Winter,
spring, summer or fall – there’s always something to do Up North. Arcadia
Winters offer groomed slopes at Crystal Mountain, one of the mid-west's
premier ski destinations. Or, our Glen Arbor cottage offers skiing
at The Homestead. Other activities include snowboarding and tubing,
ice skating and snow shoeing, snow mobiling and ice fishing. Keep
reading for ski, snowmobile, snowshoe, fishing and other winter fun
activities!
We offer easy access to all
of the fun Northern Lower Michigan Winter attractions, natural
and man-made. We welcome snowmobiles during the winter and all types
of Winter sports are doable nearby, including Winter ice fishing and
Winter nordic ski sports. Cross country skiing, XC, X-C or cross-country
ski - call it what you will, we have 35 miles of lakeshore park
trails for doing it! The cottages are near the most scenic and best
ski trails in Michigan.
If you Downhill ski, we
are located in what is known as the "snow-belt", one of Michigan's
best areas. Lake Michigan produces lake effect snow as the winds
blow across the lake and then dump it along the Northwestern tip of
Michigan's lower peninsula.
Snowmobiling is one of Michigan’s
most popular wintertime activities. Hit the trails with family or
friends for an afternoon skimming along a glistening Lake Michigan
shoreline or spend a weekend exploring hundreds of miles of inter-connecting
trails. The state has more than 6,000 miles of snowmobile
trails maintained and groomed by the Michigan Department of Natural
Resources (DNR), local organizations, and snowmobile clubs, affording
snowmobilers access to some of the state’s most scenic and national
forest lands.
Good news from the Traverse City Record Eagle
Newspaper...
Once
again the park rangers at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore will
provide complimentary snowshoe hikes through the park. Hikes begin
after Christmas (Dec 27 & 30, 2007) at the park's main visitor's
center (M-72/Empire) at 1 p.m. Loaner snowshoes will be offered
each Saturday and Sunday in January and February.
The Park's rangers start each session with a basic lesson in the comfy
confines of the visitor's center, then you drive your car to designated
trail to begin your mile and a half of guided hiking. Dress for the
weather (in layers, of course) and plan to hike until 3 p.m.
Free "loaner" snowshoes are loaned by the park but you still gotta
pay the regular car fee to enter the park...a small price to pay for
memories (and digital pictures that last a lifetime), or until your
hard drive crashes, which ever comes first. Seriously, call (231)
326-5134, ext. 328 for reservations.
Gold
Card ski passes benefit Hall of Fame
Gold Card ski passes will enable
skiers unlimited skiing at 14 ski areas across the state this winter.
Funds raised from the sale of the card will be used to support the
Hall of Fame.
A great deal, as it provides
free skiing at 14 different areas throughout the state all winter
and there are no black out dates. The only restriction is that the
pass can only be used once per day.
The Michigan Snowsports Industries
Association believes that the Ski Michigan Gold Pass will help promote
more awareness of Michigan's ski resorts and stimulate more business
for those that are participating.
Cost of a pass is $1,000 (but $400
of that will be eligible for tax receipt purposes as a donation to
the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame and Museum).
Further information on the Ski
Michigan Gold Pass can be found on the Ski Hall of Fame's web site,
www.skihall.com or by calling 906-485-6323.
Ski areas and resorts participating
in the program are: Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville;
The Homestead Resort, Glen Arbor; Apple
Mountain, Freeland; Boyne Highlands, Harbor Springs; Boyne Mountain,
Boyne Falls; Cross Country Ski, Roscommon; Hanson Hills, Grayling;
Marquette Mountain, Marquette; Mount Holly, Holly; Mont Ripley, Houghton;
Shanty Creek, Bellaire; Ski Brule, Iron River; Snow Snake, Harrison;
Swiss Valley, and Jones.
View
Larger Map
Need a cure for cabin fever?
