Mountain Review: The Highlands at Harbor Springs
MOUNTAIN SCORE
CATEGORY BREAKDOWN
See our criteriaGOOD TO KNOW
1-Day Ticket: $50-$130
Pass Affiliation: Ikon Pass
On-site Lodging: Yes
Après-Ski: Limited
Nearest Cities: Traverse City (2 hrs), Grand Rapids (4 hrs), Detroit (5.5 hrs)
Recommended Ability Level:
+ Pros
Strong lake-effect snow
Modern bubble six-pack lift
Extensive ski-in/ski-out lodging
Beginner terrain off almost every lift
– Cons
Only one expert run and no natural features
Short advanced runs with flat tops and runouts
Much of the hill feels flat
Après scene smaller than Boyne Mountain’s
MOUNTAIN STATS
Skiable Footprint: 375 acres
Total Footprint: 435 acres
Lift-Serviced Terrain: 100%
Top Elevation: 1,314 ft
Vertical Drop: 526 ft
Lifts: 7
Trails: 63
Beginner: 50%
Intermediate: 31%
Advanced/Expert: 19%
Mountain Review
The Highlands, in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, pairs quality lake-effect snow with a host of lodging options. Along with solid terrain, The Highlands has the most advanced chairlift in the Midwest to move guests up the slopes quickly. So how does The Highlands stack up against the rest of the Midwest and the ski world? Let’s take a look.
Size and Terrain Layout
The Highlands is a larger resort by Midwest standards, with 430 skiable acres and a respectable 550 vertical feet. Those numbers are similar to its sister resort, Boyne Mountain, but much of the hill feels flatter and uses less of the fall line, which makes for longer runs at a slower pace. Terrain for every ability level is spread across the resort, with trails of all levels intersecting, and one pocket of terrain off the interconnect lift feels distinct from the rest of the mountain. Together, these make for a varied ski day for skiers of all abilities.
Navigation
Getting around The Highlands is easy thanks to solid trail signage and maps at major junctions. Even when a trail seems to be heading out of the way, it always loops back to where you started or where you were going, so it’s easy to recover if you get lost.
The Highlands has 430 skiable acres and 550 vertical feet.
Mountain Aesthetic
Whether taking a break or cruising down the slopes, guests can see the surrounding hills for miles, and from the right spots at the summit, small glimpses of Lake Michigan. The slopes of Nub’s Nob are also clearly visible from across The Highlands, and while there is no way to ski between them, the view makes it feel like a true ski destination. The rest of the hill offers tranquil valleys and wooded sections that make for a fulfilling day on the slopes.
Snow Quality and Resiliency
Located a short drive from the shores of Lake Michigan, The Highlands gets much of the same lake-effect snow as other resorts in the region. Most of it falls as light, dry powder, with only early- and late-season storms bringing wet, heavy snow. With an average of 140 inches of snowfall, much of the terrain is filled in and skiable by mid-January.
Between solid annual snowfall and one of the more impressive snowmaking fleets in the Midwest, The Highlands offers consistent conditions through the core of its season. With very few south-facing slopes and a mostly east-facing footprint, snow conditions stay solid for most of the season, and the lack of rock in the region’s sandy hills means terrain can open sooner than at mountains with large obstacles to cover.
The base village at The Highlands is right at the foot of the slopes.
Beginner
Beginners will flourish at The Highlands, with rolling and winding terrain off almost every lift. A small magic carpet near the base lodges gives first-timers a slower-paced place to start. For those ready for the chairlifts, trails through the forests and valleys are spread across the whole resort, allowing for exploration and solitude. Many of these runs are also served by high-speed lifts, which makes the beginner experience even better.
Intermediate
Intermediate skiers can explore almost all of The Highlands. Like the beginner runs, many trails follow a winding route down the hill, giving each run its own character. A few open blue runs suit those looking for longer carves, but the true intermediate paradise at The Highlands is North Peak, where almost every run is rated intermediate and a mix of wide and narrow trails gives skiers and riders something to choose from on every lap.
A small magic carpet near the base lodges gives first-timers at The Highlands a slower-paced place to start.
Advanced
The Highlands has an ample supply of steeper runs plus well-spaced glades, at least by Midwest standards. Many of these runs are concentrated in smaller pockets around the hill, but they still offer a solid selection of steeper lines. The glades are good, and many use the steeper pitches of the valleys that hold some of the beginner and intermediate terrain, so groups of different abilities can meet up halfway down. The big caveat is that these advanced runs are fairly short in vertical. A typical advanced run starts flat at the top, transitions to a steeper pitch and then flattens out again to the base, which can make it feel shorter than it is.
Expert
There is only one marked expert run at The Highlands, Sendelhofer’s Legacy, and while it is allowed to bump up, it may be only slightly steeper than the rest of the advanced terrain. It isn’t true expert steepness, but the run can be a blast with the chairlift directly overhead, especially during spring bump season. The Highlands has no natural features such as cliffs and chutes to speak of. Like at Boyne Mountain, the region’s sandy hills have little rock, but that does let terrain open sooner with less snow. The one exception is the bike park features alongside some runs, and if they aren’t roped off, we don’t see why they couldn’t be considered ski features. There is no backcountry access at The Highlands.
The Highlands is home to well-spaced glades, but true expert terrain is lacking.
Terrain Parks
The bike park jumps may not be hittable in winter, but The Highlands still has a solid lineup of terrain parks for those looking to get air and slide some metal. There are three parks, with Amy’s being the largest, offering solid jumps and rails that would satisfy any seasoned park rider. For those just getting into park riding, the Funland terrain park has small boxes and rails along with smaller jumps and rollers. On the less traditional side, a boardercross course even has a small start ramp for some relaxed racing fun.
Lifts
The best lift at The Highlands is the Camelot 6, a state-of-the-art Doppelmayr six-person bubble chair that rivals the best chairlifts in the world, similar to many of the lifts Boyne Resorts has installed at Big Sky. Its name nods to the world’s first triple chairlift, which opened at what was then Boyne Highlands. With heated seats and an automatic restraint bar, it is the fastest chairlift in the Midwest. Beyond the Camelot 6, the Heather Express high-speed quad serves the bulk of the rest of the resort, with terrain for all ability levels. The remaining lifts are fixed-grip quads and triples, and the interconnect lift was recently replaced and modernized to speed up access to the North Peak area.
The Camelot 6 is the fastest chairlift in the Midwest, with heated seats and an automatic bar.
Facilities
The Highlands has plenty of places to stop for a bite or warm up across its base and slopes. At the base, a standard lodge has grab-and-go food and ample seating, and for a longer break from the slopes, a full-service restaurant operates just one building over. The runs may not be the longest, but there are still a few on-mountain facilities, including multiple warming huts around the hill. The best of these is the North Peak lodge, which serves food and drinks and has a relaxed atmosphere in a secluded part of the resort that makes it a great pit stop.
Crowds
With terrain as varied as The Highlands’, crowds are to be expected, but the strong lift infrastructure keeps them mostly under control for those willing to ride lifts other than the Camelot 6 and Heather Express. The Highlands is also on the Ikon Pass, so Detroit-area Ikon holders visit on holidays and weekends, which can mean longer lines, though still nothing truly terrible.
Holiday and weekend lines at The Highlands mostly form at the Heather Express and Camelot 6.
Getting There
Getting to The Highlands isn’t difficult, but it can be a long drive from major airports and metro areas. It is close to four and a half hours from Detroit and six hours from Chicago, albeit an easy drive. The regional airport in Traverse City is only an hour away, though flights there can be hard to find.
Like many Midwest resorts, The Highlands has free parking a short walk from the base. The lots are unpaved, but they are easy to navigate and make for smooth access to the slopes.
Lodging
Guests who want to stay at The Highlands have plenty of options, from standard hotel rooms to condos to full-size houses, so groups of any size or style can find a place to stay. Many, if not all, of these options offer some form of ski-in/ski-out access, which adds to their value for a ski trip. Petoskey, a short 15-minute drive away, has many more options.
Lodging at The Highlands ranges from hotel rooms at the Inn to condos and full-size houses.
Après
The Highlands has a solid selection of restaurants and bars for relaxing after a day on the hill. The options aren’t quite as built out as Boyne Mountain’s, but they are nothing to scoff at by Midwest standards. For more variety, Petoskey has plenty of après options, and for an off day, a drive to the Traverse City area and its more than 50 wineries may be worth the trip.
Pass Partnerships
The Highlands is on the Ikon Pass, with five days and blackout dates on the Ikon Base Pass and seven days on the full Ikon Pass. Boyne season passes include access to both The Highlands and Boyne Mountain, and the top-tier Gold pass adds three free days at each of the other Boyne Resorts, such as Big Sky and Sunday River, while other Boyne passes come with discounts at those resorts.
Après at The Highlands centers on the restaurants and bars at the base, but it’s not as extensive as some other mountains.
Verdict
The Highlands won’t satisfy skiers looking for steeps, with short advanced runs and just one expert trail. But with reliable lake-effect snow, the fastest chairlift in the Midwest, easy navigation and plenty of ski-in/ski-out lodging, it is one of the most well-rounded resorts in Michigan and an easy pick for a family trip or weekend getaway.
Pricing
The Highlands’ lift tickets aren’t the cheapest in the Midwest, but the resort offers substantial early bird discounts on day and night tickets. Single-day tickets range from $50 to $130 and night tickets start as low as $30, so skiing here is fairly accessible for those who plan ahead. Boyne season passes range from $400 for midweek-only access to $1,100 for full access with days at other Boyne Resorts, and Ikon Pass days give Midwesterners another way to get value out of that pass.
