Newcomer’s Guide to Winter in the Petoskey Area

If it’s your first time visiting the Petoskey Area during winter, welcome! Our region transforms into a snowy wonderland in the colder months, with plentiful indoor and outdoor activities to enjoy. Lots of people visit the Petoskey area to soak up the sun and splash in the waves, and we can understand that. But winter up north is seriously underrated. Yes, the snow can reach startling depths(averaging 120+ inches of total snowfall in the winter season). However, our towns look like they’re straight out of a Hallmark Channel movie. The woods beckon skiers and snowshoe fanatics to hit the trail. And you don’t need a boat, or even any gear at all, to try out ice fishing. Don’t want brave the cold? That’s all right, while your family is out enjoying the slopes, you can take in a show, shop for holiday gifts, get a massage, or lounge in a hot tub. Before we share the plethora of activities for you to enjoy, here are a few tips: Prepare for the cold with lots of layers. Wool or synthetic thermals, thick winter boots, heavy socks, robust hats, and plenty of top layers will keep you warm outdoors and prevent you from sweating your way through dinner when you come inside. For extra traction on icy surfaces, cleats that slip on over your boots are a welcome addition. You don’t have to do all the guesswork and pack every item of clothing you own. Specialty stores like Bearcub Outfitters in Petoskey or The Outfitter of Harbor Springs can help you find cozy clothing or gear for your outdoor adventures.  

Get outdoors: the winter edition

Did you come for downhill skiing or snowboarding? With three ski resorts and over 160 downhill runs, there are plenty of options to get you out on the slopes. Boasting 55 runs and three terrain parks, The Highlands at Harbor Springs welcomes you to winter fun. You don’t need your own equipment—The Highlands offers rentals for skis and snowboards. If it’s your first time engaging in winter sports, don’t sweat it. Private and group lessons are available for kids and adults alike. If you want to move at the pace of nature, the Nordic Center is the place to rent gear for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or fat-tire biking on one of the resort trails. Nub’s Nob is a family-owned Harbor Springs institution, with 53 slopes and miles of cross-country/snowshoe trails. You can find plenty of opportunities for ski and snowboard rentals, along with detailed ski tune-ups, repairs, and boot fittings. New to skiing? All you need is gear to try their free beginner ski run called “Big Time”. For those recreationists with kids, they offer Nub’s Cub Daycare with childcare options for skiing day and night. There are plenty of spots to rest, grab a bite, and warm up at the Main and Pintail Peak Lodges. Boyne Mountain Resort has got it all: tubing down a 700 ft. slope; winter horseback rides for beginner and advanced riders; zipline adventures; sno-go biking, with rentals available; moonbike and fat-tire snow biking; and ice skating with figure and hockey skate rentals available. With 65 ski trails, five terrain parks, miles of cross-country and snowshoe trails, and plenty of equipment rentals, you can spend plenty of time on the slopes and get some lessons in if you’re just learning how to ski. Snowshoe and cross-country ski lovers have a plethora of outdoor options in the Petoskey area. Some Little Traverse Conservancy properties—notably Goodhart Farms, The Hill, Allan and Virginia McCune Nature Preserve, and Offield Family Viewlands—are groomed for cross-country skiing a few times per week, as weather allows. Snowshoeing at Petoskey State Park, Bear River Valley Recreation Area, or Oden Island Nature Preserve can be a dreamy experience. If you’re looking for more XC ski and snowshoe opportunities, check out this comprehensive list of great venues. Petoskey’s Winter Sports Park caters to the ice skaters, hockey fanatics, and sledders among us. It’s a great place for kids to learn ice skating, and there’s a warming house with a welcoming fireplace, snacks, and games. Hockey and skating fans can also check out the programs and open skate hours at Petoskey Ice Arena. Northern Michigan is famous for its snowmobile opportunities. The Petoskey Snowmobile and ORV Club organizes group rides and supports grooming for the northern Michigan trail system. The Harbor Spring Snowmobile Club grooms the extensive Moose Jaw Trail System, with over 100 miles of trails between Harbor Springs and Mackinaw City. They also organize group rides, and you can get discounts at local businesses with a club membership. For snowmobile purchases and repairs, check out Spanky’s Powersports in Alanson and County Wide Powersports in Petoskey. Boyne Recreational Rentals and Indian River Sports Center rent snowmobile and offer self-guided trail rides. Avalanche Preserve Recreation Area encompasses incredibly scenic views of Lake Charlevoix and Boyne City, which you can reach with the help of a towering staircase up the side of Avalanche Mountain. And you can sled back down the enormous hill, fat-tire bike on winding MTB trails, or hike or snowshoe through the woods. Ice fishing is a popular sport among locals and visitors alike. We’ve got a comprehensive guide to all things ice fishing in the Petoskey area. You can bring all your gear from home, or embrace the many guide services available to help you fish comfortably on the ice.   Winter fun for “indoor cats” Nobody can make you go outside in winter if you don’t want to. In fact, you might be what one of my acquaintances calls an “indoor cat.” That’s great! Keep those tootsies warm. There are plenty of ways to spend your time in our neck of the woods without rambling in the cold and slush too much. Holidays are never far behind when temperatures start to plummet. Why not make time for fun holiday shopping in the Petoskey area? Take our shopping guide out with you and find great gifts for all the cool kids in your life. What if there were a place where you could dine, game, listen to live bands, groove to a DJ, watch your favorite sports, and take in a comedy show? Odawa Casino is your spot. With neatly 1,000 slots and plenty of card games, you’ll find the entertainment you’re looking for. Choose among fine dining or casual restaurants, and be sure to check out their holiday parties and events. Bowling, laser tag, krazy darts, and a sports bar: Northern Lights Recreation has all the indoor fun you can handle. Take the kids out for a fun night out after a day of exploration. How about a night at the theater? The Lyric Theatre in downtown Harbor Springs and Petoskey Cinema are always showing new, classic, and cult films. The Petoskey District Library holds a weekly film series with classic and new films. Or maybe you’re after some live entertainment? Then try Bay Harbor’s Great Lakes Center for the Arts, with live entertainment during some of the colder months, or Crooked Tree Arts Center in Petoskey for live events and classes. Maybe you read the skiing guide up above and thought, nah, that’s not for me. Well, those resorts have fun indoor activities, too. You can dine, shop, swim, and hot tub at The Highlands at Harbor Springs. And Avalanche Bay indoor waterpark at Boyne Mountain has multiple levels of family-friendly fun, including slides, floats, a surf simulator, a play structure, and hot tubs. Wherever shall you stay in the Petoskey area? Don’t sweat it. Navigate to our handy lodging guide, and check out the many hotels, resorts, and inns to accommodate you, your family, your pals, and even your pets. It’s not all summer and surf in northern Michigan. There are blustery, snow-filled days, skiing adventures, snowmobile travels, and friendly faces at our local pubs and restaurants, welcoming you back into warmth and comfort at the end of a long winter’s day. About the Author: Jen DeMoss is a newcomer to the Petoskey area and loves northern Michigan. You can catch her paddling a canoe, hiking a trail, or swimming in Lake Michigan as often as the weather cooperates. She’d love to help you make the most of your time in this paradise she now calls home.