Discover 5 Charming Ski Towns in Michigan This Winter
Though Michigan may not be a state known for its skiing, there are a few great hidden skiing towns! Though Colorado and Utah have the biggest reputations for skiing, the ski towns of Michigan don’t fall short! Offering the same charming winter wonderland environment of villages in the alps or the rockies without the huge mountains! Throughout the state, certain areas benefit from huge amounts of snowfall! This is thanks to the massive body of water all around the state, Lake Superior. This phenomenon is referred to as the ‘lake effect’, and comes from cold air passing across warmer lakes, then falling onto the neighboring land as snow. After reading this article, you’ll know all the best places to go in Michigan to enjoy the incredible snow in brilliant ski towns!
Snow River Ski Village
The slopes of Snow River boast incredible snowfall, and the village at the mountain base is equally beautiful.
©Michael Tatman/Shutterstock.com
The Snow River Ski Resort is located right outside the town of Wakefield, Michigan, in the upper peninsula. The town of Wakefield is a bit too far spread out, with no true town center, to be considered a ski town. But the village built around the Snow River Ski Resort is a picturesque winter delight.
Originally founded in the 1950’s as ‘Indianhead Mountain Resort’, it was brought under the umbrella of ‘Big Snow Resorts’ during a merger in 2016. With an incredible ski lodge and a saloon right in the village, all the amenities of a classic ski town are available. Great slopes for the whole family to ski and an Aprés-Ski scene for the parents!
Although its technically more of a resort than a proper ski town, the size of the Snow River Resort and the surrounding lodging gives it a ski village vibe. Consisting of two separate slopes, the Snow River Ski Resort has enough skiing to fulfill an immersion into the ski village experience. The original Indianhead Mountain has been renamed to Jackson Creek Summit and is next door to the Black River Basin.
Crystal Mountain Ski Village
A view from above the ski village showing the incredible proximity to the slopes at Crystal Mountain!
©Jhansonxi, CC BY-SA 3.0
Crystal Mountain Ski Village is another incredible ski resort with surrounding lodging that gives the full ski town experience. Founded originally as a high school club in 1955, the now family-owned resort is right out of a storybook. The views from the top of the mountain after sunset are truly splendid, with the entire village being lit up beautifully. Crystal mountain offers ample lodging, an award winning spa, and 27 runs lit up for night skiing! All together, its truly a perfect for a ski vacation!
Lac La Belle, Mount Bohemia
A view from one of the ski slopes in the summer showing Lac La Belle with a glimpse of the town’s marina. From this perspective, the steepness of the slope is evident, showing it’s not for beginners!
©AngelSchwai/Shutterstock.com
Lac La Belle was named by the early French trappers exploring the area, simply because of the beauty of the lake. The town on the coast, sharing a name with the lake, was originally founded as a copper mining town. But as the industry slowed down, the town began to turn into a ski town. Truly a tiny and tucked away town, Lac La Belle is nestled between Mt. Bohemia and Mt. Houghton. It is truly one of the most beautiful places on the Keweenaw peninsula. The Resort of Mount Bohemia is a ski resort designed specifically for high level skiers. So if you’re still learning, or skiing with small children, you may have to wait to experience it!
Bellaire, Shanty Creek Resort
A photo showing Bellaire on a map and its close proximity to Shanty Creek Ski Resort!
©SevenMaps/Shutterstock.com
Bellaire is one of the largest ski towns on this list, being a proper town rather than a pre-designed ‘ski village’. The town of Bellaire sits right nearby the Shanty Creek Ski Resort. Bellaire is situated on the edges of Lake Bellaire, and just next to Torch lake, an incredibly beautiful, ‘tropical’ light blue lake. The town features a charming main drive, North Bridge Street, lined with lovely small town shops. A short drive from the Shanty Creek Ski Resort, Bellaire is perfect to experience a proper ski vacation in the state of Michigan.
Harbor Springs, The Highlands and Nubs Nob
A photo from the slopes of Nubs Nob, showing the slopes of The Highlands only a short distance away!
©Mr Swordfish2, CC BY-SA 4.0
Harbor Springs is a beautiful lakeside town on the shores of Little Traverse Bay, Lake Michigan. There’s a wonderful town center on the intersection of Main Street and State Street with charming small town shops. But the thing that makes Harbor Springs a wonderful ski town is of course the skiing. Harbor Springs is the nearest town to the largest ski resort in the state of Michigan, The Highlands. Just across the street from The Highlands lies Nubs Nob, another highly popular ski resort. Not one but two incredible ski resorts are just outside a beautiful small town on the coast of Lake Michigan. Its hard to ignore that Harbor Springs might be the most charming ski town in the state!
The photo featured at the top of this post is © ehrlif/Shutterstock.com
