Check out what other travelers say about Cross-Country Skiing
The sounds of silence . . . the flick of a deer's ear . . . the blink of a hare's eye . . . it all seems to open up as you glide wordlessly by . . . funny how a world so quiet can have such an intense visual volume. The rhythmic pumping of arms and legs, the short bursts of breath, the gentle "whoosh" of each glide – this is cross-country skiing. And for many, this is what winter in Traverse City is all about.
For skiing with all the extras, tackle the trails at any of the area's full-service ski resorts. Here you'll find groomed and lighted trails, clinics, lessons and equipment rental. For those who opt to fly solo, there are a host of trails that offer scenic solitude. For up-to-date trail conditions, please click here.
Cross-Country Trails At-A-Glance:
| Resort | Length | Groomed | Night Skiing |
Rental Equipment |
Warming Facility |
Trail Pass | City | Miles from TC |
| Grand Traverse Commons | 3.6 miles | No | No | No | No | -- | TC | -- |
| Grand Traverse County Nature Reserve | 6.5 miles | No | No | No | No | -- | TC | -- |
| Grand Traverse Resort and Spa | Up to 2K | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | -- | Acme | 7 mi |
| Grass River Natural Area | -- | Some | No | No | No | -- | Bellaire | 32 mi |
| Hickory Hills | 5K | Yes | Yes/1K | No | Yes |
$1-$5 |
TC | -- |
| Leelanau State Park | 6K | No | No | No | No | -- | Northport | 25 mi |
| Leelanau Trail | 14 miles | Yes | No | No | No | Donations | TC/Suttons Bay | -- |
| Lost Lake Pathway | 6.5K | No | No | No | No | -- | Interlochen | -- |
| Muncie Lakes Pathway | 11.5 miles | No | No | No | No | -- | TC | 13 mi |
| Old Mission Lighthouse Township Park | -- | No | No | No | No | -- | Old Mission | 19 mi |
| Sand Lakes Quiet Area | 11.5 miles | No | No | No | No | -- | WIlliamsburg | 15 mi |
|
Shanty Creek Resorts |
30K | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | $15 | Bellaire | 32 mi |
| Sleeping Bear Dunes | (below) | No | No | No | No | $4* | Empire | 31 mi |
| Timber Ridge RV and Recreation Resort | 6K | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | $5-$7 | TC | 5 mi |
| Vasa Trail | 40K | Yes | No | No | Yes | Donations | TC | -- |
| YMCA Trail | - | No | No | No | No | -- | TC | -- |
TRAILS
Vasa Trail - Avid cross-country skiers flock to this trail just outside of Traverse City in the Pere Marquette State Forest. The 3K, 5K, 11K and 25K loops are groomed for classic and skate skiing. Grooming is primarily funded through donations. The main trailhead is located in Acme Township Park on Bartlett Road, off Bunker Hill Road in Acme. A large parking lot, indoor restrooms and trail maps are available there. www.traversetrails.org/trails/vasa/. The Vasa Trail is host to the internationally renowned North American Vasa races each February.
Grand Traverse Resort and Spa
100 Grand Traverse Village Blvd.
Acme, MI 49610
(231) 938-2100
(231) 534-6000 ext. 6719
(800) 748-0303
When the snow flies, the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa transforms some of the rolling landscape of its golf courses and its woods into a system of cross-country trails. For traditional skiing up to 2 kilometers of trails. Some terrain is hilly, and the groomed portions range in degree of difficulty from beginner to intermediate. Snacks are available. Grand Traverse Resort is located on US 31 North just north of the M 72 intersection. You do not need to be a guest of the resort to use the trails. Rentals are available at Adventure North located near the glass elevator in the main lobby of the resort. Cross-country skis are $10 per hour or $25 per day, snowshoes are $15 per hour or $30 per day.
