{"id":824,"date":"2025-06-30T15:02:05","date_gmt":"2025-06-30T15:02:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/xfernfts.com\/?p=824"},"modified":"2025-07-01T13:47:21","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T13:47:21","slug":"mountain-review-mount-bohemia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/xfernfts.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/30\/mountain-review-mount-bohemia\/","title":{"rendered":"Mountain Review: Mount Bohemia"},"content":{"rendered":"
MOUNTAIN SCORE<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Lac La Belle, MI<\/p>\n 48<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n <\/p>\n #113 Overall<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n See our criteria<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Snow:<\/strong><\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Resiliency:<\/strong><\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Size:<\/strong><\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Terrain Diversity:<\/strong><\/p>\n 8<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Challenge:<\/strong><\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Lifts:<\/strong><\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Crowd Flow:<\/strong><\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Facilities:<\/strong><\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Navigation:<\/strong><\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Mountain Aesthetic:<\/strong><\/p>\n 1-Day Ticket: <\/strong>$95<\/p>\n Pass Affiliation: <\/strong>None (some partner resorts on season pass)<\/p>\n On-site Lodging: <\/strong>Limited<\/p>\n Apr\u00e8s-Ski:<\/strong> Moderate<\/p>\n Nearest Cities: <\/strong> Green Bay (4.5 hrs), Milwaukee (6.5 hrs), Minneapolis (7 hrs)<\/p>\n Recommended Ability Level:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Consistent lake effect snow<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Easy to find advanced and extreme terrain<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Unique views and vibe<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Insanely cheap season pass<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Incredibly inconsistent openings and snow quality<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Slow lifts, along with bus rides for some runs<\/p>\n<\/li>\n No beginner runs and limited intermediate runs<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Far away from everything<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Skiable Footprint:<\/strong> 415 <\/a>acres<\/p>\n Total Footprint:<\/strong> 585 <\/a>acres<\/p>\n Lift-Serviced Terrain:<\/strong> 100%<\/p>\n Top Elevation:<\/strong> 1,460 ft<\/p>\n Vertical Drop:<\/strong> 823 ft<\/p>\n Lifts:<\/strong> 2<\/p>\n Trails: <\/strong>95<\/p>\n Beginner: <\/strong>0%<\/p>\n Intermediate:<\/strong> 4%<\/p>\n Advanced\/Expert: <\/strong>96%<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Looking for one of the most unique skiing experiences in the country? Look no further than\u2026 Michigan? Located almost 10 hours from Detroit at the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula, Mount Bohemia, or \u201cBoho\u201d offers a no frills ski area that claims to be for advanced skiers and riders only. But does \u201cbest in the Midwest\u201d translate to best in the country? <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Even on somewhat sunny days, weather can change fast as the Lake Effect Snow moves in, making for constant powder days.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n <\/p>\n Despite being in the Midwest, Boho offers snowfall far above its competition. Unlike competing ski areas, many of which would be lucky to see high double digits of snowfall inches each year, Boho regularly sees hundreds of inches of snow annually. This is in large part thanks to generous lake effect snowfall (LES), as Lake Superior surrounds the ski area from nearly every direction, with the sole exception being the immediate southwest. Whenever the lake isn\u2019t frozen over and the wind is blowing, you can bet your bottom dollar it\u2019s snowing in the Keweenaw. This means that there are less deep powder days, but very consistent 2\u201d-8\u201d days. After larger parts of the lake freeze over, which is usually in late February-March, the area is generally colder and gets less snowfall due to the lack of LES. In the best years, seasons can extend as far as May 1st, which is especially impressive given Boho\u2019s complete lack of snowmaking. <\/p>\n But that lack of snowmaking and dependence on mother nature is a cruel double edged sword. With much of the footprint south and west facing, the snow melts off quickly in the springtime, and can get very icy after multiple days