UPCOMING

SUN, JAN 12, 2025

XC Ski HQ: Bob’s Bean Bomb at the Stone Turtle Cafe
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd, Roscommon, MI 48653. 800-832-2663, [email protected], CrossCountrySki.com

Frosty Fest! Krazy Klassic 7K/10K
Huron Meadows Metropark, Brighton, MI

XC Ski HQ: Golden Years Ski School!
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd, Roscommon, MI 48653. 800-832-2663, [email protected], CrossCountrySki.com

MON, JAN 13, 2025

XC Ski HQ: Silver Streak Week - Seniors ski free!
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd, Roscommon, MI 48653. 800-832-2663, [email protected], CrossCountrySki.com

XC Ski HQ: Free Beginner Ski Lesson
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd, Roscommon, MI 48653. 800-832-2663, [email protected], CrossCountrySki.com

TUE, JAN 14, 2025

XC Ski HQ: Silver Streak Week - Seniors ski free!
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd, Roscommon, MI 48653. 800-832-2663, [email protected], CrossCountrySki.com

WED, JAN 15, 2025

XC Ski HQ: Silver Streak Week - Seniors ski free!
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd, Roscommon, MI 48653. 800-832-2663, [email protected], CrossCountrySki.com

THU, JAN 16, 2025

XC Ski HQ: Silver Streak Week - Seniors ski free!
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd, Roscommon, MI 48653. 800-832-2663, [email protected], CrossCountrySki.com

FRI, JAN 17, 2025

XC Ski HQ: Silver Streak Week - Seniors ski free!
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd, Roscommon, MI 48653. 800-832-2663, [email protected], CrossCountrySki.com

SAT, JAN 18, 2025

CXC Jr. Cup / Great Lakes Division - Classic Individual Start
Rhinelander, WI - Northwoods Nordic Ski Club

Cote Dame Marie
Hanson Hills Recreation Area, Grayling, MI

Winter Trails Day at Timber Ridge Resort
Timber Ridge Resort, 4050 Hammond Road East, Traverse City, MI 49696

XC Ski HQ: Gourmet Lunch at Trapper's Cabin
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd, Roscommon, MI 48653. 800-832-2663, [email protected], CrossCountrySki.com

XC Ski HQ: Gourmet Mac ‘n Cheese Bar
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd, Roscommon, MI 48653. 800-832-2663, [email protected], CrossCountrySki.com

SUN, JAN 19, 2025

CXC Jr. Cup / Great Lakes Division - Freestyle Individual Start
Rhinelander, WI - Northwoods Nordic Ski Club

Flying Squirrel Freestyle Junior Race
Crystal Mountain, 2500 Crystal Mountain Dr., Thompsonville, Michigan 49683

XC Ski HQ: Gourmet Mac ‘n Cheese Bar
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd, Roscommon, MI 48653. 800-832-2663, [email protected], CrossCountrySki.com

MON, JAN 20, 2025

XC Ski HQ: Gourmet Mac ‘n Cheese Bar
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd, Roscommon, MI 48653. 800-832-2663, [email protected], CrossCountrySki.com

FRI, JAN 24, 2025

Noquemanon Ski Marathon: Junior and Adaptive Races
Al Quaal Recreation Area, Ishpeming, MI

SAT, JAN 25, 2025

Noquemanon Ski Marathon
Al Quaal Recreation Area (Ishpeming, MI) and NTN 510 trailhead

CXC Jr. Cup / Great Lakes Division - Freestyle Sprint
Minneapolis, MN -- The Trailhead, Loppet

XC Ski HQ: Free Beginner Ski Lesson
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd, Roscommon, MI 48653. 800-832-2663, [email protected], CrossCountrySki.com

XC Ski HQ: Bavarian Ski Festival
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd, Roscommon, MI 48653. 800-832-2663, [email protected], CrossCountrySki.com

