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Hill 2 with a potential view ahead
By Joan Young, Contributing Writer
Within Oceana County and the Manistee National Forest hides a trail system that offers plenty of recreational opportunities throughout the year. However, its primary purpose is a series of cross-country ski loops, including some of serious difficulty. These are diligently maintained by the Oceana Cross-Country Ski Association (OCCSA).
Just 12 miles south of Scottville, the Crystal Valley Ski Area is closer to central Mason County than Pentwater Pathways or Big M for skiing. For the other three seasons of the year, this wonderful trail system is largely unused. The trails are only open for foot travel.
The unnamed cluster of hills on which the trails are built rises steeply from the eroded flood plains of the Pentwater and Pere Marquette rivers. They are typical lumpy remnants of the sandy terminal moraine that covered most of lower Michigan. From the parking area to the highest location on Loop 5, black, you climb about 300 feet. Some trail is steep, some is moderate, but you are never quite done with the ups and downs. Lumpy.
Chestnut burs on the trail
There are approximately 11 unique trail miles, but since it is configured in the layered ski loop design, you have to duplicate some legs to hike all of these segments.
Number 1 Loop, green, at the base of the hills is a nearly level 1.4 miles. This would obviously be the easy ski loop, but it’s a pleasant hike for those not looking for a challenging experience. The most strenuous walk is to take the outermost loop for a total of about 7.5 miles. My favorite section is a 0.6 mile piece that isn’t really part of either Loop 4 or 5. However, it follows the edge of a high ridge with some nice views, particularly when the leaves are down.
The gentlest climb of about two-thirds of the total elevation is up the east side of Loop 2. Whichever trail you follow, you will climb from the parking lot to the high point on the east side of Loop 5, and then descend to your car on the return.
Because this is in the national forest, you could camp overnight. You’d probably have the entire area to yourself if it’s not winter, and you could get in some good exercise on those hills. The one drawback is that there are no streams or water sources. You’d need to carry your water supply, or cache a jug at one of the crossings of a forest road. There are several that would be possible. Just, please, retrieve the empty jug later.
If you have an interest in trees, there are at least three mature, fruiting chestnut trees along the trails. These might be American chestnut (it’s hard to imagine how three random hybrids would have gotten there). They are tall, straight and unaffected by the blight. They have been reported to the American Chestnut Foundation for confirmation.
Rules for the ski season include no dogs on the trail, and snowshoers should stay to the side of the groomed trails.
Just two other details to entice you to the area. There is a geocache and geoart in the general vicintiy, and the former Crystal Hills Fire Tower site is only two-tenths of a mile off trail if you like adventures.
To reach Crystal Valley from Scottville, drive south on South Scottville Road until it bends east on Washington, then south on 120th Ave, and east on Jefferson. Just before the road bends south again on 126th Ave (and goes into the village of Crystal Valley), watch for a dirt road going north which is the continuation of 126th. Note a sign for Crystal Valley Ski Trails. You can find a printable map of the trails and learn more about OCCSA at oceanaski.org
A derivative of USGS topo maps- public use ok- you can easily see how the extended flood plains of the rivers are more level and the circled Crystal Valley hills bubble up.
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