UPCOMING

FRI, DEC 12, 2025

XC Ski HQ Ski Team Kick-Off Dinner!
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)

SAT, DEC 13, 2025

Forbush Opener (Freestyle)
Forbush Corner, 4971 W County Road 612, Frederic, MI 49733 (989-889-2843)

Free Beginner Ski Lesson
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)

SUN, DEC 14, 2025

CHANUKAH/HANUKKAH, Dec 14-22

SAT, DEC 20, 2025

Free Beginner Ski Lesson
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)

SUN, DEC 21, 2025

FIRST DAY OF WINTER

XC Ski HQ Ski: George Frye Live
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)

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LATEST TRAIL CONDITIONS

SAT, DEC 6

Huron Meadows Metropark: Not bad considering how early in the season it is. some grassy spots that you can get around easily. the loop behind Bucks is real nice for skating. not enough snow for tracks though. some areas do have leaves but not terrible. worth going, enjoy!

Big M: Grooming update 12/6/25: all the trails were groomed today except Catamount and Ryberg Rd, plus from markers 11-12 on Camp 24 (but that should have a hint of tracks from the previous groom). Catamount and Ryberg Rd may have downed trees you will need to go around, if you ski those trails, as those have not been cleared yet this season. The snow conditions are great - get out there! The parking lot is partially plowed and very passable.

Forbush Corner: Excellent classic trail conditions. 33 km over 2 days Swix pink glide/Rode Super-blue grip, 27°, with light snow and moderate wind, temp falling to 23° late today. Packed powder was fast; particularly nice long stretches on pine connector pristine track. Pineneedles and leaves in some areas stuck to the kick wax. Snowmaking commenced this afternoon on the loop, the wet snow much stickier than natural (wiped out on home run hill ??)

Cross Country Ski Headquarters: The grooming team snow combed the entire trail network last night, and conditions are very good. The skating lanes are excellent. Conditions for classic skiing are very good, too, though we still need a couple more inches of snow to set classic tracks. We have about 4-6" of packed snow on the trails, and 10-12" in the woods. The Stone Turtle Cafe is open!

Valley Spur: Decent. This is the first grooming of the season. Few thin spots. All trails skate and classic groomed except H.

Forbush Corner: Full system groom this morning - East Side, West Side, Pines Loop, everything - amazing for early December. Skate deck everywhere and classic tracks most everywhere !!!

Hanson Hills: Who’s Ready to Glide, Ride, and Explore?

Lodge and trails open at 9am, and we’ve got another beautiful winter day lined up for you!

Cross Country Update:
Just a light dusting of snow overnight, but Groomer Dan is already out there working his magic—combing skate lanes on ALL trails including Blue, Brown, Yellow, Red, M-93, and Easy Return.
Tracks may be a few days old… but trust us, they’re still glorious. Wilderness is holding tracks too, so plenty of smooth, scenic miles await.
Don’t forget to stop into the Lodge for your daily or season trail pass before heading out!

Fat Bike Trail:
The Fat Bike loop is open and ready for adventure!
If you roll today, please remember to feed the Blue Donation Tube at the MTB trailhead — it keeps the good times spinning.

?? Trail Etiquette Reminder:
We love hikers, but please remember:

Regular boot traffic should remain off the Mountain Bike Trail and Overlook Trail to protect groomed surfaces.

Snowshoers are welcome, just please give bikers the right of way.

Little Smokey, Pines, Guyton, and Oak Ridge Trails are open for hiking!

Bundle up, breathe in that fresh northern Michigan air, and let the trails show you a great time today!

FRI, DEC 5

Big M: I skied today starting around 1:30 conditíon were excellent. just missed the groomer. most trails have been groomed. apparently 10-14 inch powdery base. beautiful

Big M: I skied today starting around 1:30 conditíon were excellent. just missed the groomer. most trails have been groomed. apparently 10-14 inch powdery base. beautiful

Big M: I skied today starting around 1:30 conditíon were excellent. just missed the groomer. most trails have been groomed. apparently 10-14 inch powdery base. beautiful

Big M: Corkpine, Lumberjack, Big Wheel and Camp 24 are all packed and tracked (except for the small portion between 3 and 14, see map). Groomers will also be out Saturday morning, after some more snow falls tonight (hopefully), to get the rest of the trail system. Plenty of snow! Enjoy.

Hartwick Pines: Whole trail system groomed for classic skiing. Excellent coverage. Grooming good but some foot traffic. Fun ski.

Elk Rapids Golf Course: Windswept conditions so you're only skiing through an inch of snow with grass poking through in most areas until you come to one of the few drifted areas of a foot or more depth. But the classic skis were gliding well, and started literally from my front door, so it's all good. Highlight was skiing along the scenic shore of Elk Lake as close as you dared to the water.

Forbush Corner: I don't know that I have ever seen early season conditions this good in the lower peninsula. Larry and the Forbush crew did an incredible job of packing, rolling, and grooming a colossal amount of snow (probably had to manage lots of downed branches and detritus as well). 

