Boyne Mountain, in Boyne Falls, is the big resort a lot of our guests add to a Bellaire ski trip. It's about 30 miles from our homes, under an hour's drive, so you can ski Schuss one day and Boyne the next without packing up. Boyne Resorts, a family-owned company Everett Kircher started in 1948, runs it along with The Highlands in Harbor Springs.
Boyne Mountain at a glance
| Boyne Mountain | |
|---|---|
| Location | 1 Boyne Mountain Road, Boyne Falls |
| From Bellaire | About 30 miles, under an hour |
| Skiable acres | 415 |
| Trails | 65 |
| Vertical | 500 ft |
| Chairlifts | 10 |
| Terrain parks | 5 |
| Average snowfall | 140 inches, with 90% snowmaking |
| Nordic | 35 km of cross-country trails, 5 km of snowshoe trails |
| Passes | Ikon Pass, Ikon Base Pass, Boyne Michigan Pass |
The skiing
Boyne's trail mix is 48% beginner, 27% more difficult, 22% most difficult and 3% expert, so it works for mixed groups. The lifts are a big part of the appeal:
- Disciples 8, an eight-person high-speed lift added in 2022.
- Mountain Express, a six-person high-speed lift.
- Hemlock, which Boyne bills as the first chairlift in the world. It also takes you up to SkyBridge.
Boyne has five terrain parks for all levels, and Nordic and snowshoe trails if part of your group wants a quieter day.
Season and hours
Boyne hasn't announced its 2026–27 opening day yet. Follow its Mountain Report for the countdown and current conditions.
Starting December 18, 2026, Boyne lists these slope hours:
| Days | Hours |
|---|---|
| Sunday to Tuesday | 9am to 4:30pm |
| Wednesday to Saturday, plus peak dates | 9am to 9pm |
That means night skiing four nights a week. It's an easy way to fit Boyne into a trip: ski Schuss in the morning, or sleep in and drive up for an afternoon and evening session.
Lift tickets and passes
- Boyne prices lift tickets by date, and prices go up as the day gets closer. Buy online as early as you can.
- Kids 5 and under ski for $1 a day with a paying adult.
- The Ikon Pass includes 7 days at Boyne Mountain and 7 at The Highlands. The Ikon Base Pass includes 5 days at each, with blackout dates.
- The Boyne Michigan Pass covers both Boyne Mountain and The Highlands.
Schuss Mountain sells its own tickets. For Schuss prices and weekday deals, see our Schuss 2026–27 season guide.
Tubing
The Top Notch Tubing Park has eight lanes, each 700 feet long, with a covered conveyor back to the top. Sessions are one hour. Boyne lists $32 on weekdays and $36 on weekends and holidays, and riders must be at least 32 inches tall. Ski boots aren't allowed in the tube park.
Avalanche Bay indoor waterpark
Avalanche Bay is the reason a lot of families pick Boyne for a day. It's kept at 84 degrees year-round, with waterslides, a lazy river, hot tubs and an arcade. Ikon calls it Michigan's largest indoor waterpark, at 88,000 square feet. Hours change through the season. Over the 2026 holiday week Boyne lists it open mostly 11am to 8pm, so check the schedule for your dates.
A good split for a family: one parent skis while the other takes the little ones to the waterpark, then swap after lunch.
SkyBridge Michigan and Lights in the Sky
SkyBridge Michigan is a 1,200-foot suspension bridge high above the trees, which Boyne bills as the world's longest timber-towered suspension bridge. You reach it by chairlift. In winter, Lights in the Sky turns the bridge into an evening light walk. During holiday week, December 18, 2026 to January 1, 2027, Boyne lists Lights in the Sky from 4 to 8:30pm.
Boyne also runs a guided summit snowshoe under the lights: 45 minutes, listed at $39. SkyBridge is closed November 2 to 6, 2026 while the lights go up, and reopens November 7. Our day trips from Bellaire guide has more on visiting in other seasons.
The spa and the lodge
The Mountain Grand Lodge and Spa sits at the base, with Avalanche Bay, the spa, Everett's restaurant and an arcade under one roof. Boyne calls its spa the largest in Michigan. It's closed for a refresh through November 16, 2026.
Summer and golf
Boyne isn't just a winter trip. From mid-May through October it runs ziplines, scenic chairlift rides, e-bike tours, mountain biking, horseback riding, disc golf, hiking and pickleball, plus a beach on Deer Lake. It also has two 18-hole golf courses, The Alpine and The Monument, both par 72. See golf courses near Bellaire for the rest of the area.
Schuss or Boyne?
Do both. Schuss is about ten minutes from downtown Bellaire, quieter and good value, especially on weekdays. Boyne is bigger, with more lifts, more terrain parks and the waterpark. Most of our guests ski Schuss one day and Boyne the next. Our Schuss and Boyne ski weekend plan lays it out.
| Schuss Mountain | Boyne Mountain | |
|---|---|---|
| From downtown Bellaire | About 10 minutes | About 30 miles, under an hour |
| Trails | 42 | 65 |
| Lifts | 7 | 10 chairlifts |
| Terrain parks | 2 | 5 |
| Extras | Tubing, Nordic center | Tubing, waterpark, SkyBridge, spa |
Getting there from Bellaire
From Bellaire, take M-88 east to Mancelona, then US-131 north to Boyne Falls. From Schuss Mountain it's the same route. Allow extra time when it's snowing, and check the road conditions before you leave.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Boyne Mountain from Bellaire?
About 30 miles, in Boyne Falls. Most drives from Bellaire and Schuss Mountain take under an hour. Allow extra time in winter weather.
When does Boyne Mountain open for 2026–27?
Boyne has not announced opening day yet. Check its Mountain Report. From December 18, 2026, slopes are listed open 9am to 4:30pm Sunday to Tuesday and 9am to 9pm Wednesday to Saturday.
Is Boyne Mountain on the Ikon Pass?
Yes. The Ikon Pass includes 7 days at Boyne Mountain and the Ikon Base Pass includes 5, with blackout dates on the Base Pass. The Highlands has the same access.
Can we ski Schuss and Boyne on the same trip?
Yes. Stay near Bellaire, ski Schuss one day and drive under an hour to Boyne the next. Our homes are about 30 miles from Boyne.
Does Boyne Mountain have an indoor waterpark?
Yes. Avalanche Bay is kept at 84 degrees, with waterslides, a lazy river and hot tubs. Hours change through the season.
Sources
Boyne Mountain mountain stats, daily lift tickets and hours, tubing, Avalanche Bay, SkyBridge Michigan, holiday week schedule, guided summit snowshoe, Mountain Grand Lodge and Spa, the spa, summer activities and golf. Company history from Boyne Resorts. Pass access and waterpark size from Ikon Pass. Schuss figures from our Schuss Mountain guide. Distances are approximate road miles from our homes. Checked November 2, 2026.