The Grayling area offers miles of exceptionally well-groomed cross country ski trails for the novice to the expert, and ungroomed, pristine trails for snowshoeing or back-country skiing.
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The Cross Country Ski Shop, Cross Country Ski Headquarters, and Forbush Corner also offer complete ski shops.
| Area Name | Length | Difficulty comments by Dick Fultz of the Cross Country Ski Shop |
Terrain | Grooming | Rentals | Trail Fee |
| Cross Country Ski Headquarters | 8 loops, 1km to 8 km | novice to advanced | 5% hilly, 40% moderate, 45% flat | track set / skating lane |
yes |
yes |
| Cross Country Ski Shop |
2 loops, .8 mile lighted |
novice |
5% moderate, 95% flat |
track set / skating lane | yes |
no |
| Forbush Corner |
20km+ |
novice to advanced "Sets the standard for world-class grooming." |
5% steep, 45%hilly,
35%moderate, 15% flat |
track set / skating lane | yes |
yes |
| Hanson Hills Recreation Area | loops of 2km to 12km | novice to advanced "one of the nicest trail systems in the state." |
60% hilly, 30% moderate, 10% flat | track set / skating lane | yes |
yes |
| Hartwick Pines State Park | 18+ miles | novice to intermediate |
3% steep, 7% hilly, 60% moderate, 30% flat | track set |
no |
yes |
| Mason Tract Pathway | 10+ miles | novice to intermediate "One of the most beatiful trail systems for skiing. A narrow machine-set single track follows the AuSable river." |
5% Hilly, 85% moderate, 10% flat | track set |
no | no |
| North Higgins Lake State Park | 10+ miles | novice to intermediate "Great area for skiing - hilly enough to keep it interesting." |
20% hilly, 30% moderate, 50% flat | track set / skating lane | no | no |
| Rayburn's | 2 miles of paved trail | novice "2 mile point to point trail that crosses the AuSable River on a wooden bridge." |
100% flat | none | no | no |
| Wakeley Lake | 16+ miles | novice to intermediate "Crawford County's Walden Pond - it is a sanctuary of nature & quiet." |
25% hilly, 55% moderate, 20% flat | none | no | yes |
West Higgins Cross-Country Ski Trail
4.9k, new trail flat to gently rolling terrain, maintained by
local ski club.
Parking lot off Old-27.
Marl
Lake Trail
5.5 miles flat terrain with scenic view of Marl Lake.
County Rd. 100 across the street from S. Higgins Lake State
Park
Hanson Hills
Recreation Area
35k groomed cross-country trails, rolling terrain through Hanson
Game Refuge, x-country ski lodge.
3 miles west of Grayling on M-93.
Loud Creek Nordic Ski
Club
10k groomed and wide enough for a skating lane, rugged terrain
with long sloping grades and 1/2 mile downhill runs, trail head
donations requested.
M-33 from Mio south to 14th St, south to Cauchy Rd, then west on
Cauchy Rd.
Wakeley Lake Trail
Offers 16.5 miles of hiking trails; the yellow trail is 7 miles,
the blue trail 5 miles, the orange trail 4.5 miles. Birdwatchers
would be interested in the nesting Loons, Eagles & Great Blue
Heron.
M72 east of Grayling 1/4 mile past Wakeley Bridge Road