Lantern-lit Trail
Fayette Historic State Park, 13700 13.25 Lane, Garden, Michigan, 49835

SUN, JAN 26, 2025

CXC Jr. Cup / Great Lakes Division - Freestyle Mass Start
Minneapolis, MN -- The Trailhead, Loppet

Boyne Mountain Classic 10k
Boyne Mountain, Boyne Falls, MI

Beach Nuts Junior Nordic Race
Nubs Knob, Harbor Springs

XC Ski HQ: Learn to Skate Ski Clinic
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd, Roscommon, MI 48653. 800-832-2663, [email protected], CrossCountrySki.com

XC Ski HQ: Eric McDonald Live
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd, Roscommon, MI 48653. 800-832-2663, [email protected], CrossCountrySki.com

More events...

LATEST TRAIL CONDITIONS

SUN, JAN 12

Elk Rapids Golf Course: With 6"+ of fresh snow Friday night, the groomer was able to set classic track on Saturday. Most of that track is still intact, though some has been filled in by the blowing and drifting. There is a rack of free loaner skis, boots, and poles at the NE corner of the ERGC parking lot.

Stokely Creek: 25° and up to 2” fresh snow on top of groomed trails yesterday. Packed powder in the tracks that had been traveled was fast, and Start terva purple worked perfectly. In tracks that had not been skied, I had to keep moving to prevent sticking. Small parts of trails need additional snow and grooming to fill in areas that have creeks underneath. It was a perfect day to descend Jackrabbit, controlled flying through fresh powder. :-)

Palmer Woods Forest Reserve: Thanks to Chad and the grooming team at Leelanau Conservancy /Palmer Woods for setting tracks on all the trails!
Minimal dirt/leaves on some of the loops but for the majority it was pristine. A little soft but great glide on skins . 9 1/2 miles of groomed trails to be had! It was snowing pretty good when I left , so it will only get better!
Please don’t walk on the groomed trail.

Hanson Hills: We received another inch and a half of lake effect yesterday. Groomer Dan is out combing the trails this morning. All Trails, Green, Blue, Brown and Yellow. he will be packing RED, we ask for skiers to avoid as we let it set up. Tracks have not been set.
Lodge and Trails open 9am. Trail Passes are required

Cross Country Ski Headquarters: We received 1-2 inches of light, fluffy snow last night. The Trappers Cabin trail (about 2km) has full coverage with man-made snow, snowcombed skate lanes, and classic tracks. The rest of the trails are open, and Groomer Butch will attempt to snow comb some of them today. More snow is forecast to arrive today and tonight! The Blizzard Pond loop behind the practice area, in addition to the practice area, now has abundant man-made snow, is groomed, and is in excellent for demos, lessons, and just skiing around.

Forbush Corner: A little snow yesterday, overnight and just a little more snow is expected today. East and west side trails were groomed yesterday with good results. All trails have tracks set. Coverage is surprisingly good. Open 9 to 5.

SAT, JAN 11

Crystal Mountain: Saturday afternoon Classic ski out Loons, crossed over to Pine/Shining and back on Stride Right to Jack's Rabbit. The snow had good grip and smooth glide. We did apply maxi glide as the sun peaked out and skis dragged abit. The track was terrific the best "this year ". Crystal really does the most with a minimum amount of snow!

Dunes Golf Club: The Dunes abide.

Huron Meadows Metropark: Skied Bucks Run from 4-6. Still in great shape after the race this morning—thanks to the Metroparks maintenance team getting us skiing in SE Michigan. So nice to be back out at Huron Meadows. There's a little dirt at the top of the "hill" on the northern end, but otherwise great snow. You can use good skis, unless you're one of those people that keeps your Good Skis under glass and use them, like, three times a season.

