Silver Birch Resort Camping Policies

Ensuring a smooth reservation experience at Silver Birch Resort is our priority. Please take a moment to review our policies designed to enhance your stay, and should you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Reservations

We offer convenient self-check-in and check-out. Check-in is after 3:00 PM, check-out is before 11:00 AM. While planning your stay we have 12 domes and 3 cabins to choose from with varying occupancies, please choose accommodations that best fit your needs.

Cancellations

We understand that plans can change. If you need to cancel your booking, please do so at least 30 days prior to your arrival to receive a full refund of your deposit. Cancellations within 30 days of the arrival date will result in the forfeiture of 50% of the booking charge without exception, and there will be no refund of the service fee. There will be no refund if you cancel within 7 days of the reservation. Cleaning fees are refunded if you cancel before check-in.

Dogs

We are dog lovers. We have two of our own. We are located on 75 acres and surrounded by thousands of acres of state forestry with trails. You can walk for miles, this is the perfect property to take your dog for a nice long walk. If he or she will run after a deer, fox, raccoon, or porcupine, then we strongly suggest a leash as you are sure to see wildlife. If you have a dog that will bark from separation anxiety, we ask that he/she not be left alone (or outside alone while the family is indoors). If you are going to leave for a few hours, we ask that it be kenneled and left in the kitchen/bath structure – NOT left in the dome. The kitchen/bath structure has more insulation, and the occasional bark will not travel through the entire property. The other requirement we have for pets is that they are not allowed on the beds. Please bring a dog bed, if you cannot, we leave an extra sheet in the dresser drawer. This is specifically for your dog. You can lay this on the floor in an area and your pet is welcome to sleep on this. If dog hair is found on the comforter you will be subject to a $100 replacement fee.

Smoking/Vaping

No smoking or vaping inside of your accommodation. Smoking is allowed outdoors

Good Neighbor

We ask that you respect your fellow renters and review the following noise policy and abide by the quiet hours.

The fundamental reason for Silver Birch’s development and existence is to allow people and families to unwind, relax, and disengage from society by engaging with nature in a peaceful & tranquil environment while creating lasting memories. We often joke and say we offer “digital detox” for those living in larger cities. We have tried to create an oasis in a pristine forest. Hundreds of our guests have shared they loved the peace and serenity yet are a short drive to all that Grand Traverse County offers. A past guest summarized the dome experience. She said, the domes offer “luxury under the stars”.

We welcome soft music and equally soft conversations around the campfire, but we are not the place for parties and loud music. Sound carries at night through the woods. This past season hosted a wonderful group of ladies from Toronto for a bachelorette get-together. They went into town and partied hard. They came back and had a great time around the campfire. They were respectful of other guests. We even offered to provide rides should they have too much fun in town.

At times we have large groups of families and friends staying with us. To accommodate them best we are adding a larger common area, allowing the group to meet in one place for barbecues and campfires. They all understand that we have other guests, and we want all guests to have a relaxing interaction with nature. This cannot happen with loud music and partying throughout the night. We ask for your commitment to “quiet time” after 9:00 PM as well as minimal noise through the day, so other guests can enjoy the dulcet sounds of nature.

Safety

You and your family enjoying a “safe” stay with us is very important. You reached us using Moore Road. Using Moore Road to leave Silver Birch Resort and access M-72 to visit the surrounding sites and restaurants is dangerous. There is a hill on M-72 which blocks the view of drivers attempting to turn onto M-72 from Moore Road. Cars come over the hill at high speeds all the time giving a driver just seconds to react. Please do not risk this. Here are three safer routes to get you to the sites and businesses around the area.

1. If you are going to the beaches on East or West Bay, the wineries on Old Mission Peninsula, Downtown Traverse City, or the restaurants on the bay, the BEST, SAFEST, & most SCENIC route is to turn right out of our driveway. Follow this (Moore Road south) down to a dead-end. Turn right and follow this to the next dead-end. Turn right and follow this (Bunker Hill Road) all the way to US-31. There is a traffic light at this corner. There is a good chance you will see some wildlife on this route. If you are going to Meijer, take this same route to Lautner Road. Turn right on Lautner. Meijer is ¼ mile north.

2. If you are going to a local restaurant located on M-72, turn left out of our driveway, and take Moore Road north to Crisp Road. Crisp Road is just under one mile from our driveway. Turn left on Crisp. Take this about ½ mile until it dead ends. Turn right. This will take you to a much safer area to access M-72.

3. If you are going to Elk Rapids or east on M-72 to head towards home, turn left out of our driveway. Take Moore Road north to Crisp Road. Turn right on Crisp Road and take this until you hit a dead-end into Williamsburg Road. Turn left and you will see a light that allows safe access to M-72 or continue straight to go to Elk Rapids.

Turning onto Moore Road from M-72 to return to Silver Birch is safe. Leaving Silver Birch and using Moore Road to access M-72 is unsafe.

Also, several of our guests last year jogged up Moore Road. We highly suggest that you not jog on Moore Road. You will see several hills on Moore Road. Cars coming over these hills will not see a jogger. Please jog on our property or the adjoining state trails. There is a map in your welcome guide in the dome showing how to access the state trails.

Finally, Moore Road should really be a 35-mph road due to the hills and steep drop-off along the sides. It currently is not. We plan to work with the neighbors and our township to get the speed limit reduced. Out of respect for our neighbors as well as your safety, please do not exceed 35-mph.

Photography

Commercial photography is allowed, photographers must respect the privacy of others at all times and limit sessions to prevent disruption. Photographers are also required to maintain liability coverage as per regulations.

Electronic Communications

When creating an online reservation, you consent to receive electronic communications from us. You also consent that all agreements, notices, disclosures, and other communications that we provide to you electronically, via email, text, and on the site, satisfy any legal requirement that such communications be in writing.

Fees and Taxes

All rates quoted are exclusive of applicable taxes and service charges. These additional costs will be calculated and added to your final bill at checkout.

Disclaimer

We strive to keep our guests informed and their stays enjoyable. However, please note that our policies are subject to change without prior notice. For the most up-to-date information, we recommend visiting the Contact page on our website or directly reaching out to our team.

WOW, WOW, WOW! Thank you so much! We have received over five hundred (500), 5-star reviews between the two major reservation platforms in just two seasons. Our families and staff planned, wished, and prayed that guests would have this type of experience. We will continue to add new amenities to make this the most unique vacation spot in all of Michigan! Thank you to all the wonderful guests who have stayed with us for making our first two seasons so incredible. To the new guests considering staying in one of our geodesic dome-homes, we will do everything possible to provide you with a unique, northern Michigan experience.

The Silver Birch Resort Families & Staff