Snowriver Mountain Resort facts for kids

Black River Basin
Black River Basin Location in Michigan
Location	Bessemer Township, Michigan, United States
Nearest city	Bessemer, Michigan
Coordinates	46°30′08″N 90°00′17″W / 46.5021°N 90.0046°W / 46.5021; -90.0046
Vertical	420 feet (130 m)
Top elevation	1,675 ft (511 m)
Base elevation	1,185 ft (361 m)
Skiable area	126 acres (0.51 km2)
Runs	22
Lift system	4 double chair lifts, 1 rope tow, 1 handle lift
Terrain parks	Yes - 3
Snowfall	17 ft (5.2 m) annual

Snowriver Mountain Resort is a fun place in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. It's known for lots of snow, thanks to lake effect from Lake Superior. This resort has two main areas: Jackson Creek Summit (which used to be called Indianhead Mountain) and Black River Basin (formerly known as Blackjack). It's a great spot for winter sports and enjoying nature.

Resort History

The story of Snowriver Mountain Resort began with a pilot named Jack English. In the late 1950s, he flew over Indianhead Mountain near Chicago. He saw how much snow there was and decided to create "Indianhead Mountain Resort." This started the whole ski industry in the area!

Soon, other ski resorts opened, and the region became a popular place for skiing. Jack English helped change the local economy. Before, people mostly worked in iron mines, but skiing brought new jobs and visitors. Today, skiing is so important that Gogebic Community College even has a special program to teach people how to manage ski areas.

In 2008, Indianhead Mountain bought Blackjack Mountain. Later, in 2016, the company that owned both resorts changed its name to "Big Snow Resorts."

Then, in 2022, a new company called Midwestern Family Ski Resorts bought Big Snow. This company also owns other big ski areas like Lutsen Mountains in Minnesota and Granite Peak Ski Area in Wisconsin. After the purchase, the combined resort was renamed "Snowriver." The old names, "Indianhead Mountain" and "Blackjack Resort," became "Jackson Creek Summit" and "Black River Basin."

Winter Fun Activities

Snowriver Mountain Resort offers many exciting things to do in winter. You can go snowshoeing, ice skating, or cross-country skiing. But it's most famous for its downhill skiing and snowboarding. Jackson Creek Summit focuses only on downhill skiing.

Skiing and Snowboarding

Jackson Creek Summit Skiing

Jackson Creek Summit has ski runs for everyone, from beginners to experts. You'll find easy green runs, medium blue runs, difficult black runs, and even super-hard double diamond runs with big bumps called moguls. Most of the mountain is groomed, which means the snow is smoothed out for a great ride.

One cool thing about Jackson Creek Summit is that the main lodge and facilities are at the top of the mountain. This means your ski day starts by heading down the hill! Your last lift ride of the day will take you back up to the top. There are no places to stay at the very bottom, but you can find many condos and cabins nearby.

Kids under nine years old can ski for free if an adult pays for their ticket.

Base of NASTAR run

At the top of the hill, you'll find places to eat, like bars, snack areas, and a restaurant. There's also a large restaurant and snack area at the bottom. You can rent skis and snowboards, buy gear at the ski shop, and use lockers in the lodge.

The mountain has different types of lifts to take you up: two double chairlifts, one fast six-person chairlift, a T-bar, a rope tow, and a carpet lift.

Jackson Creek Summit also offers NASTAR racing, where you can race against the clock. They have a ski school too, with lessons for individuals or groups to help you improve your skills.

Black River Basin Skiing

Black River Basin has 22 downhill runs across 126 acres of skiable land. About 20% of the runs are for beginners, 40% for intermediate skiers, and 40% for experts, including one very challenging double black diamond trail. This area is special because it has three terrain parks where you can do tricks and jumps. It also has two glade trails, which means you can ski through the trees!

Summer Adventures

When the snow melts, Snowriver Mountain Resort is still a great place to visit.

Hiking Trails

During summer, many hiking clubs and groups enjoy the mountain. People find the trails challenging but very rewarding.

Wildlife Sightings

In May, you might see herds of White-tailed deer on the slopes. It's a wonderful chance to spot local wildlife.

Beautiful Waterfalls

The mountain is close to the Black River, which has some of the most famous waterfalls in Michigan's Western Upper Peninsula. These are great spots to explore and take photos.

Events and Fun

Snocross Racing

Black River Basin (when it was called Blackjack Mountain) once hosted a big snowmobile race called the Amsoil Championship Snocross. This exciting event happened in December 2013.

Snocross is like motocross, but on snow! Snowmobiles race over jumps and challenging tracks. It's a thrilling event for fans, with world-class athletes competing in the winter environment.

Amazing Fall Colors

The views from the top of Jackson Creek Summit are incredible during autumn. People travel from all over to see the beautiful reds, oranges, and yellows of the maple, oak, and other trees. Jackson Creek Summit is part of a popular route for enjoying these stunning fall colors.

Where to Find Snowriver

Jackson Creek Summit ski area is located in northwestern Michigan. It's about 200 miles (320 km) northeast of Minneapolis St. Paul and 110 miles (180 km) from Duluth. It's also very close, about 1.5 miles (2.4 km), to the town of Wakefield.

Resort Photographs

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  Trail Merge

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  The Pomalift

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  Part of the Terrain Park

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  Guitar Playin' on the Slopes

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  Cool shot of trees and run

Shot from the Base Place at the base of the headwall.