Mt. Brighton

From a humble opening in 1960 with one J-bar to being a part of 1993's "Aspen Extreme," the Mt. Brighton ski resort has continued to serve as a family-friendly venue that Midwesterners learn to ski or snowboard on in the western suburbs of Detroit, Michigan. Teaching, racing, and family fun continue to draw locals to this converted farmland.

Motorists can use Interstate 96 to drive west out of Detroit to Brighton. Local roadways access the facilities on the western edge of the community. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport is an International air-hub that can handle incoming flights from anywhere, with rentals and other ground transportation ready for visitors once they land.

Literally Built from the Ground Up

Two crucial components for successful alpine skiing or riding are vertical rise and snow. The Mt. Brighton ski venue enhances the terrain height and snow accumulation to create the base that keeps visitors returning to its suburban downhill runs and trails.

Brighton's annual average snowfall is only 41 inches, so the winter resort was forced to use snowmaking equipment from the start. It has 100-percent coverage across the venue, with an on-site reservoir holding the water needed for making snow.

Visitors to Mt. Brighton that are familiar with the "Aspen Extreme" movie mistakingly believe that the ski hill sits atop an old dump. The truth is that the ski hill was built-up using debris from highway construction projects and fill-dirt. A base elevation of 1,100 feet has increased to create a summit of 1,330 feet in today's ski area. Its 230-foot vertical rise stands out in an area that lacks hills to support commercial skiing and snowboarding.

The Mt. Brighton ski resort provides a couple of bars and two dining options to keep visitors satiated. Guests can shop for basics at the Chairlift Ski Shop, and rentals are available if you show up without gear (brain buckets, skis, poles, snowboards). Newbies, casuals, and experienced ski bums can book sessions to learn or improve at the Mt. Brighton Ski & Snowboard School. These break down to age, ski/snowboard, private/group, half-day/full-day, and skill level.

Rising to the Occasion

The Mt. Brighton resort area offers visitors 130 acres of skiable terrain they can explore on one or two planks. There are 24 conventional alpine trails to pick from, with a surprising diversity in ratings considering the hill is built and not natural. Thirty percent of the trails here are rated green, making them ideal for learning and getting rid of the rust. Intermediates can enjoy blue-rated runs over 40-percent of the slopes, with the remaining 30-percent rated as a black diamond that advanced ski bums will appreciate.

The lift system at the Mt. Brighton ski area has an uphill capacity of 17,200 guests each hour. It consists of five chairlifts and seven surface lifts. Mt. Brighton offers night skiing, giving folks time on the snow after they get off of work. Two terrain parks provide terrain features for all ages and skill levels to play on if downhill skiing and riding is not their thing.