Lots of folks out enjoying the trail. Kids, middle-aged dudes in spandex (me), first-timers, that one guy who always plays music out of a boombox in his backpack (shoutout Boombox Guy, absolute legend). Lovely day, lots of folks smiling. Always fun to ski under the lights at HM. Seems like this cold snap should allow the Metroparks to get Bucks nice and deep to weather any freeze and thaw cycles.

Nubs Nob: Best conditions of the year on the upper Red and Blue loops ! Thank you Mother Nature , Nubs Nob , and John Baker . It was like skiing on butter .

Valley Spur: We got about 4” of snow overnight. John C was out early and had entire system groomed before skiers arrived.. I skied classic with kick wax so conditions were very good. Birkie skiers were racking up some quality K’s on our G and Z trails. With our base everyone was using their A skis. Future looks good with temps below freezing and some flurries coming in.
Snow shoe trails are in great shape with great scenery.

















S

Hanson Hills: Incredible conditions here at Hanson Hills considering the amount of snow they have. Top notch grooming with a very wide and flat skate deck. Can skate two wide on almost all the trails. Big kudos to the Hanson Hills crew for the trail work they’ve done. Highly recommend making a trip here to ski!

Shanty Creek - Schuss Mtn: Last groomed Monday.

Vasa Trail: The parking lot was essentially full at my late am arrival, but fortunately the TART Open House Table was still well stocked with a variety of tasty homemade cookies and hot chocolate.
The Vasa had received 6" to 8" of heavy snow overnight, and even though fully rolled there was no way it was going to be fast until setting up overnight. Fred A. summed it up best after completing his skate loop, "I didn't know the Vasa had gained so much altitude?" It was strongly reminiscent to me of some WSTC race-training trips several decades ago to the 9,500' elevation trails at Snow Mtn Ranch CO - we skaters were sucking wind that bad today. Met Tim and his friends who drove up from Indiana for a weekend of skiing the Vasa, probably training for the upcoming Vasa Race, and we compared notes on how hard we had to work leaving us all lathered up.
Some sections now have machine-set classic tracks.

Nubs Nob: Best conditions of the year on the upper Red and Blue loops ! Thank you Mother Nature , Nubs Nob , and John Baker . It was like skiing on butter .

Hanson Hills: Incredible conditions here at Hanson Hills considering the amount of snow they have. Top notch grooming with a very wide and flat skate deck. Can skate two wide on almost all the trails. Big kudos to the Hanson Hills crew for the trail work they’ve done. Highly recommend making a trip here to ski!

Forbush Corner: Great news! East and West trails groomed!Good coverage. Tracks set!

Michaywe: Received maybe an inch of snow since yesterday. Combed out the lake loop, herringbone, the river trail, and both golf course loops. Conditions remain pretty good with just a few thin spots.

Hanson Hills: We received about 1" of lake effect last night. Groomer Dan is out combing the trails this morning. All Trails, Green, Blue, Brown and Yellow. Tracks have not been set.

Lodge and Trails Open 9am.

Crystal Mountain: Got some snow yesterday. Trails are grooming out nicely. Everything will be groomed baring any problems by noon. Most will be trackset.

Reindeer Run Nordic Center: Empire airport snowmobile trail head.
New accumulations have made a difference, light snow machine use.
This is a Canadian style trail ya never know what to expect.
B skis and dog sleds
Intermittent grooming haven't established a schedule but it happens.
Corner of Benzonia trail and Osborn rd

Dunes Golf Club: Beautiful snow, slight glaze waiting to be cut up.
Daily accumulatetion of snow has built up a base.
Classic skiers have kept up with making tracks!
Plowed parking thanks to the owner.
This area is a great alternative to the national park trails And there is no charge.
4 miles east of empire on M-72
Ski it once and you will be back. 100% natural conditions

Nubs Nob: Yesterday’s inch or two of snow on the base made for delightful skiing. Packing this new snow should be finished by around 10 this morning. Saturday 11.

