One of the most relaxing ways to enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the Sierra Nevada on skis is to try cross-country skiing, which allows skiers to race downhill, skate up steep inclines or glide along quiet trails and meadows.
The Tahoe-Truckee region is home to many fantastic cross-country resorts, along with the private Auburn Ski Club, the largest cross-country area in the United States at Royal Gorge, and areas offering access to cross-country trails including Granlibakken Ski Area, North Tahoe Regional Park, Donner Memorial State Park and Sugar Pine Point State Park.
Spooner Lake State Park is open for snow play, but cross-country trails will not be groomed this season, nor will rentals will be offered.
Anyone can pick up Nordic skiing relatively easily and most resorts offer great deals for beginners from free demo days to free lessons. As well, during Winter Trails Day on Jan. 11, Kirkwood and Tahoe Donner Cross County will be offering free skiing and snowshoeing, along with lessons and demos.
Auburn Ski Club
Auburn Ski Club has been an advocate for winter sports in the Sierra since it was formed in 1964 (the original Auburn Ski Club, dubbed the Old Club, was formed in 1928) and continues its efforts today to introduce young people to alpine and Nordic sports.
The Auburn Ski Club is a nonprofit, private ski area used primarily for training, but has more than 20 km of groomed trails open to its members; membership to the club is open to everyone.
Along with its cross-country trails, ski jump hill and programs for juniors and masters, the Club also offers alpine and snowboard training and has a biathlon course. The biathlon has historical ties to the region – the biathlon was first introduced as an Olympic sport on the West Shore during the 1960 Winter Games. Local biathletes should start their training now in preparation for the 10th Mountain Division’s biathlon race on Feb. 24 at the Club.
The training center is a top race venue in the West having hosted the Junior National Championship in the past with plans to host it again in 2015. Skiers can challenge themselves by skiing 3/5/10KM race loops.
The club offers Nordic workout groups for beginners and intermediates in both classic and skating, and hosts races for all ages and abilities throughout the season.
Ryan Stassel, a member of the snowboard program, was recently named to the five-member men’s 2014 National Pro Slopestyle team by the United States Ski and Snowboarding Association and has aspirations to compete in the 2014 Sochi Olympics in February.
In 2010, the ASC Training Center snowboard program was named the top snowboard program in the country by the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association. That same year ASC’s snowboard program director/head coach, Dylan Omlin, was named the top domestic coach in the country by USSA.
Members enjoy five free nights of night skiing at Boreal from 3:30 to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday during non-holiday periods with membership.
Camp Richardson
Camp Richardson resort history dates back more than 100 years to 1904 when Joseph Parmetere and his niece, Nellie Copeland, purchased the land and built tent cabins and summer homes, along with a saloon and dance pavilion over the waters of Lake Tahoe to cater to “folks weary of the city,” according to the resort. The resort grew in size through the years with additional cabins, a lakefront pavilion, gas station, a pier and other present-day buildings.
Today, the year-round resort is a popular destination for in the summer for horseback riding, hiking, camping and enjoying the beach, with wintertime fun centered around the 10km of groomed trails, including snowshoe-only trails and trails that skirt along the waters of Lake Tahoe. The center offers cross-country and snowshoe rentals, along with guided cross-country tours.
Camp Richardson hosts the popular Snowshoe Cocktail Race in the winter with dates this season set for Jan. 18, Feb. 15 and March 15. There’s no entry fee, just come and enjoy this fast-paced race with cocktail in hand.
Clair Tappaan Lodge
Clair Tappan Lodge is one of the Nordic gems on Donner Summit, receiving the highest average snowfall of the Sierra Nevada at 7,000’. Built by Sierra Club volunteers in 1934, the rustic lodge is a great place to get away offering overnight stays and access to 13km of cross-country trails, as well as U.S. Forest Service lands stretching into the Sierra.
For those who are adventurous, the lodge is a great starting point for a multi-day trek to the Sierra Club’s back-country huts. If you want to explore the Sierra Nevada in the winter but don’t want to build an igloo or dig a snow cave, the four Sierra Club huts – Peter Grubb Hut, Benson Hut, Bradley Hut and Ludlow Hut – in the Tahoe-Truckee region are an ideal and rustic getaway.
The lodge offers accommodations in a communal setting, with family style meals served at breakfast and dinner by the staff. The Sierra Club also operates the nearby Hutchinson Lodge. The lodges and trails are open to everyone, and trail access is free to guests.
