Resort Visitor FAQ

You can purchase all tickets on the day of, but to receive the lowest prices and for convenience, our team strongly suggests that you purchase lift tickets, activities, lessons, and rentals early online before arrival.

The resort is located outside downtown Harbor Springs and about 20 minutes from Petoskey.

600 Highlands Drive
Harbor Springs, MI 49740

GPS/Online Maps use:
600 Highland Pike Road

Yes, overnight guests of The Highlands have access to the pool and hot tub at the Main Lodge and the Bartley House.

Overnight guests and owners of Heather Highlands Inn have access to the indoor/outdoor pool and hot tub in that building.

No, we do not have child care, but we have an amazing Adventure Camp during summer. During the winter months, we offer full-day Ski School options.

No, the Spa at The Highlands is currently unavailable. We have upgraded plans for a brand new experience! Visit our Highlands Future page for more info.

We offer on-property shuttles to all of our lodging guests. Please call the At Your Service department at 231.526.3000 Ext. "0" or dial "0" from any house phone for more information.

Portable grills of any kind are not permitted on property.

The Highlands has a variety of restaurant options to suit your preferences.

The Slopeside Lounge, located in the Main Lodge, offers lunch and dinner as well as a full bar.

The Main Dining Room provides a casually elegant atmosphere and serves breakfast and dinner with an exceptional wine selection.

The Cafe in the main lobby is perfect for grab-and-go items and a range of beverages, including specialty coffees.

During winter, the Day Lodge features the Zoo Bar Cantina and Food Market both offering sit-down and casual dining experiences.

Champions Pizza is open year-round and is widely regarded as the best in town.

The Country Club of Boyne also provides a mix of upscale and casual dining options seasonally.

Winter also offers North Peak atop the northernmost slopes, and the BlueBird Lounge and Waffle Cabin at the base of Camelot 6.

Dining at The Highlands is tailored to meet the needs of the whole family!

Takeout and delivery are available seasonally. Slopeside Lounge and the Main Dining Room offer takeout options. Champions Pizza offers takeout and delivery. Please note: Dining options are seasonal, so please check operation hours.

All outlets will accept cash.

Protecting your body from a range of elements or injuries with the following recommended protective equipment can ensure that weather, obstacles or crashes don’t force your day to end early. A helmet is mandatory for every rider; additional protective gear is strongly recommended.

Protective gear is available at Boyne Country Sports in the lower level of the Day Lodge. Full-face helmets are also available in the rental shop.

HELMET (MANDATORY): All riders must wear a helmet in the bike park and on all cross-country trails. We strongly recommend a full-face helmet to provide greater head protection.

GOGGLES OR EYEWEAR: Wrap-around goggles/eyewear are the best choice for eye protection against dirt, branches, and other objects you’ll encounter on the trail or in a fall.

BODY ARMOR: Upper body Armor wraps your chest, ribs, spine, torso, shoulders and arms in hard-shell pads to minimize impact and injuries in a crash

LONG SLEEVES: Long-sleeved shirts and pants add a thin but crucial barrier against skin abrasions

ELBOW PADS: Hard-shell elbow pads protect one of the most sensitive parts of your arm.

GLOVES: Full-finger gloves provide better bike control and offer protection from blisters and weather

KNEE PADS OR SHIN GUARDS: Protect your knees and shins from impact with hard-shell pads and guards

CLOSED-TOE SHOES: Shoes with a durable toe box prevent injuries if your feet get jammed on a rock or roots.

Knowing your ability level, so you can choose the right trails to ride, is an important first step.

BEGINNER

• I can comfortably ride on pavement or wide gravel trails, maintain balance and use disc brakes.
• I have little or no experience riding mountain bike trails and/or in a downhill mountain bike park.

NOVICE

• I can comfortably ride on green or easy blue technical tracks and freeride trails.
• I am confident to ride and carry momentum through bumpy, rooty sections of trail without putting a foot down.
• I have reasonable brake control.
• I have a little experience riding bike parks.

INTERMEDIATE

• I can comfortably ride on blue freeride and technical trails.
• I can ride easy black technical trails at slower speeds.
• I have limited or no jumping or drop experience.
• I can ride, balance, change gears, and brake without thinking.
• I have some experience riding on elevated wooden features.
• I am focused on improving jump, drop, and cornering skills to handle harder blue freeride trails.

ADVANCED

• I am comfortable at fast speeds on all black freeride and technical trails.
• I am confident in my drops and jumping skills.
• I can confidently pick a line through difficult technical sections, ride steep rooty sections, and raised skinnys.

EXPERT

• I am confident at high speeds on all trails, I can ride all features on black and some double black technical trails.
• I can clear large drops and jumps with correct technique.

Having the right bike when riding the bike park not only makes the day more fun, but also helps ensure your safety. As such there are certain requirements that all bikes must have.

Required Equipment Features:

• Disc Brakes
• Suspension: Full suspension is highly recommended, but at a minimum, a bike must have front suspension.
• Minimum 2” knobby tires. Fat tires are allowed, but no bigger than 3”. They must fit in bike carriers.
• Front AND Rear brakes
• At least 20” diameter tires

Bikes without these minimum features will be turned away at the chairlift. Not sure about your bike? Stop into our rental shop before you head out and our rental techs will be happy to do a free and quick safety inspection for you.

