Long-time cross-country skiers will find miles of trails filled with challenging ascents and thrilling descents.
Most of all, they’ll find a breathtaking view around every bend in the trail. If you’re new to the sport, you’ll find expert instruction, quality rental equipment, and a fun way to stay fit and enjoy the beauty of winter of Northern Michigan.
Anyone who loves the great outdoors is sure to love the snowshoe trails that winds through the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
One of the trails, Bay View, is just steps from the resort’s Village. There are also several other snowshoe trails just a short drive away.
Looking for some of the best in northern Michigan cross-country skiing trails? Look no further than Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa. From gentle treks through the trees to the rolling terrain of our black diamond cross-country skiing trails, Crystal Mountain’s 40+km cross-country skiing trail network provides terrain for all ability levels, from novice to expert. We even have 4K lighted for night skiing.
Meticulously-groomed for both skating and traditional cross-country skiing, these picturesque northern Michigan cross-country skiing trails were rated #1 in Michigan by Michigan Living magazine readers. Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa… your northern Michigan cross-country skiing vacation starts here.
You can ski, hike, or snowshoe straight from The Homestead into the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore using the Bay View Trail which is accessible from the Village.
Lookout Point on the Bay View Trail gives a panoramic view of Lake Michigan and the surrounding countryside. The trail along the edge of the woods on top of the bluff overlooks fields of wildflowers and former farmland with Lake Michigan in the background.
Here are some photos of backcountry skiing just off the Bay View Trail:
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The trail includes the Shauger Hill Hiking Trail and the unplowed Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive. It offers views of Lake Michigan and the dunes. For your safety, stay back from the edge of the steep bluff. Pets on a 6′ leash may be taken on the unplowed roadway section of the trail, but the Shauger Hill Trail section is a Designated X-Country Ski Trail and Pets are not allowed on this section of the trail between December 1 and March 31.
Ski to the top of the Lake Michigan Overlook and view the winterscape along the Lake Michigan shore. Be careful where you go, because if you fall, you will end up taking a FAST slide to the bottom of the bluff 450 feet below! Not only is the trip down dangerous, but the hike back up the frozen bluff is nearly impossible.
Click on photos for slideshow view…
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Although the main loop follows the summer road, smaller trails wind through the wooded hills offering some exhilarating down hill runs.
Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive at Sleeping Bear Dunes via NPS Website
The Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive is certainly a must-do activity when visiting Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. This 7.4 mile self-guided auto tour provides the visitor with insight to the history of the area, a sampling of the vegetative communities found within the park and, best of all, spectacular overlooks of the Glen Lakes, the Sleeping Bear Dunes and Lake Michigan. – >> Read More >>
More Sleeping Bear Dunes Skiing, Snowshoeing and Winter Fun
Cross-Country Skiing & Snowshoeing
