Northern Lights Casino - 29 min drive - 20.3 miles
Restaurants
Willard's Saloon & Eatery - 7 min drive
Harriet Club - 17 min drive
Corner Store Restaurant & Gun Shop - 6 min drive
Birchwood Char House and Bar - 13 min drive
Rendezvous Brewing - 13 min drive
About this property
Entire place
You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.
Just in!! Week of 12- 19 July is now available. Premium Accommodation.
Just Open, Week of 12- 19 July is available. Rare Opportunity!!
Our Four-Season Cottage is Small Enough to be Romantic and Large Enough for a Family.
Great value year around. Try it. You will like it!
September and October are my own absolute favorite times of the year!!
Special winter rates are implemented for many non-holiday weekends/periods between mid-October and mid-May each year.
This professionally designed beautiful 3 bedroom - 2 bath cottage is available year around. Our cottage was newly constructed in the spring of 2013. The cottage is well maintained. The interior is clean, uncluttered, and bright with natural light. New or improved features are added to the interior and/or to the property exterior each year.
Added new this year: Triple the prior internet speed, higher speed DirecTV service, two paddle boards, and two kayaks
Whole Home is dedicated to the booked guest. Non-contact self-check-in. No shared interior spaces or facilities. This home, and the immediate surrounding towns, are situated in a low population density region. That remains so even in peak vacation schedule periods.
The installed internet service will support work simultaneous with schooling. Bring your family for a week or two away. The service was updated again in the spring of 2025 to triple the overall internet speed.
Cleaning charge will always be applied. Extra charge for more than six people. Extra charge for one pet.
Typical Repeat Visitors: multi-generation family vacation; weekend or week getaway for a couple; Thanksgiving, New Year day, or Christmas family celebration; extended family groups; hobby groups; craft groups; women's weekend away groups; small group reunions; church groups; quilting groups; wedding groups; special anniversaries; engagement proposal weekends; honeymoon cottage; snowmobiling groups; ice fishing groups; XC skiing groups; winter weekend getaways; waterskiing groups; wakeboard groups; wake-surfing groups; fishing opener groups; hunting groups; and more......
DATES IN MID-SUMMER ARE GENERALLY RESERVED THREE OR MORE YEARS IN ADVANCE. Dates in mid-October to mid- May will often be reserved 6 months to 1 year, or more, in advance. Reserve now to acquire a week in the early fall and winter 2024, or winter and spring of 2025
Grand piano is provided for your enjoyment.
Two tiled bathrooms and full separate laundry area
Exterior fire pit, exterior gas and charcoal grills, interior gas grill and griddle, and interior gas fireplace.
Relaxing recreational location
Large commercial grade kitchen for family special meal prep and relaxed gourmet dining or just serving a family reunion crowd. Please see the pictures.
Nearby access to Paul Bunyan and Heartland trails for great bicycling, inline skating, and X-C skiing.
Great bass fishing (1/2 lb to 5 lb) from dock. Good walleye and northern when trolling lake shallows and sand bars
Quiet, calm, incredibly clear, and nearly weed free lake good for fishing, canoeing, kayaking, water skiing, and recreational boating. Ultra-clear and clean spring fed lake with a sandy bottom
Loons live here. You should see/hear adults and offspring every day/night in spring, summer, and fall. Variety of other animal life is almost endless. A keen wild-life observer might well see: Hawks, eagles, owls, otters, beavers, bears, raccoons, ground hogs, deer, coyote, pelicans, egret, herons, ducks, geese, swans, common and rarer songbirds, various squirrels, chipmunks, skunks, possums, and more.
