Doug Cornell says Forbush Corner has been fantastic for skiing!
PHOTOS from the Cote Dame Marie
1/21/2013 - By Justin Andre
Justin Andre's photos of the Cote Dame Marie cross county ski race at Hanson Hills in Grayling, MI on Saturday, January 19,2013.
Schmalz and Dawson win a crazy Krazy Klassic
1/21/2013 - By Mike Muha
Martin Schmalz came on to the Michigan Cup racing scene for the first time ever, holding off Dan Yankus to take the win the 10k Krazy Klassic. Karen Dawson held off Hilary Witbrodt for the women's win.
VIDEO: Cote Dame Marie, racer view
1/20/2013 - By Doug Cornell
Nordic ski racing is a popular winter sport in Michigan, and the Cote Dame Marie Loppet, held at Hanson Hills in Grayling, is one of the biggest races in the Michigan Cup series. Team NordicSkiRacer competitor Doug Cornell wears his "hat-cam"...
13 skiers named for World Championships team
1/20/2013 - By USSA
Kikkan Randall (Anchorage/APU Nordic) heads a team of 13 cross country athletes named by the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association to compete in the FIS Nordic Ski World Championships Feb. 20-March 3 in Val di Fiemme, Italy.
Liz Stephen top women with 15th
1/20/2013 - By USSA
Liz Stephen (E. Montpelier, VT) was 15th to lead the USA in a 10k classic mass start as four U.S. women cracked the top 30. It was a career best classic for Stephen.
Brown and Powell win Cote Dame Marie
1/19/2013 - By Mike Muha
Eli Brown laid the law down, winning the 24.4k Cote Dame Marie by over 4 minutes. Amy Powell skied across the finish line with a narrower 37 second lead.
Cote Dame Marie is ON!
1/18/2013 - By Justin Andre
Cote Dame Marie Report: RACE IS ON!!! With alot of work this morning we have put together a race course!! We have come up with a 6.1K loop. Skiers will do 1, 2 or 4 laps depending on class.
Wax Recommendations for this weekend's races
1/18/2013 - By Mike Muha
UPDATE #4: Wax recommendations for this weekend's Michigan races. Fast Wax, Solda, Swix, Toko, SkiGo/Holmenkol... Check for additions and updates later.
GLD JNQ moved to Cote Dame Marie
1/16/2013 - By Nick Baic
The JNQ races scheduled this coming weekend in Ohio have been moved to the Cote Dame Marie at Hanson Hills in Grayling MI due to lack of snow. There will be a 6-8 Km FS race on Saturday only.
PHOTOS from the 2013 Frosty Freestyle
1/15/2013 - By Denise Semion
323 photos from the 2013 Frosty Freestyle by Denise Semion, Chief of Communications for the Huron-Clinton Metroparks.
Harris and Crocker take Frosty Freestyle titles
1/13/2013 - By Mike Muha
Ryan Harris took the win in 12k Frosty Freestyle on some of the only snow open in Michigan. Alison Crocker held on to the lead men to take the women's overall crown.
UPCOMING
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)
THU, DEC 25, 2025
SUN, DEC 28, 2025
XC Ski HQ Ski: JoeFrye Live
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd., Roscommon, MI 48653 (800-832-2663)
THU, JAN 1, 2026
More events...
LATEST TRAIL CONDITIONS
WED, DEC 17
Hiawatha Highlands: Happy Middle-of-the-Week Wednesday :) Wow, it was a windy one overnight....and continuing with quite a bit of wind this morning, kind of felt like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz.
There was no grooming overnight. The groomers will be out today cleaning up the trails.
Note: There is a big branch down on the Pinder 4k halfway to the White Pine extension over the skate lane.
Have a fantastic Wednesday!
Cross Country Ski Headquarters: The trails will be closed today and tomorrow to try to protect the base though the warm weather over the next 2 days. Things should get cold again Thursday night into Friday morning with a bit snow, so with any luck, we should still have good skiing by the weekend!
Huron Meadows Metropark: Skated Coyote from 8 to 10.
Softer and more control than Tuesday. Tracks are good with a lot of leaves.
Forbush Corner: Based on the predicted rain/warm temperatures we will continue to be closed today and Thursday. Should be able to reopen on Friday based on cooler temperatures returning.
Hanson Hills: It’s currently 36° and raining in Grayling, and with snow preservation in mind, we’ve made the decision to close the Cross Country Trail System for the day.
Warm rain is tough on our trails, and taking a short pause now helps protect the snow base so we can get everyone back out skiing sooner once conditions improve. We truly appreciate your cooperation and ask that you please respect the closure as we do our best to care for this precious winter resource.
Thank you for your understanding—and fingers crossed for colder temps ahead!
Huron Meadows Metropark: I skied from 10-11:30 today. A very icy wind blown skate deck but still fun. Classic tracks were mostly intact on cedar trace and coyote run, but wind had filled them in on hawks hills. I had a very nice ski.
Huron Meadows Metropark: I skied from 10-11:30 today. A very icy wind blown skate deck but still fun. Classic tracks were mostly intact on cedar trace and coyote run, but wind had filled them in on hawks hills. I had a very nice ski.
TUE, DEC 16
Vasa Trail: Fairly fast conditions on a firm deck this morning. Rex blue was the glide wax. Completed the 25k and 5k loop. Some dirt showing from the grooming effort. Would recommend B skis. Otherwise a good course and fun ski.