without any snow. Unlike other Midwest ski areas that can get around icy slopes with top notch grooming, Boho lacks grooming entirely. This means if it\u2019s been a week, or even a few days without snow, the whole area will have turned into icy bumps and icy glades. In the later springtime, the small minority of north facing slopes stay open longest, though this area isn\u2019t immune from ice either. Mount Bohemia\u2019s lack of resiliency measures especially have consequences for its early season. Sometimes, the ski area doesn\u2019t open until late January, and a February opening isn\u2019t entirely unprecedented either. Neither are mid-season closures in the event of especially awful natural conditions. Wind holds are also sometimes an issue, as the wind off the lake can close the lifts for the day; that being said, under these circumstances, the hill will still be open to those who want to earn their turns by hiking or skinning up. Luckily, pending an absolutely terrible season, the snow in midseason tends to be very consistent, and due to the isolation of the hill, there are stashes of snow that can stay for days, or even weeks at a time if you can find them and the weather has remained cold.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mount Bohemia is home to two brightly colored fixed-grip lifts, which both deal with lines quite well on all but the busiest days.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n <\/p>\n As for getting up the hill, there are two lifts, the frontside triple chairlift (officially known as the Mountain Dew Hoist), and the backside double lift (officially known as the Honey Pot Hoist). The triple lift is in the process of a phased rebuild, and the project will bring new towers and triple chairs for the 2025-26 ski season. Despite there only being two lower capacity lifts, lines at Mount Bohemia move relatively fast, with occasional 15 minute lines building up on the busiest Saturdays, but ski-on lifts on weekdays. <\/p>\n A significant number of runs also end at the road, where a group of shuttle buses run every day to bring people back to the main base. This bus system runs frequently and efficiently, making the lack of ski-out access less of an annoyance than one might think. It is worth noting that on busy days, you may experience a few buses passing you by while you wait along the road after they fill up earlier on the route. If you want to get first dibs on a bus seat, runs that go the furthest east, like those in the Far East or Middle Earth areas, end where the bus routes start, so you\u2019re almost guaranteed a seat when skiing those runs. Runs that end further west, like the Extreme Backcountry terrain, are later in the bus route, meaning you could be waiting as a few buses pass you by in that area.<\/p>\n The buses themselves are pretty interesting as well, with different buses having different music themes. If you find yourself on the ABBA bus, you might even find yourself witnessing live performances of ABBA songs.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n <\/p>\n When it comes to finding your way around the mountain, you may be a bit confused your first time at Mount Bohemia. Boho has a very unique vibe in that the run names don\u2019t matter too much, and getting lost is often a part of the experience. The trail map is also quite unhelpful, though some different maps at the base area can help clarify some navigation, though these maps are a little out of date and a few runs have been added that aren\u2019t shown on the map. That being said, you will always end up either at a lift or the road to ride one of the aforementioned buses, so it\u2019s tough to be in a position where you can\u2019t get home at the end of the day. Since the buses on the road go right back to the base, you\u2019re never more than a lift or bus ride from there.<\/p>\n When it comes to Mount Bohemia\u2019s layout, the resort can effectively be thought of as a cone. From the summit, terrain goes down from every side of the mountain. The mountain is made up of the frontside lift lappable terrain (Bohemia Mining Company and Bohemia Bluffs on the map), the backside lift lappable terrain (Bears Den on the map), the north side (Haunted Valley, Outback, Pirates Cove, and Graveyard), the east side (Outer Limits and Middle Earth), and last but not least, the Extreme Backcountry, which is between the frontside and backside terrain. Each of these terrain zones has something different to offer, with cut mogul runs on the frontside, long undulating cut runs on the backside, shorter and steeper glade runs on the north side, long stretches of woods to get lost in on the east side, and plenty of steep trees and cliff drops in the Extreme Backcountry. Just about all the trees throughout the 400-acre area are skiable, though it\u2019s important to stay alert for unmarked rocks and cliffs, which can pop up just about anywhere on the mountain. The tree runs vary widely, from wider cut runs through Oaks and Maples on the frontside and Haunted Valley, narrower runs through cedar and hemlocks in Middle Earth, steeper runs through old growth pines in the Extreme Backcountry, and other mixes of trees, tightness, and steepness throughout the area.