Clair Tappaan offers snowshoe and cross-country ski rentals, and cross-country lessons on weekends and holidays, with lessons offered on some weekdays.
Donner Memorial State Park
The ill-fated Donner Party suffered through the harsh winter of 1846-47 camped around Donner Lake and Truckee. The Donner Memorial State Park features exhibits and artifacts on the Donner Party at the Emigrant Trail Museum and the towering Pioneer Monument, built to commemorate those who came to California in the mid-1800s. A new, 9,400-square-foot museum is now under construction and is expected to open in the fall of 2014.
The park features trails for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing nestled among towering pines, along historic emigrant trails on Donner Lake, as well as on Schallenberger Ridge, Donner Peak and back into Coldstream Canyon.
Granlibakken Ski Area
Granlibakken Ski Area offers access to Page Meadows and other West Shore locations for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on ungroomed trails. Granlibakken’s warming hut is open daily, with cross-country and snowshoe rentals available at the rental shop. There is no fee for trail access. Cross-country trails are accessible daily, with lift access Friday to Sunday and on holidays with lift ticket.
Hope Valley Outdoors
Hope Valley Outdoors is a sustainable, off-the-grid, solar-powered yurt offering rentals, lessons and guided tours for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing or back-country skiing. Hope Valley Outdoors offers more than 60 miles of marked trails with 20 miles of groomed trails with no trail fee (donations are accepted). The ski area offers rentals and lessons for cross-country, telemark, skiing and snowshoeing, as well as Moonlight Expeditions. Due to the remote location (and lack of phone service), Hope Valley only accepts cash and checks.
Hope Valley is located at Pickett’s Junctions (look for the yurt) at the intersection of Highways 88 and 89, southwest of South Lake Tahoe. Dogs are always welcome on the trails. The ski area is a short drive to Kirkwood and Grover Hot Springs State Park, and there is lodging and camping available nearby.
While there’s no trail fee, a $10 donation is recommended to cover grooming and parking.
Also, be sure to check out some of the special events including the Snowshoe Thompson Tour on March 1.
Kirkwood Cross-Country
Nestled in a beautiful alpine valley, Kirkwood Cross-Country offers diverse terrain and provides excellent skiing for all abilities on 4,200 groomed acres over three trail systems. The ski area offers more than 80km of groomed trails with spectacular views of the Sierra Crest and the surrounding wilderness. All trails have snowshoe and skating lanes, with two trails designated dog-friendly.
The Kiddy Kilometer is perfect for youngsters with a 1-km loop lined with life-sized animal cut outs and flip up signs.
Be sure to check out the monthly Full Moon Snowshoe Tours and monthly Sierra Crest Snowshoe Tours into the back country. In March, enjoy Sunset Snowshoe Walks on Red Cliffs.
During breaks from skiing, you can sip hot drinks by a wood burning stove in the cozy day lodge or warm-up in one of the three trailside warming huts. And, don’t forget to finish your day with a scrumptious meal at the historic Kirkwood Inn located next to the Cross-Country Ski & Snowshoe Center.
Northstar California
Northstar California
Want to try another side to Northstar’s popular downhill runs? Then, head over to the Cross Country, Telemark + Snowshoe Center to start exploring the more than 35km of groomed trails.
Located at mid-mountain, the 1,400-square-foot Center offers a warm, relaxed atmosphere including comfortable indoor seating and a fireplace, full wax facilities, and a sunny patio complete with Adirondack chairs and a fire pit. The trail system meanders through scenic, forests and includes terrain for all ability levels with access to wilderness warming huts, stocked daily with hot chocolate and hot tea, picnic tables, and great vistas of the Martis Valley and Lake Tahoe. The cross-country trail system is accessible by the Big Springs Gondola or the Village Express lift.
Be sure to check out the variety of snowshoe tours that are offered throughout the season, including Family Afternoon tours, star tours, full moon tours and twilight tours.
The resort continues its popular summer star tours in the winter with Star Gazing Snowshoe Tours – one of the most unique experiences in the region – with star guide and poet Tony Berendsen. Guests can enjoy a guided snowshoe tour and hot chocolate and s’mores by the fire during a star tour of the night sky. Every tour is different and costs $52 for adults and $37 for children ages 10 to 12; children under 10 are not permitted on the tour.
North Tahoe Regional Park
The North Tahoe Regional Park, located off National Avenue in Tahoe Vista, offers 11km of cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the park throughout the winter season. The trails are maintained through the North Tahoe Public Utility District, with grooming generally done on Fridays and Mondays. Leashed dogs are welcome on the trails within the park, as well.
