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Traditional charmTop facilitiesOff-slope activitiesTraditional charmTop facilitiesOff-slope activitiesTraditional charmTop facilitiesOff-slope activitiesTraditional charmThe Highlands sits just outside the picture-postcard resort town of Harbor Springs on the shores of Little Traverse Bay in northern Michigan. This is the Great Lakes ski country - a region where lake-effect snow rolls in from Lake Michigan and transforms the rolling, forested hills into a surprisingly satisfying winter playground. The resort has been a fixture of Michigan skiing since it opened in 1956, and over the decades it's built a loyal following among Midwestern families and weekend skiers from Detroit, Chicago, and beyond. The atmosphere is friendly, unpretentious, and rooted in the kind of community spirit that defines small American ski areas at their best.
With around 25 runs across approximately 135 acres, served by four lifts, The Highlands is a compact resort by any measure. The summit sits at roughly 465m with a base around 250m, giving a vertical drop of about 213m. For UK visitors, the North American trail rating system applies: green circles for beginners, blue squares for intermediates (covering a wider range than European blues), black diamonds for advanced, and double black diamonds for expert only. The terrain is well-distributed across ability levels, with a good beginner and intermediate selection alongside some genuinely steep pitches on the upper mountain that give more experienced skiers something to work with. Night skiing operates on select evenings, extending the day well into the evening hours. The season typically runs from December through March, buoyed by reliable lake-effect snowfall supplemented by comprehensive snowmaking.
What elevates The Highlands beyond its modest statistics is the setting. Harbor Springs is one of Michigan's most charming small towns - a historic Great Lakes community with Victorian-era architecture, independent shops, galleries, and restaurants that draw visitors year-round. The wider Petoskey-Harbor Springs area has been a favourite retreat for well-to-do Midwesterners since the 19th century, when steamships brought holidaymakers up from Chicago. Today, the combination of genuine lakeside charm, solid skiing, and a welcoming local culture makes for a winter trip with far more personality than the trail map alone suggests. Check out The Highlands ski deals to start planning your trip.
The Highlands sits just outside the picture-postcard resort town of Harbor Springs on the shores of Little Traverse Bay in northern Michigan. This is the Great Lakes ski country - a region where lake-effect snow rolls in from Lake Michigan and transforms the rolling, forested hills into a surprisingly satisfying winter playground. The resort has been a fixture of Michigan skiing since it opened in 1956, and over the decades it's built a loyal following among Midwestern families and weekend skiers from Detroit, Chicago, and beyond. The atmosphere is friendly, unpretentious, and rooted in the kind of community spirit that defines small American ski areas at their best.
With around 25 runs across approximately 135 acres, served by four lifts, The Highlands is a compact resort by any measure. The summit sits at roughly 465m with a base around 250m, giving a vertical drop of about 213m. For UK visitors, the North American trail rating system applies: green circles for beginners, blue squares for intermediates (covering a wider range than European blues), black diamonds for advanced, and double black diamonds for expert only. The terrain is well-distributed across ability levels, with a good beginner and intermediate selection alongside some genuinely steep pitches on the upper mountain that give more experienced skiers something to work with. Night skiing operates on select evenings, extending the day well into the evening hours. The season typically runs from December through March, buoyed by reliable lake-effect snowfall supplemented by comprehensive snowmaking.
What elevates The Highlands beyond its modest statistics is the setting. Harbor Springs is one of Michigan's most charming small towns - a historic Great Lakes community with Victorian-era architecture, independent shops, galleries, and restaurants that draw visitors year-round. The wider Petoskey-Harbor Springs area has been a favourite retreat for well-to-do Midwesterners since the 19th century, when steamships brought holidaymakers up from Chicago. Today, the combination of genuine lakeside charm, solid skiing, and a welcoming local culture makes for a winter trip with far more personality than the trail map alone suggests. Check out The Highlands ski deals to start planning your trip.
