Marko's grampa's cabin.

94%

45 reviews

· Babbitt, St. Louis, Minnesota · 4.5 acres

Hosted by Mark C.

Cabin

· 5 guests max · 1 bedroom · 1 bed

Romantic

Recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp is romantic.

All to yourself

95% of recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp felt private.

Our family has lived here on this property since Great Grandma Alma bought it in 1928. I am the fourth, raising the fifth generation of Carlson's living here. The log cabin was built by my grandfather, Oliver, in the 1950's and he lived there full time after he retired. The cabin is set apart from the two other homes on the property which is where our family lives full time. Birch Lake is over 6500 acres and stretches for 16 miles from our home to where HWY 1 passes over it. Most of the shoreline is federal and state land giving the lake a wild/undeveloped feel compared to more developed lakes in the area. It's known for producing walleye, northern pike, and crappie as well as other species of fish. SUMMER OF 2024 Update: The cabin will be under construction/improvement for this season. What this means is that only the main room will be available. We will be dismantling the back bedroom and old kitchen. This will impact your stay in terms of visible structural work to the cabin taking place but will not affect the main room or it's amenities. I will not be working on the cabin during any guest stays and will make sure the site is safe and clean for your stay with minimal indication work is going on. I'll make sure the main room of the cabin is clean and ready for your stay but the back bedroom will no longer be useable. The main room will still be bug free, dry, and have electricity. The grey couch is suitable for 1-2 people to sleep on, the beige couch pulls out a full/queen, and there is a cot for another. You may bring your own cot/sleeping pad or pitch a tent in the spacious and grassy lawn. Also note there is a new outhouse (the green one in pics). The old one is still pictured (hipcamp doesn't have a delete option) but not in use. Trust me, the new one is better. There is a small (12 foot) aluminum row boat and a pedalboat available for guests to use. What we provide: One room log cabin with guest only private beach. Electricity, outhouse, small kitchenette with limited utensils, fridge, small gas grille, microwave, toaster oven, hotplate, electric tea kettle, clean fitted sheets, and cot. What you'll need to bring: Sleeping bags/blankets, potable water or water treatment system, green propane cannister if you'd like to use the grille, charcoal if you'd like to use the larger grille, tp, etc. Please ask for more specifics. Can usually and am happy to accommodate.Welcome! This small log cabin has one main room. It is located on Birch Lake between Ely (12 miles) and Babbitt (6 miles). There is electricity, a pull out sofa/full bed, and a sectional couch. There is no central heat source and no running water. There is an outhouse. You will have a private yard and beach. Our multi-generational family lives on the five acre site in separate domiciles and there are neighbors close by through the woods. This is a wonderful place to chill and unplug. Parties and loud noise are not welcome. Laughing, barking, and jumping in the lake are encouraged.

What to expect

Cabin

You'll have this Hipcamp all to yourself.

5 guests max

Campfires allowed

Firewood provided. There is firewood on site. Do not cut any trees, collect any bark, or bring your own wood.

Toilet available

Pit toilet. Clean outhouse located at cabin.

Pets allowed

On leash. We have two spayed female mixed breed dogs. They roam around. They are barkers and will bark at you. They do the typical dog posturing thing with other dogs but are not aggressive to dogs or people. Give them all the treats you’d like. Their names are Freya and Tilda.

Bins available

Trash bin

Cooking equipment present

Private, stovetop or hot plate, fridge, cookware, cooking utensils, cutlery, sink or other dishwashing station. There is a small bin of assorted utensils for eating/cooking. Bring your own reusable dishes. There is also an electric tea kettle, toaster oven, and outdoor charcoal grille.

Picnic table present

No potable water

Bring your own water, purify from lake or pond. We recommend bringing your own jugs of water. You can purify from the lake.

No showers

Bathe in lake

No wifi

Laundry absent

Things to know

Getting there

Check in: After 2:00 PM

Check out: Before 12:00 PM

On arrival: Meet with Host

Cancellation policy: Flexible

Minimum nights: 1 night

Accepts bookings: 3 months out

Park at listing

No wheelchair access

Max 2 vehicles

2WD accessible

During your trip

Follow the

Leave it better

Inclusion policyWe have a zero-tolerance policy against discrimination at Hipcamp. We are committed to helping our Host and Hipcamper communities be inclusive.

Reviews

94% Recommend51 ratings · 45 reviews

The campsite at Birch Lake offers a varied experience for campers. Many visitors appreciated the rustic charm and the tranquility of the environment, often mentioning the peaceful sounds of nature like loon calls. The host, Marko, is frequently praised for being accommodating and informative, adding to the positive experience. However, some campers noted cleanliness issues and the presence of mosquitoes, which may affect your stay.

Summary AI-generated from real reviews

R S.

6 months on Hipcamp

Not recommend

· September 2024

Pretty disappointing. The cabin stunk horrible like mold overpowering smell. The fridge amended smelled like something rotted in it we cleaned it with bleach wipes didn't help at at, the grass was like 8jnches long halt been cut or weed wacked in wow some time. There were no lights like the pictures showed online going to the outhouse and 2 smaller kids were with. The door doesn't latch there is NO futon either 2 rooms are boarded up and closed off. It was just super dirty stinky no up keep at all. The spot on the beach is pretty and secluded that's about all.

Jennifer H.

8 reviews

Mixed feelings

· August 2024

Laid Back Rustic Cabin

We didn't spend a lot of time at the cabin as we took several day trips. The cabin met our needs. There were a few minor issues that Mark addressed immediately. Mark was a great host. The lake is beautiful and the call of the loon each night was so peaceful.

David R.

3 reviews

Recommends

· August 2024

With kids

Great place to crash before we went into the BWCA. It was rustic and on a great lake!

Sarah S.

2 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· August 2024

Great Cabin!

With pets

The cabin was great! Marko was really welcoming and helpful and there were even a few hidden surprise creature comforts like books and games, a hot plate, and a fire pit all stocked and ready to be lit. AND a glow in the dark toilet seat for night time!! This booking was last minute for us since our other plans went through, but I would love to come back to Birch Lake again! PS

Katie B.

4 reviews

Recommends

· July 2024

Group trip

A great rustic cabin, land, and lake! We loved spending our time on kayaks, fishing, swimming, having a bonfire, and just enjoying the getaway! We normally camp without any facilities so having some electricity, clean outhouse, and a shelter to sleep and escape the mosquitoes was wonderful. We hope to be back again next year!

Lori H.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· July 2024

With kids

Birch Lake is a wonderful place to canoe/kayak around with many islands to explore and undeveloped shoreline. The first night we were put to sleep by loons and trumpet swans. There were a lot of mosquitoes of course but the two thermacell units we brought kept it comfortable and fine to be outside in the yard. We slept in tents but the little cottage was a cozy retreat for playing games and preparing food and having electricity was a big plus. Marko was incredibly helpful and friendly. He saved us when we had some problems with our car by offering the use of his tools to fix it. He and his family were wonderful hosts who let us do our thing in our private space but were there when we needed them.

Location

Babbitt, St. Louis, Minnesota, United StatesTraditional, ancestral territory of Anishinabewaki ᐊᓂᔑᓈᐯᐗᑭ and Očhéthi Šakówiŋ First Nations according to

Native Land Digital.

To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking