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Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing
at Garland Resort
4700 N. Red Oak Road, Lewiston, MI 49756
Garland
Resort (877-4 GARLAND, 989-786-2211, www.garlandusa.com)
in Lewiston, MI with 37 km of groomed trails for classic and skate
xc skiing is located in north central Michigan. There is also a 2
km wilderness trail with a single track. The trails at Garland Resort
travel through snow-covered evergreen and hardwood forests and streams
and the wildlife viewing is plentiful with sitings of whitetail deer,
fox, squirrels, snowshoe rabbits and even bald eagles.
There are 12 different xc ski trails at Garland. First time xc skiers will enjoy the flat 2 km lighted Carousel Trail. Sasquatch and Spruce Twister Trails are recommended for novice and intermediate skiers, while the White Lightning Trail with short climbs and sharp flowing turns is for more advanced skiers.
Trail fees are $10 for adults and $5 for students. Garland Resort offers xc ski and snowshoe rental equipment and there is also performance skating equipment available. Group lessons are $10 for and private lessons are $25.
Behind
the main lodge there's an old fashioned frozen outdoor pond for ice
skating that is lighted. Ice skate rentals are available. And the nearby
sledding hill is free to enjoy. Horse-drawn sleigh rides are available
on weekends. Take the sleigh to the Zhivago dinner at the Buckhorn Lodge,
where a 5-course wild game dinner accompanied by wine awaits in a rustic
log building.
The Garland Gourmet Glide is a popular weekly cross country ski and eat fun event. Every Saturday, cross country skiers can gorge themselves while skiing an easy 10 km outing to visit five food stations. It starts in the morning with a breakfast stop in the main lodge topped off with Mimosas. The fan favorite food station is the trout camp, where cross country skiers go ice fishing, party hardy, and have their catch filleted and cooked for them right that at the camp. It's a great group outing, where 75% of the participants are novice skiers (and some snowshoers), but all feel like experts in the eating department. There is a limit to the number of participants, so call to reserve your space. Lodging in a rustic elegant atmosphere.