Michigan · Cross-country skiing

Valley Road Connector

0.4 mi
round trip
75 ft
climb
1,216 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Valley Road Connector is a short, easy cross-country ski route in Michigan, about 2 miles from the town of Ayr. It is an out-and-back trail of roughly 0.75 miles, with a total climb of about 75 feet, so it works well as a quick addition to a longer outing on the surrounding network of trails. The route starts at an elevation of about 1,160 feet and reaches a high point of about 1,216 feet. The steepest stretch comes early on, around 0.2 miles in, with a grade of about 9 percent. The trail is short enough to fit into a day of skiing on the nearby Upper Red Trail, which lies about 0.4 miles away, or the Upper Blue Trail, about 0.9 miles off. Winter is the natural season for cross-country skiing here. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Pellston show January highs around 27°F with lows near 9°F, and the station sits about 500 feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the route run a little cooler. Summer is mild, with July highs near 79°F. Other trails close by include the Lower Red Trail and the Lower Blue Trail, both within about a mile and a half. For paddling, the Maple River is about 8.5 miles away.

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Valley Road Connector

    Best months: May–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

      27° / 9°

      15 wet

    2. Feb

      29° / 7°

      11 wet

    3. Mar

      38° / 15°

      11 wet

    4. Apr

      52° / 27°

      11 wet

    5. May

      66° / 38°

      11 wet

    6. Jun

      76° / 48°

      10 wet

    7. Jul

      79° / 53°

      10 wet

    8. Aug

      78° / 52°

      10 wet

    9. Sep

      70° / 44°

      12 wet

    10. Oct

      57° / 35°

      15 wet

    11. Nov

      44° / 27°

      15 wet

    12. Dec

      33° / 18°

      15 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Pellston Rgnl Ap, MI, 7.7 mi away at 705 ft. The station sits about 500 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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