There is no record of an avalanche ever barreling down Avalanche Peak into Boyne City, but the hill is incredibly steep—so steep that in the 1950s, it was a downhill ski area with rope tows and even a chairlift. Located on the southwest corner of the city, Avalanche Peak rises to 1023 feet or 439 feet above Lake Charlevoix to provide the most commanding view of any high point south of the Mackinac Bridge.

This towering ridge is the centerpiece of Avalanche Preserve Recreation Area, a 300-acre Boyne City park that is predominantly a forested sloping terrain. The exception is its northern slope that was the site of a downhill ski operation beginning in the early 1950s. By 1958 the downhill had a 1500-foot poma lift and later a double chairlift before closing in the 1960s.

Distance: 2 to 4.2 miles

Trail Type: Multi-use Trails Terrain: Forested ridge Difficulty: Moderate to challenging Nearest City or Town: Boyne City

Difficulty Note: Almost 3 miles of trails open to cross-country skiers and snowshoers in the winter and hikers the rest of the year.