The Highlands at Harbor Springs is the biggest ski area in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. If you remember it as Boyne Highlands, that's the same resort: it was renamed The Highlands in 2022 and is still part of Boyne Resorts, with Boyne Mountain. It's a longer drive than Boyne from Bellaire, so most of our guests make it a full day or the last stop of a longer trip.
The Highlands at a glance
| The Highlands | |
|---|---|
| Location | 600 Highlands Drive, Harbor Springs |
| From Bellaire | About 55 to 60 miles, roughly an hour and a half |
| From Boyne Mountain | About 35 minutes, per the resort |
| Skiable acres | 435, the most in the Lower Peninsula |
| Runs | 55 |
| Vertical | 552 ft, the highest in the Lower Peninsula |
| Lifts | 8, including two carpet conveyors |
| Terrain parks | 3 |
| Longest run | North Peak Pass, 1.25 miles |
| Average snowfall | 140 inches, with 93% snowmaking |
| Passes | Ikon Pass, Ikon Base Pass, Boyne Michigan Pass |
The skiing
The terrain mix is 37% beginner, 29% intermediate and 34% expert, so there's more steep skiing here than at most Michigan hills. A few things to know:
- Camelot 6 is a six-person lift with heated seats and a bubble. The ride is about three minutes.
- Camelot is a mile-long green run, good for beginners and kids.
- North Peak has longer intermediate runs and views. The Interconnect lift gets you there faster.
- For a challenge, try black diamonds like Rob Roy or the wooded glades.
Season and hours
The Highlands hasn't announced its 2026–27 opening day yet. Its lodging opens December 10, 2026. Follow the Mountain Report for opening news.
The resort lists slope hours of 9am to 4:30pm Sunday to Tuesday and 9am to 9pm Wednesday to Saturday, and says hours may vary. Night skiing runs 5 to 9pm on select winter evenings, and open-to-close tickets include it.
Ikon Pass and blackout dates
- The Ikon Pass includes 7 days at The Highlands, with no blackouts.
- The Ikon Base Pass includes 5 days. Its blackout dates are December 26 to 30, 2026, January 16 and 17, 2027, and February 13 and 14, 2027.
- Those Ikon days are separate from your days at Boyne Mountain, so one pass covers both resorts.
- The Boyne Michigan Pass covers The Highlands and Boyne Mountain.
Nub's Nob next door
Nub's Nob, an independent family-run ski area, is right next to The Highlands. If you're making the drive to Harbor Springs, you can ski one in the morning and the other after lunch if your tickets allow. See ski resorts near Bellaire for details.
Summer and golf
The Highlands is a big golf resort in summer. It has five courses:
- The Heather, a Robert Trent Jones Sr. design from 1966 and the first Boyne golf course.
- Arthur Hills, with mountaintop views along a nine-mile cart path.
- Donald Ross Memorial, built from some of the designer's best-known holes.
- The Moor, a tough test for strong golfers.
- Doon Brae, a newer short course built for fun.
It also runs a lift-served mountain bike park in summer. For golf closer to home, see golf courses near Bellaire.
Getting there
From Bellaire it's about 55 to 60 miles north, roughly an hour and a half. From our Ellsworth homes it's closer, about 45 miles, by way of Charlevoix and Petoskey on US-31. Harbor Springs and Petoskey are worth a stop on the way home. See day trips from Bellaire.
Frequently asked questions
Is The Highlands the same as Boyne Highlands?
Yes. Boyne Highlands was renamed The Highlands at Harbor Springs in 2022. It is still owned by Boyne Resorts.
How far is The Highlands from Bellaire?
About 55 to 60 miles north, roughly an hour and a half. Our Ellsworth homes are about 45 miles away.
Is The Highlands on the Ikon Pass?
Yes. The Ikon Pass includes 7 days with no blackouts, and the Ikon Base Pass includes 5 days with blackout dates over the holidays, MLK weekend and Presidents' Day weekend.
How far is The Highlands from Boyne Mountain?
The resort says about 35 minutes. Both are Boyne Resorts properties and share the Boyne Michigan Pass.
Sources
The Highlands resort stats, skiing and riding, Ikon Pass, history, golf and mountain biking pages. Pass access also from Ikon Pass. Distances are approximate road miles from our homes. Checked November 2, 2026.