Pine Knob is a fairly small, but enjoyable ski resort to go to with friends and family. The winter of 2018 has been very cold, but strangely without much snow, people are questioning if Pine Knob’s slopes are still suitable to ski on. Adams High School students take full advantage of this pastime, and are seen skiing and snowboarding frequently at the most popular local ski resort, Pine Knob. The only hill I can find a reference to that was actually built on a garbage landfill was Riverside Highlands which no longer exists as a ski hill.Skiing and snowboarding are two of the most relaxing and enjoyable sports that Michigan winter has to offer. I read once that it and Pine Knob were built from the excavation remains from the construction of I-75 and the interstate system. As a result, it has all the look and feel of a man made mountain. It is certainly possible especially when you look at Mt Holly which has nothing as high as it in the surrounding area at all. This implies they were built on garbage landfills. I have often heard them referred to as “Mt Trashmore”. Steep Short Black Diamond Run – Pine Knob.People seem to prefer the terrain park at Pine Knob over Mt Holly. ![]() Pine Knob however has the steepest short true black diamond skiing with The Wall. It has a longer steep run with Thunderbolt. Mt Holly has slightly more vertical drop and in general longer runs. ![]() With their new season pass structure, one season pass will work at both. They are both owned by the same company so prices are always the same. Mt Holly and Pine Knob are without a doubt the 2 most popular Detroit ski hills. If you are planning a trip out west to somewhere Vail owns you can more or less ski Mt Brighton for free. As part of the Mt Brighton preferred program (free to join), any money you spend on lift tickets at Mt Brighton can be redeemed for lift tickets at other Vail resorts. The season pass at Mt Brighton is pricy but for only a little more you can get the Epic Local pass that gives you a lot of access to the rest of Vail’s ski resorts which then makes it a pretty good value. It is considerably shorter than The Wall at Pine Knob and also requires a rope tow to get back to the lift. You get a couple of turns before hitting the bottom. They have an honest black diamond run in Challenge and Perk’s Folly. You can only do a few turns Grand River or Ore Creek before hitting the bottom. On their more advanced peak, the vertical feels really short. The main focus at Mt Brighton is the terrain park that is serviced by 2 chairs on the less steep of their 2 peaks. The lodge and rental shop are now first rate. It now has the most modern lodge in South East Michigan. Following the purchase, they did a $10 million upgrade to the resort. Vail resorts purchased Mt Brighton in 2012. If you use a tracking app such as Ski Tracks you might find it closer to 200-230 feet. They claim 250 feet and that is a really optimistic number. Mt Brighton is the smallest of the 4 by vertical drop. Mt Brighton is located in Brighton Michigan. Mt Holly hosts a decent New Years’ Eve celebration that is free of charge and features live music, fireworks and a torch parade down the mountain at midnight. This is an excellent even pitched fairly wide run suitable for those trying to learn to parallel turn. The best feature of Mt Holly is their highspeed quad and the blue run Woodward. Nothing here would be considered above a blue run even up north at say Boyne Mountain. Per standard resort marking practices, they have black diamond runs. Mt Holly is entirely beginner to intermediate level terrain. The hot chocolate in the bar is especially good. Mt Holly has a respectable lodge with a bar, cafeteria small ski shop. ![]() It also boasts the only highspeed detachable quad at the 4. It has the longest vertical drop of the 4 at 350 feet. Mt Holly is located in Holly, Michigan about 45 minutes from downtown Detroit. Mt Holly – Holly Michigan Photo courtesy of Mt Holly This is the only season pass offered for Pine Knob and Alpine Valley, Michigan. They have started offering a multi-mountain season pass for all 6 of their resorts for $620. They also own Bittersweet in western Michigan, Alpine Valley Wisconsin, and Searchmont, Ontario. They own Mt Holly, Pine Knob, and Alpine Valley. 3 of the 4 ski resorts are now owned by Wisconsin Resorts (A Michigan based company).
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