Sleeping Bear Point Coast Guard Station Maritime Museum
13 min drive
Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital)
48 min drive
Rooms & beds
2 bedrooms (sleeps 7)
Bedroom 1
1 King Bed
Bedroom 2
1 Double Bed and 1 Single Bed
Living room
1 Double Sofa Bed
2 bathrooms
Bathroom 1
Bathtub or shower · Toilet
Bathroom 2
Toilet · Shower only
Spaces
Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area
About this property
Bear Haven Cottage at Glen Lake Narrows
Bordered on one side by National Seashore land, this cottage lies at the southern end of the Narrows Bridge dividing Big and Little Glen Lakes. Cottage is five hundred feet from the Narrows isthmus and bridge, with public access to Little Glen Lake available on both sides of the bridge. Walk to public frontage with your raft or kayak. If you prefer a broad sand beach, Glen Haven Beach at the National Seashore is a three-minute drive away with many beautiful and secluded public Lake Michigan beaches available further up the Leelanau Peninsula.
And some of the best road biking in the Midwest is available from your driveway. Begin your ride at the cottage and head off on an easy ride to Glen Arbor village center where you can catch the Heritage Trail--or head northeast on MacFarlane for a challenging ride past Inspiration Point and around Big Glen Lake to the Crystal River and the Heritage Trail.
Bear Haven cottage has two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a screened-in porch for summer. Five beds include three single beds in the second bedroom and a king bed in the master bedroom. There is also a comfortable sleep sofa in the family room.
Rents Saturday to Saturday. Check in 4 PM - check out 10 AM. House close to Sleeping Bear dunes and Dune Climb with Big and Little Glen Lakes across the street. Boat rentals available in walking distance. Bring kayaks and walk to public access on the Narrows Bridge.
Superb biking from cottage. Major hills surround, including on MacFarlane and a series of seven ascents on Benzonia, but equally possible to reach the Heritage Trail bike path stretching from Empire to Good Harbor Bay without a single significant climb by riding into Glen Arbor and catching the Heritage Trail there.
Property manager
Cheryl Bayly
Premier Host
Languages
English
Add dates for prices
Amenities
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Outdoor space
Parking available
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Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a deadlock
We should mention
This property does not have any lifts
About the area
Glen Arbor
Located in Glen Arbor, this holiday home is on a lake. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Lake Michigan. Sleeping Bear Point Coast Guard Station Maritime Museum and Burnett Park are also worth visiting. Power boating and fishing offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hiking and cycling nearby.
Glen Arbor, MI
What's nearby
Glen Lake - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
Little Glen Lake - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - 5 min drive - 6.5 km
Crystal River - 6 min drive - 6.5 km
Sleeping Bear Point Coast Guard Station Maritime Museum - 13 min drive - 11.2 km
Getting around
Traverse City, MI (TVC-Cherry Capital) - 49 min drive
Restaurants
Cherry Republic - 5 min drive
Arts Tavern - 5 min drive
Boone Dock's - 5 min drive
Shipwreck Cafe - 8 min drive
Blu - 5 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Bear Haven Cottage at Glen Lake Narrows pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
What time is check-in at Bear Haven Cottage at Glen Lake Narrows?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Bear Haven Cottage at Glen Lake Narrows?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Bear Haven Cottage at Glen Lake Narrows located?
Situated on a lake, this holiday home is steps away from Glen Lake and Little Glen Lake. Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is 2.1 mi (3.4 km) away.
Reviews
10
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
The home was clean, comfortable, and had everything we needed for our week getaway!! Very good location. Close to some great beaches, shopping, and quaint small towns. Cheryl was great to work with and we truly enjoyed our stay!!
Gayle T.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
8/10 Good
Martha M.
24 July 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication
Bear Haven
It was just okay. It is not "on a lake", just near. It is not 500 feet to access either. The king bed needs replacing. Super soft and lumpy. Very cheap, thin, scratchy towels.
We loved the location for winter hiking, checking out local restaurants and wineries/cideries. The cottage is super clean, bright, and has everything you need for a comfortable stay.
We had a wonderful week at Bear Haven! The house was clean, well appointed, and cozy. We loved the decorating. Cheryl was a wonderful host, quick to respond, helpful and friendly. It was a great week!
This property was very cute and cozy. It was a great location and communication with the host was great. I did find the beds to be very uncomfortable and there were some very dusty areas but overall it was an enjoyable stay!
Everything was most satisfactory. Plenty of room behind the house to play and easy access to lakes and Glen Arbor. Only problem for us was the very soft bed in the master bedroom. À wonderful stay.
Perfect location for our annual fall reunion weekend! We enjoyed the local attractions, but even more the cozy living and dining rooms for our late night chats, comedy movie watching and daily breakfasts cooked together. The gas fireplace gave it an extra cozy vibe.
