Caberfae Peaks Ski Resort Review

Overview and significance

Caberfae Peaks Ski & Golf Resort is one of the oldest continuously operating ski areas in the United States and a pillar of Michigan ski culture. Located in the Manistee National Forest west of Cadillac in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, it combines nearly 500 feet of vertical drop with roughly 200 skiable acres and more than 30 named runs. The name “Caberfae” comes from a Scottish Gaelic term meaning “stag’s head,” and the resort’s history stretches back to the 1930s era of snow trains and rope tows powered by car engines. Today, it operates as a modern, lift-served hill with chairlifts, snowmaking, night skiing, and terrain parks, but the feel is still more local favorite than corporate mega-resort.

For freeskiers, Caberfae Peaks offers a compelling mix of value, history, and terrain variety. The reworked North and South Peaks create real fall-line skiing for the Midwest, while a pair of terrain parks and small backcountry-style zones add progression and character. Affordable tickets, a relaxed base area and a strong regional following make it a go-to spot for Michigan riders looking to stack laps in the parks, carve firm corduroy, or chase lake-effect powder without the crowds of bigger destination mountains.

Terrain, snow, and seasons

Caberfae’s terrain is built around two main summits, North Peak and South Peak, which rise from a base near the forest floor to a summit around 1,500 feet. The vertical drop is roughly 485 feet, but the way it’s shaped into distinct peaks gives the mountain more character than the raw number suggests. The resort typically lists around 30–34 runs spread over approximately 200–225 acres, with a difficulty split that is close to one-third beginner, one-third intermediate and one-third advanced. Long groomers roll off the front of both peaks, while more direct fall-line shots on the upper faces provide steeper, sustained pitches for advanced skiers.

Gladed terrain and a small backcountry-style area off North Peak add variety when snow is deep. In good winters, these tree zones offer soft turns, short chutes and playful natural features that feel far removed from the frontside groomers, even though they remain within the resort’s permit area. For newer skiers, lower-mountain greens and forgiving blues near the main lodge create a comfortable learning environment, separated from the steeper upper slopes.

Snow is a major part of Caberfae’s identity. The resort sits in a favored lake-effect band that often delivers around 120 to 140 inches of natural snowfall each season, with some winters exceeding that. This is backed up by 100 percent snowmaking coverage on the marked runs, so the mountain can build a durable base early and refresh surfaces between storms. The typical season runs from early December into late March, with the most reliable coverage and widest trail count normally found from late December through February. Night skiing extends the day on a large portion of the hill, turning cold evenings into extra lap time.

Park infrastructure and events

Caberfae Peaks has quietly become a strong terrain-park destination for northern Michigan, thanks to a two-park setup that targets different levels of rider. Cammy’s Park, on the upper mountain, is the intermediate-to-advanced zone. It often features a line of jumps sized for confident skiers and riders, along with more technical rail and box setups. When snow is plentiful, this park can ride like a compact slopestyle course, with options to link multiple features in one flowing line.

Closer to the base, Little Jibbers Park (often referred to simply as Jibber’s Park) is the progression-focused area. Here you will usually find smaller boxes, mellow rails, and roller-style jumps that allow new park riders to learn the basics without being overwhelmed. The pitch is gentle and visibility is good, making it ideal for first slides, early spins, and low-consequence trick attempts. Park shapes evolve through the season; features rotate in and out as snow depth changes, keeping the layout fresh for locals who ride every weekend.

The resort strongly promotes Smart Style terrain-park safety, with on-hill signage emphasizing making a plan, looking before you leap, starting small and respecting other riders. Beyond daily park laps, Caberfae hosts alpine racing and league nights, junior race programs, and occasional rail jams or freestyle-focused events that give local skiers an outlet to compete or showcase new tricks. It’s not a world-tour venue, but it’s an important training ground where Michigan’s park and race talent gets steady reps.

Access, logistics, and on-mountain flow

Caberfae Peaks is easy to reach by Midwest standards. The resort sits about 12–18 miles west of Cadillac, Michigan, just off state highway M-55, and roughly three hours by car from the Detroit area. From Grand Rapids, the drive is around two hours. The access road from the highway is short and well maintained, but winter tires and a bit of caution are still smart when lake-effect storms are rolling through. For many skiers, base lodging at the resort or in nearby Cadillac turns Caberfae into a straightforward weekend trip with minimal transit hassle.

