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Cabin

Screened in porch now has a fireplace for added ambience and warmth!

A view from the cabin from the lake with a view of other cabins near property.

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

9.8

Exceptional

2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 6

Popular amenities

Pet-friendly

Barbecue grill

Outdoor space

Kitchen

Air conditioning

Fireplace

Explore the area

Backus, MN

Rainy Lake5 min drive
Black Bear Golf Complex19 min drive
Northern Lights Casino25 min drive
Brainerd, MN (BRD-Brainerd Lakes Regional)52 min drive

Most relevant reviews

8/10 Good

The cabin was clean and "cute". The lake was very weedy, which was a disappointment for us. Other than the lake, the sta...

Amy S.

Aug 9, 2023

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Double Futon

Bedroom 1

1 Single Bunk Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio

Porch or lanai

Kitchen

Outdoor play area

Garden

About this property

Cabin 8 Retreats on Big Portage Lake: Unit B

Welcome to the perfect cabin getaway! This two-bedroom, 525 square foot, cabin has all of the amenities you need to simply relax and enjoy everything that cabin life has to offer. Our cabin is directly located on Big Portage Lake in Backus, Minnesota. With this cabin you will have access to a dock and huge yard for provided lawn games and lake fun. We are only minutes away from the Paul Bunyan State Trail and miles and miles of state land to explore. Cabin B has a beautiful screened in porch with wonderful views of the lake along with numerous amenities to truly make you feel at home. Our mission is to give you a carefree vacation with all the trimmings. We work to make sure that we think of everything from kitchen utensils to lawn games. Enjoy our high speed internet, explore the Portage Chain Lakes, or just sit back and sip our provided coffee, enjoying the sights of nature.

We do have a one room bunk house for rent as well. The last few pictures feature the bunkhouse. Please note that the dock and other outdoor amenities are not available after the first weekend in October until May!

Please note that the dock and other outdoor amenities are seasonal and only available in the summer months. However, we do have many wonderful fall and winter amenities to enjoy!

Below is a list of current provided amenities:

Indoor
All essential kitchen needs, including pizza pan, pots, casserole dish, bowls, mugs, etc.
Hand towels, bath towels, rags, etc.
Puzzles, games, books, coloring books, crayons, colored pencils, etc.
Coffee, Tea, Sugar, Cocoa, Salt, Pepper
Shampoo, Conditioner, and Body Wash
All pillows, sheets, linens, etc.
Extra set of chairs for indoor table (total of 4 indoors, not including screened in porch)
Electric Fireplace
Roku Television and wireless internet

Off Season Outdoor
Shovels
Sleds
Two sets of snow shoes
Additional salt if needed for ice

Summer Season Outdoor
Cornhole
Ladder Ball
Bocce Ball
Fire Pit with roasting sticks and cast iron squares
Folding Patio chairs (4)
Propane Grill
Fish House
Boat Slip with Boat lift
Paddle Boat

Property manager

Jennifer Schroeder

Premier Host

Languages

English

Amenities

Kitchen

Pet-friendly

Free WiFi

Air conditioning

Outdoor space

Lake view

Cabin A has a large deck with great views of the lake.

Pet-friendly

Free WiFi

Air conditioning

Outdoor space

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 18

Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 23 kg per pet (limit one pet total)

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

There are no jet skis allowed on Big Portage Lake.

Cabins are located in neighborhood association. Quiet hours from 11 PM to 8 AM.

Pets must be leashed at all times and pets cannot be on the beach.

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

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 not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property

Safety features at this property include a deadlock

About the area

Backus

Located in Backus, this cabin is on the waterfront. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Deep Portage Conservation Reserve and Learning Center and Rainy Lake, while Woodtick Theatre and Kicks on Route 66 are cultural highlights. Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway and Wildwedge Golf & Mini Golf are also worth visiting.

