There’s a lot of reasons people come to Mackinac Island in the winter. Some visit for Mackinac Island’s annual Christmas Bazaar and tree lighting. Others enjoy a week of quiet relaxation between Christmas and the New Year’s Eve Great Turtle Drop.
But many of the people who come to Mackinac Island in the offseason come to cross-country ski. Thanks to the volunteer-run Mackinac Island Ski Club and the support of Mackinac State Historic Parks, the island features several miles of groomed trails for classic cross-country skiing and skate skiing.
Want to ski on Mackinac Island? We asked Matt Myers, one of the main trail groomers, what you should know about cross-country skiing on Mackinac Island:
Q&A with a Mackinac Island Cross-Country Ski Trail Groomer
Q: Where can you ski on Mackinac Island?
You’ll see snowmobiles all over in the winter because Mackinac Island is car free. But even snowmobiles aren’t allowed on the trails on the east side of the island. That’s where the Mackinac Island Ski Club grooms trails for skiing, with parallel tracks for classic skiing and flat, open paths of hardpacked snow for skate skiing.
Depending on snowfall, a good five to 10 miles of trails are groomed any given day, sometimes as many as 15 miles if there’s enough snow on the ground. All the trails are free to use.
“We need probably a foot of snow to start with, and we’ll just go out and pack it down and establish a base that freezes down,” Myers said. “We’ve got a lot of rocks here on the smaller trails, so you’ve got to establish a hard base, and then you start setting your track on top of that.”
Check out this map of cross-country ski trails on Mackinac Island
Q: When can you ski on Mackinac Island?
Of course, this is weather dependent, so it’s best to call ahead and ask the Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau if the trails are groomed and if people are skiing. Generally, the Mackinac Island Ski Club hopes to start packing snow by mid-December, so there are some good trails in place for the holidays. January through March is a pretty good bet for snow-covered trails, but you never know what the weather may bring.
The streets on Mackinac Island all are plowed and have a hardpack of snow through the winter, so that’s a good option, too, especially for skate skiers.
See average monthly snowfall on Mackinac Island
Q: How challenging are the ski trails on Mackinac Island?
There’s a nice variety of difficulty levels. Most of the trails follow rolling hills and are manageable for novice skiers, though there also are more challenging trails for more experienced skiers. Once each month from January through March, Mackinac State Historic Parks hosts the Twilight Turtle Trek. It’s a lantern-lit cross country and snowshoeing event on 2 miles of relatively easy trails with a bonfire and hot chocolate at the start and finish.
Q: What’s special about skiing on Mackinac Island?
Everything is special on Mackinac Island! Where else can you ski to the iconic Arch Rock, or ski up to a breathtaking view at Fort Holmes on Mackinac Island’s highest point?
Q: Can I rent skis on Mackinac Island?
Some places to stay on Mackinac Island may have skis available, but there aren’t ski rental shops in the winter like there are bike rental shops in the summer. You should bring your own skis on the ferry boat or plane ride to Mackinac Island.
Q: What else can I do in the winter on Mackinac Island besides skiing?
Even if you’re not coming for one of Mackinac Island’s holiday events, there’s still a lot to do. The state park makes up more than 80% of Mackinac Island, and it’s free for you to explore all winter long.
You can hike Mackinac Island by foot or in snowshoes. (Just don’t snowshoe on the groomed ski tracks!) You can bring a fat tire bike on the ferry and pedal around snow-covered streets and up into the trails of Mackinac Island State Park. You can go geocaching all over Mackinac Island. Or you can simply relax in the quiet solitude of one of the world’s most beautiful places.
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