I skied Thursday night at dusk—the moon so bright I didn't even need a headlamp—and Friday around lunchtime. The whole system is in mid-winter shape, but mamma mia Rollercoaster and Crybaby are hard packed and fast!! I skate skied both days but the classic tracks looked sublime. 

Well worth the drive, especially now that there are more tables in the yurt. So fun to see all the updates the Forbush crew did over the summer: new carpet, they took out the s-curve on Crybaby, I'm even more out of shape, etc. Pack a lunch (and a flask of something to keep you warm).

Nordic Pulse seems to be working out some early-season kinks so this is probably the only weekend you can ask Mike what was groomed without getting in trouble. 

Michaywe: Groomed out and set track on the lake loop, maple ridge, herringbone, the river trail, and the back 9 loop. Snow conditions are mostly good with a few thin areas. Trails going through the wooded areas have some leaves or pine needles due to the recent high winds.

Huron Meadows Metropark: Still great as of this (Friday) morning. Hawk hills a little rough some dirt and vegetation showing through in parts- but skiable. Coyote run and contractors in great shape!

Hanson Hills: Lodge and Trails open 9am.
Groomer Dan is out combing skate lanes again this morning, and reports that classic tracks are still looking great!

Remember Trail Passes are required, stop in to purchase your daily or season pass.

Cross Country Ski Headquarters: Groomer Butch snowcombed all the trails yesterday, and the skate deck is hard and fast! We have about 4-6" of packed snow on the trails, and 10-12" in the woods. We'll finish snowmaking on the field today to be ready for lessons and demos tomorrow.

Forbush Corner: West side, Pines connector (easy and hard) and some of the Pines loop were packed with the PB. All east side trails are groomed with tracks. The pines have been shedding their pine needles here and there due to the gusty winds over the last few days. Good thing we don’t need klister!

THU, DEC 4

Hanson Hills: Fresh classic tracks on the Wilderness Singletrack trail from yesterday were perfect for my afternoon adventure after a visit at Northbound. I could have used my skins but my Evos probably handled the leaves in the tracks near the Lodge better. I had the best glide so far this season, complete trail coverage, and sunshine!!! As I was leaving Grayling, there was a gorgeous full moon rising above the pine trees against a dark blue sky, which would have been a perfect photo!

Pigeon Creek: Conditions ranged from fair to very good, depending up on the leaf cover. The skate deck was in excellent shape with corduroy in most places and no ground showing through. A few spots in the forest had a lot of oak and beech leaves on the skate deck. The open meadow sections on the north side of the road had the best snow conditions and were downright fast.

Vasa Trail: Conditions remain good throughout the trail system with up to 10" in the woods, and a groomed base of several inches. Major improvements today include setting classic track, and installing corduroy on the skate lane. Noticed a handful of thin spots on the 10K, some with gravel appearing, the worst being the usual spot just past the bridge so probably best with some rock skis. Afternoon skiers were treated to skiing in the sun.

Huron Meadows Metropark: Really terrific skating Thursday morning. As reported, golf course was rolled this morning, and it's gorgeous (90% perfect, the rest is grassy). Thank you, Metroparks! From the Metroparks web site:
"Bucks Run is currently closed. Snow is currently being made for Bucks Run and construction will being in the coming weeks. Patrons are free to ski on the trails marked by orange flags on the golf course trails as conditions allow. The golf course and Cedar Trace trails will be rolled this morning December 4, 2025. No additional grooming will take place until we receive additional snow."

Love Creek: Saw this from Tuesday, could only be better after last nights snow:

Winter Trails Report 12-2-25: Things groomed out nicely today for those wanting to get in some early season winter recreation! All trails have been rolled and packed and a track has been set on the green XC ski loop. We are closed today, but will be available for equipment rentals tomorrow from 10am to 3pm. (Fat Bike trail will be soft)

Michaywe: Freshened up skate lanes and reset track on the front nine loop and reset track on the lake loop still receiving some light snow with wind. Open areas are prone to drifting. Conditions are firming up with the colder temperatures.

Huron Meadows Metropark: Fresh groom on coyote, hawk hills and cedar trace(contractors). No tracks. Still some scrub grass.
Best skating so far.
Thanks guys!!

Cross Country Ski Headquarters: We received another inch throughout last night and temps are dropping fast! All trails are open, and Groomer Butch will have all trails snowcombed by early afternoon. The skate deck is setting up nicely, and classic tracks will be coming soon!. We have about 4-6" of packed snow on the trails, and 10-12" in the woods. We started snowmaking on the practice field and are getting ready for a fun weekend.

Forbush Corner: East side trails will get a fresh groom today working in the several inches of new snow received over the last few days. We are working on getting more trails open by the weekend. Open 9 to 5, today thru Monday.

Hanson Hills: Lodge & XC Trail Report

Lodge and trails open at 9am today. Please note the Lodge will close early at 3pm for a private Christmas party, but our offices will remain open until 5pm for interviews, applications, and work-permit signing.

Cross Country Trail Report:
The entire trail system is freshly groomed with set tracks. Dan is out this morning combing the skate lanes with the Tidd Tech, keeping things smooth and fast. He also managed to set fresh tracks on Wilderness yesterday—perfect timing for anyone looking for a classic adventure.

See you on the snow!

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