Dog-Friendly Guide to Lakeside Haus in Presque Isle, Wisconsin

Moose's Golden Tails

Aug 6

4 min read

If you're looking for a peaceful Northwoods getaway where you can spend your days on the lake and your evenings around the fire, Lakeside Haus in Presque Isle is hard to beat.

Golden retriever rests on a pontoon boat on a lake, under a blue sky with clouds; Mercury outboard visible.

We recently spent a week at this dog-friendly cabin on Oxbow Lake and loved having everything we needed for a relaxing vacation from a pontoon boat and kayaks to a fully equipped kitchen and beautiful lake views. While we spent most of our trip enjoying the lake, we also explored nearby waterfalls, played mini golf, golfed, grabbed ice cream, and found a few great local restaurants.

If you're planning your own trip, here's everything you need to know.

About Lakeside Haus

Sleeps 10 guests
Dog-friendly (approved number of dogs with host first)
Located on Oxbow Lake in Presque Isle, WI
Private dock
Pontoon boat rental available through host
Kayaks
Paddleboards
Fire pit
Propane grill
Fully equipped kitchen
3 bedrooms, 7 beds
2.5 baths
Beautiful lake views
Wi-Fi

Collage of a cozy lakeside cabin: living room, dog on dock, people and dogs on wooded deck, and a rustic bedroom.

One of our favorite things about this cabin was how easy it was to settle in. The kitchen made it simple to cook most of our meals, the deck was a great place to grill and hang out, and the lake was only steps away from the cabin.

Our Favorite Cabin Amenities

Lake access

Private dock
Pontoon boat
Kayaks
Paddleboards
Fishing
Calm lake for paddling

Collage of a man cooking with two dogs, kayaking on a lake, sitting with a dog on a boat, and a dog looking out a cabin window

Comfortable cabin

Spacious kitchen
Cozy living room
Comfortable bedrooms
Large windows overlooking the lake
Deck with seating
Grill
Fire pit

Dog-friendly

Our dogs loved relaxing at the cabin, riding the pontoon boat, walking around the property, and swimming!

Our Experience at Lakeside Haus

Three men relax on inflatable tubes in a sunny lake, with a boat, forested shore, and blue sky with clouds. — Floating the afternoon away

Man relaxing on a pontoon boat with a golden retriever in a pink life jacket on a calm lake, trees behind. — Most afternoons were spent exploring the lake by pontoon

Smiling couple in a blue canoe on a lake, wearing caps and sunglasses, with a wooded shoreline and dock behind them. — Quiet mornings kayaking

Smiling man on a boat holds up a bass on a sunny lake, wearing a teal Bar Crawl of Spring Valley 2024 T-shirt. — Fishing quickly became part of our daily routine

Smiling couple takes a boat selfie on a lake at dusk; man wears an orange hoodie and Carhartt cap, woman a pink sweatshirt. — Sunsets made us want to stay just a little longer

Man in orange hoodie grills sausages on a deck overlooking a wooded lake, with red chairs nearby. — Nothing beats grilling dinner with a lake view

Golden retriever wades through a shallow forest creek, splashing water beside a rocky, green shoreline. — The pups loved spending their days on Oxbow Lake

Smiling man in orange Illinois hoodie holds a birthday cake in a kitchen, with colorful letter candles and wood cabinets. — Birthday celebrations are even better at the cabin

Hand with diamond engagement ring in foreground on a boat, with a man and golden dog blurred behind on a sunny lake. — The most unforgettable moment of the week!

Beyond the Cabin

Bond Falls Scenic Site

Bond Falls is one of the most beautiful and easily accessible waterfalls in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Located in Paulding, Michigan, it's about an hour drive from Lakeside Haus, making it an easy half-day adventure. The waterfall features a series of cascading drops totaling about 50 feet and can be viewed from multiple overlooks via the boardwalk.