Here's
some examples of Winter activity and down hill skiing available in
our area:
The Homestead Resort
Wood Ridge Road
Glen Arbor, MI 49636
Phone: (231)334-5000
In the gorgeous Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, along a mile-long
Lake Michigan sandy shore, come enjoy some of the activities that
include swimming, tennis, fishing, hiking, biking, golfing at our
on-site course, Mountain Flowers and programs for the kids! Downhill
skiing and boarding with panoramic views. Night skiing, and terrain
parks or snowshoe in and around the woods.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
9922 Front Street (Park Headquarters)
Highway M-72
Empire, MI 49630
Phone: (231)326-5134
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore encompasses a 60 km (35 mi.)
stretch of Lake Michigan's eastern coastline, as well as North and
South Manitou Islands. The park was established primarily for its
outstanding natural features, including forests, beaches, dune formations,
and ancient glacial phenomena. The Lakeshore also contains many cultural
features including an 1871 lighthouse, three former Life-Saving Service/Coast
Guard Stations and an extensive rural historic farm district.
Crystal Mountain - Ski hills
open Nov 24
12500 Crystal Mountain Drive
M 115
Thompsonville, MI 49683
Toll Free: (800)968-7686
A year-round resort located 28 miles southwest of Traverse City. Amenities
include 36 holes of golf, 45 downhill slopes, over 40 km of cross-country
trails, groomed for both track and skate skiing, half pipe and 4 parks
for snowboarding. Dining, indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness center
and IACC approved conference facilities for groups of up to 300 people.
We feature two distinctive golf courses: Mountain Ridge and Betsie
Valley. New in July of 2004 is The Park at Water's Edge, a one-acre,
outdoor water park complex that features a 4,200 sq. ft. pool and
accommodates over 350 bathers. We now have Michigan Legacy Art Park
on site that has many activities during the year and has the ability
to
be rented for most functions.
Great Lakes Nordic Ski Council
PO Box 525
Suttons Bay, MI 49680
The Nordic ski areas that comprise the Great Lakes Nordic Ski Council
are committed to providing you with the finest and most diversified
cross-country skiing, plus service at a level that we're sure will
meet your expectations. There will always be good skiing somewhere
among our member facilities, and all our members will make sure you're
accurately informed about the latest trail conditions.
Northern Brass Rentals
3190 North 13 Road
Mesick, MI 49668
Toll Free: (888) 747-6915
1st Alt. Toll Free: (888) 646-7533
Snowmobile rentals by the day or weekend. Located near the Cadillac
snowmobile trail system.
Sunset Watersports and Snowblitz Snowmobile Rental
316 Huron Street
PO Box 1932
Traverse City, MI 49685
Toll Free: (800)748-0303
Phone: (231)932-1800
Conveniently located at the Grand Traverse Resort or in the hub of
the trails at Ranch Rudolph. Provides single seater, double seater
and sport model Ski Doo sleds. All sleds have heated hand grips. We
also rent jet skis, jet boats and pontoon boats. Free delivery to
any of the area snowmobile trail heads or anywhere there's water within
25 miles!Our Glen Arbor Cottage
is completely surrounded by the Sleeping Bear Dunes National
Lakeshore Park, and only about 2 miles from the slopes at The
Homestead Resort
Sugar Loaf Resort in Leelanau County is
under new management and will likely re-open for the 2006 - 2007 ski
season. It's a great downhill ski resort boosting the highest vertical
ski hill in Michigan
Did you know that...the
ice fishing is great in this area of Michigan. The local paper recently
reported a 44" Northern Pike was caught through the ice
on the Little Glen Lake (WOW!).
...This is the fourth year
that a snowmobiler trial connection extends through Leelanau
County. Starting at Maple City, snowmobilers travel south
to Benzie and Manistee counties, to a junction near Welston.
Then they can go south to Grand Rapids or east to Cadillac and
eventually to Paradise, in the U.P. The Mackinac Bridge Authority
even has means for carrying snow mobiles across the Mackinaw
Bridge. The Benzie-Manistee Snowbirds groom the trail network
in those two counties and Leelanau.
...The Bay Area Transportation
Authority provides bus service throughout Leelanau and Grand Traverse
counties including service on Christmas and New Year’s days plus free
bus service on New Year’s Eve. On Saturday, Dec. 25, and Saturday,
Jan. 1, bus service will be available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To make
reservations for a ride, passengers should call 941-2324 by 4 p.m.
the day prior to their trip.
...The bus now runs from
Glen Arbor to Traverse City every day! Other Leelanau County area
stops as well (i.e., casino).
