Alpine Valley Ski Area in Michigan is a popular destination for skiers and snowboarders. As part of a series on ski resorts, Huffington Post Travel offers our guide to Alpine Valley, featuring all the key information snow lovers need to know before they hit the slopes.
The Basics
Surprisingly, there are actually a few ski resorts in the Detroit metro area, including
, a 54-minute drive from downtown Motor City in the township of White Lake. The resort is family-oriented, has no overnight lodging and sees a steady stream of day-trippers from around the southern Michigan area. Alpine Valley has slopes for intermediate and advanced skiers, but the majority of its terrain is beginner fare; expert skiers won't find much of a challenge at the resort.
The Mountain
Alpine Valley is small, therefore it has the ability to make artificial snow over all of its
of skiable terrain. The season generally runs between mid-December and mid-March, and with an average annual snowfall of
, snow machines come in handy. The summit is 1,210 feet, the base sits at 910 feet and the vertical drop is 300 feet. Snowboarders are drawn to Alpine Valley for its three terrain parks and 350-foot-long half-pipe.
Trails And Lifts
Of the 25 slopes at Alpine Valley, 11 are beginner runs, making the resort a good place for novices to learn how to ski and snowboard. There are six intermediate and eight advanced runs. The signature trail,
, is Everest, an advanced run off the summit. Alpine Valley has a total of 14 lifts, including nine chairlifts (three of which reach the summit), four towropes and one carpet tow.
In The News
For visitors interested in ski racing or learning how to run a racing course, Alpine Valley offers
. Clinics occur on Sunday mornings between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. and allow participants to run slalom and giant slalom courses. Experienced racers can take part in the seven-week long racing series that begins in early January and features USSA and NASTAR-style courses. All racing events and clinics take place on the Everest run.
Cost
For the 2011-2012 season, the most expensive
at Alpine Valley is the all day/all night pass for $49, good from 9 a.m. until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Prices for other lift passes run between $32 and $39, except for rope-and-carpet-tow-only passes, which cost between $25 and $28. Ski and snowboard rentals are between $23 and $25 and include poles and boots. Individual and group lessons at
are available for all age groups, with prices ranging from $17 to $45.
Apres-Ski
Despite the resort's relatively small size and lack of overnight accommodations, Alpine Valley does have some apres-ski opportunities in the base lodge. Slope hounds can kick up their heels after the boots come off around the lodge's stone fireplaces. The first level is suitable for families to sit around the fire and enjoy food and beverages from the snack bar. Upstairs is an adults-only crowd at the Hornet's Nest, a bar with
overlooking the slopes that also offers live entertainment and dancing.
WATCH: Alpine Valley Ski Area
Alpine Valley provides fun for the whole family.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.
