Badlands
- 0.2 mi
- round trip
- 36 ft
- climb
- 1,266 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jun–Aug
- best months
Badlands is a short, moderate cross-country ski route in Michigan, about half a mile from the community of Forbush Corner. The trail is an out-and-back that covers roughly 0.4 miles, with a high point of 1,266 feet and a low of 1,233 feet. The climb is flat, and the steepest stretch comes early, at about 4% grade, with a total gain and loss of 36 feet each way. Winter is the natural season for this route. Typical averages from the nearby Grayling weather station show January highs around 26°F with lows near 10°F, while February runs a little warmer at about 29°F. The station sits a few hundred feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the high ground may run slightly cooler. Several other ski routes lie within a tenth of a mile, including Salling Street, Rollercoaster and Badlands Long. For an overnight stay, Hartwick Pines State Park Campground is about 3.3 miles away, and the Au Sable River Trail is about 3.6 miles off.
Local outfitters
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · Jun–Aug
Best time to visit Badlands
Best months: June–August. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
26° / 10°
18 wet
Feb
29° / 9°
14 wet
Mar
39° / 16°
12 wet
Apr
53° / 29°
12 wet
May
67° / 41°
13 wet
Jun
77° / 51°
12 wet
Jul
80° / 55°
12 wet
Aug
78° / 53°
12 wet
Sep
71° / 45°
14 wet
Oct
57° / 35°
17 wet
Nov
43° / 26°
16 wet
Dec
32° / 18°
17 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Grayling, MI, 8.6 mi away at 1,137 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more snow worth the drive
SKI
Badlands
Next door
0.16-mile out-and-back ski trail in Michigan with 20 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Rollercoaster
Next door
0.25-mile out-and-back ski trail in Michigan with 14 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Valley
Next door
0.19-mile out-and-back ski trail in Michigan with 13 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Badlands
Next door
0.37-mile out-and-back ski trail in Michigan with 33 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Rollercoaster
Next door
0.28-mile loop in Michigan with 30 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Pancake
Next door
0.41-mile loop in Michigan with 27 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Badlands
Next door
0.15-mile out-and-back ski route in Michigan with 17 feet of elevation gain.
SKI
Rollercoaster
Next door
0.67-mile out-and-back ski trail in Michigan with 95 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Snowmaking Loop
Next door
0.11-mile out-and-back ski out-and-back in Michigan with minimal elevation gain.
SKI
Salling Street
Next door
0.25-mile out-and-back ski route in Michigan with 6 ft of elevation gain.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
