Fernside: Unplugging at an A-Frame on the Sturgeon River

There’s a moment somewhere down the last stretch of dirt road when your shoulders finally drop. No streetlights, no traffic — just tall trees, the crunch of gravel, and then Fernside: a cheerful A-frame tucked into the woods on the banks of the Sturgeon River in Indian River, Michigan. We came up north for a quiet weekend and left already planning the next one.

The cabin

Step inside and the whole place opens up to a wall of windows that pulls the river and the forest right into the room. The A-frame’s open floor plan keeps everything light and easy — a main-floor bedroom, a second bed tucked into the loft, a full kitchen, and enough thoughtful touches to tell you the owners genuinely care about the space. It comfortably sleeps four, though it feels tailor-made for two.

The river is the whole point

This is the heart of the stay. We spent the best hours of the trip doing almost nothing: a book, a chair on the deck, and the steady sound of the Sturgeon sliding past. Ducks drift by. Every so often a fish breaks the surface. When we wanted a little more, there were tubes waiting for a lazy float downstream and a fire pit for the evening.

The detail guests rave about — and we understand why now — is the private sauna looking out over the water.

Unplugged by design

There’s no television, and that’s the point. Evenings belong to the fire pit and a sky full of stars you simply don’t get at home — the dark, streetlight-free road makes for genuinely good stargazing. There’s fast-enough wifi if you truly need to stream or sneak in a little work, but our honest advice is to leave the laptop closed.

Close to everything, far from it all

For all its seclusion, Fernside isn’t far from anything. Burt Lake State Park is about a ten-minute walk, and you’re minutes from the Inland Waterway that strings together Burt and Mullett lakes — kayaking, fishing, and easy days on the water in every direction. The town of Indian River has enough to keep you fed and stocked, and the surrounding stretch of northern Michigan is exactly the postcard you’re hoping for.

The hosts

Fernside is run by Stephanie, a northern Michigan art teacher who has been hosting since 2020, with co-hosts Holly and Kathy. It shows. The cabin is a designated Guest Favorite, rated 4.97 out of 5 across more than 500 reviews, and sits in the top 10% of homes on Airbnb — the kind of consistency that’s rare, and that makes complete sense after a single stay.

Would we go back?

In a heartbeat. If your idea of a perfect weekend is a good book, a river, a sauna, and absolutely nowhere to be, Fernside is about as good as it gets up north.

Good to know

Where

On the Sturgeon River in Indian River, Michigan — Tuscarora Township, Cheboygan County.

The place

Entire A-frame cabin · 2 bedrooms with 2 queen beds · 1 bath · sleeps 4.

Standouts

Private riverside sauna · wall of windows · deck and fire pit · river tubes provided.

Rating

Guest Favorite · 4.97/5 from 523 reviews · top 10% of homes on Airbnb.

Nearby

About a 10-minute walk to Burt Lake State Park; minutes to the Inland Waterway connecting Burt and Mullett lakes.

Note

No TV, by design · wifi around 43 Mbps · best for adults and older kids because of the fast river and loft stairs · four-guest maximum.

Book it

Airbnb listing: “Sauna, Aframe Riverside Cabin on Sturgeon River.”