Skiing The Highlands is about quality over quantity. The mountain is compact enough to know intimately within a day or two, but there's more variety in those 25 runs than you might expect. The upper mountain has a proper pitch to it - steeper than many Midwestern hills manage - and the lower sections roll through hardwood forest that turns every run into a scenic woodland descent. The lake-effect snow from Lake Michigan falls reliably through the season, and the snowmaking system keeps things covered even when nature takes a break.
The four lifts move efficiently for a resort of this size, and the layout means minimal flat sections or long traverses - you're skiing top to bottom and straight back on the chair. Night skiing adds a different dimension entirely, with lit runs creating an atmospheric experience under the Michigan winter sky. The resort's grooming is consistently praised by regulars, and on a freshly corded morning the runs ski beautifully. It's not a mountain that will take a week to explore, but for a long weekend or a family trip with skiing as one element of a wider Great Lakes holiday, The Highlands delivers a genuinely enjoyable experience.
The Highlands has a well-thought-out learning area with green circle runs (the North American equivalent of European greens and easy blues) that provide gentle, wide terrain for finding your balance. The beginner slopes are set in a dedicated zone with their own lift, separated from faster traffic on the main mountain. The runs are well-groomed and the gradient is forgiving, making those first linked turns feel achievable rather than terrifying. The resort's relaxed atmosphere and manageable scale mean there's no overwhelming choice or intimidating crowds - you can focus entirely on learning.
As confidence grows, the transition to easier blue square runs is smooth and natural. The mountain's compact size means you're never far from familiar terrain, which builds confidence for beginners who might feel anxious about getting lost on a larger mountain. The night skiing sessions are worth trying once you're comfortable on greens - the quieter slopes and the novelty of skiing under lights make it a memorable experience for newer skiers. For a first-time ski holiday, The Highlands' friendly, patient character makes it an encouraging place to start.
WeSki insider tip: * Book a lesson for your first morning and then use the afternoon to practise on the green runs at your own pace. The mountain is small enough that you won't feel lost, and the lift operators are happy to point you towards the gentlest terrain.
Intermediates will find The Highlands rewarding for a day or a long weekend, with a solid selection of blue square runs that cover the mid-mountain and lower sections. The groomed blue trails are wide, well-maintained, and have enough pitch variation to keep things engaging. Remember that North American blues span a wider range than European blues, so you'll encounter both gentle cruisers and runs with steeper sections that ask more of your technique. The hardwood forest setting adds character to every descent, particularly in the crisp light of a Michigan winter morning.
For intermediates looking to push their limits, the easier black diamond runs at The Highlands are a logical step up. The steeper sections are short enough to feel manageable but committed enough to give you a genuine sense of achievement. The mountain's compact layout means you can lap your favourite runs repeatedly, refining your technique without the distraction of navigating a complex trail system. Night skiing adds variety too - the same runs feel different under lights, and the evening sessions tend to be quieter, giving you more space to work on your skiing.
WeSki insider tip: * Try the night skiing sessions midweek - the runs are quieter, the grooming is fresh, and skiing through the lit forest under the stars has a special atmosphere that daytime runs can't replicate. It's one of The Highlands' best-kept pleasures.
The Highlands' advanced terrain is concentrated on the upper mountain, where the steepest pitches deliver surprisingly challenging skiing for a Midwestern resort. The black diamond runs have a genuine bite - short but sustained, with moguls building through the day on ungroomed sections and enough gradient to demand proper technique. For experienced skiers accustomed to Rocky Mountain or Alpine resorts, the vertical is obviously modest, but the terrain itself is honest and the steep sections are properly steep.
The tree skiing between marked trails adds variety for those who like to explore, though the scale is limited compared to Western resorts. After a lake-effect snow event, the fresh powder on the steeper runs and through the trees can be genuinely fun - the snow falls soft and accumulates quickly, and the modest number of visitors means it lasts longer than you'd expect. Advanced skiers will cover the mountain's offerings in a day, making The Highlands best suited as part of a multi-resort trip around northern Michigan (nearby Nub's Nob and Boyne Highlands add further variety) or as the skiing component of a broader Great Lakes holiday.
