Tony Percha (lead) and Cyril Grum getting in an early morning rollerski at Kensington Metropark on Island Drive. (Yes, besides a nice bike path, Kensington has a couple quieter roads...)
Jessie Diggins announces her retirement after this season
11/20/2025 10:33:40 AM - By Leann Bentley, USSSB
Jessie Diggins, the most decorated US XC skier in history, formally announces her retirement from cross country ski racing following the end of the 2025-26 season.
Cross Country Ski Headquarters celebrates over 50 years of skiing!
10/21/2025 - By Mariah Frye
For over 50 years, Cross Country Ski Headquarters has been a beloved winter gathering place in Northern Michigan. Surrounded by inland lakes and rivers, this rustic ski lodge and trail system has welcomed generations of skiers, snowshoers, and outdoor lovers looking for fresh air, good food, and winter fun.
2025-26 Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team announced
10/18/2025 5:00:26 AM - By Leann Bentley, Stifel U.S. Ski Team
The Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team A Team is led by three-time Olympic medalist and seven-time World Championship medalist Jessie Diggins, two-time World Championship medalist Julia Kern and Olympians Rosie Brennan, Gus Schumacher, Ben Ogden, JC Schoonmaker and Sophia Laukli.
North American Vasa celebrates 50th Anniversary in Traverse City
10/16/2025 - By North American Vasa
This year's festival will revive the 50-kilometer classic and freestyle races in honor of the event's 50-year history.
MI Cup Committee: Equal points for all
10/3/2025 3:41:00 PM - By Mike Muha
The Michigan Cup Committee made some big changes to scoring the Michigan Cup at this year's Committee Meeting, plus special options for Super Masters, and partial points for Vasa's 50th anniversary 50k marathon!
Copper Country Ski Tigers seek new Head Coach
10/3/2025 3:33:34 PM - By Amy Hamlin
The Copper Country Ski Tigers are looking for a passionate, motivated HEAD COACH to lead our junior Nordic Ski program in Michigan’s snowy Upper Peninsula!
2026 Junior Nationals coming to Mt. Telemark Village
9/25/2025 9:00:00 AM - By CXC Skiing
The American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation will be hosting the 2026 Junior XC Skiing Nationals Championships March 9-13, 2026.
MI Cup Committee meets Sunday, Sep 28
9/12/2025 - By Ernie Brumbaugh
The Michigan Cup Committee annual meeting will review the upcoming season, including the tentative race schedule (attached).
Start Wax emerges from bankruptcy
6/19/2025 4:11:49 PM - By Start Skiwax Oy
The manufacturer of Start ski waxes has returned from bankruptcy thanks to a group of ten Finnish stakeholders, some former employees and others new to the company. The new company is called Start Skiwax Oy.
Rollerskiing Clinic Schedule Summer 2025
6/5/2025 - By Andy Liebner
We're hoping to recruit some new people to rollerskiing and some of these sessions are geared for them (no pun intended), but seriously, we'll have skis and poles free to use and purchase at a discount. It's a great way to try it out with minimal risk. If you have friends who may be interested, please forward this info to them.
UPDATED 3/25/2025: Cross Country Ski Headquarters wins 2025 Michigan Cup
3/25/2025 - By Mike Muha
UPDATED 3/25/2025: Age class winners! The Cross Country Ski Headquarters has won the overall Michigan Cup, finishing head and shoulders above second place Grand Rapids Nordic Ski Team. Team NordicSkiRacer takes third.
UPDATED! MI CUP CHAMPIONS: Davis, Wakeley, Zeratsky, and Kasperowic
3/25/2025 - By Mike Muha
UPDATED 3/25/2025! We have the overall male and female winners for the 2025 Michigan Cup...and UPDATED the Girls Podium!
UPCOMING
FRI, DEC 12, 2025
XC Ski HQ Ski Team Kick-Off Dinner!
