The Highlands At Harbor Springs
435 acres, 55 runs near Harbor Springs. Home of the world's first triple chairlift, Ikon Pass.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
4 Dec 2026
Closes
21 Mar 2027
Days open
107
Annual snow
140in
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
The Highlands at Harbor Springs, long known as Boyne Highlands, has a summit at 1,289 feet dropping 544 vertical feet to a base at 745 feet across 55 runs spread over 435 acres near Harbor Springs, Michigan. Terrain splits 36 per cent beginner, 31 per cent advanced, 31 per cent intermediate and 2 per cent expert, with average annual snowfall of roughly 140 inches. The resort carries Ikon Pass access. Ten lifts, including four quad chairs and four triple chairs, serve the mountain alongside two surface lifts.
The resort holds a notable place in lift history: its original chairlifts, installed in 1963, were the first triple chairlifts anywhere in the world. This engineering milestone reflects the broader innovation culture of Boyne Resorts' founder Everett Kircher, whose company built the property into one of Northern Michigan's premier four-season destinations. Extensive snowmaking and night skiing support consistent conditions across the resort's beginner-to-advanced terrain mix.
The site first opened in 1955 as Harbor Highlands with a single slope and rope tow, but the venture struggled financially and closed. Boyne Resorts, led by founder Everett Kircher, purchased the property in the early 1960s along with an adjoining 2,900 acres to the north, paying off existing creditors and making shareholders whole as part of the deal. The resort reopened as Boyne Highlands in 1963 with 11 trails, five lifts and the Highlands Inn, headlined by the world's first triple chairlifts.
The resort operated as Boyne Highlands for nearly six decades before being renamed The Highlands at Harbor Springs in December 2021. Adult daily tickets run from 85 to 105 US dollars, with season passes from 599 dollars for the Classic Highlands option and Boyne's broader Michigan Gold Pass from 899 dollars. The resort remains part of Boyne Resorts' Michigan portfolio alongside Boyne Mountain.
545ft
Vertical
55
Runs
435 acres
Skiable
140in
Annual snow
Ikon
Pass
The Terrain
55 runs across 435 acres skiable
The Highlands at Harbor Springs, formerly Boyne Highlands, spreads across 435 acres (176 hectares) in Michigan's northern Lower Peninsula. The base sits at 740 ft (227 m) and the top at 1,290 ft (393 m), a vertical of 540 ft (166 m). Its 55 runs split 36% beginner, 31% intermediate, 31% advanced and 2% expert, a comfortable fit for families and mixed groups. Four quad chairs, four triple chairs and two surface lifts move skiers around, a deep lift network by Midwest standards that keeps lines under control and makes lapping the mountain easy.
Heather is the signature blue run, a solid warm-up off the Heather high-speed quad, which was installed in 1990. North Challenger and Camelot offer longer intermediate descents with a consistent pitch, while MacGully and Hemlock give advanced skiers a proper challenge, particularly after fresh snow. Expert terrain is only a sliver of the trail count, so this is not a mountain for steep-seekers. The Highlands suits families, intermediates and Ikon Pass holders touring the Midwest who want organised, lift-served skiing with plenty of choice on a modest vertical.
Terrain split
55
runs
55 runs across 4 grades
Beginner20 runs · 36%
Intermediate17 runs · 31%
Advanced17 runs · 31%
Expert1 run · 2%
Time it right
When to visit The Highlands At Harbor Springs
The 2025-26 season at The Highlands at Harbor Springs ran from 6 December 2025 to 13 April 2026, a roughly eighteen-week season. Average annual snowfall of around 140 inches, supplemented by extensive snowmaking, supports this operating window across the resort's beginner-to-advanced terrain mix. Season dates can shift depending on early and late-season weather.
Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most reliable natural conditions to the resort's modest but varied terrain. Night skiing extends the useful ski day for the resort's Northern Michigan visitor base, a significant part of its identity as a four-season destination. As an Ikon Pass property, the resort draws visitors beyond its immediate regional catchment, with weekends and holiday periods bringing heavier crowds.