Cross Country Ski Headquarters: We received an inch of snow last night. The Trappers Cabin trail (about 2km) has full coverage with man-made snow, snowcombed skate lanes, and will have classic tracks set this morning! The rest of the trails are open with light snow coverage, and are skiable but ungroomed until we get some more snow. The Blizzard Pond loop behind the practice area, in addition to the practice area, now has abundant man-made snow, is groomed, and is in excellent for demos, lessons, and just skiing around. Join us for dinner and trivia tonight form 6-8pm!

Forbush Corner: Fresh groom on 3.3 k man made snow trails. An inch or two of new snow may allow some additional trails to be groomed. Groomers choice. Check out conditions on the website later. All trails are open, classic tracks set. Some thin areas and tree debris to contend with, but manageable. Open 9 to 5.

FRI, JAN 10

Vasa Trail: 

: Leelanau Trail (TART Trails): Enough base to glide for a classic ski this foggy Friday afternoon. No grooming by TART since yesterday on this end of the trail, but another ~2 inches of fluffy dry snow on top of shallow but frozen base made for v. good glide (even with the usual dog and walker tracks...) Skied south from 4th St. trailhead- to Center Hwy and back ~9k. Freezing icy mist on the way back :)

Valley Spur: Light snow drifting in all afternoon made for great ski conditions. A good turnout today from the Lower Peninsual and WI. Things will be busy the next two days and parking could be tight, so come early. We have on upper lot also for easy access to to the W and Y loops which are flatter.

Elk Rapids Golf Course: With 3" to 4" of snow the past few days the GC has decent coverage though depths vary widely due to some blowing and drifting. Good glide even in the few thin areas where blades of grass poke through, and no clumping. If it keeps snowing they will probably machine-set some classic track soon. A rack of free loaner skis, boots and poles at the NE corner of the parking lot.

Vasa Trail: Skate lane was very wide, firm, and mostly level. No corduroy really to speak of at around noon but soft enough you could mostly get an edge except in the most heavily travelled areas. Snow falling this afternoon should help with edging. Surprising amount of dirt/leaves/sticks, though, on the surface of the skate lane. No classic tracks. Hopefully we get this forecasted 6-8" in the next few days and things should improve markedly and hopefully the groomers will be able to set classic tracks.

Stokely Creek: Skated to Norms on Trappers Trail and it's good to go for both skate and classic. Pickard trail return was still rough in spots and required a few snow-cross moves. But it's well frozen and just needs one fresh snowfall and grooming.

Boyne Mountain: Thin from the xc center and parking lot but good conditions on most bottom trails (pancake, syrup, twister etc). I climbed up to Vistas and it was beautiful but wind blown. Excellent hard base with an inch of lake effect fluff on top… made for great skating. Rex blue perfect on cold dry snow, remarkably fast for 17f dry snow. Enjoy!

Crystal Mountain: We are closing our hills due to unsafe conditions. All the flats and intermediate trails are open. Call or stop in for details.

Cross Country Ski Headquarters: The Trappers Cabin trail (about 2km) has full coverage with man-made snow, and is snowcombed for great skating conditions. We will have classic tracks on it tomorrow morning. The rest of the trails are open but ungroomed until we get some more snow, which we are forecast to receive starting today and throughout the weekend. The Blizzard Pond loop behind the practice area, in addition to the practice area, now has abundant man-made snow, is groomed, and is in excellent for demos, lessons, and just skiing around. Join us for lunch at the Stone Turtle Cafe, live music tonight, plus a ton of great events this weekend!

Hanson Hills: No new snow to report. Trails are skiing well. Thin from trailhead to the woods. Green, Blue, Brown, Yellow and easy return are open. We have marginal coverage at best on the Red and M-93 hills, so we are keeping them closed in the meantime.

Forbush Corner: The man made snow trails, 240 Loop, Ridge, and Linda’s Link in the valley, will be groomed this morning. All other trails are open and skiable and tracked, thin in spots great others. Open 9 to 5.

More trail reports...