Backus, MN

What's nearby

Rainy Lake - 5 min drive
Lake Ada - 12 min drive
Black Bear Golf Complex - 19 min drive
Northern Lights Casino - 25 min drive
Deep Portage Conservation Reserve and Learning Center - 32 min drive

Restaurants

‪Harriet Club - ‬13 min drive
‪Willard's Saloon & Eatery - ‬9 min drive
‪Corner Store Restaurant & Gun Shop - ‬8 min drive
‪Club Kimberly - ‬8 min drive
‪Triolo's Italian & Mexican Restaurant - ‬8 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Cabin 8 Retreats on Big Portage Lake: Unit B pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 1 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet.

What time is check-in at Cabin 8 Retreats on Big Portage Lake: Unit B?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Cabin 8 Retreats on Big Portage Lake: Unit B?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Cabin 8 Retreats on Big Portage Lake: Unit B located?

Situated on the waterfront, this cabin is 1.8 mi (3 km) from Rainy Lake and within 9 miles (15 km) of Lake Ada and Black Bear Golf Complex. Wabedo Lake and Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway are also within 16 miles (25 km).

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Richard R.

27 Apr 2024

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

Quick Weekend Visit

Came up for the weekend. The cabin was right on Big Portage Lake. Beautiful views of the lake right from the enclosed porch. Great location and really cute inside. Quite comfortable. Thanks!

Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024

8/10 Good

Amy S.

9 Aug 2023

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

short get away

The cabin was clean and "cute". The lake was very weedy, which was a disappointment for us. Other than the lake, the stay was good.

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Michelle W.

25 Oct 2022

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

Nice cabin!

This is a really cute little cabin. Great view of the lake. Nice and quite with lots of outdoor activities provided.

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Roland W.

16 Oct 2022

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

Fall grouse camp

Had a great weekend while we chased grouse. Cabin is beautiful and clean. Thanks!

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Neyva N.

19 Sept 2022

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

Quick Cabin weekend

Had an amazing time with my family. Perfect spot for a quick family gateway.

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Allie J.

29 Aug 2022

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

Amazing!

Loved it here! Great place for our dogs, we had loads of fun!

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Tess W.

16 Aug 2022

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

Beautiful Cozy Cabin

Beautiful, tidy and clean cozy cabin with lake view! Had an amazing time playing games (that were provided) with family in the nice, roomy screened in porch, and enjoying the view of the lake! The property manager was very kind and quick to respond :)

Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Russell S.

8 Aug 2022

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

Peaceful Weekend getaway

Literally just pack your bag of clothes and head here. This place really does have everything you need to recharge, and it’s within distance to Walker to do touristy things for the day and plenty of great fisheries in the area. Big Portage lake produced plenty of fish to keep us entertained and looking forward to the calm evenings on the water with the loons. Can’t stress enough how this places has literally everything you need. From the basics of soap to the Solo Stove for your campfires and s’more cravings. Four adults and two babies under 18 months. Everyone had a blast. Can’t wait to come back. 10/10 would recommend.

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Mark U., St. Louis Park, MN

2 Aug 2022

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

Great Cabin -nice lake

We rented the cabin for a month and had a great stay. Family & friends came to visit and enjoyed as well. The lake is great for boating and swimming, and the sandy swimming beach was only 1/2 block down the road. There are a lot of great trails to hike in the area, though this year there were some bugs if you were off into the woods on trails (to be expected, so bring bug repllent)

Stayed 30 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Stacy P.

