Ski Biking the Midwest: Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Beyond

By Rob Aseltine. Updated October 2026.

The short version:

• 41 Midwest hills on our directory allow ski bikes, from Michigan's Upper Peninsula to Missouri.

• Boyne Mountain, Boyne Highlands and the Porkies rent on site. Third-party rental shops are rare.

• Little Switzerland allows only three-ski bikes. Giants Ridge allows only Types I and II.

The reps I've managed have logged a lot of miles on these hills, and the reports that come back are always the same. Short vertical, cold wind, cheap tickets, and people who ride every single weeknight under the lights. It's one of the best places in the country to try a ski bike without buying a plane ticket. 

Michigan

• Boyne Mountain and Boyne Highlands. Open, no homemade bikes. Both run their own rentals.

• Mount Brighton. Open to all three types.

• Otsego Resort (Gaylord). Open after an inspection at the ski shop.

• The Homestead (Glen Arbor). Open, leash required.

• Porkies Winter Sports Complex. State-run and three-ski friendly, with on-site rentals, way up in the UP.

• Snowriver Mountain Resort. Open to all three types.

• Mulligan's Hollow. Five rope tows and nothing else. Metal edges required.

• Marquette Mountain. ASA lists classic foot-ski riders only, with trikes under evaluation. Confirm before you bring a three-ski bike.

Wisconsin

• Granite Peak (Wausau). Open with a leash, no homemade bikes. It's the biggest hill in the state.

• Wilmot Mountain. Open to all three types.

• Tyrol Basin. Open, with a runaway prevention device.

• Mont Du Lac (Superior). Open with a retention device.

• Little Switzerland. Three-ski bikes only.

• Devil's Head and Paul Bunyan Ski Hill. Listed as three-ski friendly.

Minnesota

• Afton Alps, Spirit Mountain (Duluth), Andes Tower Hills and Coffee Mill. Open to all three types.

• Mount Ski Gull and Chester Bowl. Open with a leash. Chester Bowl runs a single fixed chair.

• Detroit Mountain. No more than three skis, metal edges, one rider per bike.

• Buck Hill. By management permission only, so call first.

• Giants Ridge. Types I and II only, with two skis and a seat.

Ohio, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and the Dakotas

• Mad River Mountain, Boston Mills/Brandywine and Alpine Valley (Ohio). Open. No more than three skis, metal edges, a leash, one rider per bike.

• Big Creek (Ohio). Club members only.

• Sundown Mountain (Iowa). Day by day. Call to see if bikes are allowed that day.

• Ski Snowstar and Four Lakes (Illinois). Open. Four Lakes is rope tows only.

• Paoli Peaks (Indiana). Open, with standard edge and loading rules.

• Hidden Valley and Snow Creek (Missouri). Open, leash required. Snow Creek wants it on the lift too.

• Bottineau Winter Park (North Dakota). Open to all three types.

• Great Bear (South Dakota). Open with a leash on a professionally built bike.

Renting or Buying

Boyne Mountain, Boyne Highlands and the Porkies rent on site. Beyond that, the Midwest is a buy-your-own region. Boyne Country Sports (Bloomfield Hills, Grand Rapids, Novi, Petoskey and Traverse City) and Summit Sports sell SNO-GOs.

Buying your first bike? A three-ski handles icy groomers best and suits families. See how the types compare before you spend the money.

Après and Where to Crash

• Snowflake Lounge (Boyne Mountain). Third floor of the Clock Tower Lodge, with a dance floor. 21 and over after 9 p.m., and it's cashless.

• Back Forty Biergarten (Boyne Mountain). Adirondack chairs, a fire and craft beer.

• Avalanche Bay (Boyne Mountain). Michigan's largest indoor waterpark. The Après Ski Pub inside doesn't require waterpark admission.

• Sconni's Alehouse & Eatery (Wausau). Craft taps near Granite Peak.

• Wausau Mine Company. Mining-themed and family-friendly, with homemade pie.

• Rib Mountain Inn (Wausau). Ski-in, ski-out at Granite Peak, with a sauna.

Common Questions

Where can I ski bike in Michigan? Boyne Mountain, Boyne Highlands, Mount Brighton, Otsego, The Homestead, Snowriver, Mulligan's Hollow and the Porkies. Boyne and the Porkies rent on site.

Can you ski bike in Minnesota? Yes. Afton Alps, Spirit Mountain and several others allow all three types. Giants Ridge allows Types I and II only.

Where can I rent a SNO-GO in the Midwest? Boyne Mountain, Boyne Highlands and the Porkies rent on site.

Heading east? Read the Northeast guide. Every listing lives on the Where to Ski Bike directory.