We host five homes around Bellaire and Ellsworth, and we get asked all the time which one is right for a trip. The honest answer depends on who's coming and what you want to do. Here's a side-by-side look, with our take on what each home does best.
At a glance
| Alm Haus | Northwoods Treehaus | Overlook Bellaire | Seven Pines Chalet | White Birch Cabin | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Where | Bellaire, about 5 minutes from Schuss Mountain | At Schuss Mountain Resort | 10 private acres above Bellaire, about 5 minutes from downtown | Ellsworth, near Lake Michigan | Ellsworth, on Lake Michigan |
| Sleeps | 12 | 9 | 16 | 9 | 10 |
| Bedrooms | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Baths | 3 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 2 | 2.5 |
| Beds | King suite, private queen room, bunk room with 3 queens | 3 kings, plus a twin-over-queen bunk | 4 private kings, bunk room with 4 queens | Kids' loft with twins and a trundle, plus 3 more bedrooms | Four bedrooms |
| Hot tub or sauna | Six-person, under the pines | Elevated deck in the trees | Facing Intermediate Lake, plus sauna and cold plunge | Six-person, under a covered gazebo | Barrel sauna for six |
| Fire | Wood stove, fire pit | Stone fireplace, fire pit | Fire table, wood fire pit | Stone fireplace, two fire pits | Fire pit |
| Games and gear | Game room with foosball and a Pac-Man arcade | Bunk room arcade, board game library | Pool table, game table, arcade | Game room with pool and air hockey, basketball court | Two kayaks and a paddleboard, mid-May to mid-October |
| Standout | A whole top floor for kids, stargazing dome | 1960s A-frame in the pines | Views, sauna and cold plunge, heated two-car garage | Private trail to a Lake Michigan beach | 100 feet of private Lake Michigan shoreline |
| Pool access | Shanty Creek pools | Shanty Creek pools | |||
| Best for | Families and ski weeks | Ski trips and couples' getaways | Big groups and reunions | Beach weeks and fall color | Lake Michigan swimming and sunsets |
| Book | Check dates | Check dates | Check dates | Check dates | Check dates |
Amenities can change between seasons. Each home's own website has the current details, house rules and availability.
Alm Haus: the family ski chalet
Alm Haus is a renovated Northwoods chalet about five minutes from Schuss Mountain, and it's our most kid-focused home. The whole top floor belongs to the kids: a bunk room with three queen beds, a play area with a reading tent, a toy kitchen and a library, plus a private queen room so parents can stay close. Downstairs there's a game room with foosball and a Pac-Man arcade, and the hot tub is right outside its sliding doors. Guests also get Shanty Creek pool access.
Pick it if: you're bringing kids, or two families are skiing together. Dogs can be welcome here too, with prior permission. See pet-friendly Bellaire.
Northwoods Treehaus: the A-frame at Schuss
The Treehaus is a 1960s A-frame in the pines at Schuss Mountain Resort. Three king bedrooms mean the adults all get real beds, and the bunk room has a twin-over-queen bunk, a Pac-Man arcade and bean bags. After a day on the slopes, there's a stone fireplace inside and a hot tub on an elevated deck in the trees, lined with string lights. Shanty Creek pool access is included.
Pick it if: you want to be as close to the lifts as possible, or you're a smaller group that wants the classic up-north A-frame.
Check dates at Northwoods Treehaus
Overlook Bellaire: room for everyone
Overlook is a 2021 modern home on 10 private acres above Bellaire, looking out over Intermediate Lake, and our largest home. It sleeps 16 with four private king bedrooms and a bunk room with four queen beds. The main floor has a dining table for 10 plus four seats at the island, and the walkout lower level is a second living area with a kitchenette, pool table, game table and arcade. Outside: a hot tub, sauna and cold plunge, all facing the lake. It's about five minutes from downtown Bellaire and a few minutes from Glacial Hills.
Pick it if: you're bringing four couples or two or three families, or you want the sauna and cold plunge. Overlook is a pet-free home, and it doesn't allow parties or events.
Check dates at Overlook Bellaire
Seven Pines Chalet: the Lake Michigan cabin
Seven Pines is a cabin on 1.6 wooded acres in Ellsworth, with a private nature trail to a Lake Michigan beach, about a four-minute walk. The kids get a loft with twin beds and a trundle, and there's a game room with a pool table and air hockey, a basketball court and a walking labyrinth. The hot tub sits under a covered gazebo with string lights, so it's usable in rain or snow. Charlevoix is about 20 minutes away.
Pick it if: you want Lake Michigan sunsets and beach days more than ski days. It's in Ellsworth, on the upper Chain of Lakes. See our Ellsworth guide.
Check dates at Seven Pines Chalet
White Birch Cabin: right on Lake Michigan
White Birch is a newly built log cabin in Ellsworth on 100 feet of private Lake Michigan shoreline, in a protected bay with shallow water for swimming. It sleeps 10 in four bedrooms, with floor-to-ceiling windows over the lake, a barrel sauna for six, and a big lakefront deck with dining for eight. From mid-May to mid-October, two kayaks and a paddleboard come with the house. Torch Lake is about five minutes away, Elk Rapids about 15 and Charlevoix about 20.
Pick it if: you want to step out the door into Lake Michigan.
Check dates at White Birch Cabin
Which home is right for your trip?
| Your trip | Our pick |
|---|---|
| Ski weekend for a small group | Northwoods Treehaus |
| Ski week with kids | Alm Haus |
| 12 to 16 people, any season | Overlook Bellaire |
| Summer beach week | White Birch Cabin or Seven Pines Chalet |
| Golf group | Overlook Bellaire or Alm Haus |
| Bringing the dog | Alm Haus, with permission |
| More than 16 people | Two homes. See large group rentals |
Why book direct
When you book on a home's own site, there are no platform fees, and you deal straight with us. We know these houses, we know the area, and we're happy to help with the rest of the trip. Not sure which one fits? Our trip planning guides are a good place to start.
Frequently asked questions
Which of your homes sleeps the most people?
Overlook Bellaire sleeps 16, with four king bedrooms and a bunk room with four queen beds. Alm Haus sleeps 12, White Birch Cabin sleeps 10, and Northwoods Treehaus and Seven Pines Chalet each sleep 9.
Which home is closest to Schuss Mountain?
Northwoods Treehaus is at Schuss Mountain Resort, and Alm Haus is about five minutes from the slopes.
Which home is on Lake Michigan?
White Birch Cabin in Ellsworth sits on 100 feet of private Lake Michigan shoreline, and Seven Pines Chalet has a private nature trail to a Lake Michigan beach, about a four-minute walk.
Do all of your homes have hot tubs?
Alm Haus, Northwoods Treehaus, Overlook Bellaire and Seven Pines Chalet each have a private hot tub, and Overlook also has a sauna and cold plunge. White Birch Cabin has a barrel sauna for six instead.
Sources
Home details from each home's own website and our own listings: alm-haus.com, northwoodstreehaus.com, overlookbellaire.com, sevenpineschalet.com and whitebirchcabin.com. Checked November 1, 2026.