The Best Ski Resorts in Michigan

Boyne Mountain is my personal favorite place to ski in Michigan. It has a wide variety of runs for all level of skiers, with over 60 trails and over 400 acres to explore. They have many options for lodging and amazing apres-ski options, including the legendary Snowflake Lounge.

Crystal Mountain is another amazing place to Ski in Michigan, especially catering to families. They have amazing ski-schools, tons of runs aimed for new skiers, and lots of fun activities for those who like to do other activities besides skiing-- like tubing, cross country skiing, etc. They have a plethora of lodging options with many pools and outdoor activities for all.

Shanty Creek is where I grew up going at least twice a year and is amazing for wintertime skiing in Michigan. It consists of three villages and two different mountains to ski on. They have over 50 different trails between the two mountains, which are connected by a transit system and offer all sorts of activities, including horse drawn carriage rides. It is a great place to spend time together as a family.

If you can't make it all the way up to Northern Michigan, there are quite a few little ski resorts in Michigan that are amazing near Detroit. The closest one to Detroit is Pine Knob and it claims that it still has the same "up north" feel as the others that I mentioned. This is where many of us Michiganders learn to ski for the first time, so they have a lot of beginner hills, but also have a very active Adult Racing League, so they do have some difficult runs. There is no over night accommodations, but they do have night skiing, which can be an absolute blast!

You can't go wrong with over 40 amazing ski resorts to choose from in Michigan, but the four I mentioned are my tried and true recommendations. I hope to see you on the slopes!

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to Michigan. In need of further inspiration? Check out Anne Zdon’s guide, Best Ski Resorts in Vermont.