Doug Cornell says Forbush Corner has been fantastic for skiing!
Over 36 inches of packed snow on Great Bear Chase course
2/22/2019 - By Angela Luskin
he 39th annual UP Health System Great Bear Chase is almost here! Conditions are looking great, with a packed base of 36” on the course and great temperatures leading up to Saturday, March 9th.
Vasa continues to lead Michigan Cup after Hanson Hills Classic
2/22/2019 - By Mike Muha
Not much has changed with the finish of the Forbush Freestyle and Hanson Hills Classic: Vasa Ski Club has increased it lead over the Cross Country Ski Headquarters and the Grand Rapids Nordic Ski Team is still in third.
Waxing recommendations: Michigan Cup and latest Birkie suggestions
2/22/2019 - By Mike Muha
Waxing recommendations for Boyne Vistas, the Muffin Race and the latest round of Birkie suggestions.
Birkie wax recommendations
2/19/2019 - By Mike Muha
American Birkebeiner wax recommendations have started. See what people are recommending... Toko, FastWax, Swix, Rex, Start, Star, Vauhti...
Team NordicSkiRacer leads Brumbaugh Cup by 13 points
2/19/2019 - By Mike Muha
Team NordicSkiRacer continues to lead the Brumbaugh Cup competition as the most powerful team, with 960 point. But Hanson Hills / Cross Country Ski Shop is closing in, just 13 points behind.
RESULTS: Kyle Hanson and Emily Blackmer win Hanson Hills Classic
2/18/2019 - By Mike Muha
Kyle Hanson and Emily Blackmer win Hanson Hills Classic after both winning the Forbush Freestyle the day before. UPDATED RESULTS FOR EVERYONE ELSE!!!
RESULTS: Emily Blackmer and Kyle Hanson will Forbush Freestyle
2/18/2019 - By Mike Muha
The Meijer State Games Of Michigan / Forbush 8K/17K Freestyle race was held this past Saturday on an excellently groomed trail, with cool temperatures and little wind. The course wound around most the Forbush Corner trail system.
Team NordicSkiRacer continues to lead Brumbaugh Cup competition
2/15/2019 - By Mike Muha and Chris Jones
Team NordicSkiRacer continues to lead Brumbaugh Cup competition for more powerful team with a narrow lead over Hanson Hills / Cross Country Ski Shop
RESULTS: Vasa still in front. Leaders shuffle around a bit
2/15/2019 - By Mike Muha
With Vasa Fest over, Vasa Ski Club has increased it lead over the Cross Country Ski Headquarters remaining in second. Grand Rapids Nordic Ski Team is still in third with only a narrow gap over Team NordicSkiRacer.
Wax recommendations: Michigan Cup and Michigan HS Championships!
2/15/2019 - By Mike Muha
UPDATED WITH SOLDA! Wax recommendations for this weekend's Michigan Cup and Michigan HS Championship races!
RESULTS: 2019 Vasa Classic: Ethan Goss and Emily Blackmer win the 35k
2/11/2019 - By Mike Muha
Summary of the results, plus PDF by gender and race distance of the results.
RESULTS: 2019 Vasa Freestyle: Alex Vanias and Kaitlyn Patterson carry the day
2/11/2019 - By Mike Muha
Summary of the results, plus PDF by gender and race distance of the results.
UPCOMING
SAT, DEC 13, 2025
NEW! Nordic Ski Junior Racers training session (Team NordicSkiRacer)
Huron Meadows Metropark, 8765 Hammel Rd, Brighton, MI 48116
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)
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)
More events...
LATEST TRAIL CONDITIONS
FRI, DEC 12
Huron Meadows Metropark: Skied Coyote Run with waxless classic skis. No real tracks to ski in. Trails were hard packed and slick. No bare spots. Skaters seemed to be going well even without nice corduroy. Overall a great day to be out skiing.
Crystal Mountain: Plenty of snow at Crystal Mountain. Excellent classic tracks, very good skate lane that was a bit soft in places.
Kensington Metropark: THE GOOD: The golf course is groomed for skating and Classic. The woods are groomed for Classic.
THE BAD: The oak leaves are so thick in the woods it's almost unskiable. The golf course tracks are also thickly covered in many spots. Use waxless skis.
