Doug Cornell says Forbush Corner has been fantastic for skiing!
Forbush Corner kicked off the 2025-2026 Michigan Cup race season in high gear: Immaculate trails, firm but covered in packed new snow, a great course.
Wax recommendations for the this weekend's Forbush Opener, the first Michigan Cup race of the season!
Join CXC for a live online waxing clinic with Ian Harvey, Brand Manager of Toko US. This free clinic will be recorded. RSVP so you’ll receive access to the recording once it’s available. You can also submit your questions in advance.
New waxes and new tools...and some predications about how I expect we will race wax this winter
Jessie Diggins, the most decorated US XC skier in history, formally announces her retirement from cross country ski racing following the end of the 2025-26 season.
For over 50 years, Cross Country Ski Headquarters has been a beloved winter gathering place in Northern Michigan. Surrounded by inland lakes and rivers, this rustic ski lodge and trail system has welcomed generations of skiers, snowshoers, and outdoor lovers looking for fresh air, good food, and winter fun.
The Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team A Team is led by three-time Olympic medalist and seven-time World Championship medalist Jessie Diggins, two-time World Championship medalist Julia Kern and Olympians Rosie Brennan, Gus Schumacher, Ben Ogden, JC Schoonmaker and Sophia Laukli.
This year's festival will revive the 50-kilometer classic and freestyle races in honor of the event's 50-year history.
The Michigan Cup Committee made some big changes to scoring the Michigan Cup at this year's Committee Meeting, plus special options for Super Masters, and partial points for Vasa's 50th anniversary 50k marathon!
The Copper Country Ski Tigers are looking for a passionate, motivated HEAD COACH to lead our junior Nordic Ski program in Michigan’s snowy Upper Peninsula!
The American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation will be hosting the 2026 Junior XC Skiing Nationals Championships March 9-13, 2026.
The Michigan Cup Committee annual meeting will review the upcoming season, including the tentative race schedule (attached).
Free Beginner Ski Lesson
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
XC Ski HQ Ski: George Frye Live
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
XC Ski HQ Ski: JoeFrye Live
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
Forbush Corner: Mid winter conditions continue today at the Corner. No new grooming planned today as trails are in really good shape from efforts over the weekend. Open 9 to 5.
Independance Oaks: Did a classic loop around the lake, then put on the skate skis for a quick rip around again, but also hitting the hills this time. Trails were being freshly rolled with the additional 1/2 inch or so of new show that fell. Great conditions for skating. Fair to good for classic with snow not deep enough to set tracks. Enjoy it before the thaw comes!
Bay City State Park: Skied the Tobico trail at Bay City State Park.
Almost perfect conditions.
A lot of walkers use this trail but are doing a good job of keeping off the ski tracks. Snow is 8-10” deep and crisp. As always oak leaves can be a challenge on 1/4 of the 2.8 mi trail.
Get out there before it deteriorates
Kensington Metropark: Excellent conditions given icy weather
Lost Lakes Pathway: About 15-20 inches of fluffy snow on this state forest pathway, with ~6" that fell earlier Sunday. This is a make-you-own-classic-tracks trail, but all three loops had been skied-in by others Sunday afternoon. We like to use our EVO fish-scale classic skis here, but other use narrower/faster skis.
Milham Park Golf Course: Milham was groomed this early afternoon after receiving approx. two inches of new snow over the past couple of days. Skiers should find fair to good conditions overall. No classic trail had been able to be set at this time still due to thin snow. None the less there were many people out enjoying themselves today. Hopefully we survive the warm up predicted for mid week.
Nubs Nob: Seriously great grooming and firm snow depth on Nubs upper Red & Blue loops . I wished I had LF6 instead of my LF7 as the temps were in the low teens : but it was a delightful ski in the sunshine .
Forbush Corner: 11° and partly sunny skies with a mild wind at 11:30. Given recent frigid temps, I switched to Rossignol XIUM C2 skis with 2 layers of Toko base grip and 2 layers Swix special green. This proved to be a perfect choice for the freshly groomed Pines Loop, West side 8-11 and hilly trails. Very minimal dry fresh snow blown into the track on a couple open spots on Pines. Especially lovely was section B-C where the terrain and scenery reminded me of Hakon Lien at Stokely. Temps rose to 14° by 230 and skies cleared, snow melt falling off the roof of the yurt. A great 9.7 miles (15.6km)
Huron Meadows Metropark: Bucks run groomed for classic and skate in great condition from building and back.
Coyote and Cedar trace groomed this morning for both classic and skate.
i did not ski Hawk hills.
Huron Meadows Metropark: This is the official report from Huron Meadows YESTERDAY:
"Bucks Run is open for classic and skate skiing as of yesterday December 13, 2025. For your safety and the safety of our staff please adhere to Bucks Run hours. Bucks Run is open Monday – Friday 12 pm – 7:45 pm and Saturday – Sunday 9 am – 7:45 pm, weather and conditions permitting. Bucks Run will be closed on Monday, December 15 and Tuesday December 16, 2025 until 2 pm so that our staff can continue to spread additional snow.
The golf course trails, Coyote Run and Hawk Hills, along with Cedar Trace were groomed for skate ski only on December 11, 2025 as there is not enough snow throughout the trails to groom for classic tracks. Classic skiers are still welcome to ski, just note there are no tracks set. No additional grooming has taken place in other areas of the park. These trails are open during normal park hours, weather and conditions permitting.*
No other update from the park as of 9:30am this morning.
Hanson Hills: Lodge and Trails open 9am.
Groomer Dan is out combing Red first thing this morning then cleaning up Yellow, Brown, Blue and M-93 Hills.
Note on Wilderness:
Wilderness has not been groomed and does not have tracks at this time while our grooming snowmobile is in the shop. Still wild, still beautiful—just not freshly set.
Cross Country Ski Headquarters: Groomer Butch is out grooming the trails, and after 1-2" of fresh snow last night, the trails should be heavenly. The sun is shining and the temps will be a bit warmer today, so get out there and get after it! We have about 5-8" of packed snow on the trails, and 12-15" in the woods.
Forbush Corner: The fall cold and snow and consistent grooming are creating a solid trail system for winter. Pines connector and loop will get a fresh grooming this morning with additional trails on east and west, groomers choice. Check out Nordic Pulse on our website for the latest. Thanks to all the racers for participating in yesterday’s opener!
Forbush Corner: The fall cold and snow and consistent grooming are creating a solid trail system for winter. Pines connector and loop will get a fresh grooming this morning with additional trails on east and west, groomers choice. Check out Nordic Pulse on our website for the latest. Thanks to all the racers for participating in yesterday’s opener!
Forbush Corner: Welcome to race day at Forbush! Racing will be on the east side trails from 10 am to 11 am. Trails on the west side will be available to non-racers. When parking, please be efficient. Grooming will be done as needed.
Huron Meadows Metropark: Good news. Bucks run is up and running with excellent skate and classic. The golf course was also regroomed, but still no classic tracks there. Very windy so there is lots of debris in the tracks. Skaters reported excellent conditions. Note that on Monday and Tuesday Bucks will not be open until 2:00 so more snow can be spread. Please respect this closure so that we do not create conflict with the park staff. There’s still lots of other areas at the park to ski.
Pigeon Creek: We had about 3"-4" of fresh lake effect snow and periodic snow all day. Temps were in low teens & windchill about 0 - perfect skiing weather :-) . Base is about 2" and hard pack or ice. The new snow made skiing great, however the trails have not been groomed since the snow fell making skating a bit harder. Classic appeared to be excellent. Expecting more lake effect tonight. I skied the north loops and it was quiet & beautiful. People were tending to ski the south loops.
Forbush Corner: 11° F and moderate breeze at 10:30 AM, strong wind by noon. Fresh groom on the west side trails, racers on the east. I started on Green Trail, beautifully groomed, deep firm tracks, Swix purple grip/Rex Blue glide from yesterday working great. So, I crossed parking and skied to Pancake. Beautiful fresh track and skate lane on the west side trail. After blustery exposure on the highway trail, I skied loop 8-11, then crossed over to A, made 1st tracks to D, then returned, with wind blowing me on the uphills. Back on the West, deadman drop, TJ’s, interval Hill and hammerhead were great fun in the tracks. By the time I crossed back into the East, snow squalls and wind were filling the tracks. I had to ski the snow off the kick zone in crybaby and roller coaster. Tracks at the bottom of roller coaster were completely filled with snow and it was so blustery at the intersection with Badlands. I made a beeline to lil coaster to get out of the wind and did a portion of that until it intersected with Linda’s link and back to the lodge. Overall, a wonderful 11.3 mile (18.8km) ski.
Forbush Corner: First race of the season at Forbush was a real winner ! Wonderful fresh snow, some wind but not excessive. New course included some of cry baby backwards. It was lovely. My prerace jitters were excessive and not merited. It was a perfect for me skating and Gary on classic. I used good old start green for glide and green mix for kick for Gary. Thank you Forbush!!!
Michaywe: Received another 2 inches of fluffy snow overnight. Skate lanes and classic track have been set on the lake loop, herringbone, the river trail, and both golf course loops. There is some drifting in the open areas, otherwise conditions are good. Full-service bar & dining located on the ski trail at Michaywe. "Inn the Woods" Restaurant is open Tuesday - Saturday. Visit www.michaywe.com for hours & menu.
Boyne Mountain: Groomed lower trails yesterday. This morning we have 4" of new fluff! Skiing is quite good--it's nice to be in the woods and out of the wind!
Vistas has not been groomed yet, but is marked.
Upper trails don't have enough snow for the big groomer yet.
Cross Country Ski Headquarters: Groomer Mike set fresh tracks last night so they could firm up in the cold temps, and snowcombed the skate lanes this morning and the conditions are excellent! We have about 5-8" of packed snow on the trails, and 12-15" in the woods.
Hanson Hills: Mother Nature sprinkled about an inch of fresh fluff overnight, and Groomer Dan wasted no time firing up the Pisten Bully this morning. He’s out combing skate lanes on Blue, Brown, Yellow, and the M-93 Hills, leaving things smooth, fast, and very ski-worthy.
Trail conditions: excellent.
Classic tracks: holding beautifully and skiing even better.
Note on Wilderness:
Wilderness has not been groomed and does not have tracks at this time while our grooming snowmobile is in the shop. Still wild, still beautiful—just not freshly set.
Grab your skis, enjoy the fresh fluff, and thank Dan when you see those perfect lines out there. Winter is doing its thing.
Forbush Corner: Welcome to race day at Forbush! Racing will be on the east side trails from 10 am to 11 am. Trails on the west side will be available to non-racers. When parking, please be efficient. Grooming will be done as needed.