Birch Lodge & Motel
21830 S Birch Lodge Dr
Trout Lake, MI
A 1964 lakefront motel at the edge of the Upper Peninsula, unchanged in all the right ways.
About Birch Lodge & Motel
Birch Lodge began in 1911 as a tuberculosis sanitarium on the shore of Big Trout Lake, and the 1912 main lodge that resulted is on the National Register of Historic Places. The 1964 motel came later, a separate single-story building perched at the lake's edge with panoramic windows facing the water facing the water. Both structures survive, and the current owners have restored and maintained both. The Boutel listing is for the motel, though guests have access to the full 20-acre property. Trout Lake is a small town in Michigan's eastern Upper Peninsula, equidistant from Tahquamenon Falls, Whitefish Point, and the Mackinac Bridge. There is not much here beyond the lake and the forest, which is the entire point. This part of the UP demands some effort to reach and rewards it in proportion.
What Birch Lodge & Motel Is Known For
The Motel at Birch Lodge is one of the last intact mid-century lakefront motor courts in Michigan, and the owners have treated it accordingly. The original furniture stayed. The layout stayed. The lake view from every room stayed. What changed was the quality of the beds, the linens, and the welcome: exactly the right set of things to change. A property that has been in continuous operation since 1964 on the shore of a pristine Upper Peninsula lake does not need to be reimagined. It needs to be cared for, and it has been.
Amenities
- Breakfast Included
- Free kayaks and rowboats
- Private sandy beach and pier
- Fire pit
- Charcoal grills
- Pool table and original jukeboxes in the Lodge
- Continental breakfast and homemade muffins daily
- Historic 1912 Lodge parlor with wood-burning stove
- Bar area in the Lodge
What Guests Love
- Free kayaks and rowboats come with every stay, and the private beach and pier are steps from the motel rooms, no driving, no fees, just get on the water.
- Host Jim is called out by name in virtually every guest review for warmth, attentiveness, and the kind of hospitality that is the whole reason to stay somewhere this remote.
- The original 1964 mid-century furniture is intact and in excellent condition: this is a motel where the specific character of the rooms is genuinely worth seeking out, not a design decision imposed from outside.
Worth Knowing
- The property is open approximately 10 months per year, closing in November and April for maintenance. Confirm dates when booking for shoulder-season travel.
- Trout Lake is very remote: plan grocery and fuel stops before arriving. The nearest significant town is about 30 minutes away.
- WiFi availability has not been confirmed for the motel. Plan accordingly if connectivity matters to your stay.
The Room
The rooms in the 1964 motel structure, each with a large panoramic window facing directly onto Trout Lake. The furniture is original: mid-century pieces kept intact and in excellent condition, complemented by updated beds, linens, and televisions. The rooms are individually decorated with hunting, fishing, and boating motifs that feel earned rather than applied. Each room has its own name and a small printed quote by the door. No rooms are the same.
The Grounds
Twenty acres of lake frontage, forest, and open lawn running down to a private sandy beach and pier. Free kayaks and rowboats are available for guest use at no charge, as are charcoal grills and a fire pit that draws guests out in the evenings. The historic 1912 Lodge building holds a parlor with a wood-burning stove, a bar area, taxidermy, a pool table, and two original jukeboxes, both available to motel guests. In the morning, coffee and homemade muffins appear in the dining room.
The Experience
The rhythm here is slow by design and fast to find. Arrive, put the kayak in, paddle Trout Lake before anyone else is moving. Come back, sit on the pier, let the morning organize itself. The Upper Peninsula gives guests exactly the silence they came for and an itinerary of genuinely spectacular day trips when they want one: Tahquamenon Falls to the west, Whitefish Point and the Shipwreck Museum to the northwest, Mackinac Island to the south. Host Jim is mentioned by name in nearly every review for the kind of attentiveness that makes a property feel personal rather than transactional.
Details
Trout Lake, MI 49793
The Boutel designation is earned, not purchased. Boutels is editorially independent and has no financial relationship with any listed property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Birch Lodge & Motel have EV charging?
No, Birch Lodge & Motel does not have EV charging.
Does Birch Lodge & Motel have WiFi?
No, Birch Lodge & Motel does not have WiFi.
What is there to do near Birch Lodge & Motel?
Tahquamenon Falls State Park: 40 miles, about a 80 minute drive. Whitefish Point Bird Observatory and Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum: 50 miles, about a 100 minute drive. Mackinac Island: 60 miles, about a 120 minute drive.
How far is Birch Lodge & Motel from Tahquamenon Falls State Park?
40 miles, about a 80 minute drive.
How far is Birch Lodge & Motel from Whitefish Point Bird Observatory and Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum?
50 miles, about a 100 minute drive.
How far is Birch Lodge & Motel from Mackinac Island?
60 miles, about a 120 minute drive.
Does Birch Lodge & Motel offer kayaks and boats?
Yes. Kayaks and rowboats are available to motel guests at no additional charge. The property also has a private beach and pier on Trout Lake.
Does Birch Lodge & Motel include breakfast?
Yes. A continental breakfast with coffee and homemade muffins is available every morning in the main lodge dining room.
What types of accommodation does Birch Lodge offer?
The motel building has a row of individually decorated rooms, each with a panoramic window facing directly onto Trout Lake. The historic 1912 Lodge on the same property is available for events and common use. Contact the property to discuss which room suits your group best.
When is Birch Lodge & Motel open?
The property is open approximately 10 months per year, typically closing in November and April for maintenance. Confirm specific dates directly when booking.
How far is Birch Lodge from Tahquamenon Falls?
Tahquamenon Falls State Park is approximately 40 miles west of Birch Lodge, about a 45-minute drive. It is the most visited natural attraction in the eastern Upper Peninsula.
Is Birch Lodge & Motel pet friendly?
Contact the property before booking to confirm current pet policy.
What year was the motel at Birch Lodge built?
The Motel at Birch Lodge was built in 1964. The historic main Lodge dates to 1912 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The property began as a tuberculosis sanitarium in 1911.
Does Birch Lodge & Motel have a pool?
Birch Lodge & Motel does not have a pool. The property has a communal fire pit area.
Is parking available at Birch Lodge & Motel?
Yes. Free on-site parking is available at Birch Lodge & Motel.
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Things to Do Near The Upper Peninsula
Tahquamenon Falls State Park
40 miles, about a 80 minute drive.
The Upper Peninsula's most dramatic waterfall, a 200-foot-wide amber cascade fed by tannin-rich river water through old-growth forest. The Lower Falls are accessible by rowboat rental from the park. One of the most visited natural landmarks in Michigan, and worth the 45-minute drive west.
Whitefish Point Bird Observatory and Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum
50 miles, about a 100 minute drive.
The oldest active lighthouse on Lake Superior and the site of North America's most significant spring raptor migration. The adjacent Shipwreck Museum holds the recovered bell of the Edmund Fitzgerald. A narrow peninsula jutting into Lake Superior, one of the most atmospheric spots in the entire Upper Peninsula.
Mackinac Island
60 miles, about a 120 minute drive.
A car-free island in the Straits of Mackinac where the only transportation is on foot, bicycle, or horse-drawn carriage. The ferry runs from St. Ignace, about an hour south of Trout Lake. Fudge, Victorian architecture, and a view of the Mackinac Bridge from the water.