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Large home located on the shores of Lake Superior and Big Bay Harbor of Refuge

Photo gallery for Large home located on the shores of Lake Superior and Big Bay Harbor of Refuge

A coastal scene with a rocky shoreline, a grassy foreground, and a clear blue sky.
A calm lake with a dock extending into the water, surrounded by rocky shores and sparse vegetation.
A rocky shoreline with trees and a clear blue sky.
bedroom - 2 single beds - full bath w/washer & dryer
A cozy living room with a stone fireplace, a wooden staircase, and a comfortable sofa set.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Top rated beach location
    Discover paradise at this top rated beach location.
  • Ping pong on-site
    A rare find — challenge friends and family to endless matches.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
Sleeps 10•4 bedrooms•5 beds

Popular amenities

  • On beach
  • Garage parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Air-conditioning
  • Barbecue

Explore the area

View map
Big Bay, MI
  • Place, Lake Independence
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Place, Northern Michigan University
    ‪37 min drive‬
  • Place, Presque Isle Park
    ‪42 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Queen Beds

Bedroom 3

1 King Bed and 2 Single Beds

Bedroom 4

3 Single Beds

1 bathroom, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3

Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Dining area

About this property

Large home located on the shores of Lake Superior and Big Bay Harbor of Refuge

Beautiful home located on Squaw Beach and Big Bay Harbor of Refuge near Big Bay, MI approximately 30 miles North of Marquette, MI. Home has 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, stone fireplace, large kitchen, dining room, deck, and BBQ grill. Exceptional views. Beautiful sunrises. Northern lights. Great for star gazing. Watch boats approaching the harbor. Town of Big Bay located about 1 mile from home.

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Welcome to Squaw Beach House
Tranquil lakefront retreat on majestic Lake Superior
Big Bay
  • Kitchen
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Outdoor space
  • Parking available
9.8 out of 10, Exceptional, (59 reviews)
Tranquil lakefront retreat on majestic Lake Superior

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Property # 610007vb
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 not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock

About the area

Big Bay

Located in Big Bay, this holiday home is in a rural area and on the beach. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Lake Superior and Little Presque Isle Recreation Area. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking and snorkelling nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with mountain biking and hiking/biking trails.
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Map
Big Bay, MI

What's nearby

  • Lake Independence - 3 min drive - 1.9 km
  • Sugarloaf Mountain - 31 min drive - 46.3 km
  • Northern Michigan University - 37 min drive - 55.0 km
  • Superior Dome - 40 min drive - 56.8 km
  • Presque Isle Park - 42 min drive - 58.3 km

Getting around

  • Marquette, MI (MQT-Sawyer Intl.) - 67 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Lumberjack Tavern - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Thunder Bay Inn - ‬3 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Large home located on the shores of Lake Superior and Big Bay Harbor of Refuge pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Large home located on the shores of Lake Superior and Big Bay Harbor of Refuge?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Large home located on the shores of Lake Superior and Big Bay Harbor of Refuge?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Large home located on the shores of Lake Superior and Big Bay Harbor of Refuge?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Large home located on the shores of Lake Superior and Big Bay Harbor of Refuge located?

Nestled on the beach, this Big Bay holiday home is steps from Lake Superior and 1.3 mi (2.1 km) from Lake Independence. Hidden Beach and Little Presque Isle Recreation Area are also within 25 miles (40 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 46 out of 46 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 46 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 46 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 46 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 46 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Karen F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very well stocked kitchen. Lots of towels. Washer/dryer super helpful. Beautiful private beach. Lots of beds. Air conditioning was a plus on a few days. Highly recommend!
Stayed 9 nights in Jul 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 15 July 2026
Thanks Karen. You were great guests.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jean S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful location with great views of Lake Superior. Enjoyed sitting by the fire pit listening to the waves, Walking on the beach and kayaking. Large well stocked kitchen for gathering and making meals. House was spotless.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 2 October 2025
Thanks Jean, you left the house in great shape too. Glad you had a good time.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Shawn E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fun getaway location

House was great, but the location was even better. Beautiful sunrises can be seen everyday, very quiet and nice private beach. Would stay here again for certain
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 21 August 2024
Thank you so much.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Ruthann S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This home is well appointed, comfortable and a perfect lake location. It's large enough for a gathering of family members. Charter fishing on Lake Superior is nearby. Mary Pat is an attentive hostess. This was our third visit and it was (as always) a delight.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Zachary S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Always a great place

Just like the last time we stayed, it was a great place. Mary Pat is very accommodating and a great host. Look forward to staying again in the future.
Stayed 8 nights in Aug 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 16 August 2023
Thanks, you were great guests. Loved the painted rocks, did you mean to leave them? Thanks for the popsicles too:)
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Laura C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful cabin!

