flint Hills outside of Manhattan. Prairiewood Retreat & Preserve has become a labor of love for us, and we thrive on offering distinctive lodging and event venues, nestled into the rolling hills of this prairie landscape. We love the gentle beauty of the prairie - a sublime beauty the soaks slowly into your soul rather than hits you abruptly! We find the Northwoods of Minnesota to be similar in that regard. Whether the quiet lapping of waves against a rock shore, the distant haunting call of a loon, the silent rise of a full moon over Lake Superior, or the crackle of a wood fire on a frigid snowy night, we find the essence of the Northwoods to invigorate our hearts and spirits. We can't think of anything more fulfilling than sharing some of our favorite places in the world, in hopes that they will be as enriching to our guests as they are to us. Welcome to our little slices of heaven!

Rebecca is a Superhost

Superhosts are experienced, highly rated hosts who are committed to providing great stays for guests.

Host details

Response rate: 100%
Responds within an hour
To help protect your payment, always use Airbnb to send money and communicate with hosts.

Things to know

Cancellation policy
House rules
Check-in after 4:00 PM
Checkout before 10:00 AM
8 guests maximum
Safety & property
Nearby lake, river, other body of water
Carbon monoxide alarm
Smoke alarm