Docks: Semi-private dock will be, installed in and removed from, the lake as seasonal weather permits. Exact installation dates in spring and exact removal dates in the fall are affected by availability of the dock vendors, the ice out in the spring, and very low air temperature and/or prospect of early ice on in the fall. Docks are often in by late April. and often out before mid-October. Sometimes the docks are not in by late May. Sometimes docks come out in September. There are two 3000 lb boat lifts. One is for the owner's boat and one is for the guest's boat, if any. The owner, or owner's family members, may sometimes be present and use the dock and the owners boat lift. Guests have shared use of the dock, and access for use of (1st of 2) 3000 lb boat lift/canopy cover. Owner will access dock, 2nd lift, and store owner's boat on one of the two lifts (2nd of 2)
Boats: Supplied with 17' Old Town canoe, 15' Lund fishing boat, two paddle boards, and two kayaks. Outboard motor(s) not supplied but available for rent at limited regional commercial locations. Best option is to buy a well maintained used outboard motor and bring it with you. The cost of a used motor will likely be less than one week's rental cost if you find a local rental.
Property has multiple exterior video cameras and monitored interior house/ and garage security sensors. Video systems include (24 hr X 365 day) exterior video surveillance and recording. There is no video interior to the occupied sections of the house (basement is monitored).
CAN SLEEP UP TO TEN PERSONS IN A LARGE FAMILY. THIS MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR 8, 9, OR 10 ADULTS EACH REQUIRING PRIVACY. BEST SUITED FOR 3 OR FEWER ADULT COUPLES OR AN ADULT COUPLE AND THEIR CHILDREN. EXTRA CHARGES FOR MORE THAN SIX PERSONS. See bedrooms discussion in website AMENITIES section for further explanation/clarification.
Not fully handicap accessible: Most of the house is on one level. One step up to the exterior front porch. One step up at the entrance to our home. The kitchen, dining room, both bathrooms, both first floor bedrooms, the sunroom, and a portion of the living room are all on the entry level. One step down between most of the house first floor and just a portion of the living room. 10 steps down (or gentle sloped walk on grass) to lake in front of house. The interior doors are generally 30 in. width. No ramps are provided. The lawn is gently sloped to the lake shore. Lake can be accessed from the lawn easily as well as the steps. The lake bottom is also gently sloped and ideal for handicapped entry, teaching swimming, and monitored child's play.
Pets: Please let me know the breed, weight, and temperament of the pet as soon as you know that you want a pet to be part of your reserved stay. I need to approve any pet in-advance of your stay. There is an extra charge for a pet.
If/when a pet is approved you will need to always keep the pet on leash when outside; you will not leave the pet outside off-leash, unattended, or barking; you will not leave the pet in the house unattended without placing and retaining the pet in a portable kennel; and you will pick up and dispose of pet waste bagged separately within the trash, not leave same in the yard. In addition, I charge a $150 pet fee per pet that covers added cleaning that is needed (pet dander, pet hair, pet odor and etc), and damage that pets cause to flooring in the house no matter how well behaved (wood floors which I have had to refinish every two to three years). That extra fee does not cover damage such as a pet scratching or chewing on a piece of furniture, or scratching/ruining a door or a piece of trim. Your job is to prevent that, and/or to personally cover the costs of that sort of damage if it occurs. Depending on how extensive such damage might be it may not be totally covered under the limited insurance policy.
Owner may often not be present during a portion of guest stay. Guests do not have access to the owner's boat, the lift supporting owner's boat, the house basement, or the garage at any time. Owner retains access to the house basement, the garage, and one of two boat lifts on the dock at all times. All non-guest spaces will frequently be locked. Owner will store one boat on a lift (2nd of the 2) at the dock. Owner may routinely access those areas. Owner will be considerate of time of day and guests needs if/when accessing the dock or the basement. Owner/family sometimes work from and may infrequently spend an extended period in the two-story garage. Windows are carefully offset between the house and the garage so that persons in the garage do not have a view into the house interior, and vice versa.
Exterior of house and all property have full recorded video surveillance at all times. Interior of house ground level, and second floor upper level have extensive security sensors BUT DO NOT include ANY video cameras or audio receivers, except glass breakage sensors. Interior of the garage has extensive security sensors and video/audio recording as well. Basement has extensive security sensors and recorded video, but no audio sensors.