WeSki insider tip: * When lake-effect snow is in the forecast, head straight for the steepest runs on the upper mountain first thing - the fresh snow transforms the blacks into genuinely enjoyable powder skiing, and at a resort this small you can lap the good stuff before it gets tracked out.
The Highlands welcomes snowboarders and maintains a terrain park with features including jumps, rails, and boxes suited to beginner and intermediate freestyle riders. The natural terrain is pleasant for cruising and the steeper pitches give experienced boarders something to carve into. The mountain's compact layout and smooth grooming make it a good learning environment for newer snowboarders. Night riding under the lights adds a fun dimension, particularly for park laps with a quieter crowd.
Off-piste opportunities at The Highlands are limited by the resort's compact size, but there is some tree skiing between marked runs for those who enjoy exploring. After a fresh lake-effect snowfall, the gladed areas can be surprisingly enjoyable, with soft, manageable terrain through the hardwood forest. This isn't a destination for dedicated off-piste skiing, but the natural features and tree lines between trails add character to a day on the mountain and give confident intermediates a taste of skiing beyond groomed runs.
The Highlands ski school provides group lessons, private tuition, and children's programmes for all ages and ability levels. The school has a friendly, patient approach that reflects the resort's community character - instructors tend to know their students by name, particularly in the children's programmes. English is the language of instruction throughout. Booking ahead is advisable for weekends and holiday periods, when the resort is busiest with families from the wider Midwest region.
The Highlands maintains a terrain park with a selection of features including jumps, rails, and boxes. The setup is geared primarily towards beginner and intermediate freestyle riders, with features sized to encourage progression rather than intimidate. The park is well-maintained and provides a fun addition to the day's skiing, particularly for younger visitors and those developing their freestyle skills. Night skiing sessions include the lit park area, adding an extra element to evening riding.
The Highlands is a natural family resort. The mountain's manageable size means parents can keep track of everyone without stress, the beginner area is well-designed and encouraging, and the ski school's children's programmes have a warm, personal touch that bigger resorts struggle to match. The base area is compact and easy to navigate - everything from the lifts to the lodge to the rental shop is within a short walk. There's a genuine sense of community here, and families return year after year, often seeing the same instructors and staff.
Older children and teenagers will enjoy the variety of blue and easier black runs, and the terrain park provides a progression for those interested in freestyle. Night skiing is a particular family highlight - there's something special about skiing together under lights on a Michigan winter evening, and the novelty factor keeps children engaged even after a full day on the slopes. The mountain's modest scale means younger skiers can develop independence without parents worrying about them getting lost or ending up on terrain they can't handle.
Off the slopes, the Harbor Springs and Petoskey area provides plenty to keep families entertained. The towns have a charming, walkable character with shops, cafes, and restaurants that are welcoming to families. The Petoskey stone beaches (Michigan's state stone, a fossilised coral unique to the region) are a winter beach-combing adventure that children love. Indoor swimming pools, ice skating, and the region's museums and galleries provide rest-day options, while the wider area's cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails are accessible for families of all ages.
The Highlands' location near Harbor Springs and Petoskey means the off-slope experience is defined by Great Lakes charm rather than purpose-built resort entertainment. The area has a genuine year-round identity - these are historic lakeside communities with their own culture, architecture, and traditions, and winter visitors benefit from that depth. Whether you're looking for rest-day activities, options for non-skiers, or simply want to soak up the northern Michigan atmosphere, the region rewards exploration.
