Back in November, we shared the news of a small town in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula breaking its 24-hour snowfall record—setting the stage for a killer early season. Fast forward to now, and it’s clear Ullr is still loving the vibe, cranking the lake-effect snow machine to 11 and delivering nonstop snow. This isn’t just any ski season in Michigan—it’s shaping up to be one for the record books.
What Makes Michigan’s Snow Special
While resorts in places like Utah, the Pacific Northwest, or California might rack up 500 inches of snow each year, what really sets Michigan apart is its consistency. Instead of dumping feet of snow in a single day, the Great Lakes region gets steady, smaller snowfalls—think 2 to 8 inches—almost every day when it’s cold enough. And as you’d expect, the further north you go, the snowier it gets. Take Mt. Bohemia during the epic 2022/23 season: they recorded new snow on 51 out of 59 days!
Caberfae Peaks
Average Snowfall: 125 inches
As of March 1st: 154 inches
Since mountain operations began tracking snowfall in the 2002/03 season, this winter has officially shattered records as the snowiest on record. With a staggering 154 inches already on the ground—surpassing the 149.5 inches from the 2013/14 season—and at least another month of potential snowfall ahead, it’s shaping up to be one winter to be remembered.
Crystal Mountain
Average Snowfall: 121 inches
As of March 1st: 165 inches
It’s been a banner winter for pretty much every ski area in Michigan’s lake effect snow belt, with many breaking snowfall records that haven’t been touched in decades. Take Crystal Mountain, one of our favorite Midwest spots—it’s already hit a massive 165 inches and counting. And the season’s far from over!
Mt Bohemia
Average Snowfall: 273 inches
As of March 1st: 241 inches
When it comes to snow, we can’t overlook the snowiest part of Michigan—the Upper Peninsula, and especially the Keweenaw, where Mt. Bohemia calls home. The all-time snowiest winter in the region was back in 1978-79, with a jaw-dropping 355 inches, but that was long before the resort even opened. Fast forward to the 2021/22 season, which might just be considered the snowiest on record for Mt. Bohemia, with a staggering 321 inches that kept piling up into April! And with another month of heavy snow in the forecast, there’s a real shot at breaking that record this winter.
Boyne Skiing into May?
With minimal thaws and plenty of snow, skiing well into April is practically a given for the Midwest this year. The real question is—how far into spring can they push it? Back in the 2017/18 season, a few resorts kept the lifts running into May, setting records in the process. Boyne Mountain stays tight-lipped about their snowfall totals, but they’ve got something huge planned for this spring. Inspired by Killington’s man-made glacier approach, they’ve been pumping snow onto Victor to extend their season as long as possible. With a massive 280 inches (or 23 FEET!) on that trail, they’re hoping to ski all the way to Memorial Day!
Times like this makes me wish that I didn’t live in the middle of nowhere ( = hard to get much of anywhere quickly or “cheaply” from here! 😵💫)! It’s 1000 miles to Denver, and to the UP from here in Branson, Missouri. Airfare, and driving times are not real friendly to us Missourians!