Cross Country Skiing & Snowshoeing 

Winter is amazing at Aspen Park, day or night

This park is THE place for four-season outdoor fun, not to mention a convenient way to capture that get-out-of-town-and-enjoy-nature feeling without going far.  Tucked right behind Gaylord’s downtown, 100-acre Aspen Park feels a world away. Between its challenging outer routes and the groomed 2-mile illuminated trail lit for skiing after dark, winter in Aspen Park is bustling with Nordic skiers and snowshoers day and night.  To start your Aspen adventure, follow Main Street to South Otsego Avenue to the end of Commerce Blvd., 989-732-4060.

Step One: Slide

If you’ve never tried cross-country skiing before, head to Forbush Corner in Frederic!  You’ll find on-site instruction, a ski shop, micro routes (like the aptly named Pancake and Green trails).  As your skills improve, there are trails of varying difficulty to accommodate Nordic skiers of any level.  All routes are immaculately groomed for both skate and classic skiing, thanks to the largest fleet of dedicated Nordic equipment in the Midwest. 989-348-5989

Into the Woods

Nestled deep in the Mackinaw State Forest, the 12k Pine Baron Pathway is a true wilderness trail that isn’t too wild. Its terrain is mostly flat, gorgeously wooded, wide enough for two sets of tracks and groomed weekly throughout winter.  Located just six miles outside of Gaylord. 989-732-3541