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re not a confident skier or rider, it\u2019s probably wise to think twice before booking a trip to Mount Bohemia. Beginner terrain doesn\u2019t exist at all at Boho, which the mountain makes abundantly clear with its \u201cNo Beginners Allowed\u201d marketing materials. With no groomed runs, the snow is either bumped up or rutted out in higher traffic areas, making the whole mountain not ideal for learning to ski or snowboard. <\/p>\n Intermediate terrain is limited as well. The resort has two marked blue runs, though one of them, the Ghost Trail, is a long catwalk\u2014and it also happens to be the easiest way down from the summit. If you\u2019re an intermediate skier looking for easier tree terrain, the Far East and Middle Earth glades are a lot more mellow, with meandering runs following small streams and gullies. Some of the Bear\u2019s Den terrain is also doable by intermediate skiers, though it will likely be bumped up short of an exceptional powder day. The frontside cut runs also have mellower slopes, but they are typically home to the largest moguls. Although the Prospector blue run does exist on the front side, some marked black diamond runs are actually easier due to its steep entrance. If you can\u2019t ski bumps or trees, Boho is not for you.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n While some of Boho\u2019s glades start out unassuming, unmarked obstacles such as stumps, rocks, and cliffs can pop up anywhere across the mountain.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n <\/p>\n To really appreciate Mount Bohemia, you should really be at an advanced or higher level of skiing or riding. All the terrain marked with a single or double-black diamond should be doable for guests of this skill level. This all being said, if you are unfamiliar with the mountain, heed caution when in double-black gladed runs; unmarked obstacles such as stumps, logs, rocks, and even cliffs tend to pop up in these areas. <\/p>\n For the biggest challenges at Mount Bohemia, guests will want to head to the Extreme Backcountry area. Here, all the runs are marked with the notorious triple black diamond rating. Many people will scoff at that ostentatious symbol, but it really isn\u2019t much of an exaggeration as far as they go, as the area is bisected by a cliff line halfway down the runs. The center of the cliff band is where the largest drops are, where cliffs as tall as 40\u2019 can be found. Even if you drop the cliffs, the hardest part is yet to come, as the landings are usually in very tight trees. Other than the cliffs, the Extreme Backcountry holds many steep glades with scattered rocks, logs, and stumps that make for some very playful terrain among the pine trees. There are a few other triple black diamonds scattered across the mountain that hold other extreme features such as cliffs from 10-30 ft tall.<\/p>\n With a vertical rise of almost 850 ft, Mt Bohemia is a bit of an anthill on the national stage, although regionally, this is actually competitive enough to give it the largest vertical drop in the Midwest (If you exclude the Black Hills of South Dakota). This means that while Boho has steep runs, they aren\u2019t the longest if you\u2019re used to skiing outside the Midwest. If you\u2019re looking for real cardio runs in your next destination ski trip, you may be a little disappointed with the experience. However, since both lifts are top to bottom, you will be skiing for the whole vertical in every run, rather than skiing smaller pods. For example, the vertical of Bohemia is taller than lifts such as Powder Seeker 6 at Big Sky, Mott Canyon at Heavenly, or Shooting Star at Stratton. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mount Bohemia boasts views of not only the nearby Lac La Belle, but also the massive Lake Superior in the distance and endless forests all around.