Last Updated on 20th September 2024 by Steve
Discover the best ski areas in the state
The Midwestern state of Michigan can boast a total of nearly 40 ski areas, despite the fact that there are not too many mountain ranges in the region.
But Michigan consists of two peninsulas and the snowfall caused by the nearby lakes and the northern latitudes means that a ski area here generally has pretty reliable snow conditions, despite the relatively small vertical compared to other states more famous for their downhill skiing.
And, with the water surrounding much of the state, there are a number of ski hills in Michigan which can boast stunning lake views from the top stations of the ski lifts.
Most of the best-known ski mountains are in northern Michigan, either on the Upper Peninsula or over the Mackinac bridge in the central snow belt area. But there are also options for those looking for a shorter journey from the cities of southern Michigan…
Map of ski resorts in Michigan
Ski Resorts in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
Mount Bohemia Ski Area
Visitors to the Mount Bohemia website might be a little taken aback by a slightly unusual message from a Michigan ski site: ‘No beginners allowed’.
The Mount Bohemia ski area is a paradise for expert skiers with only two ski lifts and no grooming, while the area offers around 100 advanced and expert-level ski trails on 850 feet of vertical (claimed to be the biggest in the Midwest).
There are four different ski areas to explore, with the trails offering varying degrees of back-country experience. Some require a ride back to the lift base in the resort minibus. Nearby Voodoo Mountain is run by the same operators, but offers cat-skiing instead of lift-served runs.
Mt Bohemia Ski Video
Mt Bohemia Ski Stats
Ski lifts: The ski area offers two chairlifts as well as a resort minibus service for return transport to the base
Skiable terrain: The ski area covers around 590 acres
Vertical drop: The vertical at Mount Bohemia is 900 feet
Resort accommodation: There is a limited amount of accommodation at Lac La Belle, including cabins and yurts, and the nearest town of any size is Houghton, around 40 miles away.
Ski area website: www.mtbohemia.com
Big Powderhorn Mountain
Big Powderhorn Mountain Resort is located in the south-west of the Upper Peninsula just to the north of the town of Bessemer and not far from Ironwood and the Wisconsin state line.
With more than 600 feet of vertical, the skiing offers a good mix of trails for all abilities with ten lifts, almost all chairlifts, offering decent uplift capacity and a terrain park.
Big Powderhorn Mountain Ski Video
Big Powderhorn Mountain Ski Stats
Ski lifts: The ski area offers nine chairlifts as well as a beginners’ tow
Skiable terrain: The ski area covers around 250 acres
Vertical drop: The vertical at Big Powderhorn Mountain is just over 600 feet
Resort accommodation: Big Powderhorn Mountain Resort does offer its own resort lodging and accommodation near the base and there is also a variety of hotels, motels, cabins and vacation rentals in the towns of Bessemer and Ironwood.
Ski area website: bigpowderhorn.net
Jackson Creek Summit – Black River Basin
The two neighbouring ski areas are part of the Snowriver Mountain Resort operation and are located near the towns of Bessemer and Wakefield in the western part of the Upper Peninsula.
Jackson Creek Summit is the larger of the two ski resorts, although not by much, with nine ski lifts serving mostly blue and black trails and a vertical of more than 600 feet. Jackson Creek Summit also hosts night skiing on Fridays and Saturdays.
Jackson Creek Summit Video
Black River Basin offers six lifts and two terrain parks on almost 500 feet of vertical.
The two Snow River Resort ski areas offer their own lodging with rooms, chalet-style accommodation and condos. More accommodation is available in Bessemer and Ironwood.
Ski area website: www.snowriver.com
Marquette Mountain
The fourth ski destination in this list of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula ski resorts is Marquette Mountain.
Marquette is the largest town on the Upper Peninsula and is host to Northern Michigan University. The ski area is only minutes outside the town and offers convenient skiing with fabulous views over Lake Superior.
Marquette Mountain Ski Video
Marquette Mountain Ski Stats
Ski lifts: The ski area offers three chairlifts as well as a beginners’ tow
Skiable terrain: The ski area covers around 170 acres
Vertical drop: The vertical at Marquette Mountain is just over 500 feet
Resort accommodation: There is a wide range of lodging options available in downtown Marquette.
Ski area website: marquettemountain.com
Ski Resorts in Northern Michigan – Lower Peninsula
Nub’s Nob
Nub’s Nob is one of the group of Michigan ski areas located at the northern tip of the Lower Peninsula and is located quite literally just over the road from the better-known Boyne Highlands resort.
The ski area opened in 1958 and is named after one of the owners (not the hill, as some assume). It has expanded over the decades to now offer 53 runs covered by more than 300 snowmaking guns.
Nub’s Nob Video
Nub’s Nob Ski Stats
Ski lifts: The ski area offers eight chairlifts, a magic carpet and a rope tow
Skiable terrain: The ski area covers around 250 acres
Vertical drop: The vertical at Nub’s Nob is nearly 430 feet
Resort accommodation: There is no resort accommodation available at the base, but there is plenty of lodging on hand at the nearby towns of Harbor Springs and Petoskey.
Ski area website: www.nubsnob.com
The Highlands at Harbor Springs
The Highlands is located north of Harbor Springs and close to Nub’s Nob ski area. It has the largest amount of skiable terrain in the Lower Peninsula, the biggest vertical and the longest ski run in Michigan.
It is owned by the same operators – Boyne Resorts – as the equally impressive Boyne Mountain a little way to the south and a lift ticket bought at one ski resort is valid at the other. It has recently been rebranded as ‘The Highlands at Harbor Springs’.
