Things To Do In The U.P.

Looking up the run “Shanty Girl.”

Blackjack Ski Resort will probably surprise you.

Along with Big Powderhorn Mountain Resort and Indianhead Mountain Resort, Blackjack is nestled in “big snow country”, just east of Ironwood, Michigan and minutes away from those two other great ski hills.

With 5 lifts, 26 trails, a 465 foot vertical drop and lots of great powder, Blackjack should be a must stop on any intermediate to advanced skier’s trip to the western Upper Peninsula.

Looking for Powder? They’ve got it.

According to their mountain manager, Brad, who was kind enough to show me around the mountain, they “tend to cater to a more advanced skier.” I’d say we found that to be true, as they left the fresh powder from the night before on the hill all day.

They also have a few non-groomed runs that accumulate power all year and are a blast to ski if you like being knee deep in powder.

Prepped and read for apres-ski.

But Beginners will be Just Fine

My wife, very much a beginning skier this year, went skiing for the first time in over fifteen years this year at Blackjack. I got her a lesson and she hit the bunny hill with one of Blackjack’s great ski instructors.

After two hours, she was skiing the beginner and intermediate runs with no trouble at all!

My Experience at Blackjack

My wife and I arrived at Blackjack a little before Noon on a Friday in late January. The hill wasn’t very busy, and when we met up with our friends they said they skied on fresh power all morning and pretty much had the run of the hill. (Later on in the day more people showed up, but it was still far from crowded.)

Eating and Drinking at Blackjack

We had lunch upstairs in the bar area and from what I could tell everyone was pleased with what they ordered. I had fish tacos, which were better than I expected them to be.

And though we didn’t partake, I was told Blackjack has a better than average après ski that includes live music and sometimes goes well into the evening. From the balloons they had suspended in a net over the stage, I’d say they take definitely care about the post ski party.

Onto the Hill

As I mentioned above, my wife hadn’t been skiing in years. So, she started her day with a two-hour lesson. She enjoyed the lesson and said it really helped her learn the right way to ski, as she was never really taught how when she was younger.

Meanwhile, I hit just about every run, from beginner to expert, and was really impressed with what I saw. Along with the slow and steady groomed hills that are common at most Upper Peninsula ski hills, I was surprised to see the un-groomed power laden trails on the west side of the hill.

All in all, everyone in our group was impressed with Blackjack and we’ll definitely be making this a regular stop on our annual western Upper Peninsula ski trip.

Bottom Line: Blackjack Ski Resort is a very worthwhile stop on any western Upper Peninsula ski adventure, especially if most people in your group are beginner to advanced skiers.

Other Things to Note: Blackjack appears to have the lowest priced lift tickets in the area.

To see more photos of Blackjack Ski Resort, visit the “Blackjack Ski Resort” album on my Facebook page.

Address: N11251 Blackjack Rd. Bessemer, MI 49911

Phone: (906) 229-5115

Website: http://www.skiblackjack.com/

My wife, heading down Voyager’s Highway, a fun beginner run.

Even though it may not be as well known as Big Powderhorn Resort, Indianhead Mountain is easily one of the best ski hills in the Upper Peninsula.

Fun Fact: You Start Out On Top

One cool thing about Indianhead is that the parking lot and main lodge are at the top of the mountain, so your first trip of the day is down the hill instead of up the ski lift.

The resort boasts three bars, two restaurants, on site lodging, 7 lifts, 30 runs and a 540 foot vertical drop.

Eating and Drinking at Indianhead Mountain

As you might expect, the lodge offers both the option to hang out and bring in your own food in a fairly large area full of tables, as well as several other dining options.

The Sky Bar

We ate (and had a bloody mary) at the Skybar, a nicely done bar/lounge area with a terrific view of the hill. The Skybar has been renovated recently and features live music on Saturday nights.

An Indianhead employee said “Some people only make one run… down to the Red Dog.”

The Red Dog Saloon

In addition to the Skybar is the Red Dog Saloon, a bar and cafeteria at the bottom of the hill. The Red Dog seems to be a pretty popular place for those who decide to spend the afternoon in the bar instead of on the hill, while the Skybar seemed to be more for people who wanted to grab a bite or a drink and then hit the hill again.