The entire rest of the property has extensive security sensors but in addition includes extensive recorded video surveillance. Any access to the garage or basement will immediately initiate automatic notification of owner and recorded video surveillance. The house ground level and upper-level security alarms will be disabled when guests are present. The garage and house basement security alarms may not be disabled unless owner or owner's family are present. If an alarm occurs other than immediately after guests enter the main house, it is likely the garage system. If officials arrive to investigate an alarm, direct them to the garage first, unless the alarm occurred promptly upon initially attempting to access the main house for the first time, or upon entering the house basement.
Cottage features, furniture, and facilities are improved every year. A portion of each rental is set aside for improvements and maintenance of the home. I try to keep it interesting and in a like-new condition. There are many antique pieces of furniture in the cottage. Antiques are obviously not and should not be new. Those too will evolve year to year.
The cottage is air-conditioned and features a kitchen, 2 bathrooms, and a balcony. There's space to spread out with 3 bedrooms and a dining area. Guests can expect to find free WiFi and a Smart TV with a DVD player. Other standard amenities include a washing machine, a fireplace, and a sofa bed.
Property manager
John Swailes
Languages
English, Spanish
Similar properties
Beautiful Log Cabin on Trillium Lake with Sauna & Pontoon included! GREAT RATES!
Beautiful Log Cabin on Trillium Lake with Sauna & Pontoon included! GREAT RATES!
Note from host: 24 X 365 recorded video of property exterior
Services and conveniences
Iron/ironing board
Phone
Location highlights
In a rural location
Near a hospital
Near an outlet shopping mall
Near the bay
On a lake
On the waterfront
Things to do
Boat
Golf
Kayak
Snow sports gear
Water park
Water sports equipment
Birdwatching nearby
Casino nearby
Fishing nearby
Golfing nearby
Hiking/biking trails nearby
Hunting nearby
Ice skating nearby
Jet skiing nearby
Kayaking nearby
Motor boating nearby
Mountain biking nearby
Scuba diving nearby
Sledding nearby
Snorkeling nearby
Snowmobiling nearby
Swimming nearby
Theme park nearby
Water skiing nearby
Water tubing nearby
Wildlife walks nearby
Safety features
Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
First aid kit
Fire extinguisher
Deadbolt lock
General
Garden
Unit size: 2,200 square feet
Policies
Check-in
Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 25
Check-out
Check-out before 10:00 AM
Special check-in instructions
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Pets
This property welcomes pets
Dogs only
1 total (50 lbs is the maximum weight per pet)
Service animals exempt from fees
Note from host: Owner permission. Pet fee of $150.
Children and extra beds
Note from host: Loft stairs not suitable for young children.
Important information
You need to know
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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Note from host: Families?-Yes. Frat/graduation/event parties?-No!
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Check-in: 3:00 PM
Check-out: 10:00 AM
Minimum check-in age: 25
We should mention
Details about charges, deposits, or other important information:
This property is managed by a private host, not a professional engaged in trade or business.
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary depending on the property's policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges, as well as a government-issued photo ID, may be required at check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in and can't be guaranteed. Certain requests may come with additional charges.
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited.
Note from host: Families?-Yes. Frat/graduation/event parties?-No!
Onsite safety features include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock.
Property is also known as
Cozy Enough be Romantic. Large Enough Family House Backus
Cozy Enough be Romantic. Large Enough Family Backus
Cozy Enough be Romantic rge E
Cozy Enough to be Romantic. Large Enough for a Family
Frequently asked questions
What's there to do within easy reach of this cottage?
This cottage is located in Backus, a short 1-minute walk from Horseshoe Lake and also 19 minutes on foot from Lindsey Lake. You'll also find Rainy Lake and Big Portage Lake within a short drive.
Is parking available on site at this cottage?
Yes, there is a garage.
Is this cottage associated with a casino?
No, this cottage is not connected to a casino.
Is there an indoor pool at this cottage?
