Black diamond Crystal Mountain Mi, MI
Lower Gorge drops 167 vertical feet over 899 feet of skiing, with a steepest pitch of 19° about 190 feet below the top. That's steeper than 6% of the 4,740 black diamond runs we've measured in North America, and the 15th steepest of 52 named runs at Crystal Mountain Mi. It faces east.
Facing east at an average 11°, Lower Gorge gets about 102% of the winter sun that flat ground at Crystal Mountain Mi does, December through March. That's sunnier than 73% of the runs we've measured, and the 28th sunniest named run at Crystal Mountain Mi. Its top sits at 960 feet.
With little slope to hide behind, it takes nearly the full winter sun of open ground: powder settles and turns heavy sooner after a storm, and spring snow softens early. Shading from ridges and trees isn't counted yet.
under 25°25–35°35–45°45°+ Hover to follow the line on the map.
Measured by ZRankings from 1-meter USGS lidar. Steepest pitch is the steepest stretch of about 50 vertical feet along the skiable line. Run lines come from OpenStreetMap and can sit a little off the skied path.