The resort's Highlands Inn and broader lodging and amenity offerings support year-round tourism to the Harbor Springs area, with skiing as the primary winter draw. School holiday periods bring significant family visitation given the resort's substantial beginner-weighted terrain. The December 2021 rebrand to The Highlands at Harbor Springs has been accompanied by continued investment from parent company Boyne Resorts.
Specific event programming beyond standard lift operations is not confirmed in available resort information. The resort's status as home to the world's first triple chairlift, installed in 1963, remains a point of historical distinction referenced throughout its marketing and identity. Its Ikon Pass access continues to bring a broader mix of destination and regional visitors through the season.
Season 2026 - 2027
4 Dec 2026
Opens
21 Mar 2027
Closes
107
Days open
140 in
Annual snow
The record
Historical snowfall at The Highlands At Harbor Springs
Daily snow reports at The Highlands At Harbor Springs go back to 2025, 2 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.
4 in
Snowiest day
6 Dec 2025
0 in
This winter · 2026-27
so far
29 in
Typical winter
average of complete seasons
Winter totals
in
Past wintersThis winter
Getting there
Getting to The Highlands At Harbor Springs, and where to stay
The Highlands at Harbor Springs sits near Harbor Springs in Michigan's northern Lower Peninsula, with a base elevation of 745 feet and a summit at 1,289 feet across a 544-foot vertical drop over 435 acres. This is a popular Northern Michigan resort region known for its lakeside towns and four-season tourism.
Harbor Springs itself is a well-known lakeside town on Lake Michigan's Little Traverse Bay, offering upscale lodging, dining and shopping alongside the resort's own on-site facilities. The broader region, including nearby Petoskey, draws visitors year-round for its combination of lake recreation, golf and skiing. Boyne Mountain, the resort's sister property under Boyne Resorts, sits a short distance to the south.
US Route 31 and state highways connect Harbor Springs to the broader Northern Michigan road network, with the resort a short drive from the town centre. Winter driving conditions in the region can include lake-effect snow and ice, though the well-travelled routes around Harbor Springs and Petoskey are regularly maintained. There is no direct public transport service to the resort.
Pellston Regional Airport offers limited commercial service nearby, while Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City and airports in Detroit and Grand Rapids provide more extensive flight options for visitors travelling from further afield. Most visitors drive to the resort from within Michigan or neighbouring Midwest states rather than flying directly into the immediate area.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Stays map loads when you scroll here
Hotels and lodges near The Highlands At Harbor Springs, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
Utah Snow Storm Builds Early-Season Base Ahead of November Openings
Rain down low, snow up high, and a snow report full of zeros that mostly means ‘not updated yet’. Utah’s first proper storm of 2026-27 is rolling through the Wasatch, Snowbird’s snow stake is closing in on 10 inches, and Brian Head is five days from opening day. Early November snow rarely looks like much, but it is the layer every November opening date is built on. Here is where it stands.
1 Nov 2026
Sierra Nevada Halloween Storm: Dodge Ridge Forecast to Lead With 19 Inches
Halloween weekend brings a wet, windy storm to the Sierra Nevada. Our five-day forecast has Dodge Ridge on top with 19 in, followed by Bear Valley at 15 in and Mammoth Mountain at 12 in, with most of it landing on Saturday. A winter weather advisory covers the Tahoe Basin and Mono County until 7 AM Sunday, gusts could reach 47 mph and the freezing level swings between 4,900 and 8,700 ft, so some bases will see rain. A dry spell follows from Monday.
31 Oct 2026
Lake Louise Opens Early on 1 November With Juniper Express and Easy Street
The Rockies get their first lift-served turns of the season early. Lake Louise opens Sunday 1 November, five days ahead of schedule, after a cold October and round-the-clock work from the snowmaking and mountain crews. Terrain is limited to Juniper Express Chair and Easy Street, with two small terrain parks and the beginner area for lessons. Opening-day tickets are over 60% off, with prices rising as more lifts open. First chair is at 9:30 am under the resort’s new lift hours.
31 Oct 2026
Kitzbüheler Horn Summit Cable Car to Be Replaced After 70 Years
A Tyrolean summit lift that has been carrying guests up the Kitzbüheler Horn since 1955 is on borrowed time. Its licence runs to 2045, but a new inspection rule has made refurbishment uneconomic, so Bergbahn AG Kitzbühel will spend around €15 million on a replacement on the same line. It should hold roughly 100 people and keep running in winds that would stop today’s lift. Building starts in autumn 2027, which makes this winter and next summer the last chances to ride the old one.
