North Lake Trail
- 0.6 mi
- round trip
- 111 ft
- climb
- 1,276 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jun–Aug
- best months
North Lake Trail is an easy cross-country ski route in Michigan, about 2 miles from the village of Arbutus Beach. The trail is a short out-and-back, roughly 1.2 miles long, with almost no elevation gain. Its high point is 1276 feet, and the low point is 1263 feet, so the climb is barely worth mentioning. The steepest stretch, a 4% grade, comes early at about 0.12 miles in. Winter is the natural season for this trail. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Gaylord show January highs around 25°F and lows near 11°F, with February close behind at about 27°F and 10°F. By contrast, July highs reach about 78°F. Maple Ridge Trail sits just 0.1 mile away, and Pine Loop and South Lake Trail are each about 0.4 mile off. Herringbone Trail is also within a short distance.
Local outfitters
- Borchers – AuSable River Canoe & Kayak20 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · Jun–Aug
Best time to visit North Lake Trail
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
25° / 11°
13 wet
Feb
27° / 10°
11 wet
Mar
37° / 18°
12 wet
Apr
51° / 30°
12 wet
May
65° / 42°
13 wet
Jun
74° / 51°
12 wet
Jul
78° / 55°
11 wet
Aug
76° / 53°
12 wet
Sep
68° / 47°
14 wet
Oct
55° / 37°
16 wet
Nov
41° / 27°
15 wet
Dec
30° / 18°
15 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Gaylord Otsego Co Ap, MI, 5.7 mi away at 1,335 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more snow worth the drive
SKI
Maple Ridge Trail
Next door
0.30-mile out-and-back trail in Michigan with 61 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
South Lake Trail
Next door
0.62-mile out-and-back trail in Michigan with 109 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Lil Coaster
~20 min drive
0.47-mile loop in Michigan with 56 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Maple Ridge Trail
Next door
Maple Ridge Trail is a 1.29-mile out-and-back route in Michigan with 276 feet of elevation gain.
SKI
Pine Loop
Next door
2.55-mile out-and-back route in Michigan with 393 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Ridge
~20 min drive
0.94-mile out-and-back route on Ridge in Michigan with 55 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
West Ridge Trail
~1 min drive
West Ridge Trail is a 0.42-mile out-and-back in Michigan with 65 feet of elevation gain.
SKI
Herringbone Trail
Next door
0.52-mile out-and-back trail in Michigan with 125 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Snowmaking Loop
~20 min drive
0.11-mile out-and-back ski out-and-back in Michigan with minimal elevation gain.
SKI
Nordic Trail
~1 min drive
0.62-mile out-and-back Nordic Trail in Michigan with 55 ft elevation gain.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