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
SAT, DEC 13, 2025
Forbush Opener (Freestyle)
Forbush Corner, 4971 W County Road 612, Frederic, MI 49733 (989-889-2843)
Free Beginner Ski Lesson
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
SUN, DEC 14, 2025
SAT, DEC 20, 2025
Free Beginner Ski Lesson
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
SUN, DEC 21, 2025
XC Ski HQ Ski: George Frye Live
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
More events...
LATEST TRAIL CONDITIONS
SUN, DEC 7
Hanson Hills: Grooming Update: Due to a mechanical with our snowmobile, RED will not receive fresh corduroy this morning. Still very skiable as we received just a dusting of snow overnight.
Cross Country Ski Headquarters: After a light dusting of snow throughout the night, the trails continue to get better! The skating lanes are excellent. Conditions for classic skiing are very good, too, though we still need a couple more inches of snow to set classic tracks. There is more snow forecasted early in the coming week, and we hope to get enough to have classic tracks in a few days! We have about 4-6" of packed snow on the trails, and 10-12" in the woods.
Forbush Corner: We received a dusting of snow overnight. Trails remain in excellent condition. The entire trail system was groomed yesterday.
We commenced snow making operations on the loop and valley yesterday evening and will continue on the Ridge trail today.
We have groomed an access trail from the shop to the Pancake trail to access all the non-snowmaking trails.
Hanson Hills: Lodge and Trails open at 9am!
A friendly reminder that trail passes are required and can be purchased at the ticket window in the Lodge.
Cross Country Trail Update:
Groomer Dan is out again this morning combing skate lanes on Red, Yellow, Brown, Blue, and the M-93 hills.
Classic tracks are set across the entire system, and Wilderness is absolutely beautiful right now.
Come enjoy some perfect Nordic conditions.
SAT, DEC 6
Huron Meadows Metropark: Not bad considering how early in the season it is. some grassy spots that you can get around easily. the loop behind Bucks is real nice for skating. not enough snow for tracks though. some areas do have leaves but not terrible. worth going, enjoy!
Big M: Grooming update 12/6/25: all the trails were groomed today except Catamount and Ryberg Rd, plus from markers 11-12 on Camp 24 (but that should have a hint of tracks from the previous groom). Catamount and Ryberg Rd may have downed trees you will need to go around, if you ski those trails, as those have not been cleared yet this season. The snow conditions are great - get out there! The parking lot is partially plowed and very passable.
Forbush Corner: Excellent classic trail conditions. 33 km over 2 days Swix pink glide/Rode Super-blue grip, 27°, with light snow and moderate wind, temp falling to 23° late today. Packed powder was fast; particularly nice long stretches on pine connector pristine track. Pineneedles and leaves in some areas stuck to the kick wax. Snowmaking commenced this afternoon on the loop, the wet snow much stickier than natural (wiped out on home run hill ??)
Cross Country Ski Headquarters: The grooming team snow combed the entire trail network last night, and conditions are very good. The skating lanes are excellent. Conditions for classic skiing are very good, too, though we still need a couple more inches of snow to set classic tracks. We have about 4-6" of packed snow on the trails, and 10-12" in the woods. The Stone Turtle Cafe is open!
Valley Spur: Decent. This is the first grooming of the season. Few thin spots. All trails skate and classic groomed except H.
Forbush Corner: Full system groom this morning - East Side, West Side, Pines Loop, everything - amazing for early December. Skate deck everywhere and classic tracks most everywhere !!!
Hanson Hills: Who’s Ready to Glide, Ride, and Explore?
Lodge and trails open at 9am, and we’ve got another beautiful winter day lined up for you!
Cross Country Update:
Just a light dusting of snow overnight, but Groomer Dan is already out there working his magic—combing skate lanes on ALL trails including Blue, Brown, Yellow, Red, M-93, and Easy Return.
Tracks may be a few days old… but trust us, they’re still glorious. Wilderness is holding tracks too, so plenty of smooth, scenic miles await.
Don’t forget to stop into the Lodge for your daily or season trail pass before heading out!
