Skiing in Marquette
Near Superior Stay Hotel
The Upper Peninsula has over a dozen downhill skiing areas with vertical drops over 900 feet and ski runs as long as 8,300 feet. Combine a typical season lasting from Thanksgiving to April with up to 300 inches of lake effect snow each year and you get some pretty dang good skiing here in the U.P. along the shores of Lake Superior.
Best Places for Skiing
in Marquette MI
Marquette is home to some of the best skiing trails in Michigan, with fresh snow and scenic cliffs as far as the eye can see. You just grab your gear and swoosh through the Powdered Mountains listed below. These are some of the best places for skiing in Marquette, with a choice for all skill levels.
Marquette Mountain
Distance: 4 miles | Time: 10 min
Directions from Superior Stay Hotel
The ski hill is located a just few miles south of Marquette. Popular from the start, the ski area opened in 1957. It was originally known as Cliff’s Ridge but changed to Marquette Mountain in 1982. It is host to alpine race events for numerous clubs, as well as their own race program. The hill has a summit elevation of 1357 ft and a vertical drop of 600 ft. It has three chairlifts and a rope tow, snow making, night skiing and receives an average of 210 inches snowfall annually, the grateful recipient of lake effect snow from nearby Lake Superior, prominently visible to the north and northeast.
Fit Strip
Distance: 1.5 miles | Time: 5 min
Directions from Superior Stay Hotel
Fit Strip includes 1.7 and 1 km loops that are wide enough to accommodate recreational activity year-round including cross country skiing, running, training, and biking.
Groom both skating and classic skiing loops for skaters and skiers, but also allow snowshoers to use them throughout the winter. Grooming is on a needed basis and relies on volunteers and adequate snow. The trail is lit for night skiing until 11 pm. No dogs are allowed at the Fit Strip.
Access: The Fit Strip parking is located on West Ridge Street at the southwest corner of Park Cemetery.
Noquemanon Trails Network – Forestville Trailhead
Distance: 5.6 miles | Time: 12 min
Directions from Superior Stay Hotel
The Forestville (Noquemanon) Cross Country Ski Trails in Marquette, Michigan is a 50K system with point-to-point and loop trails including a range of difficulty from beginner to expert. Trails are groomed for classic and skate skiing with 20k of the trails open to dogs on leash. No foot traffic on ski trails. Snowshoeing is allowed but please don’t disturb the classic tracks. We recommend snowshoers hit the singletrack from the Forestville Trailhead.
Where to buy the equipment
THE COMPOUND SKI & SNOWBOARD SHOP
Directions from Superior Stay Hotel
They have the perfect set up for everybody. Whether your making laps in the park, charging the trees, hitting some fresh pow, running the gates, or just cruising the groomers. The Compound carries ski for all disciples and ability levels. Let the experts at The Compound help you find that perfect ski(s) you’re looking for!
They have all kinds of Skis, Bindings, Boots, and Poles.
Visit their website: http://thecompoundmqt.com/main for more information
Offers for you
Stay with us and get benefits from THE COMPOUND SKI & SNOWBOARD SHOP
- Get 20% discount on all full priced items
- $10 off maintenance tuning for Skiis and Snowboards
- One free high-performance demo available for our guests. Skiis only (Guest must have their own boots)
Noquemanon Ski Marathon:
Jan 24, 2025 – Sun, Jan 25, 2025
The Noquemanon Ski Marathon is an event of the Noquemanon Trail Network – a non-profit organization. The mission of the “NTN” is to develop and maintain an interconnected, year-round, non-motorized trail network in the central Upper Peninsula of Michigan. To take part in this event REGISTER HERE.
