Trails to Cross Country Ski This Winter
Enjoy a Day of Local Cross Country Skiing
This winter, when the weather turns frightful, strap on your cross country skis and make the most of our winter wonderland. The regional Chelsea area is home to all sorts of trail offerings, for the ambitious to the novice skier. Check out the below trails the next time it snows:
The farm’s 129 acres include more than three miles of trails, which are available for all levels of cross-country skiers. Trails wind throughout the farm’s property and are ungroomed in the winter months. Click here to download a trail map. Access and parking are free to the public.
End your day at the cozy Nest Bar and warm up with a mug of hot cocoa, or try one of our Signature Cocktails. A variety of local beers and other hand-crafted cocktails are also available. The Nest is open Thursdays, 5-10 pm, and Fridays-Saturdays, 4-11 pm. See the menu here. And to fully round out your visit, plan your cross-country ski visit on a day when The Nest features a food truck, live music, or its weekly trivia night, which continues all winter long. Check out the events calendar for more ideas.
A popular metropark located east of Chelsea, Hudson Mills offers six miles of trails for cross country ski enthusiasts. The varied terrain loops around the park’s center and is groomed for classical skiing when weather permits. Warm up at the Activity Center before heading back to the trails. The park is open 7am to 8pm each day and entrance requires a $10 Daily or Annual Vehicle Pass.
For a choose-your-own-adventure excursion, the 33.9-mile Waterloo-Pinckney Trail traverses between its two namesakes, the Waterloo State Recreation Area and the Pinckney Recreation Area. Turn around at any point. A recreation pass is required for access.
A 22-mile trail created for mountain biking, the DTE Energy Foundation Trail is available for cross country skiing when weather allows. The trail’s series of four loops include the Green Lake Loop (5.2 miles), Big Kame Loop (4.8 miles), Winn Loop (8 miles) and Sugar Loop (4 miles). To see which trails are groomed during the cold months, check out the Winter Snow Grooming Map here. The DTE Energy Foundation Trail is seven miles north of Chelsea on M52 in the Waterloo Recreation Area. The trail’s Facebook page offers the latest updates on trail closures.
Make the most of this winter wherever your skis may take you.