Other Spots

Along with the above, Indianhead also has The Lodge Restaurant and Dudley’s Saloon. I’ve yet to check these out, but they describe The Lodge as “featuring stakes, chops and seafood” and Dudley’s as “Indianhead’s center of nightlife and a great way to relax after a day of winter fun.” More on both of those in future posts.

My Experience at Indianhead

On the Hill

I’ve skied Indianhead a few times, and had a great experience each time. The hill has plenty of runs for advanced skiers but also has a wide variety of runs for beginning and intermediate skiers. Yes, “it’s got something for everyone.”

The deck of the Skybar is a great place for a photo op. (Pictured here is my wife and I.)

For example, my wife was a total beginning skier when we went this winter, but she did great and had a blast. Meanwhile, some of our advanced skier friends were hitting the black diamond runs and really enjoying there day too. I stuck to the middle and skied both the beginner and intermediate runs my wife was on and still really enjoyed it.

And if you’re into terrain parks, they’ve go ta great one.

At the Skybar

We’ve eaten at the Skybar a couple times and the food was “okay.” Next time we may bring our own lunch. However, the view from the Skybar definitely make it worth checking out.

At the Red Dog

My wife and I stopped into the Red Dog for a coffee and a bloody mary (and to warm up) and enjoyed the place. The view from the dining area is looking up the hill and at one of the ski lifts, so it makes an interesting place to grab a snack or a drink and warm up. They do also have a mini cafeteria but we haven’t eaten here yet.

Bottom Line: Indianhead Mountain Resort is one of the Midwest’s “must ski” resorts. From bars, restaurants and on-hill lodging to a wide variety of runs for everyone, it’s got something for everyone.

Other Things to Note: Indianhead Mountain is within a five-minute drive of both Blackjack Ski Resort and Big Powderhorn Mountain, which can make for a great weekend of skiing! Also, a “hill hopper” pass is available that will let you ski at either Indianhead or Big Powderhorn.

To see more photos of Indianhead Mountain, visit the Indianhead Mountain Resort  album on my Facebook page.

Address: 500 Indianhead Rd. Wakefield, MI 49968

Phone: (800) 346-3426

Website: http://www.indianheadmtn.com

Image courtesy of Big Powderhorn

Big Powderhorn: The Basics

Located in the western Upper Peninsula, some of the best groomed trail skiing in the Upper Peninsula can be found at Big Powderhorn Mountain Resort. Big Powderhorn is ranked as one of the top five resorts in the Midwest, and after a weekend there, that rating absolutely seems fitting.

The resort offers a good mix of trails for pretty much any level of skier, and appears to be a really family friendly place. Quite a few of the runs are beginner friendly, but intermediate and advanced skiers have a decent selection of challenging runs to choose from as well.

The Bavarian style lodge and surrounding buildings offer plenty of spots to eat, drink and warm up from the cold, including the “ski in / ski out” Alpen Inn, located right on one of the ski trails! (It’s right off the “Flintlock” trail, in case you’re interested.)

My Experience at Big Powderhorn

A few friends and I rented a chalet at Big Powderhorn for the weekend and had a blast. The chalet slept ten people, came with a full kitchen, fireplace, hot tub, and with the ten of us, set us back about $40 per person, per night. Not bad at all.

Our day of skiing at Big Powderhorn was really enjoyable. There were no lift lines, and the hill was easily able to accommodate everyone’s ability.  We brought lunch over from the chalet and relaxed in one of the rooms at the Caribou Lodge (right next to the main lodge), then skied some more before wrapping up and heading back to Iron Mountain.

For the record, our favorite trail ended up being “Ricochet,” an intermediate run that was a little hard to find at first but offered a great mix of speed and curves, without making anyone nervous.

All in all, I had a great time at Big Powderhorn and will definitely be adding it to my regular winter rotation. However, I will say that if you and your crew are intermediate level skiers and riders, you may want to check out Indianhead Mountain instead of (or in addition to) Big Powderhorn. Indianhead’s trails seem to be a little longer and more challenging.

Bottom line: Big Powderhorn Mountain is one of the top ski resorts in the Midwest for a good reason. It’s definitely worth spending at least one day here on your next western Upper Peninsula ski trip.

Location: Powderhorn Road Bessemer, MI 49911

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