Winter up north

Winter turns the region into a different destination: groomed trails for skiing and snowmobiling, downhill slopes, and towns that light up for the holidays. Lake-effect snow off Lake Michigan can make the shoreline among the snowiest parts of the state.

It suits skiers, snowmobilers and ice anglers. Many seasonal businesses close, so build the trip around a ski area, a trail town or a year-round downtown.

Ski hills

Boyne Mountain at Boyne Falls lists 65 trails on 415 skiable acres, and near Harbor Springs you have The Highlands (55 runs, 552 feet of vertical) and Nub’s Nob (53 runs, with night skiing). Crystal Mountain in Thompsonville has 59 downhill runs plus 25 km of Nordic trails, and Caberfae Peaks west of Cadillac has 27 runs across three peaks and cross-country trails that are free to use.

Around Traverse City, Hickory Hills has been the town’s own hill since 1952, with a lighted Nordic loop, and Mt. Holiday is a small nonprofit hill with snow tubing. For a first lesson, Charlevoix has beginner downhill skiing at Mt. McSauba.

Cross-country, the Vasa and snowshoeing

The Vasa Pathway, in the state forest east of Traverse City, is the town’s big woods ski trail, with loops from 3K to 25K, about 2.5 miles of snowshoe loops and a 15K singletrack groomed for fat bikes. In February it hosts the North American Vasa, a festival of ski and fat bike races held since 1977.

At Sleeping Bear, the Heritage Trail has groomed stretches between Empire and the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive. No pets from December 1 to March 31. Ludington State Park offers cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, and on select winter Saturdays its free lantern-lit snowshoe hikes end at a bonfire.

The Muskegon Luge Adventure Sports Park has a luge track, a skating trail through the woods and lighted ski trails.

Ice fishing

Crystal Lake draws anglers through the ice for perch and smelt. Near Interlochen, smelt and pike are the usual targets on Green Lake and Duck Lake. Bear Lake has been described as heavily ice-fished, and Portage Lake at Onekama and Pentwater Lake in Pentwater are fished in winter too. You need a fishing license (see licenses and passes), and no ice is ever guaranteed safe.

Snowmobiling

The Cadillac area has about 600 miles of snowmobile trails across five counties. Benzie County has about 135 miles of county trails, the Manistee County system runs through the middle of Kaleva, and the Traverse City region has more than 200 miles of routes. In Mackinaw City, the North Central State Trailhead serves two DNR trails used for snowmobiling. Riding on public land takes a Michigan snowmobile trail permit, resident or not.

The Bridge and the Straits in winter

Wind is the thing to watch on the Mackinac Bridge: in strong winds the Bridge Authority slows traffic, escorts or bars high-profile vehicles, and in the worst winds closes the bridge. Check posted conditions first.

Mackinac Island is open all year, but nearly every hotel, shop and bike rental closes in late October. Arnold Transit lists winter ferry service from St. Ignace while the ice allows; once ice closes the Straits, flying is the only way in. In some winters islanders mark an ice bridge to St. Ignace, but the county sheriff warns that no ice is safe ice there.

Winter festivals

• December: A Colonial Christmas at Colonial Michilimackinac, Manistee’s Victorian Sleighbell Parade, the Grand Haven Jingle Bell Parade and Ludington’s New Year’s Eve Ball Drop.
• January: Grand Haven Winterfest.
• February: Harbor Springs Ice Fest, Petoskey’s Winter Wonderland Weekend and Traverse City Restaurant Week.

Visitor preparation tips

• Check conditions, every time. This guide never reports current snow, trail or ice conditions. Use resort and trail reports, and Michigan DNR information for state trails.
• Ice is never guaranteed safe. Ice thickness varies across a lake and changes quickly. Follow local guidance and never assume ice will hold you.
• Drive for the weather. Lake-effect snow bands can drop heavy snow in a short time. Check road conditions before you set out.
• Expect winter hours. Many seasonal businesses close in winter while others stay open year-round. Confirm before you travel.