Trail length: 1-mile loop (easy)
Dog policy: Leashed dogs are welcome
Parking: Two options for parking. There's a main lower paved lot near the base of the waterfall that requires a Michigan Recreation Passport or vehicle fee ($11), or there's a free roadside upper parking area near the Bond Falls outpost and dam. We parked in the main lower lot and it is a very short walk to view the falls.
Tips: Wear proper footwear if hiking the loop. Some areas are a little steep and can get slick after rainfall. Bring bug spray as well.

Man with three Golden Retrievers posing on a sandy riverbank before a forest waterfall.

More Waterfalls to Explore

While Bond Falls was the only waterfall we visited during this trip, we've explored several other waterfalls in the area on previous visits. These are all worth adding to your itinerary!

Black River Harbor Recreation Area

Drive: about an hour from Lakeside Haus

Entrance: free

Trails: Potawatomi Falls & Gorge Falls loop (easy, short trail)

Rainbow Falls (about a half mile hike with lots of stairs descending down to the falls)

Wide waterfall on a dark river in a dense evergreen forest under a clear blue sky, with rushing white water and calm scenery — Potawatomi Falls

Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park

Drive: about an hour and 15 minutes from Lakeside Haus

Entrance: 11 dollars or Michigan Recreation Passport required

Trail: Presque Isle River Falls Loop

About: The trail takes you out to a beach on Lake Superior and three waterfalls (Manabezho Falls, Manido Falls, Nawadaha Falls)

Forested gorge with two waterfalls spilling over rock ledges into a river, framed by dark evergreen branches and misty hills. — Manabezho Falls

Golf

If you're looking to spend a relaxing morning or afternoon on the course, we recommend making the drive over to Trout Lake Golf Club.

Drive from Lakeside Haus: about 30 minutes
Course: 18 holes
Why we recommend: Peaceful atmosphere, beautiful Northwoods scenery, and a fun round of golf.

Cloudy sky over a calm golf course pond, green fairway, trees, and a clubhouse in the distance.

Mini Golf & Ice Cream

If you're looking for a fun activity after a day on the lake, we recommend making the short drive to The Ice Shanty. Located about 15 minutes from Lakeside Haus, it's a great place to unwind with a round of mini golf before treating yourself to some ice cream.

Restaurants We Tried

One of our favorite parts of staying at Lakeside Haus was having a fully equipped kitchen, so we ended up cooking most of our meals at the cabin. It made for slow mornings, easy dinners after a day on the lake, and more time spent enjoying the property. When we did venture out, these were our favorite local stops.

Presque Isle Pub - just a short drive from the cabin, the Presque Isle Pub quickly became our go-to restaurant. We actually ate here twice during our stay!
Gooch's Bar & Grill - Located in nearby Boulder Junction, Gooch's was another great stop for dinner. It's about a 15-20 minute drive from the cabin and is known for its Northwoods atmosphere, broasted chicken, and Friday fish fry.
Boulder Junction Brewing Company: If you enjoy craft beer, we also stopped by Boulder Junction Brewing Co for a round of locally brewed beers.
More places we've enjoyed: On previous trips to the area, we've also enjoying The Outpost in Presque Isle for breakfast, and the Boulder Beer Bar in Boulder Junction for dinner.

How to Book

If you're ready to plan your own Northwoods vacation, Lakeside Haus can be booked through Airbnb or directly through the property's website. I recommend booking direct to save money! If you're traveling with dogs, I recommend reaching out to the host before booking. We brought all three dogs, and the host was incredibly responsive and approved our stay ahead of time. Communicating with the host beforehand made the booking process smooth and gave us peace of mind before our trip.

Smiling group of six pose with four dogs in a wood-paneled cabin, in front of bright windows and a spinning ceiling fan. — A week at Lakeside Haus was just what we needed.

Whether you're planning a long weekend or a full week, Lakeside Haus is the perfect home base for exploring Wisconsin's Northwoods while still enjoying plenty of time on Oxbow Lake.