Nature preserve
Arcadia Dunes: The C.S. Mott Nature Preserve
3,927 acres of dunes, forest and grassland on Lake Michigan, with more than 15 miles of trails and an accessible path to a lake overlook.
Northern Michigan has downhill ski areas and cross-country trail systems. This guide does not report current snow conditions: for that, use the resort or trail operator’s own report.
Places for skiing
State park
Ludington State Park
A big dune park between Hamlin Lake and 7 miles of Lake Michigan shore, with three campgrounds, 21 miles of trails and the walk to Big Sable Point Lighthouse.
National park
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Dunes, high bluffs, beaches, inland lakes and two islands along 65 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline in Benzie and Leelanau counties.
Trail
Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail
A mostly paved trail of about 22 miles through Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, linking Empire, the Dune Climb, Glen Haven, Glen Arbor and Port Oneida.
Trail
TART Trails
Traverse City's trail network, built around the 10.5-mile paved TART along the bay and linked to the Leelanau Trail, Boardman Lake Loop and VASA Pathway.
Trail
Betsie Valley Trail
A 22-mile rail trail from Frankfort past Crystal Lake and Beulah, paved at the west end and aggregate beyond, with snowmobiling on the east part in winter.
Trail
Big M Trail System
Groomed cross-country ski and winter fat-tire bike trails, and summer singletrack, in the Manistee National Forest near Wellston.
Ski area
Boyne Mountain
A big resort at Boyne Falls with 65 trails on 415 skiable acres, 35 km of cross-country trails, and SkyBridge Michigan and bike trails in the warm months.
Ski area
Caberfae Peaks
A ski resort west of Cadillac with 27 runs and 5 lifts across three peaks, plus about 10 miles of cross-country trails that are free to use.
Ski area
Crystal Mountain
A four-season resort in Thompsonville with 59 downhill runs, 25 km of Nordic trails and groomed winter bike trails, plus singletrack and golf in summer.
Nature preserve
Green Point Dunes Nature Preserve
A 242-acre land conservancy preserve south of Elberta, with a trail of nearly three miles round trip through forest and meadow to Lake Michigan views.
Trail
Hart-Montague Trail
A 22-mile rail trail state park between Montague and Hart, through woods, orchards, farms and the village of New Era.
Ski area
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.
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.
Attraction
Manistee National Forest
More than half a million acres of public forest, run from Cadillac, with backpacking and ski trails, campgrounds and two National Scenic Rivers.
Ski area
Mt. Holiday
A small community nonprofit ski hill in East Bay Township, east of Traverse City, with snow tubing in winter and zipline tours and trails in the warmer months.
Attraction
Muskegon Luge Adventure Sports Park
A year-round adventure park inside Muskegon State Park with a luge track, lighted cross-country ski trails and skating in winter, and a zip line in summer.
State park
Muskegon State Park
Three miles of shoreline on Lake Michigan and Muskegon Lake, with forested dunes, two campgrounds, a CCC blockhouse and the Muskegon luge park.
Ski area
Nub's Nob
A family-owned ski hill near Harbor Springs with 53 runs on 248 acres, 427 feet of vertical, terrain parks and night skiing.
State park
Orchard Beach State Park
A bluff-top park north of Manistee for Lake Michigan sunsets, forest trails and camping. Despite the name, you cannot reach the beach from the park.
Ski area
The Highlands at Harbor Springs
A ski resort near Harbor Springs with 55 runs on 435 acres and 552 feet of vertical, plus Nordic trails, and a bike park, hiking and golf in summer.
Trail
Vasa Pathway
Traverse City's big woods trail for cross-country skiing, with loops from 3K to 25K, snowshoe loops, and singletrack for mountain and fat bikes.
On the map
Skiing: places on the map
22 places on an OpenStreetMap map
Recommended towns for skiing
Towns an independent source (such as the DNR, the National Park Service or Pure Michigan) singles out for this. Listed by town size, not ranked.
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.
Benzie & Sleeping Bear · Small town
Glen Arbor
Your base for northern Sleeping Bear Dunes: a small town between Lake Michigan and Glen Lake, about 4 miles from the Dune Climb by trail.