Bellaire is small, so where you stay shapes the whole trip. Pick a home near Schuss Mountain and you can be on the lift in five minutes. Pick one above town and you can walk out to a sunset over Intermediate Lake. Pick one on the Lake Michigan shore and the beach is a few minutes down a trail.
We host five homes in and around Bellaire and on the Lake Michigan shore. This guide covers what each one is best at, so you can match the house to your group.
Bellaire vacation rentals at a glance
| Home | Sleeps | Bedrooms | Best for | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overlook Bellaire | 16 | 5 | Big groups, multi-family trips | Sauna, cold plunge and hot tub with a lake view |
| Alm Haus | 12 | 4 | Ski weekends, families with kids | Triple-queen bunk room and game room |
| Northwoods Treehaus | 9 | 4 | Ski trips, smaller groups | Treetop hot tub at Schuss Mountain Resort |
| Seven Pines Chalet | 9 | 4 | Beach trips, families | Private trail to Lake Michigan |
| White Birch Cabin | 10 | 4 | Lakefront stays, couples and families | 100 feet of private Lake Michigan shoreline and a barrel sauna |
Overlook Bellaire: the big-group house
Overlook sits on 10 private acres on a hilltop above Bellaire, about five minutes from downtown. The whole northwest side of the house faces Intermediate Lake, and the furniture is turned toward the view.
It sleeps 16 in a way that actually works for adults: four private king bedrooms, plus a bunk room with four queen beds. The walkout lower level is a second living area with a kitchenette, pool table and arcade, so the kids (or the late-night crowd) have their own floor.
Outside there's a hot tub, a sauna and a cold plunge, a fire table on the covered deck, and a wood fire pit further out on the property.
Alm Haus: the family ski chalet
Alm Haus is a renovated Northwoods chalet in the pines, five minutes from Schuss Mountain and about fifteen from Torch Lake. It sleeps 12 across four bedrooms.
The top floor is built for kids: a bunk room with three queen beds, a play area with a reading tent and a small library, and a private queen room for the adults. Downstairs there's a game room with foosball and a Pac-Man arcade, a wood-burning stove, a ski drop zone with boot warmers, and sliding doors straight out to the hot tub. There's even a geodesic stargazing dome. Guests also get access to the Shanty Creek pools.
Northwoods Treehaus: the A-frame at Schuss
The Treehaus is a 1960s A-frame tucked into the woods at Schuss Mountain Resort. It keeps its original stone fireplace and beamed ceilings, with a modern kitchen and a hot tub on an elevated deck in the trees.
It sleeps 9, with three king bedrooms and a bunk room that has a Pac-Man arcade and a 55-inch TV. A mudroom with ski hooks keeps gear organized, and guests get Shanty Creek pool access.
Seven Pines Chalet: the Lake Michigan cabin
Seven Pines is in Ellsworth, between Charlevoix and Elk Rapids, a short drive from Torch Lake. It sits on 1.6 wooded acres with a private nature trail that reaches a Lake Michigan beach in about four minutes on foot.
It sleeps 9 in four bedrooms, with a wood-burning stone fireplace, a hot tub under a covered gazebo, a game room with a pool and air hockey table, and two fire pits.
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 that looks out over the water, 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.
Which Bellaire rental is right for you?
- Skiing at Schuss Mountain: Northwoods Treehaus is at the resort, and Alm Haus is five minutes away.
- A group of 12 or more: Overlook Bellaire sleeps 16. Alm Haus sleeps 12.
- Families with young kids: Alm Haus has a whole floor for kids. Overlook's lower level works the same way for bigger families.
- Beach days: White Birch Cabin sits right on Lake Michigan, and Seven Pines Chalet has a private trail to a Lake Michigan beach.
- Downtown Bellaire and Short's Brewing: Overlook is five minutes from downtown.
Booking for a group bigger than any one house? See our guide to large group rentals in Bellaire.
Why book direct
When you book on each home's own website, you skip the platform service fees, you deal directly with the host, and you get the best available rate. You can still read our guest reviews on each site before you book.
Frequently asked questions
Where should I stay in Bellaire for skiing?
Stay at or near Schuss Mountain. Northwoods Treehaus is at Schuss Mountain Resort, and Alm Haus is about five minutes from the lifts.
Are there vacation rentals in Bellaire that sleep 16?
Yes. Overlook Bellaire sleeps 16, with four private king bedrooms and a bunk room with four queen beds.
How far is Bellaire from Torch Lake?
Torch Lake is about 15 minutes from Alm Haus and the Treehaus, and Bellaire sits on the Chain of Lakes that flows into it.
How far is Bellaire from Traverse City?
About 45 minutes by car, including from Traverse City's Cherry Capital Airport.