Equipment not allowed in the park and on trails:

• Bikes with tires smaller than 20”, smooth tires, caliper brakes, and/or no suspension
• Motorized vehicles or Type 2 or Type 3 electric assist bikes
• Digglers, One Wheels, or Mountain Scooters
• Unicycles
• Skateboards, Mountain Boards or Hoverboards
• Tandem Bikes
• Trailers or pulled Carriers
• Child Bike Seats or Shotgun seats

TRAIL SELECTION

The trail network at our park is generally more challenging than many other trail networks in the region. Our easiest trail down will likely be more challenging than the easiest trails at your local trail system or other parks. Trail ratings are park-specific and may vary compared to other trail networks or parks.

FREERIDE

Freeride Terrain consists of natural and machine-cut and man-made features. Routes are enhanced with dirt jumps, ride-on features, gaps, narrow surfaces, wallrides, berms, and other natural or constructed features. Freeride trails are identified by their difficulty symbol surrounded by an orange oval.

BEGINNER

• Smooth, wide surfaces with gentle corners and rolling terrain.
• All features include ride-arounds.
• Designed for newer bike park riders.

INTERMEDIATE

• Smooth surfaces on steeper terrain, including larger corners, rollers and smaller jumps.
• Raised features like bridges and wallrides require jumping skills and speed.
• All features include ride-arounds.
• Suited for riders who have mastered all beginner freeride trails.

ADVANCED

• Mix of smooth and rough riding surfaces on steep, fast grades
• Larger man-made features, including jumps, raised bridges, and steep wallrides
• All features include ride-arounds
• Advanced jumping skills required
• Suited for riders who have mastered all intermediate freeride trails

EXPERT ONLY

• Trails with steep terrain, very fast speed, and require expert jumping skills.
• Mandatory jump features that require knowledge of gaps and landings with no ride-arounds.
• Suited for the most advanced riders only.

PRO LINE

• Largest gaps and mandatory jump features with no ride-arounds.
• Expert jumping skills are required.
• Suited for professional riders only.

TECHNICAL

Technical trails are designed to embrace the rugged shape and terrain of the mountain, utilizing a majority of natural terrain. Routes are typically hand-built and feature organic obstacles and stunts such as rocks, roots, logs, drops, jumps and other natural or constructed features that require technical riding skills. Technical trails are identified by just their difficulty symbol.

Technical trails require pedaling.

BEGINNER

• Rougher single track trails with small rocks and tree roots.
• Designed for new bike park riders comfortable with beginner freeride trails

INTERMEDIATE

• Rougher terrain with tight corners and steeper slopes
• Larger natural obstacles, including roots and rocks
• Suited for riders who have mastered all beginner technical trails

ADVANCED

• Steep grades with large technical features, including rocks, roots and drops
• Technical handling through tight trees and rough sections
• Suited for riders who have mastered all intermediate technical trails

EXPERT ONLY

• Steepest grades with the most technical features
• Warming up on intermediate and advanced trails encouraged
• Suited for the most advanced riders only
• Currently no Technical Expert Only trails at The Highlands

PRO LINE

• Most difficult technical terrain
• Proficient handling of all bike skills required
• Suited for professional riders only
• Currently no Technical Pro Line trails at The Highlands

Check-in for all lessons is at the "Snowsports School Meeting Area" behind the Day Lodge. On-snow supervisors will be there to introduce students to their instructors.

Snowsports lessons do not include a lift pass. To ensure that equipment is available, we recommend purchasing lift tickets and rental equipment in advance by booking online.

If renting equipment, please check-in at least 60 minutes prior to your lesson starting time. Pick-up is also available the evening before between 3 PM - 5 PM during day skiing hours and 7 PM - 9 PM during night skiing hours.

Lift access (lift ticket or season pass) is required to take a lesson. 

Rental equipment is not included.

Reservations are required for all private individual lessons or private group lesson packages.

Pricing allows up to 3 participants in the same group.

Our instructors will tailor their approach to align with the proficiency of the least experienced member of the group. To optimize the learning experience, we would like to suggest arranging sessions with participants of similar skills.

Snowsports Instruction

All forms of third-party commercial activity are prohibited on Boyne Resorts property without prior written authorization, including solicitation or provision of snow sport instruction, tours and guiding services, and other products and services offered for sale.

Lift access (lift ticket or season pass) is required to take a lesson. 

Rental equipment is not included.

Reservations are required for all kids' camp group lessons. Registration is based on availability.

Choose Morning or All Day. Lunch is provided for all-day Kids Camp Group Lessons.

Students are grouped according to discipline, age, and ability level.

Lift access (lift ticket or season pass) is required to take a lesson. 

Rental equipment is not included.

Reservations are required for all adult group lessons. Registration is based on availability.

Group lessons are great for all skill levels and are suitable for ages 15+.

Participants are grouped according to skill level, with around 7 participants per group.

Snowsports Instruction

All forms of third-party commercial activity are prohibited on Boyne Resorts property without prior written authorization, including solicitation or provision of snow sport instruction, tours and guiding services, and other products and services offered for sale.

A guardian's signature is required in the rental process for any guests under 18 years of age.

We require all guests to enter the Day Lodge through the Snowsports School entrance.

The hallway between Snowsports School and Rental will be divided. The right side of the hallway will become the waiting area for guests needing rentals.

Helmet usage is encouraged but not required at The Highlands. Helmet rentals are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Rental equipment can be picked up starting at 8:30 AM on the day of.

Early pick up is also available the evening before between 3 PM - 5 PM during day ski hours and 7 PM - 9 PM during night skiing hours.

Reservations must be made 48 hours in advance. Online reservations will be strongly encouraged to help streamline the guest experience.