18 July 2022

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

Relaxing stay with family

We had so much fun making memories for the five days we were here. Upon arrival we saw about four turtles crossing the road and the kids (ages 8, 12 & 14) all hopped out of the van and ran to get a closer look! We joked that there needed to be a 'turtle crossing' sign as you drive in! We were sent the code to get into the cabin and all was where it said it would be. It was very neat and tidy. The screened in front porch was our favorite place to be! We ate out there, played games out there and just sat and enjoyed talking to one another. The weather was perfect for our stay as well. One thing I loved about this cabin was the fact that it was fully stocked with not only kitchen items, but children's activities, towels, simple toiletries, beach toys, floaties, yard games, fire wood, etc. It really made packing a lot less difficult! We did have to bring a few more lawn chairs because there weren't enough for all of us. (I did make a note to the owner that more lawn chairs would be great as space in our van was limited!) There is a boat dock that you can see from the front porch and the beach is a short walk down the road (you can't see it from the cabin), which for someone that has lots of health issues, it wasn't too bad of a walk. Another thing we loved was that it was dog friendly (not the beach, unfortunately) with a reasonable pet fee. In the evening there is more shade in front of the cabin which was when we set up some of the yard games as I need some shade! We didn't have any kayaks or boats, but this would be the perfect location to come if you brought your own. We loved hearing the loons in the evening and seeing all of the dragonflies flying around. We drove into Hackensack several times for dinner our first night there, seeing the sights (Birch Lake Park) had a fun park and beach area for the kids as well as a dock to fish off of. We had to stop twice at the Big Dipper ice cream shop! Another nice thing was that there was another cabin owned by the same people right next door so if you wanted to camp with extended family or some friends you could be super close! We definitely will be going back again. It was the perfect place to stay with our family!

Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

basia l.

30 May 2022

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

Great memories

Very clean - well stocked cabin. Loved the screened in porch and the games provided.

Stayed 2 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Melissa W.

25 Feb 2022

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

Beautiful location

great property in a beautiful location, the owners were great to work with and very responsive

Stayed 29 nights in Jan 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

21 Feb 2022

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

Wonderful, peaceful getaway!

We stayed 3 nights in February. Very clean and cozy cabin in a peaceful and quiet area. Enjoyed cross country skiing at Cut Lakes Ski Trail, eating out, and just relaxing in the cabin. Host was very friendly, helpful, and attended to anything we needed. Had a very pleasant stay and would definitely recommend. Great place! Five stars all the way!!!

Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2022

10/10 Excellent

Aimee G.

19 Jan 2022

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

Winter Stay

The cabin was clean and Jennifer owner was helpful. Easy check in and out. It was quiet neighborhood (in winter!).

Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2022

10/10 Excellent

Nani J.

24 Oct 2021

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

Great getaway

Cute little place with a great 3 season porch. Clean and well equipped. Recommend.

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2021

8/10 Good

Samantha S.

23 Oct 2021

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

Patio for the Win!

This cute little cabin had everything you needed for a lil trip to the lake. It was close enough to neighboring towns and allowed us to bring our pup along for the trip. The best spot had to be sitting in the screened in patio watching the sunrise or enjoying the warmth of the fall sun in the afternoon.

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Alicia M., Stillwater, MN, USA

26 Sept 2021

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

Charming Retreat

The cabin was absolutely charming on a beautiful chain of lakes. The area is quite peaceful with lots of wildlife, great fishing and hiking nearby. Our host was wonderful. My husband and I already look forward to going back!

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2021

About the host

Hosted by Jennifer Schroeder

Cabin 8 Retreats is named after "Cabin 8." This was the numbered cabin where I always stayed as a child in a nearby (now closed) resort. I decided to purchase and rent out this cabin as a tribute to the memories that I have there. I want to help others build and create lasting, meaningful memories that will linger for a lifetime. Cabins are a way to escape our everyday life and leave our worries behind. It is my goal to provide that perfect getaway for you and your family.

Why they chose this property

This cabin is the perfect hybrid between a private escape and a resort experience. While there is plenty of privacy and seclusion, there are also shared resort amenities and a wonderful sense of community.

What makes this property unique

Our goal is to offer all of the little things to make your vacation absolutely perfect. A stay at Cabin 8 Retreats includes coffee, games, puzzles, yard games, grill, fireplaces, winter sleds, books, and so many other amenities. We are constantly adding new items to help your stay turn into the perfect, unforgettable experience. Please ask about anything in specific you might be wanting for your stay!