Do you ever lay awake during the dead of winter and dream of owning a cabin in a place where crunchy gravel, endless MTB trails, and the buzz of lovely killer mosquitos are around every corner? Here we discuss some of the best places to own a cabin in bike country as well as getting an insider's look at the Cuyuna area and Marquette/Ishpmeming area.
Whether you're looking for a vacation escape, a rental investment, or a permanent retreat near the trails you love, this guide is your starting point. From the serene beauty of Minnesota's Cuyuna Lakes Area to the rugged charm of Michigan's Marquette County, we’ll explore the unique vibes, trail access, and cabin-buying tips in some of the best biking destinations in the Northwoods.
Let’s dive into the possibilities of owning your own slice of bike country paradise!
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Cabins in Places You Already Love Visiting With Bikes
We're all drawn to different types of trails, towns that fit our vibes, and being surrounded by land and water that we connect to at a deeper level. The Northwoods is lucky to have a lot of variety in the land, trails, towns, and waterways that make up the areas many of us spend time biking.
Some are looking for a vacation home to regularly escape to while others are attracted to owning a place that they can Airbnb for additional income while also have a place to personally visit in bike country.
Here are just a few popular bike destinations that might included in your short list of dream cabin destinations.
The Cable, Seeley, & Telemark area is a quickly growing bike destination with the development of Trek Trails and Mt. Telemark village. The area has an enormous network of sprawling MTB trails, gravel roads, secluded lakes, and bike and ski events all year long.
Marquette County, Michigan with Marquette & Ishpeming have incredible MTB trails, a beautiful downtown in Marquette, Lake Superior's breathtaking coastline, and is a popular area for adventures of epic scales.
Cuyuna Lakes Area is "Adventure Town USA" with world class flow trails and pristine deep mine lakes. The area continues to develop with 70+ miles of trail wrapping around 25 miles of natural shoreline.
The North Shore is famous for adventures and vacations of all kinds and has a rich supply of MTB trail destinations and a vast network of winding gravel and double track roads to explore.
"Trapper Lake Cabin", a friend's new place in the Cable, WI area
Get to Know the Cabin Scene in Cuyuna Lakes Area, Minnesota
By Amanda Lumley, Realtor
amanda.lumley@sir.com
I think the best way for potential buyers to start the process of buying a home/cabin in the Cuyuna area is to drive around….take it all in!
There are so many beautiful areas, within the area, and by taking the time to “tour” the local towns and neighborhoods it will guide you naturally in the direction of your preferences. I have clients that want to be in the heart of Crosby, close to the parks and lake, and within walking distance to all of the new restaurants and shops. I have other clients that want acreage, but close to the trails with easy access. The searches range from large properties that can be family owned, to one bedroom studio style, to weekly rental home ownership. Once you have a good feel for the town, then you need to take the day and jump on the trails! This area is incredibly unique in the scenery that it offers unparalleled views with the mine pits, and the overall up north feel as you ride.
The area offers the most breathtaking views, rural areas that overlook water and have wildlife everywhere. There is a trail for every level biker. Must sees are Yawkey Mine Lake or Miner’s Mountain Rally Center. The town has Friendly people, great food, and small town love. The relaxed, tranquil environment that people are in search. An escape for the daily grind, but all of the accustomed amenities at your fingertips.
The trails are so majestic, they speak for themselves…there are 20 lakes within 3 miles of Crosby, downtown provides coffee shops, breweries, shopping, rentals, restaurants, antique stores and more!
Its an excellent getaway in the winter with miles of single track trails, many of them groomed all winter. There’s snowmobiling, snowshoeing, cross country skiing ,ice skating, skiing and tubing. There is no storage of gorgeous AIRBNB cabins if you just want to read a book in front of the fireplace all weekend…
Overall the community is very active. The medical facilities top notch. Property values have continued to increase and the infrastructure is growing with the population.
Truly the area is something out of a Hallmark movie.