30 Oct 2026
What’s New in Japan Skiing This Winter: Niseko Gondola, a Private Resort and a Bigger Ikon Pass
Niseko Village is replacing a lift from the early 1980s with an eight-person gondola, Tsugaike gets a six-person chairlift, Madarao joins the Ikon Pass and Togari opens Asia’s first private ski resort. Here’s what is actually new in Japan skiing for 2026/27, plus what is still a year or two away.
30 Oct 2026
Wolf Creek Opens on Halloween Weekend as Colorado’s Early Season Gathers Pace
Colorado’s early-season dominoes keep falling. Arapahoe Basin opened on Wednesday, Keystone follows on Friday, and now Wolf Creek is joining in on Saturday 31 October, just in time for Halloween. A storm on 23 and 24 October left 20 inches of natural snow in the San Juans, and three lifts will turn from 9:00 am, covering about 30% of the mountain. Expect rocks, unmarked obstacles and open water, but also Local Appreciation lift tickets at $73 for adults.
30 Oct 2026
Keystone Resort Opens for 2026/27 With More Than Two Miles of Skiing
Keystone is next. After Arapahoe Basin claimed the first chairlift skiing of the season on Wednesday, Keystone opens on Friday 30 October at 9:00 am with more than two miles of snowmaking-built terrain on Schoolmarm and Silver Spoon, plus free donuts, coffee and a live DJ. Last year the order was reversed, when Keystone squeezed in a three-hour afternoon session to beat A-Basin by a day. Snowmaking has been running since 15 October.
29 Oct 2026
Beaver Creek Installs 16 Automated Snow Guns on Birds of Prey Ahead of Record World Cup
Beaver Creek is getting ready for the biggest Birds of Prey ever, and this time it is not leaving the snow to chance. Crews started making snow on 27 October with 16 newly installed automated guns on the lower third of the course, after last December’s warm spell forced a downhill off the schedule. Seven races across two weekends run from 3 to 13 December, the most the course has hosted since its 1997 debut, and the guns start themselves whenever the weather allows.
29 Oct 2026
The Highlands At Harbor Springs Snow Report
Snow Report
Updated 2 Nov 2026
1,289ft
summit
+0in
new snow · last 24 hours
Overcast47°F / 67°F · S 11mph
Snowfall
24 hours
0in
48 hours
0in
7 days
0in
Base depth
0in
Season total
0in
Typical winter 29in
Total lifts10
Live open status isn’t available right now.
4 Dec 2026 - 21 Mar 2027
Hour by Hour
Next 48 hours· Updated Nov 2, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Scroll for the full outlook · Open-Meteo
7-Day Outlook
1,181 ftUpdated Nov 2, 2026 at 3:02 PMOpen-Meteo
Days 1–7
0.0"
Days 8–14
0.1"
Mon, Nov 2
Light Drizzle
Temp67° / 47°°F
Snow0.0"(44%)
Wind11 mph S
Live snow from the resort feed; forecast from Open-Meteo, via Supabase.
Understanding the The Highlands At Harbor Springs snow report
Track current conditions at The Highlands At Harbor Springs in Michigan. This report covers snowfall totals, base and summit depth, and the forecast across 55 runs.
Snow measurements
Snow depth at The Highlands At Harbor Springs is tracked at both the base and summit, since the two elevations often see different totals — roughly a 166m difference here. We report fresh snowfall over the last 24 hours and 7 days alongside the running season total, in both metric and imperial units.
Weather conditions
Snow quality tracks closely with temperature and wind. We surface both alongside the snowfall data so you can judge whether conditions at The Highlands At Harbor Springs are holding up or starting to soften.
Data sources
The Highlands At Harbor Springs snow data is collected through a combination of on-mountain reports and weather forecasting services, giving you both official resort updates and independent forecast data in one place. The mountain is served by 10 lifts, including 4 quad chairlifts.
When to check
Conditions can change overnight, so mornings and late afternoons are the best times to check back on The Highlands At Harbor Springs.