On the hill, five lifts serve the alpine terrain: a mix of chairlifts plus a surface lift and conveyor for beginners. North Peak and South Peak each have their own primary lifts that rise from a shared base, and almost all runs funnel back to the same central area. This simple layout makes navigation easy – you can let kids or less experienced friends explore within limits and still meet at the lodge or lift without confusion. For freeskiers, it also means quick decision-making: you can hop between groomer laps, park lines, and short off-piste detours in a single session without long traverses.

The adjacent MacKenzie cross-country trail system adds another dimension for those who want to mix in Nordic laps or mellow touring. Dining, rentals, ski school and ticketing are clustered at the base lodge, so transitions from car to snow are fast, especially on quieter midweek days.

Local culture, safety, and etiquette

Caberfae Peaks has a deep historical footprint in Midwest skiing. It opened officially in the late 1930s, hosted snow trains in the 1950s, and once operated dozens of rope tows before modernizing into the current peak-based layout. That legacy shows in the crowd: you will see multi-generation Michigan families who have been skiing here for decades alongside newer riders discovering the hill through affordable day tickets or multi-resort passes. The atmosphere is informal and friendly, with more focus on skiing and riding than on luxury amenities.

Because the resort serves everyone from first-timers to strong local experts, safety and etiquette are important. On groomed runs, keeping speed in check near lesson areas and trail intersections helps avoid conflicts on relatively narrow Midwestern pistes. In the two terrain parks, riders are expected to follow freestyle norms: inspect features before hitting them, call your drop when lines are busy, clear landings quickly, and give the park crew room when they are reshaping or testing features. Helmets are strongly recommended, especially for park laps and night sessions when visibility and surface conditions can change as temperatures fall.

In the gladed and backcountry-style terrain, skiers should treat the snow like inbounds but the hazards like sidecountry: stumps, logs, tight trees and variable cover are all part of the picture, and these zones are not groomed or manicured. Ski with a partner, keep eyes open for marked boundaries, and be prepared to dial back speed when coverage thins after warm spells or late-season thaw cycles.

Best time to go and how to plan

The most reliable window for freeskiing at Caberfae Peaks is typically from early January through late February, when the lake-effect storm track is active and overnight temperatures stay consistently below freezing. During this period, the natural snowpack and full-coverage snowmaking together support firm but edgeable groomers, well-shaped park landings, and decent coverage in glades and backcountry-style areas. December can deliver excellent early-season turns when cold air arrives early, although the full trail count and park builds may not yet be in place. March often brings softer, spring-like snow on sunny days, which is perfect for lower-speed trick progression and playful carving, albeit with more variable conditions on steeper or south-facing pitches.

Planning a visit starts with checking the snow report and trail status on the resort’s official website to see which lifts, runs, parks and glades are open. Weekends, holidays and fresh-snow days can be busy, particularly at the main lifts and in the rental shop, so arriving before opening bell or targeting non-holiday weekdays will maximize your lap count. Lodging options range from on-site hotel-style rooms at the base to motels, cabins and chain hotels around Cadillac, about 20 minutes away. Pack for classic Midwest variability: layers for cold mornings and milder afternoons, goggles with lenses that handle low light and night skiing, and skis or boards tuned for firm, manmade-packed snow with the option to enjoy soft powder when the lake-effect machine turns on.

Why freeskiers care

Freeskiers care about Caberfae Peaks because it shows how much progression and fun you can squeeze out of a relatively modest vertical when terrain is shaped thoughtfully and the community is strong. The twin peaks deliver true top-to-bottom laps, the two terrain parks provide a clear step-by-step path from first box slides to more serious rail and jump lines, and the glades and small backcountry-style zone add just enough adventure to keep advanced riders engaged on storm days. For Michigan skiers, it is a place to learn, to return to, and to measure progression season after season.

In the broader skipowd.tv view of North American freeskiing, Caberfae Peaks is a key Midwestern dot on the map. It is where local race leagues, junior programs and park crews all share the same lifts, where lake-effect storms can transform a low-elevation forest into a powder playground, and where edits naturally blend rail shots, tree lines and fast groomer segments. It may not have the altitude or scale of western resorts, but as a historic, community-focused mountain with real parks and real snow, Caberfae earns its place among the most important regional hubs for freestyle and freeride skiing in the Great Lakes region.