This special 1.7 acre lot offers lakeside living that creates an unforgettable getaway experience (all with the convenience of a short commute to St Paul & Minneapolis). In the summer, your family and friends will enjoy swimming, paddle boarding, boating, bonfires, and incredible fishing. In the winter enjoy the nearby snowmobiling trails, cross country skiing, ice skating, ice fishing, wood burning fireplace, and time in the hot tub & outdoor barrel sauna!
The space
The Clear Lake Cottage has all the charm of being an original Farmhouse built in 1915, along with modern furnishings and updates throughout the entire floor plan. The Clear Lake Cottage invites you to get away and experience the "Up North Lake Life" without the hassle of long distance travel. All bedrooms are on the second floor, creating great opportunities for rest throughout your stay. Your family and friends will enjoy cooking meals in the updated kitchen or firing up the grill on the back deck. You will be sure to marvel at the west facing floor to ceiling windows in the family room that capture the majesty of every sunset. It will be tough to decide whether you watch the sunsets from the comfort of your family room, next to a fire on the lakeside patio or sitting on the end of the dock with your feet dangling in the water. The Clear Lake Cottage offers activities for all ages during all seasons! Spring, Summer & Fall offer great fishing for walleye & bass, swimming in sand/rock bottom Clear Lake, boating (pantoon available by request & fee), paddle boarding, playing lawn games, walking/biking on the nearby paved trail system, or getting a sun tan on the dock. Winter months attract the sport of ice fishing, snowmobiling on nearby trails, crafting and quilting groups, family holiday gatherings, spiritual retreats, jumping into the outdoor hot tub and building many fires in the wood burning fireplace onsite. We also have connections with a private chef who can offer in-home premium experiences during your rental. These services are a separate fee and can include tablescapes, cocktails, wine pairings, old fashioneds & cigars, as well as a variety of other experiential combinations. Your relaxation and memories await at the Clear Lake Cottage!
The neighborhood
Forest Lake is a town with great heritage and growth in recent years! We enjoy getting a cup of joe or latte at Kodiak Coffee or the Coffee Smith, picking up scrumptious cinnamon rolls from Keys Cafe to eat on the dock and getting a sweet treat at the local ice cream shop in the downtown area. There are wonderful restaurants all within 5-7 minutes if you're wanting to enjoy a meal out or grab take out! Our personal favorites are: Mallards, Zoukmaya & Shoreside Bar & Grill. There are also fun antique shops located downtown: Vintage Junky is one that has awesome handmade items! Another relaxing option for individuals or groups is to book a day at the full service LeGrande Spa on Forest Lake, just 7 minutes away from the Clear Lake Cottage. Taylors Falls is 25 minutes away and offers great hiking, rafting, climbing and unforgettable views in all seasons! Target, Walmart, Aldi, Cub, and Home Depot are also within 8 minutes of the Clear Lake Cottage if you should need to grab any extra groceries or supplies during your stay.
Clear Lake Cottage shares a long private driveway with our neighbors. This creates the perfect separation for relaxation & quiet! There is parking for a max of 8 vehicles on the driveway behind the garage. (The volleyball court, basketball hoop and kid playground are on our neighbors property, please refrain from trespassing). No RV parking is permitted due to having a narrow & shared driveway. Please observe our quiet hours listed in our house rules information (10pm-8am).
Getting around
Uber & Lyft are popular apps for getting around town if you do not have personal transportation.
The Hardwood Creek Regional Trail is within walking distance of Clear Lake Cottage. It is a paved, 9.5-mile multiple-use trail in all seasons. The trail consists of two parallel trails which run adjacent to State Highway 61, from County Road 8 (Frenchman Road) in Hugo to the Washington/Chisago County Line in Forest Lake.
The paved trail portion is for bikers, hikers, and in-line skaters, skiers and snowshoeing. In the winter, the paved trail is not groomed. The adjacent turf trail portion is for horses in the summer and snowmobiles in the winter. The Forest Lake snowmobile club grooms the turf trail in the winter.
