Alpine Valley Ski Area

Most local skiers and snowboarders living in southern Michigan are familiar with the style of winter venues found in the region. The Alpine Valley Ski Area provides family fun and twilight trips for snow hounds stuck at work all day. It also happens to be the largest ski area in southern Michigan.

Located just outside of Detroit, Interstate travelers can use either I-75 or I-96 to get close. The resort area sits between those Interstates, so motorists will use Michigan State Highway 59 to drive the short distance west of the city. Anybody that is flying into the area will likely use the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport.

Southern Michigan's Biggest is About the Snow

Amenities on-site at the Alpine Valley Ski Area are not extensive for a reason. The winter venue's proximity to Pontiac, and Detroit in general, means that a large portion of the guests through the gate stay to ski and go home to drink, eat, and sleep. Visitors traveling from further away tend to use dining and lodging options in the city as well.

That does not mean that the skiers and riders here do not have access to the basics. The slopeside lodge offers a place to snack, drink, and socialize. Guest services, the shop, and even the Hornet's Nest Bar share space in the base area. Ski bums traveling light can use rental equipment, and anyone can take advantage of the Alpine Valley Ski Area lessons.

The various ticket packages and lessons offered are what make this venue family-friendly. Daily tickets buy time on the slopes in the daylight, night, or both. Group discounts and after-school programs keep the facility busy throughout the week. The Alpine Valley Ski Area also offers lessons for kids, groups, and private one-on-one lessons (semi-private up to four guests are also available). Experienced skiers and snowboarders can also take advantage of the knowledge gained in the Freestyle 101 clinics to improve their ability to do something besides carving fresh tracks down the slope.

Parks and Alpine Recreation

The Alpine Valley Ski Area has three terrain parks and a snow-cross track park. It has more dedicated acres to freestyle ripping and shredding than any other ski venue in southern Michigan. There are roughly 100 acres found across the entire venue, with lights providing trail access after dark and snowmaking capabilities supplementing the lower annual snowfall amounts received each year.

A peak elevation of 1,210 feet creates the 300-foot vertical drop visitors use to create their fun through the pow. A typical ski season lasts from November through March. Skiers and riders can carve the 25 trails at the Alpine Valley Ski Area for fun or a challenge, with the trails favoring beginners here. There are 11 beginners (green), six intermediate (blue), and eight advanced (black diamond) runs.

The Alpine Valley Ski Area hosts Junior Ski Racing, High School Boardercross, High School Ski Racing, and Beer League Ski Racing. Adults looking into the Beer League should note it lasts for eight weeks and teams have three to six members. The Alpine Valley Ski Area uses 14 lifts to keep visitors moving around the venue.