Had a great time here! Very roomy and comfortable. Beautiful cabin and location. Easy drive to Marquette and quite a few waterfalls close
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 6 July 2022
Thank you!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Cynthia B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful location! Very quiet. Gorgeous sunrises and sunsets. The house is very spacious and clean. The kitchen is well-appointed and had pretty much everything we needed for cooking a week's worth of meals. We really appreciated the use of the garage.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 13 August 2025
Thank you Cynthia. It truly is a great place. You were great guests.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Cindy K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect for a larger family, mostly handicapped equipped, which saved my vacation. Choice of two sandy beaches, minutes from Big Bay, and a bit further is Marquette. My kinda camping. Thanks Mary Pat everything was perfect.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 15 July 2025
Thanks Cindy. You were perfect guests.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Ruthann S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Getting together along the 'big lake'

We rented this charming log dwelling to enjoy a week with family and get together with local friends. Lake Superior never fails to delight and it's always good fun visiting Marquette.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 17 August 2024
Thanks Ruthann.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Linda L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful!

Absolutely beautiful! We enjoyed the beach, cabin, and views!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 29 June 2022
Thank you, Linda.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Lucas P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A great place to play and relax

We enjoyed our week on the lake, with plenty of space for our family, and good hiking and biking opportunities near by. The boys enjoyed having the beach right outside the door!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 30 July 2021
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed your stay.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Linette S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Spectacular location!

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and couldn't have been happier with the house, amenities, and location. The property was impeccably maintained and provided everything we needed for a comfortable and relaxing stay. The owners were fantastic at communicating, ensuring we had all the information we needed before and during our visit. We highly recommend this home!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Mike H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great home with a good location

Great home and location. Only thing i would suggest is to hzve some ash trays outside for s.okers and a recycle bin by the fire pit for cans
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 12 July 2023
Thanks, Mike for your suggestions.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Lori M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful setting!

Spacious home with large kitchen and wonderful views. The weather was not very nice but we had a great time hiking, golfing and going in the boat tour if pictured rocks. We had fun at the breweries in Marquette as well. I would definitely recommend this place.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 8 July 2023
Thanks Lori. I wish I could have done something about the weather. Glad you made the best of it.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Lindsey C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great swimming beach!

We had 6 adults and 4 children in our group and we stayed for 6 nights. We all loved the house and the beach. The location was great! We enjoyed the privacy of being at the end of the road and the view of Lake Superior on every side of the peninsula was amazing. Everyone swam and enjoyed the sandy beach. We only left a couple times to get groceries and spent a day at Agate Beach. It was very relaxing and we would love to stay again.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 8 August 2023
Thanks Lindsey, glad you enjoyed your stay. You were great guests!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Patricia C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Superior

We had it all, beautiful home, amenities, enough bathrooms, boat launch near by and the sandy beach of Lake Superior!! Our host was also Superior. Fantastic memories!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 12 August 2021
Thanks Pat. I'm glad you enjoyed your stay. You forgot your zucchini:)
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Kristie S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful Peaceful Get Away!!!

My son was getting married up in Big Bay so since we enjoyed this Beautiful place last year we decided to reserve it again. The weather wasn't as nice but we still enjoyed the beach area. She has many games upstairs to play but we did buy a puzzle and put that together. If you want a beautiful place to stay for all ages...This is a must Stay!! Lots of rooms/bed, huge kitchen, 2 full bathrooms and a 3/4 upstairs. Getting to the beach is very accessible for which I need because I have an adult (child) that has a small form of cerebral palsy and he can make it down there...so It works out Perfect.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 30 August 2023
Thanks Kristie. You were great guests. Sorry the weather wasn't better. Glad you made the most of it.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

terry f.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful home on Big Bay

Large comfortable house with that “up north Michigan” feel. Great views from inside and out. Sandy beach and nice walk down beach. Large kitchen, family room and dining areas. Plenty of tv channels. Canoe on property and kayaks for rent in Big Bay. Excellent paddling to rock cliffs nearby. Not too busy road and trail bike riding from house. Good breakfast diner and two nice dinner restaurants a mile away in Big Bay. Tennis courts in Big Bay (we modified for Pickleball). Great trails, lookouts and waterfalls in area. Easy drive to Marquette. Looking forward to a return trip.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 3 August 2023
Thanks for the nice review. You were truly great guests. Thanks for the ice cream bar too!
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Terry D.

Terry and family from Plymouth, MI

My wife & I, our son and his wife and four children (6 yrs and under) stayed here the first week in August, 2015. The home was wonderful, excellent views with water on 3 sides and great sunrises. Kids enjoyed swimming on private beach and adults used the kayaks provided. Everyone had a great time and the owner, Mary Pat, was great. She was easy to work with and even allowed us to show up early which was awesome after an 8 plus hour drive with 4 small kids. She made us feel like family. We can't say enough good things about this property or the owners. We will come back to this one!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Judy P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A Great COVID getaway!