THE UGLY: It's been a while since I've skied the golf course and forgot how incredibly loud it is on the section that parallels the highway.
Maybury State Park: Double set track (mostly), fast hardpack sticks leaves dirt. Use rock skis. It's still a good workout.
Unlisted trail: Loud Creek-Mio-The BigM of Huron Natl Forest- Freshly groomed classic trail. Excellent coverage . No walkers. Big hills. Very fun ski.
Big M: About 6? of fresh snow fell Thursday night. The following trails were groomed Thursday evening: Corkpine, most of Lumberjack, most of Camp 24, Big Wheel, Double Bit, Ryberg Rd and Catamount.
The plan is to groom all of the trails again on Friday or Saturday, so conditions should be excellent for when most people can get to Big M!
Corsair Ski Trails: And a new ski season begins! Corsair Trail Council groomers, Dan and Karl, have been working long hours the past few days. They’ve been packing, grading snow and setting tracks on the Corsair and Silver Valley trail sections. The Wright’s Lake section is packed and graded. Skiers were enjoying the freshly groomed tracks this afternoon, taking advantage of the early season snowfall and good trail conditions,
Independance Oaks: They have indeed rolled all the trails here! Some gravel churned up in just a couple spots so leave the A skis in their glass case. If you bomb down the east side of the big hill on "i", just know it veers to the right instead of the typical left after the stand of pines. Caught me by surprise!
Fast eddy
Cross Country Ski Headquarters: After yesterday's snow, the trails are in superb shape! Classic tracks are set and skating lanes are combed and gorgeous. Looks like a great weekend of skiing! We have about 5-8" of packed snow on the trails, and 12-15" in the woods.
Hiawatha Highlands: Good Friday Morning! It's another beautiful sunny morning up here :)
There was no grooming done overnight as only a bit of the fluffy white stuff came down early this morning.....however, it looks promising for snow later today into tomorrow!
Reminder - the Jackrabbit kids program starts tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.
Have a great day everyone :)
Independance Oaks: Just called IO, they haven't updated the automated trail report but the person answering the phone said they groomed yesterday and they have 5" base
Hanson Hills: Today is one of those winter days at Hanson Hills. The snow is just right, the skiing is smooth and fast (if you are waxed correctly), and the views through the hardwood forest are absolutely beautiful—quiet, snowy, and pure Northern Michigan magic.
Trail Report:
Groomer Dan is out this morning on the main trail system, combing skate lanes to keep conditions dialed in.
Freshly reset classic tracks (set yesterday) on:
• Green
• Blue
• Brown
• Yellow
• Easy Return
Wilderness grooming is temporarily paused while our grooming snowmobile is in for repairs—but the rest of the trail system is skiing great and ready for adventure.
Lodge & Trails Open at 9am
Trail passes available in the lodge
If you’ve been waiting for a perfect day to get out and ski… today is it.
Forbush Corner: Wow! Looks like are headed north of 100 racers for tomorrow’s Forbush Corner Nordic Opener. Course is set and has been shared on our Facebook page. Larry has finished up moving and tilling the snow made last weekend on the 240 loop and Ridge. The Pines connector and loop will get a fresh groom today, as well as some of the east and west side trails. Check Nordic Pulse on our website for current conditions.
THU, DEC 11
Stoney Creek Metropark: [ ] groomed
[ ] golf course is about as good as it gets
[ ] Sheldon trails - fair to good littered with tree parts, though the usual being trod upon
[ ] icy patches under trees where not enough snow made it to the groun)d as it got colder and the rain - wet snow turned to ( oops - repost -- rain >>> snow
Stoney Creek Metropark: [ ] groomed
[ ] golf course is about as good as it gets
[ ] Sheldon trails - fair to good littered with tree parts, though the usual being trod upon
[ ] icy patches under trees where not enough snow made it to the ground as it got colder and the rain - wet snow turned to rain
Ogemaw Hills Pathway: Trails were freshly groomed today by Brian! Randy Gary and I tested them out and conditions are great!