Get to Know Marquette & Ishpeming Cabin Living
By Melanie Oliver & Jason Pabian, Realtors
Melanie: Melanie@nexthomesl.com | 906-236-3346 | Website
Jason: Jason@nexthomesl.com | 906-362-6865 | Website
Trails! Trails! Trails! The Marquette and Ishpeming area are full of year round outdoor activities! Marquette boasts miles of pristine Lake Superior Shoreline, natural beauty, vast wooded areas and forests, punchy hills, inland lakes, all of which make for some amazing riding.
In Marquette County, Marquette, Negaunee and Ishpeming are primary locations for bike enthusiasts. But there are also those who prefer to live a little further outside of these cities and townships.
The Marquette market can be quite competitive and properties are generally more costly compared to the Ishpeming market. But both locations have some great properties.
What About Buying a Cabin for a Vacation Home or Airbnb Around Marquette?
There are a number of regulations in place for each city and township in Marquette county. Owning a vacation rental may not be a timely option in areas like Marquette with a lengthy wait list.
The neighboring city of Negaunee currently requires owners to live on property (primary residence) if they intend to rent out a unit or room.
Regulations can change at any time. Knowledge is key to making an appropriate purchase.
You Had a Cabin Before Launching Into Various Other Vacation Rental Projects. What Was That Like?
Jason and I would park on the snow and ice covered dirt road, strap on our snow shoes and start unloading the vehicle, packed full of items we will need for the weekend. The air is so cold it hits your lungs with a punch at first. A smack of cold on our exposed cheeks is invigorating. We comically climb the 6 foot tall snow/ice mound the plows have created and start breaking trail into our camp in the woods. The moon and stars are so incredibly bright we don’t use our headlamps. We are lured into camp by the shadows of the moonlit trees on the snow. We pull our sled behind us filled with food, water, supplies and warm clothing. We finally arrive and begin shoveling feet deep snow in front of the entry door to access our camp.
Once we are inside, our immediate attention is to start a fire in the wood burning stove, our only source of heat. Once the fire is stoked, we return to shoveling the deep snow and breaking off ice dams which have formed on the roof, which also helps warm us up. We return indoors and begin cooking our dinner on the wood stove. No food has ever tasted better than the meals we made on our camp stove. Camp is remote and quiet. Very quiet. No highway or road noise, no hum of electronics, without phone service there are no phone notifications alerting us of the outside world. We have entered our own world now. We have to rely on ourselves and each other for the next few days.
We have friends in a camp a few miles away, down the snow and ice covered dirt road. They have traveled from Wisconsin for a weekend at their camp as well. We ride our fat bikes to our friends camp. It's so cozy and familiar. Always welcoming. A true Yooper camp.
What Kind of Project Did You Turn Your Cabin Into?
Our camp is a one room cabin, hand built in the 1920’s. We transformed the one room cabin from its former Deer camp status into, what our friends would call, Pier Camp (Pier One) status.
We furnished our camp with our delightfully chosen antiques with modern luxuries, like a new mattress and bedding and even hand soap! When this camp was purchased the realtor showing the property, now our broker and dear friend, would not set foot inside the dingy, overcrowded cabin much less walk the overgrown property in his new suede shoes.
What Other Home, Rental, and Real Estate Projects Have You Gotten Into?
We sold our camp about three years ago. We got busy designing, rehabbing, renovating, renting, buying and selling various properties. Our camp may have been a catalyst in helping us recognize our talents and ambitions. The Crusher bike event passes through about a quarter mile from our former camp. The nearby roads make for a gravel rider’s dream. Hundreds of miles of camp roads surrounded by woods, passing waterfalls, ponds, inland lakes, beaver dams, rocky outcroppings, deer and other wildlife. Prior to selling the camp, we discussed making tree house type small cabins throughout the property for use as short term rentals. Logistically, without electricity, a steady heat source, running water, flush toilets, laundry, etc the concept never came to fruition. We focused our sites on properties in town. The UP and all it has to offer comes in many forms. In town as well as in the seemingly remote wilderness this area offers.
As realtors, as well as when we are not realtoring, Jason and I love the opportunity to explore and see new things. Being realtors allow us the opportunity to show and walk properties. We thoroughly enjoy the outdoors. Jason and I enjoy XC and enduro biking, trail running, hiking, flying, snowshoeing, exploring, traveling and adventuring.