Independance Oaks: Start@ 10:00 AM. Trail hardpack with 1/2" of powder on top. No tracks. Swix Blue worked well. Snow softened up a bit after noon. Overall, a good ski with full coverage and minimal leaves. Get it while you can.
Crystal Mountain: Thanks to a significant accumulation of natural snow, we are currently sitting on a deep, solid base. Our grooming crew has been out in full force, and we are happy to report that the entire 25 km network is 100% groomed and in peak condition.
Classic tracks have been set and are firm, and coverage is excellent. We invite everyone to come out and enjoy these great conditions while they last.
Nubs Nob: All trails power-tilled flat with a classic track and wide skate deck. Conditions are very good.
Boyne Highlands: Unfortunately, The Highlands will have limited XC skiing available this season. There will be a trail on the golf course. Rentals will be available through the downhill center. The XC shop will not open.
Boyne Mountain: Lower trails are groomed and good to go! Upper trails need raspberries trimmed, which will happen soon. The shop and trails will open on Friday, December 19 for the season, from 9 to 5 daily.
Huron Meadows Metropark: I started skiing about 12:30, classic. Skate lanes were hard and fast - pick out your most stable skis of you plan to skate anywhere but Buck's Run.
There are classic tracks beside all skate trails. They vary from rock hard nice tracks (Cedar Trace / contractor's trail) to a mix of nice track/skied -in snow-blow track (golf course trails) to deep perfect tracks (Buck's Run). Connector trails did have track: the trail to Cedar Trace had no track, and the trail directly adjacent to Buck's Run had no track. No track was set where the snow depth wasn't there.
Overall, I had a good classic ski! It's was already 28 when I got to the park, but Toko Yellow kick wax worked pretty well on the mix of snow conditions.
Huron Meadows Metropark: I skied from 10-11:30 today. A very icy wind blown skate deck but still fun. Classic tracks were mostly intact on cedar trace and coyote run, but wind had filled them in on hawks hills. I had a very nice ski.
Hiawatha Highlands: Hey everybody....happy Tuesday :)
The groomer was out last night -- the entire Pinder system and the 2k Lighted were Piston Bully groomed both classic and skate.
We hope everybody has a fantastic day!!
Hanson Hills: Lodge and Trails Open 9am.
Fresh corduroy is laid down on Blue, Brown, Yellow, and M-93 Hills this morning.
Wilderness has fresh classic tracks set yesterday—prime conditions to get out and ski!
MON, DEC 15
Kensington Metropark: Excellent classic conditions on back loops. Good track set, I would not recommend skating…deck is hard and a little narrow. The dusting of snow made great kick with swix blue extra, what else? Golf course looked good for skating.
Crystal Mountain: We were blessed with about 10 inches of snow over the weekend which is a good thing except now the skating lanes are soft again. I got everything groomed and trackset but it was so windy a lot of spots got drifted over. This new snow will help us get through the predicted warm up and rain on Thursday. I will regroom everything again tomorrow. Did I mention that we widened all the hills? They should be better for the skaters and herringboning. We also have some nice retail items in the tent-sweaters, hats, gloves etc. Come check it out.
Dunes Golf Club: Fantastic classic conditions continue. It is a great that there is plowed at the entrance!
To really get out of the gusty winds the back half that is not visable from the road is fairly protected the way that the fairways situated.
Wilderness skiing on a mowed base.
still no charge or park pass
4mi east of empire on m-72 (the original m-22 bypass)
Sleeping Bear Dunes: Finally the friends group started posting trail/grooming on their website only, sbht winter page is where you can find semi current trail conditions.
Grooming is on Fridays only on the heritage trail as per friends group which is better knowing when to expect this activity. They also groom Palmer woods mid week. If you look Palmer woods shows up with Palmer woods ski trail report.
Both areas have had decent snows with Palmer woods winning on depth. For years I have tried the group post o NCR but no luck.
That said , Friday's groom lasted through today, monday. Strider tracks were nice while the narrow skate deck was doable but has the same challenges.
Too bad the weather forecast has not been positive and we'll see what develops of course. This is the best for early December ever and hopefully nature will repair this.
Sign up for e-mails from the friends site
Michaywe: Received a dusting of snow overnight. Groomed skate lanes and set track on the lake loop, maple ridge, herringbone, the river trail, and the front 9 loop. Conditions continue to remain good.
Cross Country Ski Headquarters: We received 1-2 of inches of snow last night. All trails have firm, deep classic tracks and snow-combed skate lanes. Prime conditions prevail! The Stone Turtle Cafe is open for lunch, snacks, and beverages.
Hiawatha Highlands: Good Monday Morning!
FYI: We've had machinery failure out on the Pinder 4K, so be careful as the groomers are out there retrieving the machine. They hope to be able to take the Piston Bully out afterwards, watch for further updates.
Have a great day :)
Hanson Hills: A light dusting of snow overnight was just what the trails needed. Conditions are dialed in, so we’re giving them the respect they deserve and keeping the big machine off for now.
Groomer Dan is out exploring and breaking trail on Wilderness, with hopes of setting fresh tracks.
Lodge & Trails Open at 9am
Smooth skiing, great coverage, and that quiet-up-north magic. Get outside and enjoy it while it’s this good
Forbush Corner: Mid winter conditions continue today at the Corner. No new grooming planned today as trails are in really good shape from efforts over the weekend. Open 9 to 5.
More trail reports...