No, there is no indoor pool at this cottage.
What amenities will couples enjoy at Just in! August & July weeks available. Premium lakefront accommodation?
Amenities that appeal to couples at this beachfront cottage include a fireplace and a kitchen in each accommodation with some featuring beach views.
Does Just in! August & July weeks available. Premium lakefront accommodation have a hot tub?
No, this cottage doesn't have a spa tub.
Does this cottage include breakfast service?
No, this cottage doesn't offer breakfast.
Does this cottage allow pets to stay free of charge?
Although dogs can't stay for free, they are welcome at this cottage.
Are there connecting rooms at this cottage?
No, there aren't connecting rooms at this cottage.
Are there rooms with balconies that I can book at Just in! August & July weeks available. Premium lakefront accommodation?
Yes, every accommodation at Just in! August & July weeks available. Premium lakefront accommodation comes with a balcony with some featuring beach views.
Just in!! Week of 12- 19 July is now available. Premium Accommodation. Reviews
Reviews
10
Exceptional
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
Rating 10 - Excellent. 162 out of 172 reviews
10 - Excellent
162
Rating 8 - Good. 10 out of 172 reviews
8 - Good
10
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 172 reviews
6 - Okay
0
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 172 reviews
4 - Poor
0
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 172 reviews
2 - Terrible
0
9.8/10
Cleanliness
Reviews
10/10 Excellent
Rita R.
May 24, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Love the lake, loons, view, home's essentials plus
Arrived to 2.5 days rain, then sunny last day. All was great. Hope to return
Rita R.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025
10/10 Excellent
Tony S., Dallas, TX
Apr 22, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Awesome
Awesome place. Couldn’t have been happier.
Tony S.
Stayed 8 nights in Apr 2025
10/10 Excellent
Douglas R.
Mar 22, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Great Stau
Location & Home were excellent get away, wonderful views, quiet and warm surroundings.
Douglas R.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2025
10/10 Excellent
Claudia L.
Dec 2, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Tgiving on the lake
It's a beautiful home, decorated in a cabin style with a truely gourmet kitchen. Our second stay for Tgiving knowing we could make our feast there we went all out. A lovely stay. Cold clear nights so we could really see the stars. And so quiet. Delightful.
Claudia L.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024
10/10 Excellent
Pamela R., North Oaks, MN, USA
Oct 20, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Excellent getaway!
This was our second stay at the cabin. Kitchen is wonderful! We’re a group of two musical families and very much enjoyed the piano.
Pamela R.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024
8/10 Good
Michael P.
Oct 14, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Very quiet
Went in October. Wonderfull to see leaves changing. Very quiet and nice.
Michael P.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024
10/10 Excellent
Laura Y.
Oct 7, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Great spot
Beautiful kitchen, very peaceful home.
Laura Y.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024
10/10 Excellent
Kevin R.
Sep 21, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Lake Charm #5
Fifth time here, always quiet, beautiful, peaceful
Kevin R.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2024
10/10 Excellent
Barb P.
May 27, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Great for relaxation..
Beautiful home, quiet solitude, wonderful kitchen w/everything you need, and had fun fishing. Fortunate to have met Host/Wife while there. Thank you for sharing your paradise with us,we’d love to come back!
Barb P.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2024
10/10 Excellent
Elise B.
May 13, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Just lovely
A beautiful place to get away and unwind. We had a wonderful time.
Elise B.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024
10/10 Excellent
Laurie P., Where do you live?
Apr 28, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Very nice place!
We enjoyed our stay at this rental property. If you like to cook this place is for you! The kitchen was amazing with high end appliances and well stocked for everything you need. The place was very comfortable for watching movies and playing games. Everything was clean and well kept. I would stay here again, it was very nice.
Laurie P.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024
8/10 Good
Judi G.
Apr 1, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Weekend stay
Beautiful setting, lovely cabin with state of the art kitchen. Lovely rooms, but bathrooms could use new grouting in showers and attention to toilet in 2nd bathroom. Overall a lovely stay - everyone enjoyed the weekend.