This home is perfect for families wanting to play together. It is situated on the shore of Lake Superior as well as on a warmer harbor of refuge. The sand beach is a wonderful playground. We brought up a kayak and paddle board and there is a canoe provided. We had nightly fires in the fire pit. The cottage is completely equipped with kitchen utensils, bedding, and towels. We experienced a spectacular thunderstorm with unrelenting lightning. A bed full of grqndkids is a blessing. Mary Pat is very attentive and a great source of information.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 26 July 2020
Thank you. You were great guests...enjoyed talking to you.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Angel K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Place!

Mary Pat was wonderful to work with. We rented her home for our workers and their family for two weeks while we were completing a project in Marquette. The location was far enough from Marquette to relax but close enough to everything we needed. House was clean and comfortable. More than enough beds to go around. The house is on a little peninsula with water on 3 sides of the house. Perfect house to open the windows to let the breeze come in or have a small campfire while listening to the water. The extra fridge in the garage was great for the size of group we had. The house had more than everything we needed. I would be more than happy to visit here again in the future.
Response from VrboOwner on 17 March 2020
Thank you...you were very generous. Especially liked that they set up the old ping pong table that hasn't been used in many, many years.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Breanna O.

Beautiful home, incredible views

My girlfriends and I recently stayed here for a fun Girl's Weekend. We couldn't have asked for a better stay. The house is immaculate and spacious, but still cozy. We each had our own rooms, but spent a lot of time together in the living room near the fireplace. Every window has an incredible view. The living room has several large windows to look out at the break wall and lake. And the house sits on a peninsula, surrounded by water on three sides. The location is perfect. The house is fairly secluded, but Big Bay is a short drive away (probably walkable in the warmer months). The Thunder Bay Inn has great prime rib and the Lumberjack Tavern is a lot of fun. No question we will stay again. I would highly recommend this rental.
Response from VrboOwner on 17 March 2020
I'm glad you enjoyed your stay. You were great guests. Come back anytime.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Ellen F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beauty by the Water

We absolutely loved our stay. Ours was a group of six: my husband and I, our thirty one year old son and his girlfriend, and our twenty eight year old daughter and her boyfriend. We live on the East and West coasts, so this vacation provided a way for us to spend time together in a beautiful place after a long hiatus (too long!) due to Covid. The rental is a lovely large home that is surrounded on three sides by water. There are amazing views and hang-out spots, both indoors and out, with group spaces as well as little private nooks to relax and enjoy the expansive feeling surrounding the place. We loved the sound of the waves. And the water was warm and swim-able! The house had everything we needed for a fun, relaxing stay. Mary Pat is a wonderful host! She is so accommodating, helpful and friendly. Felt as though we'd known each other a long time. We'll have many fond memories of this vacation. Hope to return.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 30 August 2021
Thanks Ellen. I'm so happy you enjoyed your stay. You have a wonderful family.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Robert M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
You won’t need your sleep machine!The wind and waves provide an ultra-relaxing sleep environment. Open the windows.Despite the abysmal weather, we had a great time at this beautiful abode. But first the negatives! The trees need pruning. The relaxing view of the protected harbor could be much improved: as well the kitchen window could provide a better view of the activity of the boats/yachts docked. AND there is no cheese shredder! Sheesh! Course I coulda missed it… there are over 40 doors and drawers in the kitchen!Our invited guests did not show – life issues- so 2/3 floors went unused. You could have several families here and never hafta talk to them.The beach(s) are perfect. There are no weeds and no rocks, just sand as far as you can go (and beyond). Lake Superior is not bath water, the UP locals know this: it’s refreshing. If from, Florida try to stay in the top ¼ inch of water (but then there’s no salt or sharks!)There’s plenty to see in this remote and quiet location, CRAMS store/gas station/driving range… waterfalls (not sedan ready) lookouts, fall colors, lakes and streams – but never did I see Jimmy Stewart.Finally, the host(es) goes the extra mile (3 miles one way on her bicycle) to accommodate your needs. She’s a long time resident and knows the area well. A better host you will not encounter.
It's ca-ca-ca quite warm!
Stayed 18 nights in Aug 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 16 September 2025
You are so funny i wish we had spent more time with you. We are going to work on cutting branches asap. I'll look tomorrow for the cheese shredder. Sorry about Jimmy. If you come up our way again look us up. Thanks for being such great guests!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Julie B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful views

We loved the big kitchen. A great property. Wonderful lake Superior views. Bedding and towels could be updated. Everything you could need is provided. The beach was a great plus. Thanks for the use of your home...😊😊😊
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

About the host

Hosted by Mary Pat Johnson

Host profile image
We were born and raised in Marquette/Big Bay area. Always had a great love for Lake Superior and the UP. Never wanted to leave.

Why they chose this property

This was a dream home of my parents. They built late in life, but were able to enjoy 8 years of what my Dad called 'His Heaven'.

What makes this property unique

Located inside the Big Bay Harbor of Refuge.
Watch boats coming and going. The break wall can put on a spectacular waterfall-like show in a storm

Languages:

English

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