The Highlands Video
The Highlands Ski Stats
Ski lifts: The ski area offers eight chairlifts and two magic carpets
Skiable terrain: The ski area covers around 435 acres
Vertical drop: The vertical at the Highlands is just over 550 feet
Resort accommodation: The resort offers a range of hotel rooms, cottages and condos and, as with nearby Nub’s Nob, other lodging options are available in the Harbor Springs and Petoskey area.
Ski area website: www.highlandsharborsprings.com
Boyne Mountain Resort
The ski area at Boyne Mountain is located just outside the hamlet of Boyne Falls and only a few miles from Boyne City on Lake Charlevoix. It is the sister resort to Boyne Highlands and a lift ticket for one ski area is valid at both.
Boyne Mountain actually started operations just after World War II and the historic ski area remains one of the best-known and most popular in northern Michigan. The resort operations have expanded into snowboarding and freestyle skiing (there are four terrain parks and a boarder cross course) and cross country skiing with 35 kilometres of groomed trails.
Boyne Mountain Video
Boyne Mountain Ski Stats
Ski lifts: The ski area offers 12 ski lifts serving 60 trails
Skiable terrain: The ski area covers around 415 acres
Vertical drop: The vertical at the Highlands is around 500 feet
Resort accommodation: Boyne Mountain Resort offers an extensive range of lodging at the base area and there are other options at nearby Boyne Falls and Boyne City.
Ski area website: www.boynemountain.com
Shanty Creek Resort
The skiing at Shanty Creek is split over two mountains: the larger Schuss Mountain and the smaller Summit Mountain. The ski area is located near the small town of Bellaire in the northern region of the Lower Peninsula.
Schuss Mountain will be of most interest to skiers and snowboarders, with over 40 ski slopes served by eight ski lifts. There is a good mix of ski runs suited to different ability levels and plenty of other winter options, such as dog-sledding, cross country skiing and snow tubing.
Schuss Mountain Video
Shanty Creek Ski Stats
Ski lifts: The ski area offers eight ski lifts serving 40 trails
Skiable terrain: The ski area covers around 80 acres
Vertical drop: The vertical at Schuss Mountain is around 450 feet
Resort accommodation: The Shanty Creek Resort offers a wide range of accommodation over three villages covering a total of eight square miles and there are also some independent options in the Bellaire area.
Ski area website: www.shantycreek.com
Crystal Mountain
The family-friendly ski area at Crystal Mountain dates back to the Sixties and has steadily expanded from winter activities into a year-round destination with extensive accommodation options, two golf courses and a spa and wellness center.
The area is located just outside the small town of Thompsonville in west Michigan and around 45 minutes’ drive from Traverse City on Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.
Crystal Mountain Ski Video
Crystal Mountain Ski Stats
Ski lifts: The ski area offers eight ski lifts, including six chairlifts, serving 45 trails
Skiable terrain: The ski area covers just over 100 acres
Vertical drop: The vertical at Crystal Mountain resort is 375 feet
Resort accommodation: The extensive resort accommodation includes hotel rooms, vacation rentals and cottages.
Ski area website: www.crystalmountain.com
Caberfae Peaks Ski Area
Caberfae Peaks is a smaller ski area towards the northern end of the Lower Peninsula in the Huron-Manistee National Forest near the hamlet of Harrietta.
Although the number of lifts and ski runs do not compete with the larger ski areas further north, Caberfae Peaks has a reputation for value-for-money skiing, with a decent vertical drop, a reasonable lift ticket price and usually plenty of deals available on certain dates.
Caberfae Peaks Video
Caberfae Peaks Ski Stats
Ski lifts: The ski area offers four ski lifts covering 34 trails
Skiable terrain: The ski area covers around 225 acres
Vertical drop: The vertical at Caberfae Peaks is 485 feet
Resort accommodation: Caberfae Peaks has its own resort accommodation at the base, but more is available in the nearby resort town of Cadillac on the lake of the same name 20 miles to the east.
Ski area website: caberfaepeaks.com
Ski Resorts near Detroit
Mt Holly
The ski area at Mount Holly is one of a cluster of ski resorts in south-east Michigan near the Detroit metropolitan area. It is located in the Groveland valley to the north-west of the city near I-75 as it runs between Pontiac and Flint.
Although Mt. Holly can boast 12 lifts, five of them are rope tows or magic carpets, and the 20 ski trails have a vertical drop of 350 feet. The entire skiable terrain is covered by snowmaking.
Mt Holly Video
Ski area website: skimtholly.com
Pine Knob
The Pine Knob ski area is the closest ski resort to Metro Detroit, also just off I-75 but near the village of Clarkston.
The skiing offers 13 lifts on a vertical drop of nearly 300 feet, with seven of them being rope tows or magic carpets serving the beginners’ ski area. The ski area is also a popular winter destination for city snowboarders and freestyle skiers drawn to the terrain parks.
Pine Knob Video
Ski area website: www.skipineknob.com
Alpine Valley
Alpine Valley is one of the larger ski resorts in southern Michigan. Situated just 30 minutes’ drive from Detroit, the skiing offers a variety of runs suitable for all levels on 300 feet of vertical.
There are 13 lifts, including nine chairlifts, as well as three terrain parks and a snowcross track.
Alpine Valley Video
Ski area website: skialpinevalley.com
Mt Brighton
Mt. Brighton is a small family ski resort in southern Michigan which has been added to the massive collection of ski areas run by Vail Resorts.
Located near the town of Brighton and just off I-96, the ski area has five chairlifts and seven surface lifts covering a total of 130 acres. The 24 ski trails are cut on a vertical drop of 230 feet and there are two terrain parks.
Mt Brighton Video
The Mt Brighton ski area does not offer its own lodging but there are plenty of options both around the I-96 exit and in the nearby town of Brighton.
Ski area website: www.mtbrighton.com