Two Michigan Resorts In Running For USA Today Best Ski Resort Poll

Mount Bohemia (Facebook picture)

Once again Mount Bohemia, located in the uppermost portion of Michigan's UP, is in the running for USA Today's Best Ski Resort in the U.S. poll, which concludes on November 20. It's not unfamiliar territory for them since they have appeared in past polls.

New this year is that ABR Ski Trails, also located in the Wolverine State's UP, is in this year's running for Best Cross Country Ski Resort in the U.S. It's their first time to appear in the poll. A panel of experts selected the top 20 cross country ski resorts across the U.S. to appear in the poll, which is voted on by the public. It also concludes on November 20.

Bohemia is an anomaly for the Heartland. A big vertical drop for the Great Lakes Region, 900 feet with cliffs, chutes, trees, steep drops and all natural snow. They have no snowmaking, and don't do any grooming. Bohemia claims all expert terrain and, they aren't exaggerating. The terrain is typical of what you find out west in the backcountry. There is nothing else even remotely like it mid-continent. Find another line through the trees, boulders and cliff drops spread out over 600 acres. Beginners aren’t allowed and wouldn’t enjoy it anyway.

They offer one of the best early season pass sales in the Midwest. The $99 pass sale takes place for only a little over a week from Nov. 22 through December 2, and the only way you will be able to ski or ride Saturdays throughout the season is with a season pass. A daily lift ticket will be $92 this season.

USA Today said of ABR Ski Trails, “It is an 1,100-acre Nordic ski center, which boasts 100km of cross country trails in the beautiful Montreal River Valley. In addition to classic striding trails, combination skate and striding trails and an additional 13km of snowshoeing trails and trails for dog-pulled skijoring.” They even have cabins along the trail that you ski back into and spend the night.