We have been traveling to the Glen Arbor area for several years now and renting homes during the summer. This cottage has been our favorite thus far, it is exactly as described and in an excellent location near to all the recreation activities the area has to offer, especially Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. We especially enjoyed sitting out on the screened in porch in the evenings. Thank you for a great stay!
Great property nestled between Big Glen and little Glen lake. Walking distance to water and marina. Less than five minute drive to Glen Arbor and all its attractions. The house has also been renovated recently.
Verified traveller
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.
10/10 Excellent
Michele C.
12 July 2017
Perfect stay!
We had a perfect week at Bear Haven. The house was clean and had everything we needed during our stay. The community lost power at one point but because they had a generator we didn't even have to deal with it. We had four adults and a toddler and the layout of the house was ideal having a bathroom by each of the bedrooms. The owners were fantastic and easy to work with.
We would highly recommend Bear Haven!
We loved our stay in Bear Haven Cottage. It is magnificently located at the Narrows of the Glen Lakes, with beautiful views. The house was clean, modern and roomy enough for our adult children to join us during the week. We beached on the big lake, boated on the Glens, shopped and ate in Glen Arbor & Leland and made S'mores over a fire in the backyard. It was a wonderful week.
Keith N.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.
10/10 Excellent
diane H.
5 June 2017
Little cream puff in perfect location!
Cozy, comfy, and clean cottage. Owners went the extra mile to make sure it was well stocked and ready for guests. Very up-to-date decor, and nice open space for spreading out comfortably. A few minutes from downtown Glen Arbor, a few minutes the other way to Empire. We never get tired of this area of Michigan- so gorgeous!
Clean, comfortable and modern cottage near Glen Lake
Bear Haven Cottage was clean, comfortable, and modern. The photos provided matched our experience. The location was convenient to head to Glen Lake for a swim or paddle boarding. Cheryl was responsive and helpful. The cottage had all amenities you could need. We appreciated the updated and well stocked kitchen and laundry room.
Beautiful property. I so appreciated all the kitchen amenities such as sharp knives, pans, bowls, spices, pancake griddle even a potato masher. THANK YOU for this. Just came from NC and that VRBO was horrible and Bear Haven made appreciate these non-essentials.
Awesome and spacious home across the street from Glen Lake! We enjoyed all the amenities in this modern house - stocked kitchen, picture windows, excellent beds, comfy leather furniture, and 3 outside decks. Also, the owner has a detailed welcome booklet full of many ideas for excursions and hikes in the area. We found some hidden gems off the beaten path, and the location of the house is ideal for all of the activities in Empire, Glen Arbor, Leland, and Sutton’s Bay.
Property was perfect getaway from home during COVID. Home is spacious, comfortable and in a great location. Only thing to note was that the twin beds are trundle so too tall for my elderly mother. We made different arrangement to work for her. The week was very relaxing.
Jackie B.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2020
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.
10/10 Excellent
Michael Y.
13 June 2017
Perfect for Us
Bear Haven was perfect for what we needed this weekend. Location was ideal to everything. Short walk across the bridge to the marina to rent a pontoon and only 10 minute drive to the dunes and Glen Arbor.
The house is immaculate. Looks like it was recently renovated. Super organized and very easy to find things. Hosts were quick to respond with answers to questions. We had 6 people and there was plenty of room for everyone.
As far as we could tell, it wasn't walking distance to any lake public access, but this time of year we weren't looking. If that is a need for you, double check with the hosts.
We would stay here again and I would recommend.
Michael Y.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2017
About the host
Hosted by Cheryl Bayly
Married thirty-seven years. Five grown children. Twenty-one grandchildren. Residents of Ohio. Blessed in our church family. From Chicago. Have lived in Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Fort Wayne and St. Paul. Love Toledo and its surrounding area.
Why they chose this property
My husband and I bought this cottage after years of enjoying my brother's family vacation home in Glen Arbor.
What makes this property unique
Glen Lake Narrows is a great place to be. The lakes themselves get shallow with a sandy bottom at the Narrows. If you've been there, you know that boaters will park their boats for hours just across the street from Bear Haven Cottage and swim, wade, float and paddle the afternoon away.
But the location is even better for biking. We love riding to the Heritage Trail and down to Empire or up to Little Traverse Lake. Even better, if you're a more serious biker, is the ride around the lakes and up M22 to Northport. The cottage is superbly located for a variety of rides. As a long-time rider, my husband is convinced there's no better location to begin a ride than at the Narrows.
Easy rides, challenging hill-climbs, trail rides: they're all available from this location. And the cottage is great for after-ride relaxation.
Languages:
English
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests