Doug Cornell says Forbush Corner has been fantastic for skiing!
Virtual White Pine Stampede registration is open
12/30/2020 - By Mike Muha
Registration for the Virtual White Pine Stampede is open! And Team NordicSkiRacer invites everyone to ski the Virtual White Pine at Huron Meadows Metropark on the official day of the White Pine Stampede.
Frosty Freestyle and Krazy Klassic registration opens at midnight
12/29/2020 - By Mike Muha, Ken Roth, Adam Haberkorn
Huron Meadows Metropark in Brighton, Michigan is already preparing the race course for the Frosty Freestyle and Krazy Klassic races on Saturday and Sunday, January 9 and 10.
5th annual Midwest Nordic Rendezvous to train coaches
12/28/2020 - By Amy Powell
Come and learn consistent language, teaching model, and skiing fundamentals through the Professional Ski Instructor of America (PSIA).
Hiawatha Highlands Lodge closes for at least two weeks
12/23/2020 - By Mike Muha
Hiawatha Highlands Lodge in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario will be closed to the public as of December 26th, 2020 to comply with lockdown orders. Trails will still be open to season trail pass holders.
Brushes: what/when/why?
12/22/2020 - By Ian Harvey
Confused by what brushes to buy? Get an honest opinion by wax guru - what to get and what not to get - by Ian Harvey!
Registration is open for the 2021 Great Bear Chase!
12/17/2020 - By Angela Luskin
Things are going to look different, much like everything else this past year, but one thing that will not change is the top-quality grooming and friendly nature of the Great Bear Chase.
2021 White Pine Stampede goes virtual
12/16/2020 - By White Pine Stampede
Current executive orders prohibit an in-person race event, and we wanted to keep the spirit of the race alive (we all just want a race!), so the race committee to make the difficult decision to make this year’s race virtual.
The 2021 North American Vasa is Cancelled
12/16/2020 - By North American Vasa Festival of Races
The North American Vasa Festival of Races Board of Directors has made the difficult decision to cancel this season's planned races due to the high number of COVID cases in the community and statewide.
CXC cancels Duluth and Mt. Itasca events
12/6/2020 - By Joe Haggenmiller
As many of you know, Governor Walz of Minnesota issued an Executive Order on COVID Mitigation, which has paused athletics in the State of Minnesota for 4 weeks. This impacts our first 2 CXC Cup events - Duluth and Mt. Itasca are not viable as scheduled.
Patience and flexibility required for racing this season
12/6/2020 - By Joe Haggenmiller
With the recent pause orders from the governors of Michigan and Minnesota and various local community health organizations also issuing recommendations and regulations, each of us needs to recognize the need to be both patient and flexible.
Forbush Time Trial cancelled due to COVID restrictions
12/2/2020 - By Ann Agar
The Forbush Corner Nordic time trials are cancelled due to the state health department’s restriction on organized sporting events that are scheduled through the 8th. It is likely that the state will extend that ban into January.
Nordic Glide Wax Box - A Recommendation of all that you need and nothing more
12/1/2020 - By Ian Harvy
Holiday shopping? Here is all that you need for glide waxes and tools and nothing more. This recommendation is for the passionate skier, fitness skier, or fluorine free racer.
UPCOMING
MON, JAN 5, 2026
Discover Michigan Cross Country Skiing Program
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
TUE, JAN 6, 2026
US Cross-Country National Championships - Individual Sprint Freestyle
Mt Van Hoevenberg, 31 Van Hoevenberg Way, Lake Placid, NY 12946
THU, JAN 8, 2026
US Cross-Country National Championships - Mass Start Freestyle
Mt Van Hoevenberg, 31 Van Hoevenberg Way, Lake Placid, NY 12946
FRI, JAN 9, 2026
US Cross-Country National Championships - Individual Sprint Classic
Mt Van Hoevenberg, 31 Van Hoevenberg Way, Lake Placid, NY 12946
SAT, JAN 10, 2026
Vasa Raptor Rush Classic
Hickory Hills Ski Area, 2000 Randolph St, Traverse City, MI 49684
Bob’s Bean Bomb at the Stone Turtle Cafe
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
SISU Ski Fest
ABR Trails, E5299 West Pioneer Road, Ironwood, MI 49938
“Pure Michigan” Winter Trails Day with the Great Lakes Winter Trails Council
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
Frosty Fest! Frosty Freestyle 5K/15K
Huron Meadows Metropark, 8765 Hammel Rd, Brighton, MI 48116
Free Beginner Ski Lesson
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
SUN, JAN 11, 2026
Bob’s Bean Bomb at the Stone Turtle Cafe
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
Frosty Fest! Krazy Klassic 7K/12K
Huron Meadows Metropark, 8765 Hammel Rd, Brighton, MI 48116
Golden Years Ski School!
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
MON, JAN 12, 2026
Silver Streak Week (Jan 12-16)
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
TUE, JAN 13, 2026
Silver Streak Week (Jan 12-16)
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
WED, JAN 14, 2026
Silver Streak Week (Jan 12-16)
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
Kids Learn to Ski Program
Huron Meadows Metropark, 8765 Hammel Rd, Brighton, MI 48116
THU, JAN 15, 2026
Silver Streak Week (Jan 12-16)
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
FRI, JAN 16, 2026
Silver Streak Week (Jan 12-16)
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
SAT, JAN 17, 2026
Gourmet Mac ‘n Cheese Bar
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
Cote Dame Marie Ski Loppet
Hanson Hills Recreation Area, 7601 Old Lake Rd, Grayling, Michigan 49738 (989-348-9266)
Free Beginner Ski Lesson
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
SUN, JAN 18, 2026
CCSC Flying Squirrel Nordic Race
Crystal Mountain, 12500 Crystal Mountain Dr, Thompsonville, Michigan, United States
Gourmet Mac ‘n Cheese Bar
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
Nordic Ski Junior Racers training session (Team NordicSkiRacer)
Huron Meadows Metropark, 8765 Hammel Rd, Brighton, MI 48116
Nub's Nob Classic 5k and 12k
Nub's Nob, 500 Nub’s Nob Road, Harbor Springs, MI 49740
MON, JAN 19, 2026
Gourmet Mac ‘n Cheese Bar
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
Bavarian Ski Festival
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
TUE, JAN 20, 2026
Citizen’s Night Ski Race Series
Main MTU Trailhead, Michigan Tech Trails, Houghton, Michigan
More events...
LATEST TRAIL CONDITIONS
MON, JAN 5
Forbush Corner: UPDATE!! We are delaying our opening to 1000. Received about 6 inches of snow and travel is slow.
Hanson Hills: Lodge and Trails Open 9am
Mother Nature hit the reset button overnight. We picked up about 4 inches of light, workable snow, and it’s grooming out beautifully this morning.
Groomer Dan is on the system early with the PB 100, packing the new snow and laying fresh corduroy on:
• Yellow
• Brown
• Blue
• Green
• Easy Return
Skate lanes are being packed and combed now, with classic tracks scheduled to be reset later this morning once the base firms up.
Forbush Corner: From a Forbush regular yesterday, “I thought conditions didn’t get much better than this yesterday, but today they are even “ gooder” ! I couldn’t agree more. Overnight snow has moved on, leaving several inches. Fresh groom today on the more popular east side trails. We are back to our normal schedule. Open 9 to 5 Thursday thru Monday.
SUN, JAN 4
Independance Oaks: Lake OK but debris in play. Back loops very sketchy on skate skis. No grooming.
Huron Meadows Metropark: December 31st: “No grooming will occur on Bucks Run on Jan 1st”
January 1st: “Buck’s Run was groomed today”
I travel an hour to ski, so I have to plan ahead, and skipped a great ski day, assuming the information on the 31st was correct.
So frustrating, Huron Meadows.
Huron Meadows Metropark: Great 10km Skate between Bucks Run and Coyote. Bucks was perfect.
Coyote could use a few inches. A few bumps but this is as good as it gets.
Clib house was hopping.
Even the fryer was going for the kids mozzarella sticks.
Tempted to order fries myself.
Loving every bit about what we have available.
Vasa Trail: The TART Groomers had groomed Timber Ridge & set fresh classic tracks on their full groom this morning, so I skied my first 16km loop from TR to Special K, to the 10/25 k split, then clockwise up the powerline hills to The Rock & back to TR. Many skiing friends were out enjoying the mid-20s weather this afternoon & silky snow. We agreed that it may have been the best conditions so far this season! Happy New Year to all!
Vasa Trail: Good conditions greeted me on this Sunday afternoon. The first section off the Bartlett trailhead was well skied but an ill snowy. Things just got better the farther out. Anita’s was lovely a bit thin after the hill but fine. 12 k and headwaters lovely as well. Hope for snow not rain this week!! You could use good skis.
Vasa Trail: Very good conditions prevailed around the 10K loop today with a fresh groom of the skate lane and freshly set classic tracks. Better than average speeds for either persuasion. No thin spots so okay to use your A skis. Assume the conditions are at least as good on the 25K since a morning full groom was also reported for it.
Ogemaw Hills Pathway: Went to Ogemaw Hills yesterday with 4 old friends.
Perfect snow. Almost a foot of base with hard crust but 3” of fresh snow tracked.
The tracker did a great job. Surprising there was that much snow as I live just 45 miles south and only an inch at my place.
The little bit of elevation always seems to produce more snow. Should be fanatastic even with the warm up over the next few days.
Ogemaw Hills Pathway: Went to Ogemaw Hills yesterday with 4 old friends.
Perfect snow. Almost a foot of base with hard crust but 3” of fresh snow tracked.
The tracker did a great job. Surprising there was that much snow as I live just 45 miles south and only an inch at my place.
The little bit of elevation always seems to produce more snow. Should be fanatastic even with the warm up over the next few days.
Huron Meadows Metropark: Great conditions for skating on Bucks Run this morning which looked like it had been groomed this morning. A lot if skiers out enjoying the good conditions. The other trails had been rolled a day or so ago and with about an inch of fresh snow on top and there was enough snow to ski on without breakthrough to the ground below. Great Job Huron Meadows!
Ogemaw Hills Pathway: Went to Ogemaw Hills yesterday with 4 old friends.
Perfect snow. Almost a foot of base with hard crust but 3” of fresh snow tracked.
The tracker did a great job. Surprising there was that much snow as I live just 45 miles south and only an inch at my place.
The little bit of elevation always seems to produce more snow. Should be fanatastic even with the warm up over the next few days.
Ogemaw Hills Pathway: Went to Ogemaw Hills yesterday with 4 old friends.
Perfect snow. Almost a foot of base with hard crust but 3” of fresh snow tracked.
The tracker did a great job. Surprising there was that much snow as I live just 45 miles south and only an inch at my place.
The little bit of elevation always seems to produce more snow. Should be fanatastic even with the warm up over the next few days.
Huron Meadows Metropark: Bucks Run: groomed for skate and classic. Classic tracks starting to pull in dirt and shallow at the top of the “hills” and getting washed out. It would be nice if the groomers could throw a little snow in the thin areas, but I understand they need to consider the needs for this coming weekend’s races. Thanks for keeping Bucks going!
Cross Country Ski Headquarters: Trails are still in great shape, fresh snowcombing today with track reset where necessary. Take advantage of these excellent winter conditions!
Hanson Hills: Groomer Dan is out cleaning up skate lanes on Yellow, Brown, Blue, M-93 Hills, and Novice. He is planning to reset tracks on Wilderness later this morning.
Cote Dame is around the corner, make sure to sign up! https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/Grayling/CoteDameMarieSkiLoppet
Forbush Corner: We are planning a full system groom for the last weekend day of the Holiday Stretch. Take advantage of the wintry wooded landscape and groomed trails.
Open 9 to 5.
SAT, JAN 3
Nubs Nob: Mother Nature and the Nubs Knob groomers have teamed up !??
Forbush Corner: 22° and 7 mph wind at 1:15 PM. Yesterday‘s skis worked perfectly today after adding 2 layers Swix extra blue grip. Wonderful to see a fresh groom on all east side trails-deep, solid tracks and a flat firm skate deck. Very light snow during my entire ski less than 1/2”. Skis were faster than yesterday, Garmin data- 21.5 mph 4 times - crybaby and roller coaster; yesterday 20.2 mph max. My body battery however tanked and I could only manage 13.8km despite the outstanding conditions.
Stokely Creek: Suomi trail was super downhill run today! Your at the base of the western edge of Robertson Cliffs and drop down in three steps with three easy turns at the end of each step. Circle back to Lodge via Bunny Hill to the Roth trail. Dont miss the ice waterfall on your right halfway down the Bunny Hill. Also second hand heard Hakon Lien was great today. I'll ski that tomorrow on the way to Norms.
Michaywe: Groomed the skate deck on maple ridge. Groomed and reset track on the rest of the trail system. Still a few thin, wind blown areas near the pro shop and clubhouse. Other than that, 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: Trails are in great shape! The best skiing of the season so far! Classic tracks are firm. Skate lanes are excellent. Lower trails are completely open. Vistas is rolled, but not tracked. Lillehammer and Vojins are open.
Cross Country Ski Headquarters: It's a beautiful day for skiing out there! Grooming Mike is out snowcombing and the tracks are still in great shape. We will have a cabin boy at Trappers cabin today, and it's looking like a wonderful day for northern Michigan Skiing!
Forbush Corner: Winter is Winter at the corner. Happy to say the entire trail system is available and in the best shape ever for your exploration. No soft skate deck. Deep set tracks. Grip waxing easy. Blue/Green. Open 9 to 5.
Hanson Hills: Lodge and Trails Open 9am
Groomer Dan is out combing skate lanes on Red, Yellow, Brown this morning.
Winter Wolf Skiathlon will take place this morning 10am-11am
Trails will be open. Race course will utilize M-93 Hills -Blue-Sue's Return Portion of Green All Trails Return to Lodge.
Winter Wolf Packet Pick up will be from 8:30am-9:30am in the Main Lodge.
*Transition and Start Area is located in the Big Field behind the softball outfield
More trail reports...
