Grand Traverse & Inland Lakes
Traverse City
A bayfront city at the head of Grand Traverse Bay, with a walkable Front Street downtown, bay beaches, cherry orchards and two wine peninsulas close by.
About 2 miles away (straight line)
Ski area · Grand Traverse & Inland Lakes
Hickory Hills
Traverse City's own ski hill since 1952, with 16 runs, Nordic trails including a lighted loop and an FIS-certified course, and disc golf in summer.
Hickory Hills is the city’s ski hill, owned and run by Traverse City as a ski area and park since 1952. It is a small, local hill on the west side of town, on Randolph Street: a good place to learn, or to squeeze in a few runs. The city sells daily and season passes, and you can rent cross-country skis at the lodge.
The downhill side has 16 runs, including a bunny hill with a conveyor lift.
Cross-country skiers get more than they might expect. The hilly trails here total more than 5 km, a 1 km loop is lit for night skiing, and in 2023 the course earned homologation from the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), making it the only homologated cross-country course in the Lower Peninsula. Next door, Hickory Meadows adds a mostly flat 6 km groomed trail for an easier outing.
In summer the hill is a park, with hiking trails and a disc golf course with two 18-hole layouts. Check the city’s page for ski hours and conditions before you go.
Practical information
- Managed by
- City of Traverse City
- Season
- A winter ski area and a year-round city park. Ski operations depend on the weather; check the city's Hickory Hills page before you go.
- Official website
- traversecitymi.gov
Location
Map of Hickory Hills
4 places on an OpenStreetMap map
Nearby towns
Also nearby
Straight-line distances, not driving distances.
Trail
Leelanau Trail
A paved, flat, 17-mile trail between Traverse City and Suttons Bay through farms and woods, groomed in part for skiing and fat biking in winter.
About 1 miles away (straight line)
Beach
West End Beach
A city beach on West Grand Traverse Bay with sand at the water's edge, a big grassy area, volleyball, grills and picnic tables, right on the TART trail.
About 1 miles away (straight line)
Beach
Clinch Park
Traverse City's downtown beach on West Grand Traverse Bay, with a splash pad, playground, city marina and the TART trail running through.
About 2 miles away (straight line)