Shanty Creek Resorts
5780 Shanty Creek Rd
Bellaire, MI 49615
(231) 533-8621
(800) 678-4111
Featuring gorgeous nordic trails winding through forests of snow-laden hardwoods and pines straight from a storybook. The resorts 31 km of trails are ideal for nordic enthusiasts with stretching and bending terrain, ideal for short strides and long strides. Rate: $15
Timber Ridge RV and Recreation Resort
4050 Hammond Road East
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 947-2770
(800) 909-2327
Timber Ridge RV and Recreation Resort's property borders over 60,000 acres of state land and is attached to the popular scenic pathway, known as the VASA trail. This trail system covers over 50 kilometers and runs through both hilly and wooded areas. Trails are both beginner and advanced -- lessons available. 2K of trails lighted for night skiing. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Rates range from $5 (kids 12 yrs and under) - $7 adults/day.
Grass River Natural Area - Two loops of trails for a total of 3/4 mile winding through meadow, forest, cedar groves and wetland marshes. The Grass River Natural Area entrance is off Alden Highway (Co. Rd. 618), 4 miles northeast of Alden, 4 miles south of Bellaie and 8 miles west of Mancelona. (231) 533-8314 or info@grassriver.org.
Hickory Hills -- Beginner to advanced trails on the west side of Traverse City. Three miles of groomed trails. Owned and operated by the City of Traverse City. Fee $1/day or $5/season. No rentals available.
Leelanau State Park - Approximately six miles of trails, ranging from beginner to advanced. Located at the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula, take County Road 629 north out of Northport to Densmore Road, then left to the designated parking area.
Leelanau Trail - The mostly flat 15.5-mile Leelanau Trail runs from Traverse city to Suttons Bay. 14 miles of the trail are groomed for classic and skate style skiing - from the trailhead at Cherrybend Rd. to the trailhead at 4th St. in Suttons Bay. In the summer, it functions as a bike trail. Three trail head parking areas: off Cherry Bend Road and off Fouch Road in Traverse City, and off Fourth Street in Suttons Bay.
Lost Lake Pathway (Lake Dubonnet) - Three loops offer a total of 6.5 miles of trails winding through the Lost Lake Natural Area. Trails are located 1 mile north of US 31 on Gonder Road just west of Interlochen Corners.
Muncie Lakes Pathway - This pathway has 10 miles of beginner-to-advanced trails located in the Boardman River Valley. Accessible from Ranch Rudolf or plowed parking areas off Brownbridge Road east of Ranch Rudolf. Trails are approximately 14 miles southeast of Traverse City.
Old Mission Lighthouse Township Park - A small trail system located within the Township Park at the tip of Old Mission Peninsula. Follow M 37 (Center Road) to its end.
Sand Lakes Quiet Area - This is the place year 'round for people who like to confront nature on nature's terms. In winter this means on snowshoes traversing ungroomed trails. The trails have numerous loops within a non-motorized section of the Pere Marquette State Forest. Several small lakes dot the property. Short loops and longer distances constitute trails for all ability levels. The trailhead is located on Broomhead Road, four miles south of M 72 East between Acme and Kalkaska.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Many trails are located within the 70,000 acre federally owned park. Maps are available at the Sleeping Bear Dunes Visitor Center in Empire. Park fee is $10 for seven days or $20 for a year paid at the Visitor Center. Trails within the park are:
Alligator Hill More than eight miles of trails dividing into easy, intermediate and advanced loops. Scenic overlooks offering views of Lake Michigan and Glen Lake. Enter trail off Pierce Stocking Road just off Day Forest Road near M 109 in Glen Arbor.
Bay View Trail About eight miles of easy-to-advanced skiing. Trailhead on north end of Thoreson Road, 3.5 miles north of Glen Arbor.
Good Harbor Bay A 2.8 mile beginner loop near the shores of Lake Michigan. Trailhead is 10 miles northeast of Glen Arbor on Lake Michigan off County Road 669.
Old Indian Trail A 2.5 mile trail divided into an easy and an intermediate loop. Trailhead is on M 22 just north of Sutter Road.
Platte Plains A 14.7 mile trail with several loops in varying degrees of difficulty providing access to several backcountry lakes. Enter at the end of Esch Road before Lake Michigan or south of Trails End Road along M 22.
Scenic Drive Trail About eight miles of easy to advanced skiing. Trailhead is just inside the entrance to Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive.
Shauger Hill A 2.4 mile hilly loop with beech and maple trees. Trailhead is at Shauger Hill Road and Scenic Drive.
Windy Moraine A 1.5 mile advanced loop north of Empire on Welch Road off M 109.
