North River Trail
- 0.7 mi
- round trip
- 54 ft
- climb
- 1,275 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jun–Aug
- best months
North River Trail is a short, flat out-and-back cross-country ski route in northern Michigan, about a mile from the town of Arbutus Beach. The trail is easy to ski, with almost no elevation gain, and it makes a convenient addition to a day spent exploring the nearby trail network. The route is about 1.4 miles long, and the whole trip adds up to a little over 50 feet of climb and loss. The trail stays nearly flat, and the steepest part is a 3% grade at about 0.6 miles in. Winter is the natural season for cross-country skiing here. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show January highs around 25°F with lows near 11°F, while December and February run slightly milder. South River Trail lies just 0.6 miles away, and Herringbone Trail and Nordic Trail are each about a mile off. For an overnight stay, Lost Valley Bible Camp and Retreat Center is roughly 9.5 miles away.
Local outfitters
- Borchers – AuSable River Canoe & Kayak21 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · Jun–Aug
Best time to visit North River 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, 4.2 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
Herringbone Trail
~2 min drive
0.13-mile out-and-back trail in Michigan with 22 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Nordic Trail
~2 min drive
0.62-mile out-and-back Nordic Trail in Michigan with 55 ft elevation gain.
SKI
Lil Coaster
~21 min drive
0.47-mile loop in Michigan with 56 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Pine Loop
~3 min drive
2.55-mile out-and-back route in Michigan with 393 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Maple Ridge Trail
~3 min drive
0.30-mile out-and-back trail in Michigan with 61 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Ridge
~21 min drive
0.94-mile out-and-back route on Ridge in Michigan with 55 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
South Lake Trail
~3 min drive
0.62-mile out-and-back trail in Michigan with 109 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Rollercoaster
~21 min drive
0.67-mile out-and-back ski trail in Michigan with 95 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Snowmaking Loop
~21 min drive
0.11-mile out-and-back ski out-and-back in Michigan with minimal elevation gain.
SKI
Relic Pine Loop
~8 min drive
0.21-mile out-and-back ski out-and-back in Michigan with 15 ft of elevation gain.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