Northern Michigan's reliable snowfall and beautiful lakeside landscape provide a strong selection of winter activities beyond the ski slopes:
The Harbor Springs and Petoskey area has a depth of culture, history, and character that makes rest days feel like a proper holiday rather than time to fill. The Great Lakes setting and the region's long history as a resort destination for Midwesterners give it a distinctive, welcoming atmosphere:
On-mountain dining at The Highlands is straightforward - the lodge serves solid cafeteria-style food and hot drinks. The real dining rewards are in Harbor Springs and Petoskey, where a well-developed restaurant scene reflects the area's long tradition as a destination for discerning Midwestern visitors. The food here leans into northern Michigan's strengths - freshwater fish from the Great Lakes, cherry and apple orchards, local farms, and a growing craft food culture.
WeSki insider tip: * Ask for Great Lakes whitefish at any of the area's restaurants - it's the signature dish of northern Michigan, typically pan-fried or planked, and when it's fresh from the lakes it's outstanding. City Park Grill in Petoskey does a particularly good version.
Après-ski at The Highlands is warm, friendly, and entirely without pretension. The lodge bar is where skiers gather after last chair - a log fire, a cold beer, and easy conversation with locals and fellow visitors. It's the kind of place where the mountain's community character comes through most clearly, and the atmosphere after a good ski day is cheerful and convivial. Nobody's dressing up or jostling for table service - you order at the bar and find a seat.
For more variety, Harbor Springs and Petoskey have a handful of pubs, wine bars, and breweries that cater to the winter crowd without overdoing it. The scene is gentle and social rather than rowdy - a glass of wine at a harbour-side restaurant, craft beers in a Petoskey taproom, or a cocktail at a historic bar with a literary connection. It's après with a Great Lakes character, and it suits the area perfectly.
Après-ski spots to know:
There's no slopeside accommodation at The Highlands, so visitors stay in the surrounding area. Harbor Springs is the closest town, just a few minutes' drive, with a selection of inns, B&Bs, and rental properties in a charming lakeside setting. Petoskey, about fifteen minutes south, has a wider range - hotels, boutique properties, vacation rentals, and larger resort-style accommodation. Both towns are well-established visitor destinations with year-round character and services.
The area's accommodation reflects its heritage as a Great Lakes resort region. Stafford's Perry Hotel in Petoskey is the standout character option - a beautifully maintained historic hotel in the Gaslight District with period charm and modern comfort. For families and groups, rental houses and condominiums in the Harbor Springs and Petoskey area provide space and self-catering flexibility. A car is essential for reaching the resort, and winter driving in northern Michigan requires appropriate preparation - snow tyres or chains are strongly advisable.
The Highlands' lift tickets cover all four lifts, the full trail network, and access to the terrain park. Night skiing sessions are available as add-ons or included in certain pass types. Pricing is very reasonable by North American standards, reflecting the resort's community character. Multi-day passes are available. For those wanting to explore the wider region, nearby Nub's Nob and Boyne Highlands are separate resorts with their own ticketing. Check for family and multi-day pass options when booking your The Highlands ski holiday through WeSki to find the best fit for your trip.
The Highlands has a rental shop at the base lodge offering ski and snowboard packages for all ages and ability levels. The equipment is well-maintained and the staff are experienced at fitting visitors from beginners to advanced skiers. Booking in advance is worthwhile for busy weekend and holiday periods. Several independent ski shops in the Petoskey and Harbor Springs area also provide rental equipment, which can be convenient for fitting the evening before your first day on the slopes.
The Highlands' base area is small and straightforward - the lodge, lifts, rental shop, and car park are all within a short walk of each other. On the mountain, everything is accessible from the single base, so there's no need for shuttle buses. It's about as simple as ski resort logistics get.
Off the mountain, a car is essential. There's no public ski shuttle between The Highlands and Harbor Springs or Petoskey. Driving distances are short - Harbor Springs is about five minutes, Petoskey about fifteen - and the roads are well-maintained in winter, though northern Michigan conditions mean snow and ice are common. The area's compact geography means you can easily ski at The Highlands during the day and explore Harbor Springs or Petoskey's restaurants and shops in the evening without a lengthy commute.