Judi G.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024
10/10 Excellent
Ned W.
Jan 26, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Great cabin
Very nice cabin. Kitchen is exceptional. John is great to work with as well.
Ned W.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2024
10/10 Excellent
Regina M.
Jan 14, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Great friends getaway
This was beautiful relaxing home. We loved every minute there. I would highly recommend this listing. I would definitely rebook this home.
Regina M.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024
10/10 Excellent
sivanaga pavankumar c.
Jan 4, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful cabin
Highly recommend this beautiful and very clean property
sivanaga pavankumar c.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023
10/10 Excellent
Luanne D.
Jan 2, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Scott
Great stay as always. Hot water heater broke but owner went out of his way on a holiday to get it fixed.
Luanne D.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2023
10/10 Excellent
Douglas G.
Nov 28, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
The perfect quiet holiday getaway
This is my second time staying here with my parents over Thanksgiving, and it's the perfect place to have a quiet holiday with family and just enjoy being together. Everything at the property is always well kept, I highly recommend you try a family holiday! You won't be disappointed!
Douglas G.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023
10/10 Excellent
Pamela R., North Oaks, MN, USA
Oct 26, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful cabin!
We had a fun relaxing stay and enjoyed the lovely kitchen!
Pamela R.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2023
8/10 Good
Ashley N.
Oct 15, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
Great location to meet up!
Beautiful property, pictures don’t do it justice! We enjoyed the fireplace and the views of the lake. Beds were very comfortable and kitchen was well stocked with everything you could ever need. Bathrooms were gorgeous and we enjoyed games around the dining table. We had a great stay!
Ashley N.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023
10/10 Excellent
Jeff F.
Oct 10, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
Anniversary trip
Very tranquil setting. We had a great trip!
Jeff F.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2023
10/10 Excellent
Elizabeth T.
Oct 2, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
Breath of fresh air
Beautiful cabin with craftsmanship surprises around every corner. We didn’t use the kitchen a whole lot, but just sitting in the space made me happy. Thanks for the quiet, peaceful stay.
Elizabeth T.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023
10/10 Excellent
Lisa E., RENO
Sep 29, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful Lake House
We really enjoyed our stay near Backus Minnesota for the month of September 2023. The house was great. The garage was unavailable for our use but there was plenty of room to park in the driveway. The view from the back patio was beautiful. The dock below the house was available for our use. It was nice to enjoy the lake and to have a coffee out there in the morning. There were other houses nearby but we were never bothered. All the appliances worked well. The kitchen area is quite large with high end finishes and appliances. There was a good-sized smart TV in the living area. Cable was available but we also brought our own firestick to access our online subscriptions. This was a working vacation for my husband. The internet was okay and adequate for our use with access issues occasionally. The master bedroom is on the first level at the back of the house. The queen bed is comfortable but quite high. Master bath is attached with a large walk-in shower and large tub. There is a small walk-in closet in the master and ample drawer space available in two dressers. There is a second bathroom on the main level accessed off the hallway. A second bedroom is on the main level. It is not directly attached to the second bathroom. The washer and dryer were in a separate laundry room off the hallway on the main level. The owner’s communication was prompt and complete. We would rent this property again if we return to the area.
Lisa E.
Stayed 30 nights in Aug 2023
10/10 Excellent
Shawn G.
Jun 27, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
Another Great Stay!
This was our third time staying at this lovely home. Once again, lots of great meals made in the amazing commercial sized kitchen along with a ton of great memories made!
Shawn G.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
10/10 Excellent
Ron S., Rochester, MN
Jun 21, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
A nice experience
Many well thought out details make this a very special destination.
Ron S.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
10/10 Excellent
Sammy L.
May 25, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
Peaceful
My husband and I enjoyed a relaxing and quiet stay here. The lake is beautiful with a lot of wildlife. The house is amazing!