A Brief Overview
We are situated on Vanluven Lake, just 5 minutes outside of downtown Bancroft. Our guesthouse is nestled in the middle of the forest – a mix of cedar, maple, black spruce, white & red pine, oak, tamarack and white birch trees. A short hike through the forest leads you down to the lake.
On Site Activities
Spend time walking the trails, beach volleyball near the guesthouse, playing on the lake (canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding or swimming), a lakeside camp fire, skating or x-country skiing on the lake or just sitting on the dock enjoying the sights and sounds. Below is a more comprehensive list.
CANOEING, KAYAKING & SUP
A leisurely paddle (especially at dusk or dawn) around the perimeter of the lake is a great way to enjoy the lake and shed some stress. Guests currently have use of a 10′ paddleboard, 16’ canoe, a 10’ kayak and a 12’ kayak. We have an assortment of life jackets for you to use.
CAMPFIRE
We offer two locations to enjoy an outdoor fire—one down by the lake and the other near the guesthouse. You cannot bring your own firewood to burn. By doing so, you will potentially be aiding the spread of invasive insects that can destroy our forests. A blue bin of fire wood can be purchased for $10.00 from us.
HIKING
We have a few hiking trails winding their way through the forest and leading down to the lake. A 1 km trail that loops around the perimeter of our 3 acres is currently in the works.
BEACH VOLLEYBALL
We have a beach volleyball court situated just outside of the guest house. Volleyball is provided.
SKATING
Depending on the time of year and weather conditions, we will have created an outdoor ice rink on the lake for you to use. Don’t forget to bring your skates!
SWIMMING
This is a great way to cool down on those hot summer days! Diving off the dock is not recommended! The water is about 4 feet deep off of the end of our dock and not clear enough to see the bottom.
X-COUNTRY SKIING & SNOWSHOEING
Snowshoeing or skiing the perimeter of Vanluven Lake is a great way to exercise and relax at the same time. If you are a bit more ambitious try snowshoeing in the forest across the lake. Don’t forget to bring your skis & snowshoes.
