Mountain Blog

We’ve known it for years but this morning the rest of the nation was let in on our little secret. It’s always been true but now it is official, Crystal Mountain is just 30 minutes from “The Most Beautiful Place in America.” From a list that included Aspen, Colorado, Lanikai Beach, Hawaii and Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, Sleeping Bear Dunes ranked Number 1 in Good Morning America’s Ten Most Beautiful Places in America.



Sleeping Bear Dunes’ 70,000 acres and 35 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline holds a distinctive beauty with the changing of each season. Thousands upon thousands visit over the course of the summer but few places are more breathtaking during the fall color season or offer more incredible snowshoeing and cross-country skiing during the winter months.

Whichever season you choose to visit, here are a few of the more popular stops and how to get there: 

Point Betsie (Click for directions) 22 miles
Completed in 1858, this historic lighthouse is just south of the Lakshore and marks the southern entrance of the Manitou Passage.

Pierce Stocking Drive (Click for directions) 29 miles
If Sleeping Bear Dunes is the most beautiful place then this must be the most beautiful 7.5 mile drive in America with views of the Glen Lakes, Dunes and Lake Michigan.

Dune Climb (Click for directions) 32 miles
This is a must-do if you have kids located just 5 miles north of Empire. There is also a handicap-accessible Dunes Interpretive Trail (.9 miles).

Pyramid Point (Click for directions) 40 miles
The 0.6 mile walk from the trailhead to the lookout over Lake Michigan is worth every single step (trail loop is 2.7 miles).

Manitou Islands (Click for directions) 51 miles
Catch the Manitou Island Transit out of Leland and tour the lighthouse of South Manitou Island or explore the wilderness and countless trails of North Manitou.      

Even in the heat of the summer the slopes at Crystal Mountain offer a gentle reminder to skiers and snowboarders of what’s to come in the season ahead. The anticipation is building even more so this summer as crews hard at work on Loki and Thor build a new quad-chairlift that will grace those slopes in less than four months – with Mother Nature’s permission, of course.

Many have been asking for an update about construction on the new fixed-grip quad, with loading conveyor, from SkyTrac Inc. so here’s what we’ve done, what we’re working on now and what’s next:

Earlier this spring the Loki-double was removed and disassembled.

The “Dirt Surgeons” from Alpers Excavating have been busy reshaping both Loki and Thor. The two black diamond runs will have a more consistent pitch allowing for an extended race course and since the new lift will be ski-under; the course can also be set using both slopes. Contouring has begun on Loki but won’t be completed until the triple-chairlift is removed after Labor Day.

Snowmaking will be added along with the lift for this winter. Pipeline has been laid and tower guns installed on Thor with more work on snowmaking scheduled in the coming weeks.

Team Elmer's has completed concrete work on all four lift towers. The foundation for the top lift terminal has been poured with work underway on the bottom terminal.

After Labor Day the existing Loki triple-chairlift will be removed and contouring of the slope can be completed. Then, the towers for the new lift will be set. The most noticeable of the changes will take place later in the Fall as the lift terminal, cables and chairs are put into place.