Top Midwest Ski Destinations

Otsego Club and Resort, another luxury Michigan ski destination, welcomes winter travelers to a beautiful getaway in the Sturgeon River Valley. This ideal setting brings you advanced snowmaking technology, plenty of short lines to the slopes and an onsite Professional Ski Instructor Association (PSIA) ski school where you can freshen up your skills before hitting the snow. You'll have access to 31 slopes ranging from beginner to expert levels but sure to offer you plenty of fun and challenges no matter which one you choose. Over 8.5 miles of pristine trails are open for cross-country skiing or snowshoeing, taking you through the surrounding wilderness for a truly magical winter experience! For when you need a break from the slopes, you'll find an onsite ice-skating rink and oppunities to go sledding down the powdery hills. If you're here with the family or a large group, plan a private slopeside party and bonfire to end the day. It's a great way to unwind after all the fun but still enjoy the beauty of the mountain! And if you need a little more relaxation, head back to your luxurious condominium, which offers a selection of modern amenities to ensure you have a convenient and memorable vacation!

Address

696 M-32 East P.O. Box 556 Gaylord MI, 49734

Highlights

An onsite Dan Webster's Ski Shop is available to get you geared up for the day. The shop also offers ski and snowboard rentals if you don't have your own!

Related Onsite Offerings

Three luxury restaurants serve up a wide selection of scrumptious meals to enjoy during your stay. No matter which one you choose, you're sure to find something that satisfies your palette!

Giants Ridge is the Midwest’s top-rated ski and snowboard hot-spot, and The Lodge at Giants Ridge is the perfect home base for an incredible ski vacation!

The Lodge at Giants Ridge is steps away from Giants Ridge Ski Resort, home to 35 alpine runs, and the best snowboard terrain park in Minnesota. For those of you just visiting, Giants Ridge offers ski and snowboard rentals at the best rates in Minnesota. The Snow Shop is well-stocked with the latest equipment and fashionable winter apparel. Come back after a long day of skiing and indulge at the Laurentian Divide Salon & Spa or relax in your rustic cabin. Their on-site spa offers massages, pedicures, manicures, and nail care, all perfect for unwinding after a tiring day on the slopes. The one to four bedroom condos at Giants Ridge are spectacular: equipped with a whirlpool, fireplace, queen or king bed, kitchenette, and hillside views!

Address

6373 Wynne Creek Drive Biwabik, Minnesota 55708

Getting there

Located not far from Ely, getting to The Lodge at Giants Ridge is simple. And it's only a couple hours from the cities too!

Related Onsite Offerings

With two different award winning golf courses, you'll have a great time on the links at The Lodge at Giants Ridge, and you'll be able to soak in the beauty of the wonderful North Woods atmosphere!

Last on the list is another Michigan destination considered to be a hidden gem on the Upper Peninsula. Featuring the longest runs with the highest vertical and deepest powder in the Midwest, Mount Bohemia is everything you're looking in a winter retreat. Catering only to intermediate and expert skiers, Mount Bohemia's 900-foot vertical drop, 500 incredible acres and 94 runs are sure to challenge and thrill you during your visit! When you're here, you'll find comfortable lodging at Inn on Lac Labelle. This cozy inn is located right on the shores of Lac Labelle and offers only five bedrooms for a more private vacation experience. Enjoy views of the water and easy access to Mount Bohemia for all the fun!

Address

6532 Gay Lac La Belle Rd Lac La Belle, MI 49950

Highlights

Grab a bite to eat at any time of the day at the North Pole Bar & Restaurant! The restaurant features live music every Friday and Saturday night with Jan Arnold.

Related Onsite Offerings

The inn offers a selection of cabins as well, which include meals with your stay to ensure you have everything you need for a comfortable vacation.

The Minnesota Northwoods is home to four seasons of outdoor adventures, sure to entertain travelers of all ages. A stay at Lutsen Resort on Lake Superior puts you in the perfect place to enjoy all that this natural wonderland has to offer. Wintertime brings blankets of snowcovered peaks and truly magical scenery that you can explore to your heart's content just outside your door. The resort offers the best in cross-crounty skiing throughout Minnesota. You'll have access to two trail systems just minutes away which encompasses over 150 kilometers of pristine trails that take you on an exciting trip around the Lake Superior terrain. Keep your eyes out for icy maple trees and plenty of deer and wolf tracks! Guided cross-country skiing trips take you along the best paths and range from full and half-day excursions. For more adventure, you can join in on a guided snowshoeing trip. Stop down at the main lobby and let their staff outfit you with the perfect fair of snowshoes; you'll take a shuttle off to a local trail where you will learn how to properly wear your shoes and take you through the beautiful wooded paths. You can also take the resort's shuttle service over to the Lutsen Mountains Ski Area for plenty of exciting downhill skiing and snowboarding. The ski area features 1,000 acres of skiable terrain, 92 runs and 986 feet of vertical that's sure to make your Minnesota ski vacation one to remember!

Address

5700 W Minnesota 61 Lutsen, MN 55612

Highlights

Two onsite restaurants at Lutsen lets you unwind after a day of skiing and treat yourself to some delicious meals. Lakeside Dining Room is a casual dining experience open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and offers an impressive wine selection with over 125 options.

Related Onsite Offerings

Accommodations at Lutsen come in a variety of choices including cozy rooms at the historic lodge, luxury suites with jacuzzis, classic log cabins, spacious townhomes and seaside villas. Each unit is equipped with modern touches to ensure your maximum comfort!

Voted as one of the Midwest's 10 Best Ski Resorts, Devil's Head Resort & Convention Center is an exceptional destination for all your winter fun.