Vasa Trail: Today's previous reports filled you in on how good the Classic Skiing was on the Vasa today, so I'll just comment on the skating. "Best conditions of the season so far!" It's not just me saying that, but also the half dozen skiers I chatted with around the 10K loop said the exact same thing. The entire trail system was groomed this morning with maybe an inch of fresh snow on top of the skate deck after it was groomed. That extra ungroomed snow imparted a buttery smooth under-ski feel like it was some sort of speed-butter as skating was easier and faster than average using vintage SkiGo Blue. Nice thick deck in most areas with well over a foot of snow in the woods.
Nubs Nob: Lots of snow ! Yesterday’s big groomer provided a firm flat skate deck . Today nature provided about 2 inches of fluff . Has to push a little bit , but it was very nice - and the sun came out . LF 7
Vasa Trail: Wow, the TART groomers did a great job making fresh classic tracks with the snowmobiles this morning. The fresh powder wasn’t fast but only a few leaves & complete coverage, except at the bridge. I rarely start at the Bartlett trailhead, except when skiing Headwaters, then skied the 10k backwards. I was in skier heaven on my skins & mild 20 temps!
Laurel Ridge State Park: 5" of pretty dense snow in the southern laurel highlands. Skiable today at dedicated XC facilities, which are located at the highest elevations. Not yet "ski anywhere" conditions. But, forecast is looking very wintery, and we will soon have access to your favorite forest road, the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail, those high mountain meadows, etc. If your travels take you on the PA Turnpike (Interstate 76) bring your skis! Note: Like the Carnegie library system, Pennsylvania state parks are Free to the People (as are state forests).
Stokely Creek: First pass with the newer Bombardier groomer today left a very nice track. Not a rock in sight, which is rare for this early given the terrain. Eye watering speed was achieved several times using Madshus Endurace skins.
Kensington Metropark: It appears all trails were groomed today golf course skate and classic and the wood only one set of classic
Vasa Trail: The trail had a fresh groom and was done in the section I skied at 9:45. Left from the Supply Road parking lot and skied out/back to the 2nd Jack Pine entrance. trail is in great shape. I peeked at Timber Ridge. They are only groomed on the "straight out from the lodge to VASA" section. No other grooming in the park.
Vasa Trail:
Huron Meadows Metropark: Good skating on Hawks, Coyote and Cedar Trace. Hawks has a little scrub sticking up. But the best it has been so far. All freshly groomed. No tracks.
Thank guys.
Huron Meadows Metropark: Beautiful, freshly rolled skate track. No classic track to speak of. Did multiple laps of the Contractors Loop and had a blast!
Michaywe: Refreshed skate lanes and reset track on the lake loop and both golf course loops. Conditions are good.
Cross Country Ski Headquarters: Tracks were set yesterday, and after 2-3 more inches last night, we'll set tracks again this morning. It is absolutely gorgeous out there! We'll be snowcombing the fresh powder this morning and it should be heavenly today and through the weekend. We have about 5-8" of packed snow on the trails, and 12-15" in the woods.
Hiawatha Highlands: Hiawatha Highlands/Soo Finnish Nordic Ski Club
Good Morning! It's a beautiful Thursday morning, all was calm overnight and the sun is shining :)
The groomer was out last night -- The Pinder system was rolled and tracked. The 5k loop on the Red Pine system was tracked as well....whoo hoo, we're getting there!
For your information -- the SFN Jackrabbit program starts this Saturday, Dec. 13, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, so please keep an eye out.
Grab your gear, find your flow, and let the snow be what it is. There's always joy to be found on these trails - no matter the forecast. Happy skiing, snowshoeing and fat biking!
Hanson Hills: Lodge and Trails open 9am.
Another 1+ inches of snow. Groomer Dan is out Combing skate lanes and setting fresh tracks on the Inner Trails (Green, Blue, Brown,Yellow, Easy Return)
: Lodge and Trails open 9am.
Another 1+ inches of snow. Groomer Dan is out Combing skate lanes and setting fresh tracks on the Inner Trails (Green, Blue, Brown,Yellow, Easy Return)
Forbush Corner: No lack of snow over the last few days and more to come. Most of the East side trails will be groomed today. Open 9 to 5.
If you need to wax your skis we added a wax room over the summer!
More trail reports...
