Winter Fun in the Petoskey Area
The Petoskey Area welcomes you with the best snowsports in the Midwest. Take advantage of all your favorite winter activities – and then some.
For starters, this is home to Michigan’s top ski areas: The Highlands, Nub’s Nob, and Boyne Mountain. Together they total more than 160 downhill runs.
When you aren’t on the slopes there’s cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, snow tubing, and much more. Everything you’d expect in a place called Michigan’s Winter Funland.
The relaxed ski town vibe in our Up North communities enhances your northern Michigan winter getaway. Check out the lodging in Petoskey, Harbor Springs, Boyne City/Boyne Falls, Alanson, or Bay Harbor for the perfect place to stay.
Area Ski Resorts
Northern Michigan is home to some of the best skiing, riding, and general snow terrain maintenance. You’ll want to visit each of these unique resorts as they all offer a different experience to your winter skiing and riding in the Petoskey Area.
Nordic Trails
A less adrenaline-inducing activity, such as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or even a leisurely winter hike is a serene experience on one of our area trails.
Little Traverse Conservancy Winter Trails
Trailheads with Plowed Parking Lots:
Allan & Virginia McCune, Bubbling Springs, Elmer Johnston, Goodhart Farms (Robinson Rd), Helstrom Family, Hoogland Family, Offield Family Viewlands, Offield Family Working Forest Reserve, Round Lake Nature Preserve, Tanton Family Working Forest Reserve
Groomed Trails:
Goodhart Farms, Allan & Virginia McCune, Offield Family Viewlands, and Offield Family Working Forest Reserve
Here you will find winter trails for cross-country skiing, fat tire biking, and snowmobiling. Looking for a little free family fun? Check out the sledding and ice skating – with a warming hut to take breaks from the cold.
Snowmobiling
There are well-traveled and maintained snowmobile trails throughout the Petoskey Area, with official trails in Emmet and Charlevoix Counties. Be sure to check out the local trail reports before committing to a trip. If conditions are too soft early in the season, it will not be much fun, and it could ruin trails for others.
Ice Skating & Sledding
Harbor Springs, Petoskey, Boyne City, and Bay Harbor all have great spots for sledding or ice skating. Harbor Springs has Kiwanis Park for free sledding (bring your own sled), and Pond Hill Farm has free snow tubing (they provide the tubes). If you’re looking for a place with sledding and ice skating, you can check out Avalanche Mountain Preserve in Boyne City and the Winter Sports Park in Petoskey.
Winter Outdoor Adventures
Adventures beyond sledding and ice skating are plenty in the Petoskey Area. There are several outfitters in the region that offer winter rafting adventures that will leave you thinking differently about the whole concept. Float peacefully through a quiet winter scene.
Travel the miles and miles of snowmobile trails in the region of Emmet, Charlevoix, and Cheboygan Counties.