This Wisconsin getaway is the third largest in the Midwest with 300 acres of skiable terrain, 500 vertical feet of day and night runs, 100% snowmaking and nine lifts. The resort features a 3,000-foot top-to-bottom Terrain Park that lets you take your skiing adventure to the next level. Get high into the air on the table-top jumps or grind down the many boxes and rails to impress your group. Beginners to the sport will enjoy the Ski & Ride School, which guide you through the steps to ski or snowboard like a pro! And to make it even easier to have fun, Devil's Head Resort offers ski-in/ski-out accommodations that put you right beside the beautiful snow-covered slopes. Their lodging comes in a variety ot styles including comfortable lodge rooms to spacious condominiums at Glacier Ridge which are equipped with kitchens, gas fireplaces and more. Onsite, you will also have access to five luxury restaurants, two of which are only open during the winter season so you can enjoy the delicious fare between all your winter fun.

Address

S6330 Bluff Road Merrimac, WI 53561

Highlights

Don't worry about lugging all your winter equipment with you on your vacation. Devil's Head offers a luxury Ski Pro Shop and Gear Rentals right onsite to take all the hassle out of getting ready for your adventure.

Related Onsite Offerings

The resort offers free hourly or overnight ski and snowboard storage in the lower level of the Cliffhaus adjacent to the snowboard rental area.

As one of Minnesota's premier ski areas, Giants Ridge Golf & Ski Resort guarantees an unforgettable winter vacation. Here you have access to 35 downhill runs and 60 kilometers of Nordic skiing trails that take you through the surrounding scenery of the Superior National Forest. These trails were originally created for intensive training by the US Ski Team, ensuring truly incredible grades and lets you enjoy all the stunning vistas and hills of this beautiful Minnesota area. Plus, three kilometers of the trails are lit up for night skiing! You'll also find five snowshoe trails: the Northface, Single Track, Lower & Upper Sleeping Giant, and Deer Valley. These trails are ideal for discovering the best sights and sounds of the area, and snowshoes are available for rent right onsite. Or, you can spend a day enjoying some no-nonsense snow tubing down the slopes! If that's not enough, ice-fishing is another popular winter activity in the area. There are plenty of lakes and rivers teeming with bass, trout, walleye and northern pike; Lake Vermillion, Wynne and Sabin are your best bet for a memorable fishing trip!

Address

6325 Wynne Creek Drive Biwabik, MN 55708

Highlights

Five onsite dining options are available at Giants Ridge, along with a coffee shop for when you need a quick pick-me-up!

Related Onsite Offerings

Giants Ridge features a selection of accommodations to choose from including spacious condominiums with full kitchens, luxury multi-bedroom vacation homes and much more!

The vast Midwest welcomes inches upon inches of snow each year, making it an exciting destination to plan your next winter vacation.

At the height of winter experiences and luxury awaits a Michigan resort that offers over 250 hotel rooms, suites and townhomes and plenty of modern touches to make you feel right at home. Crystal Mojuntain Resort & Spa in Thompsonville, Michigan offers you a Northwoods vacation that truly can't be beat. Here awaits 58 downhill runs, snowmaking capabilities of 800 tons per hour, and an award-winning X-C Ski Center. A total of 102 acres of skiable terrain are available, along with nine lifts, and 29 lighted runs for night skiing. Explore 30 kilometers of cross-country skiing trails or 80 beautiful acres that's perfect for snowsnoeing! When you're ready to call it quits for the day, the luxury resort welcomes you back with the award-winning Crystal Spa, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and two amazing onsite restaurants, the Thistle Pub & Grille and Wild Tomato Restaurant & Bar. Soothe all your muscles from your outdoor adventure with a rejuvenating massage, then settle down for a delicious meal before returning to your room to rest! Equipped with full kitchens, decks or balconies, and cozy living spaces, it's everything you need for a comfortable stay!

Address

12500 Crystal Mountain Dr. Thompsonville, MI 49683

Highlights

Skiing isn't the only winter activity that awaits at Crystal Mountain! Take in the stunning snow-capped mountains as you ride along on a horse-drawn sleigh, or test your skills out on the ice; the onsite rink is perfect for both ice-skating and rounds of hockey!

Related Onsite Offerings

Keep warm around a campfire after a day on the slopes! The onsite fire ring lets you unwind with your family, friends or loved one and roasted marshmallows!

Ski in and out with ease when you stay at the Big Powderhorn Mountain Resort. Their slopeside chalets let you enjoy a rustic mountain experience with the comforts of a hotel. Featuring modern touches such as full kitchens, stone fireplaces, cable televisions and spacious decks overlooking the slopes, it's everything you need for a relaxing vacation experience. Two onsite dining options, the Caribou Lodge and the Hideout Grill & Bar offer plenty of mouth-watering options that's sure to enchant even the most pickiest of eaters. Of course, when it comes to winter fun, Big Powderhorn Mountain Resoort is everything you could hope for--and more. Considered as having the Best Downhill Terrain in the Midwest, the Mighican resort features 253 acres of skiable terrain with 33 trails, nine double chair lifs and a beginner handle tow. They offer a 622 vertical drop and 93% of snowmaking terrain across their multiple parks. With their longest run being a full mile, this truly an exciting place to enjoy all that winter has to offer!

Address

N11375 Powderhorn Rd Bessemer, MI 49911

Highlights

The Snow Sports School at Big Powderhorn lets you easily sharpen your skills no matter if you're a complete beginner or have been skiing for years. Enjoy private or semi-private lessons and feel confident when you hit the slopes!

Related Onsite Offerings

The surrounding area is prime for cross-country skiing adventures if you need a break from the slopes! The Wolverine Nordic trail system features 19 kilometers of trails waiting for you to explore.