The Highlands is located near Harbor Springs in northern Michigan's Lower Peninsula. The nearest commercial airport is Pellston Regional Airport (approximately 30km / 19 miles north), which receives seasonal flights from a limited number of US cities. For wider connectivity, Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City (approximately 115km / 70 miles southwest) and Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids (approximately 370km / 230 miles south) are alternatives. For UK visitors, Detroit Metropolitan Airport (approximately 450km / 280 miles south) is the main international gateway, with the drive north through Michigan's interior taking around four to five hours.
WeSki offers car rentals from the airport as well as private transfers to The Highlands. Add them to your The Highlands ski holiday package for seamless door-to-door travel.
Yes - The Highlands is an excellent beginner-friendly resort. The dedicated learning area has gentle green circle runs (equivalent to European greens and easy blues) with its own lift, separated from faster traffic. The ski school is patient and personal, and the mountain's compact, uncrowded nature means new skiers can build confidence without feeling overwhelmed. The night skiing sessions are a fun next step once you're comfortable on the basics. It's a particularly good choice for families with first-time skiers.
The Highlands is one of several ski areas clustered around the Harbor Springs and Petoskey region. Nearby Nub's Nob is similar in size with a loyal following and strong grooming. Boyne Highlands is larger and has more extensive facilities including slopeside accommodation. The Highlands' strength is its friendly community atmosphere, well-maintained terrain, and the charm of Harbor Springs as a base town. Many visitors ski multiple resorts during a trip to the area, as all three are within a short drive of each other.
Lake-effect snow occurs when cold air passes over the relatively warm waters of the Great Lakes, picking up moisture that falls as heavy, localised snowfall on the downwind shore. Northern Michigan benefits enormously from this phenomenon, with Lake Michigan generating regular snow events through the winter that top up the natural snowpack. For ski resorts like The Highlands, lake-effect snow supplements the snowmaking system and keeps conditions fresh. The snow tends to be soft and fluffy, making for pleasant skiing when a lake-effect band passes through.
Candidly, The Highlands' 25 runs and 135 acres are best suited to a long weekend or as part of a broader trip rather than a dedicated week of skiing. The terrain is enjoyable but compact, and experienced skiers will cover it thoroughly in a day or two. The strength of a trip here lies in combining the skiing with the wider appeal of the Harbor Springs and Petoskey area - restaurants, lake scenery, winter activities, and the option to ski neighbouring resorts like Nub's Nob and Boyne Highlands for variety.
North American resorts use a different system from Europe. Green circles are beginner runs (similar to European greens and easy blues). Blue squares denote intermediate terrain but span a wider range than European blues - some are gentle cruisers, others are considerably more challenging. Black diamonds indicate advanced, steep terrain, and double black diamonds are expert only, often with extreme steeps, moguls, or cliffs. There's no direct equivalent to European red runs, so confident intermediates should expect some blues to feel quite testing.
Harbor Springs is one of Michigan's most attractive small towns - a historic Great Lakes community on Little Traverse Bay with Victorian-era architecture, a walkable downtown, independent shops, and a handful of good restaurants. In winter it's quiet but not sleepy, with enough character and services to make a comfortable base. The town has a long tradition as a summer resort for well-to-do Midwesterners, and that heritage shows in the quality of the architecture and the care taken with the public spaces. It's about five minutes' drive from The Highlands.
Absolutely - this is one of the best approaches to a ski trip in the area. The Highlands, Nub's Nob, and Boyne Highlands are all within about fifteen minutes' drive of each other, and each has a slightly different character and terrain profile. Skiing two or three of them over a long weekend gives you variety that any single resort in the region can't match on its own. A car makes hopping between them straightforward, and accommodation in Harbor Springs or Petoskey puts you within easy reach of all three.
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