Avalanche Preserve — Local services in Boyne City

462 steps, or as I will call them from now on "Satan's staircase". I thought I was in shape. I had just finished a half marathon, I killed it on leg day, I am a stair master and I could not let my two daughters and wife show me up. We began our accent and at stair 150 I was doubled over hands on my knees trying to catch my breath. Farther up the stairs I could make out the faint outline of my family. "Are you coming?" they yelled. I replied, "Yes, I'll be there in a minute. I'm just checking out this lizard." Then I waved my arm and hand in the go ahead motion. That's when I realized they are all in tremendous shape. At about step 300 I had to be real with myself. That marathon, well it was on Netflix. And I'm a stair master all right, I can stare at my phone for hours. And leg day, well, that was at Popeye's chicken. Finally at the summit my heart felt like it had been replaced with a humming bird. There wasn't near enough oxygen, and I may have died. But that view was really something else. I may have a buffet body and dunkin doughnut dreams, but I would strap my favorite lazyboy to my back and do it again...

The area was not open for the season so it’s hard to pass judgement on the entire operation. It gets high grades just for being a public facility, available for many types of ski activities including a group that help those with disabilities get a chance to learn how to ski with the necessary instructions and equipment. Lift & tow methods must be portable because nothing was in place in the late fall. The run was a gradually increasing slope that I assume the skier could exit the tow at a point of their liking and ski. For a beginner or someone without a lot of confidence in their abilities (ME,after 10 knee surgeries and 4 different knees none of which have the range of motion necessary for sking, to “hone” his 76 year old body and brain to a new style of self destruction). It’s very simple and basic. It’s was intended to be a place for the townes’ when the land was developed and then donated...

Horrible, no Gift Shop at the top.

A Pure Michigan Classic. Great views of Lake Charlevoix, quick hike for the family- a great spot for a picnic. If you’re in average shape, the direct hike to the top is only about 10 minutes long. There is no water along the way so bring a water bottle. The most direct hike to the top is also mostly stairs, but if you’re looking for a more “woodsy” or longer hike, those options are available.

High traffic area, so please keep your dog on a leash and pick...