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May, 2025

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New to Michigan, Best places to go

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That_One_Dude
Posts: 1050 - Karma: 760
What's up everyone, I'm from Pittsburgh and my old home mountain was 7 springs from when I was a kid until this past year when I graduated college. First job landed me here in Michigan and I'm wondering where the best places for park and in general skiing are. I can already tell down here (I live in Royal Oak, work in Dearborn) the places are more for just park and day trips. Went up north to Boyne this past weekend with some buds for opening weekend and it was better than I thought it'd be, I plan to hit that up later in the year once more is open.

Where else up north is good for a weekend trip, and as far as southern Mi, What's best out of Holly, Pine Knob, and Brighton for park.
10 years ago
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JCTheut
Posts: 221 - Karma: 734
Cannonsburg and Bittersweet our the best places in southern Michigan in my opinion however it may be a bit of a drive from royal oak. I went to brighton for the first time a few weeks ago and they had a really good setup despite the warm temps. As far as northern Michigan goes I think Nubs Nob in Harbor Springs, has the best park and overall skiing compared to the two boynes. We just need to hope for cold temps so that hills can start blowing snow again!
10 years ago
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teamdummy
Posts: 1189 - Karma: 2,607
Are you working for Ford? Fellow Ford employee here(not Michigan though) My vote is Pine Knob for park. It's not exactly 7 springs, but it has an awesomely fast rope tow that lets you get tons of laps in. And then up north, I like Nubs Nob best. But check them all out up there. All pretty good.
10 years ago
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That_One_Dude
Posts: 1050 - Karma: 760
teamdummyAre you working for Ford? Fellow Ford employee here(not Michigan though) My vote is Pine Knob for park. It's not exactly 7 springs, but it has an awesomely fast rope tow that lets you get tons of laps in. And then up north, I like Nubs Nob best. But check them all out up there. All pretty good.


Yes I do work at Ford! I work in the Product Dev. Center in Dearborn. Couple other friends who board, but still like going went to school with me and work here as well.
10 years ago
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teamdummy
Posts: 1189 - Karma: 2,607
I work at the Cleveland Engine Plant but have friends that that live in Ferndale, so have spent a lot of time up around there. I've always been impressed with all the skiers and boarders from the Detroit area. A healthy community for sure. It's really not bad if you can make it north a few times a year and then you could ski every night during the week if you wanted at PK, Mt Holly, or Mt Brighton. The upside to Brighton is you can get the epic pass which is good for a bunch of places out west. Vail, Park City, etc. Burn up some of that Ford vacation! Have a good season!
10 years ago
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UilyJeff
Posts: 394 - Karma: 1,482
Canonsburg is good for park, but the layout of the resort sucks dick. It is virtually worthless for any type of skiing other than Park, but if you like to park ski and just shred for a day it's hard to be the place.

Bittersweet is much better in my opinion for all mountain skiing. Their park is almost as competitive as Canonsburg, but they do not take care of it nearly as well.

It's worth going north anytime you want to actually ski. Shanty Creek isn't that far, and in my opinion not even in the same ballpark as the 2 aforementioned resorts.

On another note, if you are going as far north as Boyne.... Spend a weekend up there but go just a little bit further north. We stay at some condos at the base of Nubs knob and Highlands and do one on Friday and the other on Saturday.

If you park ski and backcountry, Shanty Creek, Nubs knob, and Boyne Highlands are by far the best in the lower peninsula.
10 years ago
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chunk.
Posts: 115 - Karma: 316
I've been to both both boynes and I just didn't get a good vibe from them and wasn't really too impressed by their parks. I must say I liked mountain better than highlands tho. But Nubs Nob is the shit. Huge variety in the park, chill people, super fun glades, and has a less commercialized feel to me.
10 years ago
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WeathermanPetro
Posts: 239 - Karma: 228
JCTheutCannonsburg and Bittersweet our the best places in southern Michigan in my opinion however it may be a bit of a drive from royal oak. I went to brighton for the first time a few weeks ago and they had a really good setup despite the warm temps. As far as northern Michigan goes I think Nubs Nob in Harbor Springs, has the best park and overall skiing compared to the two boynes. We just need to hope for cold temps so that hills can start blowing snow again!


Very factual post.
10 years ago
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Goku
Posts: 8119 - Karma: 4,223
Nubs Nob for Lower Peninsula
Bohemia for Upper.
10 years ago
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kingsskier
Posts: 6213 - Karma: 2,156
That_One_kidYes I do work at Ford! I work in the Product Dev. Center in Dearborn. Couple other friends who board, but still like going went to school with me and work here as well.


I also work at Ford as a power train engineer
10 years ago
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Goku
Posts: 8119 - Karma: 4,223
kingsskierI also work at Ford as a power train engineer


That is so Aspen Extreme
9 years ago
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That_One_Dude
Posts: 1050 - Karma: 760
Thanks for the info everyone. So i'm tossing around staying at the base of Highlands/Nubs with some friends for MLK (i know its gonna be crowded). Which of the two am I better off with for a holiday crowd? I'm thinking Nubs sounds a little more laid back, but i'd like to try Highlands as well. Thinking maybe Saturday at Nubs, Sunday at Highlands and then pick Monday which one to ski again based on what we liked.

Side note, skied Mt. Holly before I went home for Christmas, pretty damn small but the park had a fun little setup and the high speed lift was nice. Snow was groomed well too, i'd like to go back when more is open and the park has the jump line I keep hearing so much about.

TLDR

Boyne Highlands or Nubs Nob for MLK weekend
9 years ago
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UilyJeff
Posts: 394 - Karma: 1,482
We stay at a Trout Creet condos. It is right at the base of both. Do nubs twice with boyne inbetween.
9 years ago
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Goku
Posts: 8119 - Karma: 4,223
That_One_kidThanks for the info everyone. So i'm tossing around staying at the base of Highlands/Nubs with some friends for MLK (i know its gonna be crowded). Which of the two am I better off with for a holiday crowd? I'm thinking Nubs sounds a little more laid back, but i'd like to try Highlands as well. Thinking maybe Saturday at Nubs, Sunday at Highlands and then pick Monday which one to ski again based on what we liked.

Side note, skied Mt. Holly before I went home for Christmas, pretty damn small but the park had a fun little setup and the high speed lift was nice. Snow was groomed well too, i'd like to go back when more is open and the park has the jump line I keep hearing so much about.

TLDR

Boyne Highlands or Nubs Nob for MLK weekend


Highlands blows compared to Nubs.
Treesking and glades there are great, best south of Bohemia.
Nubs is hands down the best skiing in the lower peninsula if you're looking for something more than park or groomers
9 years ago
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Nobassett
Posts: 127 - Karma: 1,263
GokuHighlands blows compared to Nubs.
Treesking and glades there are great, best south of Bohemia.
Nubs is hands down the best skiing in the lower peninsula if you're looking for something more than park or groomers


as a local to the nubs/highlands/boyne mountain area, I can easily say once it is fully set up, nubs wins
9 years ago
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Lonely
Posts: 7139 - Karma: 69,466
Crystal has some okay trees and all mountain. Not the best park tho. Atmosphere is pretty chill tho
9 years ago
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