7 Best Ski Resorts in Michigan for Your Next Weekend Trip
Planning a ski weekend sounds simple until everyone weighs in. One friend wants tough runs, and another wants a hot tub. You’re also trying to make sure the trip doesn’t eat your whole paycheck. Finding the best ski resorts in Michigan means looking at the full weekend, from your first run to the drive home.
Michigan gives you plenty of ways to build that trip. You can stay near the slopes in the Lower Peninsula or head into the Upper Peninsula for a different kind of ski weekend. Here are seven places worth putting on your list.
How I Chose the Best Ski Resorts in Michigan
I’ve skied many Michigan hills, and this guide uses my personal experience combined with published resort information to compare terrain, trip costs, places to stay, and things to do after skiing.
The order puts skiing first, with intermediate-to-advanced skiers in mind. But a resort also needs to make sense for your group. A great hill loses some appeal if half your friends can’t ski the terrain or afford the stay. As always, check current prices, open runs, and your route before booking.
1. Boyne Mountain
Boyne Mountain is where I’d start for a weekend with friends who want a bit of everything. Its visitor guide lists groomed runs, moguls, and glades across 415 acres. This means there is a ton of diversity in skiing, and you have a ton of options throughout the day and for all skill levels.
Once the boots come off, the village has places to eat, shop, and stay. Avalanche Bay and SkyBridge Michigan give your group more to do between ski days.
Boyne Mountain is one of my favorites for this reason. It is the closest thing to a true vacation without having to travel across the country.
That mix puts Boyne first on this list. You can build a whole weekend around it without needing everyone to share the same plans.
Just watch the total cost. Check what your stay includes and which activities cost extra. If you only want to ski, eat, and sleep, compare nearby lodging before booking a full resort stay.
2. The Highlands at Harbor Springs
The Highlands is a close second. With 55 runs, 435 acres, and 552 feet of vertical, it gives skiers plenty of terrain to explore over a weekend.
The resort also has hotel rooms, condos, and rental homes. You can eat on-site or look at options around Harbor Springs and Petoskey.
For a group trip, start by comparing rooms with a shared condo or house. As with planning any trip, look at things like the cost per person, including fees. A kitchen could help with breakfast and dinner costs, too.
The Highlands earns its spot because the skiing and overnight setup work together for an overall great experience.
3. Nub's Nob
If your group plans to spend most of the trip skiing, take a close look at Nub’s Nob. It lists 53 runs across 248 acres, including glades. Snowmaking covers the terrain outside the glades, so check those tree runs separately when you read the snow report.
There are useful ways to keep the day simple. The Main Lodge has a cafeteria and pub, plus a lower-level area set up for people bringing food. Packing lunch could leave more room in your budget for another ski day.
For an overnight trip, compare places around Harbor Springs and Petoskey. Include the drive to the hill when weighing a cheaper room against a closer one.
I am a sucker for glades and those short little tree runs. If I can get that at a Midwest resort, it’s a no-brainer for me. I love the thrill of weaving in and out of the trees and gliding across fresh powder. In my opinion, Nub’s Nob is one of the best ski resorts in Michigan.
4. Crystal Mountain
Crystal Mountain is another one of my personal favorites, and it belongs on the list for its mix of skiing and places to stay. Its website lists 59 slopes, seven glade areas, and 375 feet of vertical. There are runs for both intermediate and advanced skiers.
The resort village brings rooms, cottages, and townhomes together with restaurants, shops, and a spa. That setup is worth considering if you’d like to park the car and settle in for the weekend.
Its vertical is lower than Boyne Mountain’s or The Highlands’. So look at the trail map to see if the tradeoff for the village’s convenience is worth it to you.
5. Snowriver Mountain Resort
Snowriver gives you two mountains to explore in the western U.P.: Jackson Creek Summit and Black River Basin. A shuttle connects them, which is great, but make sure to allow time to move between the two.
The skiing includes groomed runs, glades, and moguls. Jackson Creek Summit has a high-speed six-person chairlift, along with lodging, food options, and pool facilities nearby.
It’s worth a look if you want to try U.P. skiing with places to stay and eat close to the slopes. This is one of the best ski resorts in Michigan for those wanting to try out the Upper Peninsula.
The big question is travel time. Check your route and each mountain’s schedule. Depending on where you live, adding a night could make more sense than squeezing the drive into a two-day weekend.
6. Caberfae Peaks
Caberfae is worth checking when you want to keep an eye on the budget. Its published 2026–27 rates list adult all-day tickets at $59 on nonholiday weekdays and $84 on Saturdays and set holiday dates. Check the rate for your day before making plans, but either way, that’s great.
You can ski its East, North, and South Peak areas, then stay at the MacKenzie Lodge at the base. The lodge has a heated outdoor pool and hot tub, and who doesn’t love a good hot tub.
7. Mount Bohemia
Mount Bohemia is the most specialized pick here. Its first-timer guide describes steep, advanced and expert terrain with trees and cliff bands. It doesn’t groom, and beginners aren’t allowed.
There are even cabins, yurts, a hostel, places to eat, and a Nordic spa for your stay. Nice.
Bohemia ranks lower because this list needs to work for intermediate skiers, too. Being comfortable on groomed black runs elsewhere doesn’t mean you’re ready for this terrain.
For an advanced group seeking that challenge, it could be the first choice. Make sure everyone is ready, check conditions, and account for the trip to the Keweenaw when planning your time and budget.
Before You Book
Compare the same dates at your top two or three picks. Add up tickets, lodging, food, rentals, travel, and any paid extras. If you own a pass, check its access rules and make sure you can all do what you intend to do.
An honorable mention, and one place on my personal list is Bittersweet in Otsego. I love the environment here. Although it doesn’t have the highest vertical or most trails, I would consider the vibes here enough to make it one of the best ski resorts in Michigan. Sometimes a hill you can reach and ski in a day fits your plans best.
Once you choose, use our Ski Trip Packing List to get ready.
Where Are You Heading Next?
Boyne Mountain and The Highlands are good starting points for an overall resort weekend. Use your group’s ability, budget, and travel time to narrow things down from there.
At East of West Ski Co., we want to help you enjoy more of what Midwest skiing has to offer. If you want to show some pride in the hills you ski, explore our stickers and apparel. Which spot would you add to the best ski resorts in Michigan?
