Michigan · Cross-country skiing

Lower Blue Trail

0.5 mi
round trip
146 ft
climb
936 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Lower Blue Trail is a short, easy cross-country ski route in Michigan, about 2.8 miles from the town of Roaring Brook. The trail is an out-and-back, roughly 1.1 miles long, with a total climb of about 146 feet and a steepest grade of about 7% near the start. The route is front-loaded, so the climb comes early, and the trail returns to its starting elevation. Winter is the natural season for skiing here. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Petoskey show January highs around 26°F with lows near 12°F, while February is slightly milder at about 28°F. July and August are the warmest months, with highs in the mid-70s. Several other ski routes sit close by. Upper Blue Trail is about half a mile away, and Lower Red Trail and Upper Red Trail are each within about a mile. For paddling, the Maple River is about 9.5 miles off.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Lower Blue Trail

    Best months: June–September. 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.

    1. Jan

      26° / 12°

      19 wet

    2. Feb

      28° / 11°

      15 wet

    3. Mar

      37° / 18°

      12 wet

    4. Apr

      50° / 30°

      13 wet

    5. May

      63° / 42°

      13 wet

    6. Jun

      73° / 52°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      76° / 57°

      10 wet

    8. Aug

      76° / 56°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      69° / 50°

      12 wet

    10. Oct

      56° / 39°

      17 wet

    11. Nov

      43° / 30°

      18 wet

    12. Dec

      32° / 21°

      19 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Petoskey Ncmc, MI, 7.1 mi away at 748 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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