After a winter with mask mandates, restrictions of people on lifts, and having to reserve your place on the slopes ahead of time, northern Michigan ski resorts expect this season to be a more normal experience. Last season COVID interrupted the normal patterns and habits of snowsports enthusiasts at all northern Michigan ski resorts.

The former Telemark Resort, established by Tony Wise in 1973, is finally getting close to being redeveloped into a year-round outdoor venue.

A trio of upper Midwest ski areas is planning to open the third weekend of the month joining Lutsen Mountains, which opens November 13, in getting the Heartland ski season underway.

Lutsen Mountains, the Heartland's largest ski resort located along the shore of Lake Superior, is opening in less than two weeks with their First Tracks weekend, November 13-15. They will be open for skiing and riding weekends through Thanksgiving and early December, opening daily on December 11.

Deer Mountain Ski Resort, aka Mystic Miner Ski Resort, which closed in 2017 after 50 years of operation, has been sold and is planning on reopening in December next year, according to an announcement by the new owners Keating Resources. The ski area was shut down amid bankruptcy proceedings four years ago.

Boyne Mountain recently announced some major projects that will be taking place over the next couple of years, which is all part of what they are calling their Renaissance 2.0 plan to be implemented through the year 2030.

Snowstar Winter Sports Park, located within 10 minutes of the Quad Cities, has been purchased by Jennifer and Doug Harper from nearby Illinois City. They managed the ski area last season and bought it this past summer. Without their assistance, the resort would not have opened last year, according to the assistant manager at the time of the sale Valerie O'Rouke in a press statement.

Michigan-based Wisconsin Resorts, which also owns five other Great Lakes ski areas, recently purchased its sixth Midwest ski area, Alpine Valley in the southern part of the Wolverine State.

One of the best ways to enjoy breathtaking fall views that abound across the upper Midwest is a slow chairlift ride to the top of the ski hill. Here are some of the best around the upper Midwest.

Several Heartland ski areas allow mountain biking on their summer slopes, but if you’re looking for lift-served, you will only find five.

Golf Pass, part of NBC Sports, recently released its list of the top 25 best U.S. golf and ski resorts, and the Midwest is well represented with four resorts making the list. Two were among the top four.

Duluth's city-owned ski area, Spirit Mountain, continues its financial struggles as the city grapples with what to do with the financially strapped ski area.

For the first time in 65 years, Ski Brule, a longtime ski resort in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, did not open for the season.

A new high-speed, six-person lift is coming to Whitefish Mountain Resort they announced this week, according to an article in the Daily Inter Lake. The new lift will help ease congestion at the Base Lodge, which is the primary access for most skiers up the mountain.

Vail Resorts has announced a 20% decrease in their Epic season passes for the 2021-22 ski season, and that also includes their Epic local passes at all their Midwest ski areas. A little bit of good news for those skiers that like to mainly ski local.

Great spring skiing conditions kick off April at Lutsen Mountains and the famed Mountain Meltdownfor the final full week of the season, April 1-11, and they guarantee at least 40 runs open into April.

A fire broke out in Wild Mountain's maintenance barn on March 30 destroying the structure, according to the Minnesota ski area in a Facebook post.

Granite Peak has remained open into mid-April the last few seasons and plans on doing so again this season despite a warm Midwest winter that has shut down all other Wisconsin ski areas.

Many ski areas across the lower Midwest have already closed for the season, but three ski resorts in northwest lower Michigan are planning on staying open through the first weekend of April and celebrating Easter on the slopes. With the longer days and warmer temperatures, spring offers some of the best slope times of the season.

Longer days, warming temperatures, and still plenty of snow along Lake Superior in Minnesota's Arrowhead. It's the perfect recipe for a spring Indy Pass road trip to two of the Heartland's larger ski areas, especially in vertical drop. The scenery from the slopes of Spirit Mountain and Lutsen Mountains is some of the best you will find around the Great Lakes.