...That less than 23% of
the land in Glen Arbor Township is privately owned. Most of the area
is undeveloped and unspoiled forests, rivers, lakes and dunes.
Our Arcadia Cottages are less than 15
miles from the Crystal Mountain Ski Resort
Crystal Mt. Ranked #1 Resort by SKI Magazine...
THOMPSONVILLE, Mich. – SKI Magazine’s annual "2005 Top 60 Resort Guide,"
the definitive ranking of North American ski resorts, recently named
Crystal Mountain as the "No. 1 ski Resort in the Midwest." In
addition to being named the number one resort overall in the Midwest,
Crystal received #1 in Dining & #2 in Family Programs honors
as well.
Resorts were ranked in seventeen categories, including: Grooming,
Terrain, Challenge, Lifts, Service, Lodging, Dining, Off-Hill
Activities, Family Programs and Terrain Parks by more than 20,000
SKI subscribers of two or more years.
Crystal Mountain is a family-owned, year-round resort featuring 45
downhill slopes, 40+ km of cross-country trails, and 36 holes of championship
golf.
Crystal is also home to the Michigan Legacy Art Park, a non-profit
30-acre outdoor park that blends art with nature. Imagine hiking down a forest trail and coming upon a giant
frog made of galvanized steel coated with copper. Such a sculpture
might seem out of place, unless you're in the Michigan Legacy Art
Park, where nature is combined with 24 larger-than-life works of art.
Located on 30 acres adjacent to Crystal Mountain Resort, the
Art Park is open year-round and offers a unique insight into the peoples
and events that have shaped Michigan's heritage
Glen Arbor Snowboarding and Downhill
Skiing
The Homestead Resort Glen Arbor 0 miles
Crystal Mountain Thompsonville 24 miles
Hickory Hills Ski Area Traverse City 30 miles
Mt. Holiday Ski & Rec Area Traverse City 30 miles
Caberfae Peaks Ski Resort Cadillac
55 miles
Shanty Creek Resort Bellaire
55 miles
Arcadia Area Downhill Skiing City Miles
from Arcadia Cottages:
Crystal Mountain Thompsonville
19 miles away
Homestead Resort Glen
Arbor 26
Hickory Hills Ski Area Traverse
City 43
Mt. Holiday Ski Area Traverse
City 43
Caberfae Peaks Ski
Cadillac 50
Shanty Creek Resort
Bellaire 72
Missaukee Mountain
Lake City 73
Here's a list of Michigan resorts that offer downhill
skiing and when they will open their down hill ski slopes
for the Winter 2005-2006 season:
MICHIGAN
Alpine Valley - Plan
to Open TBA
Apple Mountain -
Plan to Open TBA
Big Powderhorn -
Plan to Open 11/25
Bittersweet - Plan
to Open TBA
Blackjack - Plan
to Open 12/03
Boyne Highlands -
Plan to Open 11/25
Boyne Mountain -
Plan to Open 11/25
Caberfae Peaks -
Plan to Open TBA
Cannonsburg - Plan
to Open 11/25
Crystal Mountain
- Open!
Hanson Hills
- Plan to Open TBA
Hickory Hills - Plan
to Open 12/27
Indianhead - Plan
to Open 11/24
Marquette - Plan
to Open TBA
Mont Ripley - Plan
to Open TBA
Mount Bohemia - Plan
to Open TBA
Mt Brighton - Fri
5:13p loose granular machine groomed 6 - 14 base
10% open, 2
lifts
Mt Holiday - Plan
to Open TBA
Mt Holly - Sat 9:59p
packed powder machine groomed 6 - 14 base 4
trails, 21%
open, 5 lifts
Norway Mountain -
Plan to Open 11/25
Nub's Nob - Plan
to Open 11/24; Nov 17: 2" new
Pine Mountain - Plan
to Open TBA
Porcupine Mountains
- Plan to Open TBA
Shanty Creek - Plan
to Open 11/24
Ski Brule - Sun 4:00a
packed powder machine groomed 8 - 36 base 2
trails, 12%
open, 2 lifts
Snow Snake - Plan
to Open TBA
Swiss Valley - Plan
to Open TBA
The Homestead
- Plan to Open TBA
Timber Ridge - Plan
to Open TBA
Treetops - Plan to
Open 12/16
