Hanson Hills Recreation Area

★★★★★Beth C

I have lives in MI my whole life. I have done everything but tubing until today. It was the best time ever. I havent laughed this much in a while. Thank you bunches

★★★★Jeremy Wilson

Great atmosphere, concessions were ok, a little over priced, and I hate paying for something I could do for free when I was a kid, (sledding down a hill), but I never had a rope to take me to the top either. The hills are perfect, and plentiful, lots to choose from, all ages. My kids loved it. The weather was beautiful.

★★★★★Kazanna Bowers

Took a 6 hour car ride to come here! Even the kids said the drive was worth the time we spent here. They are now asking when we can come back and go skiing!

★★Tim Payne

We went to Hanson Hills Recreation excited to ski after not skiing for nearly 40 years, but the experience was very disappointing. First, the ski area itself is very small. If you’re expecting much in terms of amenities, don’t. The food options are extremely limited, especially if you’re just looking for a place to warm up and relax between runs. We had to rent all of our gear. For two people, the cost was about $115, which included boots, skis, helmets, and lift tickets. While the price wasn’t outrageous, it definitely wasn’t cheap for what you get. The main reason we will never return or recommend Hanson Hills is the customer service. Our friend rented skis and boots and tried to wear the boots for about 20 minutes. She attempted to make it to the tow rope at the bunny hill but simply could not tolerate the boots. She immediately returned to the rental counter, explained the situation, and asked if she could get a refund since the equipment had barely been used. She was told no. This was only about 20 minutes after renting the equipment. The date was January 17, 2026, and the manager was extremely rude about the situation. There was no attempt to help, offer an exchange, or show any understanding. Terrible customer service completely ruined the experience. We will not be returning, and we will not be referring others to Hanson Hills Recreation.

★★★★★Tom Pitts

This review is for the mtb trails, from the point of view of a non-spandex-wearing dad who just loves riding through the woods. First of all, this is a great, old-school singletrack with plenty of climbs and lots of curves and sand and trees and loam. All loops start by a nice little pond and are on shared use trails, so keep an eye out. The outer loop (red) was my flavor of choice, and I'd to it again any day. The sand and the hills made for a lower speed ride and bigger workout than I'm used to in the Grand Rapids area, but the location was worth it. You'll encounter lots of medium climbs and some fun descents, just watch for pockets of deeper sand at the bottom of these. The roots aren't too bad, and a full suspension bike is not at all required (though there were some spots where the added traction definitely helped). Wider, knobby tires are recommended and I would not attempt the red loop on a gravel bike or hybrid with narrow tires. If you feel yourself washing out too much, a little pressure off the ol tires should help, just don't go too soft as you don't want a pinch flat on the rootier/Rocky sections. I imagine the intermediate loop (yellow?) would be much the same, but green could be passible by almost any off-road bike. There was one gorgeous overlook att he top of the ski hill. It was worth the little climb on foot to get there - most trails in Michigan don't have much of a view since we don't get above the treeline, so this was a treat. There's no drinking water or streams for you survivalists once you leave the starting area, so bring plenty of water. The new trail back to the parkinglot from the overlook was a lot of fun, more modern in feel and flow. I will say that the ferns and the undergrowth were high in August and I felt the need to spray my legs with bug repellent, something I generally avoid (but always bring with me). But other than that my full finger gloves protected me just fine from the foliage and I had a grand time overall. Do note, this is right next to an army reserve base, and they might be doing exercises or range shooting, so don't be alarmed if you hear gunfire. Parking is free and there's no trail fee but they do accept donatations (suggested $2 per person) at the trail head. The old ski lodge was really nice and nostalgic (although empty) and I could imagine it must have been a hoot in its hayday! The one employee I encountered was very friendly and super helpful! Perfect way for a northern Michigan boy like me to enjoy an afternoon!