17 miles apart · Michigan
Hickory Hills Recreation Area vs Shanty Creek Resorts Alpine Tubing
Two northern Michigan hills 17 miles apart: a city recreation area and a resort, neither of which offers night tubing.
Bottom line: Pick Hickory Hills for a city-run hill with 13 lanes, and Shanty Creek if you want a magic carpet and a 36-inch minimum at a resort with 6 lanes.
| Feature | Hickory Hills Recreation Area | Shanty Creek Resorts Alpine Tubing |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Traverse City, MI | Bellaire, MI |
| Lanes | 13 | 6 |
| Lift back up | Not published | Magic carpet / conveyor |
| Night tubing | No | No |
| Snowmaking | Not published | Not published |
| Reservations | Not published | Not published |
| Minimum age / height | Not published | 36" tall |
| Starting price | See park site | See park site |
Facts come from each park's official site and are re-checked each season; prices are the lowest published rate.
Choose Hickory Hills if…
- You want more lanes. Hickory Hills Recreation Area lists 13, versus 6 at Shanty Creek.
- You like a municipal hill. It is run by the City of Traverse City and tagged family friendly.
- You also want skiing or snowboarding at the same site.
Choose Shanty Creek if…
- You want a magic carpet. Shanty Creek Resorts lists one, and Hickory Hills lists no lift type.
- Your child is short. Shanty Creek publishes a 36-inch minimum height.
- You want a resort day in Bellaire, 17 miles from Traverse City.
Worth knowing before you go
Neither park offers night tubing, according to our records, so plan for daytime sessions. Neither lists snowmaking, a starting price or a reservation policy in our records.
We could not retrieve either official page for this comparison, so session lengths, kids’ areas, food and themed nights are not covered here. Use each park’s site to confirm hours and rates, which change with conditions at natural-snow hills. Hickory Hills is a city department page, so operating days may depend on snow cover.
If you are visiting Michigan with kids, read choosing by age and see Michigan for more hills.
Frequently asked questions
Which has more lanes?
Hickory Hills lists 13 lanes and Shanty Creek lists 6.
Which has a lift?
Shanty Creek lists a magic carpet lift. Hickory Hills lists no lift type in our records.
Do either offer night tubing?
No. Both records list night tubing as not offered.
Full details: Hickory Hills Recreation Area · Shanty Creek Resorts Alpine Tubing · more head-to-heads