If you’re looking to stay in a cabin here (within the campground not the lodge cabins) definitely choose the Alder Cabin. Also you do not need to check in at the Bear Skin Lodge for keys, unless you want to (and it’s a $5 deposit for the keys) otherwise just go to the cabin. Also the check out at 11am and check in at 3pm is worthless considering it’s not like they clean them between. If you show up early and the last people are gone, you’re free to set up.
We stayed one night in Alder and then changed to Aspen. I thought given the way the map looks that Aspen would have been closer to the water than Alder but it wasn’t really. Neither cabin can see the lake but both have a short, tight, wooded walk to a private area at the lake. However the Aspen cabin has a useless landing, it’s small, with very large rocks and weeds. I don’t think you could even get a canoe in or out (there’s a small community canoe launch within the campground, along with a separate large boat launch). Alder has much better area it’s a bigger slightly grassy area with easy large-rock-free entrance to the lake, also not weedy. Great for dogs as it’s very private and could easily canoe/kayak in and leave it down there. Might even be able to keep small aluminum boat tied up as well.
Alder also has a much larger area outside the cabin around the picnic table/fire pit and the woods weren’t over grown so the dogs could trot around and be seen easily. Alder does not have a screened in porch like the other 3 and does not have a loft. Has a full size and 3 twins.
Aspen is tiny outside, couldn’t even set up a big screen tent around the picnic table without it hitting the fire pit. Also has a sudden drop along one edge could be dangerous for uncoordinated dogs or small kids. Aspen does have a screened in porch and a loft area to sleep probably 2 more people. But honestly not sure how 7 people would hangout at a campsite this small.
Tamarack and Jack Pine are no where near the water, but both have screened in porches and Tamarack looked to be the newest.
Picture with the rocks is Aspen’s landing. Picture with the dogs is Alder’s water landing.
Also we rented a dog friendly pontoon ($90/4hrs) from Bear Skin Lodge, it wasn’t fancy but was nice.