The Pacific Northwest is home to an array of cross country skiing trails, varying from groomed corridors at ski resorts to backcountry hiking paths that have been buried in snow. The Northwest offers two exceptional Nordic centers that exemplify both: the Methow Valley and Mt. Bachelor Nordic Center. Both offer plenty of trails, sponsor casual and competitive races over the course of the winter and provide comfy accommodations to help you relax after a day of hard skiing.
The Methow Valley
Tucked high on the eastern slope of Washington’s North Cascades, the Methow Valley offers dry powder snow and sunshine almost all week long. With 200 kilometers of daily groomed track (classic and skating), the Methow is one of the largest Nordic centers in North America.
The Methow Valley Sport Trails Association (MVSTA), a non-profit organization dedicated to developing and promoting environmentally sound non-motorized recreation year-around on and near the trails of the Methow Valley, maintains the trails and sponsors ski races, clinics and events throughout the winter.
With terrain ranging from beginner to expert, the Methow Valley is an excellent family destination. The Valley’s ski trail system is divided into three areas: Mazama, Sun Mountain and The Rendezvous. Connected by the Methow Community Trail, a 25-kilometer path that includes a suspension bridge over the Methow River, the system encompasses parking areas and lodges. And, if you don’t want to retrace your tracks, take advantage of the Mountain Transporter Shuttle. Call (509) 996-8294 for schedules and fares.
You will need a pass to access the Methow Valley’s cross country ski trails. A half-day pass, beginning at 1 p.m. is $12. A full-day pass is $16 for adults and $8 for teens. Season passes are also available. See www.mvsta.com or call (509) 996-3287 for more information.
For more information about lodging, transportation, dining and local events,
visit www.methow.com or call (888) 317-7624.
Mt. Bachelor Nordic Center
Within the Nordic world, Mt. Bachelor is the 500-pound gorilla. Known for the exceptional quality of its grooming and the consistency of their snow, the Mt. Bachelor Nordic Center is the training grounds for several Olympic Team members and a greater number of hopefuls. Having hosted the National Championships several times, most of Mt. Bachelor’s terrain (87 percent) is rated as Intermediate. With 56 kilometers of groomed trails and an average annual snowfall of 370 inches, Mt. Bachelor has something for everyone.
Whether you are a beginner Nordic skier or a racer who wants to improve your technique, you can rent skis and take lessons at the Center’s West Village. The Mt. Bachelor Ski Education Foundation sponsors various cross country ski races throughout the winter season for both youth and adults.
Trails are open from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. on weekends and 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. on weekdays. One-day trail passes are $8 for adults and $6 for youth and seniors; kids under six years-old and adults over 70 can ski for free. Half-day passes and multi-day passes are also available.
You’ll find everything you need – from micro-breweries to an indoor climbing gym – in Bend, Ore., the closest town to Mt. Bachelor. From Thanksgiving through mid-April, you can board the Mt. Bachelor Super Shuttle from the Bend Park-N-Ride on the corner of Simpson and Colorado Streets. Cost is $5 each way.
For more information, visit www.mtbachelor.com/cross_country or call
(800) 829-2442. To learn about cross country ski races at Mt. Bachelor, visit
www.mbsef.org or call (541) 388-0002.
Plenty of Options
There are over 30 Alpine ski areas in Oregon, Washington and Idaho and most include Nordic ski areas. White Pass www.skiwhitepass.com/nordiccenter/nordiccenter.html) and Stevens Pass www.stevenspass.com/html/ccsnow/info.shtml) both offer Nordic Centers as do the sampling of areas below.
Echo Ridge, Chelan
Located 9.75 miles from downtown Chelan, Wash., the Echo Ridge Nordic Area offers 16.5 miles of groomed trails on gently rolling terrain and another 2.5 miles
of flat packed trails shared with snowmobiles. The area lies between 3,100 and 4,000 feet of elevation which typically gets good snow from early December through March. The system is divided in several different loops coming together at 5 major junctions. The road up to Echo Ridge is steep and narrow and can be icy so use caution.
Fees are $5 per day/person using the self-pay boxes at the trail heads or by season pass. Kids are 13 are free. For more information, www.lakechelan.com.
Hyak Cross Country Center at The Summit
With over 50 kilometers of trails only a hop up the hill from downtown Seattle, this center is the closest of any to a major Northwest metro area. A Nordic trail pass is good for two rides on the base lifts, so you can practice your tele technique. Time trials are held on Wednesday nights with a slot for relays. Medals are awarded to top finishers.
See http://summitatsnoqualmie.com/info/winter/nordic.asp for more details.
Mt. Hood Meadows Nordic Center
Located at the Hood River Meadows lift base, the Meadows Nordic Center has 15 kilometers of trails looping in and out of a meadow at the base of Mt. Hood. The views are spectacular and the tracks the same. The Hanel Loop Series of four races is held in January, February and March.
See www.skihood.com/Mountain/NordicCenter/default.aspx for more details.
Old Man Pass/Lone Butte
This group of Sno-Parks lie outside of Stevenson, Wash., above Carson. Only about an hour from Portland, these parks are groomed before each weekend from mid-November through March. Once you’ve explored all that these trails have to offer, check out three additional Sno-Parks around Trout Lake, just an hour down
the road.
See www.parks.wa.gov/winter/nonmotor.asp and www.skamania.org for more details about the trails and purchasing a Sno-Park permit (required).
For additional information about Nordic skiing and racing in the Northwest, visit the Oregon Nordic Club’s Web site at www.onc.org.
–Keith Liggett, an associate publisher of Outdoors NW, was a ski bum in Breckenridge, Colo., for 15 years before settling in the Columbia River Gorge. |
