Pancake

Pancake is a cross-country skiing route in Michigan, about half a mile from the town of Boyne Falls. It's an easy, out-and-back route with a total length of about 1.1 miles and no elevation gain. The high point is 709 feet, and the low is 703 feet, so the whole trip stays nearly flat. The route is short and straightforward. It reaches its steepest stretch at about 0.4 miles in, where the grade is around 5 percent. The rest of the way is gentle, making it a good choice for a quick outing or a warm-up before heading to other trails in the area. Winter is the natural season for this route. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Boyne Falls show January highs around 28°F and lows near 14°F, with February and March close behind. That station sits at nearly the same elevation as the route, so its figures are a fair guide to conditions on the trail. Judys and Christmas are both cross-country ski trails within a third of a mile, and Syrup is about half a mile away. For a change of pace, Bear River offers canoeing roughly 8 miles from town.