Snowriver Mountain Resort

Snowriver Mountain Resort is located in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, in Wakefield Township near Lake Superior. The area is often referred to as Big Snow Country – a nickname that is well deserved, as snowfall averages around 200 inches per year (about 16.4 feet), thanks to heavy lake-effect snow from Lake Superior. For many skiers in the Midwest, the Snowriver is synonymous with reliable winter conditions.

The resort consists of two clearly separated ski areas: Jackson Creek Summit (formerly Indianhead Mountain) and Black River Basin (formerly Blackjack). Together, they offer an unusually wide variety of terrain for the region – from calm beginner slopes to steep slopes and challenging sections for advanced skiers.

Historically, skiing has been of great importance to the entire area. When the iron ore industry began to decline in the 1900s, ski tourism became a new economic hub. Indianhead Mountain was one of the first ventures and laid the foundation for the region to develop into an established ski area. The fact that skiing is still central is evident, among other things, in the fact that Gogebic Community College runs one of the few educational programs in the United States in the operation of ski resorts.

Jackson Creek Summit is mostly piste-focused, with a very high proportion of groomed skiing. There are slopes from green to double-black, including mogul slopes that provide a real challenge. A special feature is that the resort's service functions are largely located at the top – skiing takes place from the top down, and the last lift of the day goes up the mountain. The area also has a NASTAR track and ski school, making it popular for both training and competitive skiing.

Black River Basin complements with another character. Here, the terrain is steeper on average, with a high proportion of advanced slopes, several terrain parks and also marked forest skiing – something that is relatively rare in the Midwest. The combination of park skiing, glades and technical slopes makes the area particularly attractive for experienced skiers and snowboarders.

Snowriver Mountain Resort is not a polished Alpine-style destination, but rather a snow-sure, genuine ski area where the focus is on skiing. It is precisely the amount of snow, the variation between the two mountains and the strong ski culture that makes many people return year after year.