Sand Lake · Rideau Lakes, Ontario
A secluded island cottage,
reachable only by boat.
A few minutes from the marina, and a world away from everything else.
- Boat access only
- High-speed internet
- Smart TV
- Canoe & kayak
- Enjoy Nature
- Fire pit
22 Birch Island, Sand Lake
Welcome to Birch Island.
Your home away from home.
Birch Island Cottage is a peaceful, comfortable retreat on Sand Lake in Elgin, Ontario. Located only a short boat ride from Sand Lake Marina, the cottage gives access to the incredible Rideau Lakes system.
Bring your own boat, or schedule the water taxi for transportation. (Boat rental options are available by request.) If you have a canoe, you can brave the 20-minute paddle. When you arrive at the private dock, you’ll feel transported — breathe in and enjoy the peace and comfort of your private getaway.
View the full cottageA look around
Inside comfort, outside quiet.
What’s here
Set up for an easy stay.
Outside
- Dock & elevated wraparound deck
- Fire pit — firewood, kindling & lighter
- Canoe, kayak, paddles & life jackets
- Southerly lake views through the trees
Inside
- Updated kitchen with a dining nook
- Smart TV — Netflix, Prime, Disney+ & Apple TV+
- High-speed internet
- Vaulted ceilings and wood floors
Good to know
- Sleeps up to 7 — 2 bedrooms + loft + pullout
- 1 full bathroom · UV-filtered lake water
- Bed linens & bath towels included
- Open June–September · electric heat
How you get here
Park, hop in the boat, and you’re home.
No bridge, no causeway — a 5-minute boat crossing from the Sand Lake Marina. It’s the part guests worry about first, and the part they love most by the end.
Park at the marina
Drive to Sand Lake Marina, and leave the car there.
5 minutes on the water
Take the water taxi across ($7/trip, by request 9am–5pm), or launch your own boat for $25 + parking.
Arrive at the dock
Tie up at the cottage dock — quiet water, no road and no through-traffic, just the trees and the lake.
Newly opened for direct booking
A quiet place, booked the easy way.
Birch Island Cottage is now taking direct bookings. Here’s what you can count on from the moment you reach out.
Book direct with the owners
No platform fees, no middleman. You message us directly, and we answer every question ourselves.
Off the grid, still connected
High-speed internet keeps you online even on the island — stream, work a little, or just check the forecast.
Properly secluded
Boat access keeps things quiet and private — no through-traffic and no passers-by. Just your group, the dock, and the lake.
The area
Bass, pike, and the
whole Rideau system.
Sand Lake is part of the Rideau Lakes near Elgin, Ontario — water that’s long been known for its bass and pike. Cast right off the dock, or paddle out to a quiet bay. Beyond the fishing there’s kayaking, hiking, swimming, and the historic canal locks, with small-town restaurants, groceries, and day-trip stops nearby.
Ottawa is about 90 minutes northeast, Kingston 40 minutes south, and Toronto about three hours west.
Explore the area
Ready to stay?
Book direct with the owners — no commission fees, instant confirmation, and a real person on the other end. Open June through September.