Fat Bike Trail:
The Fat Bike loop is open and ready for adventure!
If you roll today, please remember to feed the Blue Donation Tube at the MTB trailhead — it keeps the good times spinning.
?? Trail Etiquette Reminder:
We love hikers, but please remember:
Regular boot traffic should remain off the Mountain Bike Trail and Overlook Trail to protect groomed surfaces.
Snowshoers are welcome, just please give bikers the right of way.
Little Smokey, Pines, Guyton, and Oak Ridge Trails are open for hiking!
Bundle up, breathe in that fresh northern Michigan air, and let the trails show you a great time today!
FRI, DEC 5
Big M: I skied today starting around 1:30 conditíon were excellent. just missed the groomer. most trails have been groomed. apparently 10-14 inch powdery base. beautiful
Big M: I skied today starting around 1:30 conditíon were excellent. just missed the groomer. most trails have been groomed. apparently 10-14 inch powdery base. beautiful
Big M: I skied today starting around 1:30 conditíon were excellent. just missed the groomer. most trails have been groomed. apparently 10-14 inch powdery base. beautiful
Big M: Corkpine, Lumberjack, Big Wheel and Camp 24 are all packed and tracked (except for the small portion between 3 and 14, see map). Groomers will also be out Saturday morning, after some more snow falls tonight (hopefully), to get the rest of the trail system. Plenty of snow! Enjoy.
Hartwick Pines: Whole trail system groomed for classic skiing. Excellent coverage. Grooming good but some foot traffic. Fun ski.
Elk Rapids Golf Course: Windswept conditions so you're only skiing through an inch of snow with grass poking through in most areas until you come to one of the few drifted areas of a foot or more depth. But the classic skis were gliding well, and started literally from my front door, so it's all good. Highlight was skiing along the scenic shore of Elk Lake as close as you dared to the water.
Forbush Corner: I don't know that I have ever seen early season conditions this good in the lower peninsula. Larry and the Forbush crew did an incredible job of packing, rolling, and grooming a colossal amount of snow (probably had to manage lots of downed branches and detritus as well).
I skied Thursday night at dusk—the moon so bright I didn't even need a headlamp—and Friday around lunchtime. The whole system is in mid-winter shape, but mamma mia Rollercoaster and Crybaby are hard packed and fast!! I skate skied both days but the classic tracks looked sublime.
Well worth the drive, especially now that there are more tables in the yurt. So fun to see all the updates the Forbush crew did over the summer: new carpet, they took out the s-curve on Crybaby, I'm even more out of shape, etc. Pack a lunch (and a flask of something to keep you warm).
Nordic Pulse seems to be working out some early-season kinks so this is probably the only weekend you can ask Mike what was groomed without getting in trouble.
Michaywe: Groomed out and set track on the lake loop, maple ridge, herringbone, the river trail, and the back 9 loop. Snow conditions are mostly good with a few thin areas. Trails going through the wooded areas have some leaves or pine needles due to the recent high winds.
Huron Meadows Metropark: Still great as of this (Friday) morning. Hawk hills a little rough some dirt and vegetation showing through in parts- but skiable. Coyote run and contractors in great shape!
Hanson Hills: Lodge and Trails open 9am.
Groomer Dan is out combing skate lanes again this morning, and reports that classic tracks are still looking great!
Remember Trail Passes are required, stop in to purchase your daily or season pass.
Cross Country Ski Headquarters: Groomer Butch snowcombed all the trails yesterday, and the skate deck is hard and fast! We have about 4-6" of packed snow on the trails, and 10-12" in the woods. We'll finish snowmaking on the field today to be ready for lessons and demos tomorrow.
Forbush Corner: West side, Pines connector (easy and hard) and some of the Pines loop were packed with the PB. All east side trails are groomed with tracks. The pines have been shedding their pine needles here and there due to the gusty winds over the last few days. Good thing we don’t need klister!
More trail reports...
