Phone: 248-620-4448
Email: info@goskimichigan.com
 

Learn to Ski – Discover Michigan Skiing

mcd kids following dad skiingWant to learn to ski or snowboard?  Everyone 7 years and older – even adults – can during January, Discover Michigan Skiing Month!

Ski areas across the state team up with Michigan McDonald’s restaurants to offer an affordable introduction to the sports of skiing and snowboarding. Check out the programs offered by each ski area on the grid below. 

Traditional Discover Michigan

  • Check out the participating ski areas on the table below
  • Choose to downhill ski, cross-country ski or snowboard
  • The price is just $60 per beginner session, (except where noted below) and includes rental equipment, a beginner lesson and beginner area lift ticket or trail pass. ONE SESSION PER CUSTOMER PER LESSON TYPE. (You may take one downhill ski session, one snowboard session and one cross-country session.)
Some ski areas offer additional learning programs.  They are listed on the table below!

Discover Michigan Skiing Participating Ski Areas 2023/24 Season.  This will be updated 2024/25 in the fall.

Ski AreaOffers Traditional Discoveer MI SkiingOffers an Alternate or
Additional Program
Upper Peninsula
Big Powderhorn
Bessemer, 1-800-501-7669		Yes, Downhill Skiing
Call 1-800-501-7669 for reservations & bring this voucher
Marquette Mountain
Marquette (906) 225-1155		Yes, Downhill Skiing, Snowboarding
Call (906) 225-1155 for reservations & bring this voucher
Mont Ripley Hancock
Hancock, (906-487-2340		Yes, Downhill Skiing, Snowboarding
Click here for online Reservations		Yes, Ripley Kids program
For kids 5 - 8
Click here for details & registration
Pine Mountain
Iron Mountain (906) 774-2747		Yes, Downhill Skiing, Snowboarding
Call (906) 774-2747 for reservations & bring this voucher
Ski Brule
Iron River, (906) 265-6111		Yes, Downhill Skiing, Snowboarding
Call (906) 265-6111 for reservations & bring this voucher
Snowriver Mountain Resort
Wakefield, 800-346-3426		Yes, Downhill Skiing, Snowboarding
Call 1-800-346-3426 for reservations & bring this voucher
Northwestern Lower Peninsula
The Highlands
Harbor Springs, 231-526-3030		Yes, Downhill Skiing, Snowboarding & Cross Country Skiing
Call (231) 526-3030 for reservations & bring this voucher
Boyne Mountain
Boyne Falls, (231) 549-6000		Yes, Downhill Skiing, Snowboarding & Cross Country Skiing
Call (231) 549-6000 for reservations & bring this voucher
Caberfae Peaks/Bill & Paul's SporthausYes, Meet the Slopes
January 5 only. includes 4hrs instruction, lift ticket, rentals, breakfast & apres ski party
Click here for details & registration
Crystal Mountain
Thompsonville, (855) 995-5146		Yes, "Learn to Turn or Ride"
Click here for details & registration
Cross Country Ski Headquarters
Roscommon, (989) 821-6661		Yes, Cross Country Skiing. Note! Cross Country Ski Headquarters charges $40 for the Discover MI Skiing pkg.
Bay Mtn. at The Homestead
Glen Arbor, (231) 334-5249		Yes, Downhill Skiing, Snowboarding
Click here for online Reservations
Mt. Holiday
Traverse City, (231) 938-2500		Yes, Downhill Skiing, Snowboarding
Call (231) 938-2500 for reservations & bring this voucher
Nub's Nob
Harbor Springs, (231) 526-2131		Yes, 2024: A Ski Odyssey
For beginners 9 years & up. Offered Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays
Click here for details
Shanty Creek Resorts
Bellaire, (231) 533-3000 x3383		Yes, Downhill Skiing, Snowboarding & Cross Country Skiing
Click here for online Reservations		Yes, Super Sundays!
Learn to ski on Sundays noon - 4 for !
Click here for details
North Central Lower Peninsula
Forbush Corner Nordic
Frederic, 989-614-1955		Yes, Cross Country Skiing
Note! Forbush Corners charges $45 for the Discover MI Skiing pkg.
Click here for Reservations
Hanson Hills
Grayling, (989) 348-9266		Yes, Downhill Skiing, Snowboarding & Cross Country Skiing
Call (989) 348-9266 for reservations & bring this voucher
Treetops Resort
Gaylord, 989-732-6711		Yes, Downhill Skiing, Snowboarding,
Cross Country Skiing.

Click here for downhill reservations.
Click here for Snowboard reservatons.
Click here for Cross Country reservations.
Southwestern Lower Peninsula
Timber Ridge Ski Area
Gobles, (269) 694-9449		Yes, Downhill Skiing, Snowboarding
Call (269) 694-9449 for reservations & bring this voucher
Southeastern Lower Peninsula
Mt. Brighton
Brighton,  (810) 229-9581		Yes, Downhill Skiing, Snowboarding

Please direct any questions to mtbrightonskischool@vailresorts.com

Click here for reservations.
Mt. Holly
Holly, (248) 634-3249		Yes, Downhill Skiing
Click here for Reservaitons
Pine Knob
Clarkston, (248) 625-0800 x 4		Yes, Downhill Skiing, Snowboarding
Click here for Reservaitons

Please arrive ONE HOUR before your reserved session to be fitted with equipment!

If you need to cancel or change your reservation, please contact the ski area directly. If you book online, we can refund your money with 48-hour notice.

Not sure what to wear?  Check out our recommendations!

We suggest you watch these video lesson before you get to the slopes.  Here is a series of short videos to get you started. (We suggest skipping the ad at the start.)

Session 1

Session 2

Session 3

Special Bonus for Signing Up!

Everyone who completes the Discover Michigan Skiing program will receive a packet of ski information in the mail next fall, including a coupon valid for $20 off the purchase of $100 or more in ski-related merchandise at the participating MSIA retail ski shops listed below.

Bill & Paul’s Sporthaus
Grand Rapids (616) 458-1684

Boyne Country Sports
Bloomfield Hills (248) 338-0803
Boyne Mtn. Boyne Falls (231) 549-6006
Grand Rapids (616) 420-6060
Novi (248) 347-3323
Petoskey (231) 439-4906
Traverse City (231) 941-1999
Boyne Highlands, Harbor Springs (231) 526-3006

Crystal Mountain Sports
Thompsonville (231) 378-4776

Don Orr Ski Haus
Traverse City, (231) 946-8810

Nichol’s Ski & Snowboard
Dearborn (313) 565-0044
Waterford (248) 674-5200

Nichol’s Ski & Snowboard
Dearborn (313) 565-0044
Waterford (248) 674-5200

Shumaker’s Ski & Snowboard
Flint (810) 239-6931

Schummer’s 
Grosse Pointe Woods (313) 881-4363

Shumaker’s at The Stable
Saginaw (989) 799-0601

Sun & Snow Sports, Inc.
Ann Arbor (734) 663-9515
Plymouth (734) 927-0007

The Peak Ski and Sport
Keego Harbor (248) 499-8860

The Shop at Milham Park
Kalamazoo (269) 344-7639

Timber Ridge
Gobles (269) 694-9449

Treetops Village Ski Haus
Gaylord (989) 732-6711

Vertical Drop
Clarkston (248) 241-6509

White Birch
Gaylord (989) 732-2223