West Ridge Trail
- 0.4 mi
- round trip
- 388 ft
- climb
- 1,418 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jun–Aug
- best months
West Ridge Trail is a short, out-and-back cross-country ski route in Michigan, about 1.4 miles from the town of Arbutus Beach. The trail is 0.84 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 388 feet, and it is rated hard. The climb is steepest at about 0.33 miles, where the grade reaches 15 percent. The trail starts and ends at roughly 1,268 feet, with a high point of 1,418 feet. That makes it a compact but steep outing, and the round trip adds up to about 0.84 miles. Winter is the natural season for this trail. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Gaylord show January highs around 23°F with lows near 12°F, while March runs warmer, with highs around 38°F. The station sits at a similar elevation to the trail, so its figures are a fair guide to conditions on the route. The trail sits among a cluster of other cross-country ski routes. Nordic Trail is just 0.1 mile away, Herringbone Trail is 0.3 mile off, and South River Trail and North Lake Trail are within a mile.
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 West Ridge 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
23° / 12°
20 wet
Feb
27° / 12°
16 wet
Mar
38° / 20°
15 wet
Apr
51° / 31°
13 wet
May
65° / 42°
13 wet
Jun
74° / 51°
12 wet
Jul
76° / 55°
11 wet
Aug
75° / 55°
12 wet
Sep
68° / 48°
13 wet
Oct
54° / 38°
17 wet
Nov
40° / 28°
17 wet
Dec
30° / 19°
20 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Gaylord 9 Ssw, MI, 4.1 mi away at 1,461 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
Next door
0.13-mile out-and-back trail in Michigan with 22 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Maple Ridge Trail
~1 min drive
0.30-mile out-and-back trail in Michigan with 61 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Lil Coaster
~20 min drive
0.47-mile loop in Michigan with 56 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Herringbone Trail
Next door
0.52-mile out-and-back trail in Michigan with 125 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Maple Ridge Trail
~2 min drive
Maple Ridge Trail is a 1.29-mile out-and-back route in Michigan with 276 feet 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
South River Trail
Next door
0.72-mile out-and-back trail in Michigan with 54 ft of elevation gain.
SKI
Rollercoaster
~20 min drive
0.67-mile out-and-back ski trail in Michigan with 95 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
North Lake Trail
~1 min drive
0.58-mile out-and-back trail at North Lake Trail in Michigan with 95 feet of elevation gain.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
