Keweenaw Skiing, Trail & Snow Conditions

Home Virtual Keweenaw Photo Gallery Calendar Events Contact Us Skiing, Trail & Snow Conditions In the News

Activities Attractions Lodging Restaurants Services Shopping

The Keweenaw Peninsula is a true winter paradise, with lots and lots of powdery snow, incredible scenery, and a well developed snowmobile trail system. Located at the top of Michigan's Upper Peninsula and surrounded on three sides by Lake Superior, the Keweenaw Peninsula usually receives 200, 300, or nearly 400 inches of snow each winter. The best part is that heavy snowfall isn't always paired with frigid temperatures, since the Keweenaw's average winter temperature of almost 20 degrees F. Come enjoy "The Snow Capital of the Midwest", the Keweenaw Peninsula.

Area Snowfall •••••• Cross-Country Skiing •••••• Downhill Skiing •••••• Snowmobile Trails •••••• Weather •••••• Keweenaw Web Cams

Area Snowfall Current snow conditions for Houghton (measured in Painesdale) and Keweenaw (measured in Delaware) Counties.
	Area Snowfall Average snowfall during a Keweenaw winter is over 200 inches. The snowiest winter on record was 1978-79 when Keweenaw County received 390.3 inches, or 37 1/2 feet. The all-time low was in 1930-31 when only 81.3 inches of snow, or 6.8 feet, fell on Keweenaw County. Snowfall history: During the winter of 2007-2008, Houghton County received 274 inches of snow and had as much as 30" on the ground. Keweenaw County received 282.7 inches of snow and had as much as 37" on the ground.
Cross-Country Skiing back to top The Keweenaw Peninsula offers several well-maintained cross-country ski trails for your winter enjoyment.
	*The Keweenaw Region Ski and Snowshoe Trail Guide* will get you started planning your unforgettable winter vacation in the land of really big snow! Request your complimentary guide today!**
	Chassell On trails groomed for the traditional skier, the whole family can enjoy the pleasures of skiing the Chassell Classic. Trails are groomed Wednesday, Friday and the weekend as necessary and daily when it is snowing heavily. Current conditions: Chassell trails are closed for the season.
	Copper Harbor Enjoy the romance and wilderness experience of the Northwoods when skiing Copper Harbor's Pathway. The 8km miles of classical skiing trails are groomed as necesary. Trailhead/parking/restrooms available at the Copper Harbor Welcome Center. Current conditions: Trails are no longer being groomed.
	Eagle Harbor The Eagle Harbor Ski Trail begins at the intersection of 7th & Pine Streets in Eagle Harbor. A donation box is located at the trailhead. The main loop runs around Long Lake with many shortcuts and additional loops that can take you as far as Great Sand Bay. The classic wilderness single track trails are groomed by volunteers as needed, usually on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Current conditions: Trails are no longer being groomed.
	Maasto Hiihto The Maasto Hiihto Trail is a striding-only trail system that offers unsurpassed skiing on varied and scenic trails. The trail system connects with the Churning Rapids trails that provide a true backcountry experience. The two systems contain about 25k of groomed trails. Two trailheads provide access to Maasto Hiihto: one at the Hancock Driving Park, behind the Houghton County Arena, (the chalet is located here and is open during the day and includes bathrooms) and the other at Tomasi Road near the Hancock city garage, north of the Portage Health System. Churning Rapids can be accessed from Maasto Hiihto or from a trailhead at Christianson Road at M-203. (Red donation pipes are located at both trail heads) Maasto Hiihto and Churning Rapids are groomed three times a week or more as needed. Grooming comments or questions can be directed to Arlyn Aronson at arlyn@superiortandems.com or weekdays at 906-370-2911. Current conditions: Grooming at Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids has ended for the year. Please let the trails dry out once the snow melts before biking.
	McLain Beautiful ice formations along the shores of Lake Superior attract skiers to the McLain State Park trails. Spectacular lakeview scenery is the specialy of this trail. No true track is set, but the trail is smoothed as needed. A state park sticker is needed to enter the park. Current conditions: Grooming has ended for the season.
	Michigan Tech Nordic Training Center The 20.5km of the expanded Michigan Tech University trail system is groomed daily, weather permitting, and offers 4.5 miles of lighted night skiing. ("You've got a World Cup class trail here."-- Sten Fjeldheim, Nordic Coach, Northern Michigan University) Current conditions: No longer grooming.
	Swedetown The Swedetown Trail System offers something for everyone on its 30km of trails, from the family-oriented Green trail to white knuckle descents to a nature-viewing backcountry. Trails are groomed daily for both skating and classic skiing and offer 4k of lighted trails. Current conditions: No longer grooming.
	Twin Lakes State Park The wooded trails of Twin Lakes State Park provide a view of Lake Superior at the scenic overlook and are groomed as needed for traditional skiing. Current conditions: Trails are no longer being groomed.
Downhill Skiing back to top From beginners to experts seeking extreme challenges, downhill skiers can find just the right slopes in the Keweenaw Peninsula.
	Mont Ripley Operated by Michigan Technological University, Mont Ripley offer 19 runs and two lifts with a 423 foot vertical drop. A new state-of-the-art snowmaking system and an annual snowfall of 250 inches make the season long and conditions excellent. 2005 is the fifth season the hill was open through April 1. Current conditions: Mont Ripley is closed for the season.
	Mount Bohemia Ready for The Midwest's highest vertical? Some of the deepest powder found anywhere in North America? The most backcountry adventure? Then its time for a trip to the Keweenaw's Mt.Bohemia Ski Hill. Current conditions: Mt. Bohemia is closed for the season.
Snowmobile Trails back to top You will find over 200 miles of well-developed snowmobile trails in the Keweenaw Peninsula, connected with 2,500 miles of snowmobile trails traversing Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
	*Our Snowmobile Trail Map* will help you plan your exciting winter visit to the the shores of majestic Lake Superior! Request your complimentary map today!**
	Keweenaw Trails 233 miles of trails in the Keweenaw connect to the 2,500 miles of trails covering Michigan's Upper Peninsula. All trails are 10 to 12 feet wide, groomed with state-of-the-art equipment and clearly identified. Trails take riders through powdery forests, over rolling hills and along frozen lake shores. And the rider's comfort is not overlooked, with lodging, restaurants, service stations and refreshment spots located on, or just a short drive from, the trails. Our groomers are out on a daily basis so all trails on the peninsula are groomed almost daily. Trails are officially open from December 1 through March 31 and are groomed during that period as weather permits. WARNING: 90% of our trail system is located on private property and land use permits are in effect only from December 1 through March 31. After that time, some trails are gated by the land owners and trespassing becomes an issue. Current conditions: Keweenaw snowmobile trails are closed for the season. The work on the trail system will continue over the summer and fall, as we look forward to opening the trails again on December 1st. . Check out the history of Keweenaw snowmobiling on the Pasty Cam website.
Weather back to top Current weather conditions for Northern Houghton and Keweenaw Counties.
	Weather Weather forecasts are provided by the Weather Underground at www.wunderground.com Current conditions: Click on the weather link on our home page for the latest, up-to-date weather on the Keweenaw.
back to top

Keweenaw Web Cams

Check out these Web Cams to see how Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula looks today!
	Ripley Cam This still image of Mont Ripley, up close, is courtesy of Michigan Tech University.
	Michigan Tech Nordic Training Center These motion or still image cams of the trails in the recreational forest next to the Michigan Tech University campus in Houghton are courtesy of the university.