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n <\/p>\n On a clear day, the aesthetic at Mount Bohemia impresses. From the top of the hill, you have an expansive view of the Keweenaw Peninsula, many lakes, and the massive Lake Superior. You can see as much as 50 miles out across the lake, including down to the Huron Mountains to the south, and Isle Royale to the northeast. While trees prevent the view from the summit from being truly 360 degrees, there are many areas across the mountain that have clear views of the big lake, or the smaller Lac La Belle. If you\u2019re searching for an isolated skiing experience, you\u2019ll surely find that at Boho, as many runs will find you feeling lost in the woods before popping out on a cut run or at the road. This all being said, the big downside to the views at Boho is the limited number of clear days, as the Lake Effect snow can bring cloudy conditions, even on days when it\u2019s sunny further from the lake. <\/p>\n For those seeking a novel experience, it\u2019s also worth noting that Mount Bohemia offers “Little Boho,” a distinct ski area accessible via a short hike from the back of the main parking lot. The hike or skin up to this 300-vertical-foot area takes 15 to 30 minutes depending on your level of fitness and is generally flat. The runs end with bus service required to get out (which is less frequent than that of the rest of Mount Bohemia). But this jaunt can pay off, as Little Boho is home to some properly steep terrain\u2014and it stays untracked if it\u2019s been a few days since the last snowstorm and temperatures stay consistent. Little Boho has a more fickle opening schedule than the rest of the resort, and under most circumstances, it’s probably not worth the hike, but it’s there if you want some extra terrain to check out with pretty much nobody on it.<\/p>\n While not physically connected to Mount Bohemia, there is also a cat skiing operation run out of Boho called Voodoo Mountain. This full-day experience runs on Wednesdays and Saturdays on some hills north of Mount Bohemia proper and costs less than $200. This is also held on north-facing terrain, and thanks to the limited number of people, powder stays untracked for weeks, though the terrain is much less steep than the runs found at Mount Bohemia. While not for everyone, this is one of the cheapest full-day cat skiing operations in the country, and allows for plenty of mellow powder turns. <\/p>\n NOTE: We may receive a small affiliate commission if you click on the below links. All products listed below are unisex.<\/strong><\/p>\n K2 Mindbender 90 C<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Recommended intermediate ski<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Nordica Enforcer 94<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Recommended advanced ski<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Faction Prodigy 2<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Recommended glade ski<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Salomon QST 106<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Recommended powder ski<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n <\/p>\n Mount Bohemia\u2019s yurt-heaving base area is home to a few bars, lodging, and food options.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n <\/p>\n In order to get to Mount Bohemia, you need to be prepared for quite the journey. The nearest airport is in Hancock, around an hour away, and flights only go to and from Chicago, and are susceptible to getting cancelled due to weather. The nearest larger airports are in Green Bay (4.5 hours away), Milwaukee (6.5 hours away), Minneapolis (7 hours away), or Chicago (7.5 hours away). The drive can also get hairy at times due to weather, and visibility can drop to near zero at any time. In general, weather forecasts are not as accurate in the Keweenaw Peninsula due to the microclimate, so be prepared for anything.<\/p>\n NOTE: We may receive a small affiliate commission if you click on the below links. All products listed below are unisex.<\/strong><\/p>\n K2 Raygun Pop<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Recommended intermediate board<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n CAPiTA Defenders of Awesome<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Recommended advanced board<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n WRITTEN REVIEW
\n <\/a><\/p>\n
\n MOUNTAIN STATS
\n <\/a><\/p>\n
\n VIDEO REVIEW
\n <\/a><\/p>\nCATEGORY BREAKDOWN <\/h3>\n
\nGOOD TO KNOW<\/h3>\n
\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
\n +<\/span> Pros
\n<\/h3>\n
\n\n
\n –<\/span> Cons
\n<\/h3>\n
\n\n
MOUNTAIN STATS<\/h3>\n
\nVIDEO<\/h3>\n
\nMountain Review<\/h2>\n
Snowfall and Resiliency<\/h3>\n
Lifts and Buses<\/h3>\n
TRAIL MAP<\/h3>\n
\n<\/p>\n
Navigation and Layout<\/h3>\n
Beginner Terrain<\/h3>\n
Intermediate Terrain<\/h3>\n
Advanced and Expert Terrain<\/h3>\n
Mountain Aesthetic<\/h3>\n
Little Boho and Voodoo Mountain<\/h3>\n
<\/h3>\n
RECOMMENDED SKIS FOR MOUNT BOHEMIA<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nGetting There and Parking<\/h3>\n
RECOMMENDED SNOWBOARDS FOR MOUNT BOHEMIA<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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