UPCOMING

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

MON, JAN 13

Huron Meadows Metropark: Ignore the parks website, it has not been updated. The trail was groomed and snow added and moved around today. It is in excellent condition with a very good deep track the entire way around and no dirt showing. There are a few gray/brown spots but no issues with them. Way better than Sunday afternoon condition.

Michaywe: Groomed out the skate deck on the lake loop, maple ridge, nordic, and the river trail. Snow continues to fall. Will be back at it again tomorrow.

Vasa Trail: Best conditions I've seen this year with wide and level skate lane and deep classic tracks with only some very few dirty spots in the tracks. Was soft this morning having just been groomed but should harden up as the week goes on.

Hanson Hills: We have tracks!!! 10:35am... All Trails, Green, Blue, Brown, Yellow and Easy Return have a fresh set of beautiful tracks laid down and a flat and beautifully combed skate deck!!!

Cross Country Ski Headquarters: We received another 3 inches of snow yesterday and last night, and it continues to snow this morning. Groomer Butch has snowcombed and set fresh tracks on the Trapper's Cabin trail, and intends to snowcomb the Rolling Hills trail next, followed by the rest of the trails snow permitting. 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 and lessons. Stone Turtle Cafe is open for lunch! Come ski with us!

Hanson Hills: We received another 2 inches of lake effect yesterday! Groomer Dan is out combing trails again this morning. He reports that we are really close to having enough base to set tracks.
All Trails, Green, Blue, Brown, Yellow and Easy return will be combed today. Red will be rolled again (We kindly ask that skiers stay off of the red as we prepare for Cote Dame).

Lodge and trails open at 9am. Trail Passes required

Cote Dame Update: At the moment we are planning on a full course (as long as red sets up). Citizen's Classic race may or may not happen depending if we can set track. Online registration: https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/Grayling/CoteDameMarieSkiLoppet

I will be sending out Race/Course updates Thursday.

Independance Oaks: Looks like 8-12 inches on the NOAA interactive ski map. Would appreciate a ski report!

Hiawatha Highlands: Just completed four days of excellent skiing at Hiawatha. Excellent grooming for skate abd classic. Easier trails and demanding trails make for a great combination. Well worth the drive from Traverse City. Estimated 2' of snow in the woods. Use your best skiis

Forbush Corner: Accumulating system and lake effect snow continues to improve coverage on all trails. Fresh groom on some east side trails today. Open 9 to 5.

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.

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