Crystal Mountain's fall chairlift rides show off colors with sweeping 4-county view

e love it when our Up North ski resorts spin their chairlifts for scenic weekend rides during fall color season. If you've never seen Michigan's autumn show from up high, catching one of these rides is a great way to treat yourself to beautiful views.

Crystal Mountain offers their chairlift rides on Saturdays in September, expanding to Saturdays and Sundays in October. You can find more details, pricing and scheduling on the resort's website here.

Crystal Mountain's spot, tucked into the elevations of Thompsonville not far from Traverse City and Frankfort, make it a cool place to catch the colors. Riders can hop onto the Buck Quad chairlift and see a four-county panoramic view spread out in front of them.

"This unforgettable experience is a must for nature enthusiasts, photographers, and anyone seeking a bird's-eye view of the fall foliage," resort staff said. "Visitors are invited to sit back and relax on a quiet chairlift ride to the top of the mountain where panoramic views, more than 1,000 feet above sea level, looking over four counties await."

Chairlift ride tickets are $10 on September Saturdays. The price increases to $15 for Saturdays and Sundays in October. Tickets are $5 for kids ages 3 to 6, and they're complimentary for resort guests.

If you're headed to Crystal Mountain as a daytripper, it's a good idea to reserve your chairlift spot in advance.