Trail maps are available at the North Tahoe Event Center in Kings Beach. There is no charge for trail access and parking is $3 (free for NTPUD residents).
Royal Gorge
Royal Gorge is the largest cross-country ski resort in the United States and has been ranked No. 1 by Snow Country Magazine. The resort offers something for everyone including striding, skating, diagonal stride, snowshoeing and telemarking, along with snowkiting and fat tire snow biking.
The pristine setting at Royal Gorge encompasses more than 200km of groomed trails across 6,000 acres on six track systems, with eight warming huts and the day-use Summit Station Lodge, along with trailside cafes.
Sugar Bowl has signed a 25-year lease with the Truckee Donner Last Trust to operate the resort and continue to expand its offerings at Royal Gorge with 10km of fat tire snowbiking trails and return of the Sierra Snowkite Center, California’s first and only resort-based snowkiting school. Snowbikes will be available for rent at Summit Station, and the Snowkite Center will offer instruction, rentals and custom snowkiting trips out of Van Norden Meadow.
Visitors also will enjoy improved wayfinding signage, improved snow reporting and trail condition status, a new Web site, improved food and beverage options at the lodge and at the on-trail warming huts, and renovations at Summit Station, along with other improvements.
Sugar Bowl has extended its CORE pass program to Royal Gorge. Purchase a CORE pass for $21 and members will receive $5 off a Royal Gorge trail pass every day of the season.
The trail system has something for every ability level and style of Nordic skiing including two snowshoe only trails, as well as several Inn to Inn trails and a trail to Sugar Bowl.
Squaw Creek Cross-Country
Situated at Squaw Meadow, the Resort at Squaw Creek offers 18km of groomed trails spread over 400 acres outside its back door with terrain for beginners or experts, skaters or striders. The trails meander through the meadows and the hills beyond.
The Resort offers group and private lessons daily with equipment rentals available at the Nordic Center Yurt. Guided snowshoe tours also are offered.
Also be sure to check out the horse-drawn sleigh rides and the dog sled tours offered at the resort. The tours are offered as conditions permit.
California State Parks
Sugar Pine Point State Park
The Ed Z’berg/Sugar Pine Point State Park is a spectacular spot to cross-country ski along the dense forests of the West Shore or along Lake Tahoe’s shores. The park offers more than 18km of marked cross-country ski trails for all levels.
Follow the path of the Nordic events of the 1960 Winter Olympics that occurred in what is now Sugar Pine Point State Park. Starting at the Blue Trailhead, visitors will come across a series of interpretive panels that share the region’s Olympic and Nordic skiing history found at the park. Free snow trail maps are available at the park entrance stations.
The Blue and Red cross-country ski trails on the west side of the park are machine-groomed every Monday and Friday, as conditions permitting. The cross-country ski trails on the lake side of the park, including the Yellow and Orange trails, are not machine-groomed. No dogs are allowed on the snow trails.
Sugar Pine Point also is one of the only winter campgrounds that is open year-round in the Tahoe region, offering 16 campsites on a first-come, first-served basis.
Rangers offer a variety of programs from January to March, including guided snowshoe tours, as well as the popular Olympic Heritage Celebration that will take place between Jan. 11 and 19 this year.
Tahoe City Winter Sports Park
The Tahoe City Winter Sports Park returns this season operated by Tahoe Cross Country at the Tahoe City Golf Course. The sports park offers about 2km of groomed trails, with a dedicated loop for snowshoers and walkers. Guests may enjoy the restaurant and bar at the Tahoe City Golf Course, along with an outside fire pit.
Visitors also may enjoy sledding and snowshoeing at the park, and dogs are welcome. And, night skiing and sledding will be offered every Saturday throughout the season.
The park is open daily until Jan. 5 and from Feb. 14 to 23, and Friday to Sunday for the rest of the season until March 30 with rentals available during the day. On days that the park is “closed,” donations are encouraged to help with the grooming costs (trails are groomed daily).
Tahoe Cross Country
Tahoe Cross Country
Stunning lake views along the trails at Tahoe Cross Country make it one of the area’s best spots for cross-country skiing. The ski area offers lessons and equipment rentals for cross-country, skate skis and demos, as well as pulks. And, if you’re new to Nordic skiing, try the free cross-county lessons on Thursdays, with free skate skiing lessons every Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.
The ski center also offers 7.5km of skiing where dogs are allowed Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (non-holiday), and on weekends from 3 to 5 p.m. Leashes are required in the parking lot and at trailheads. There is a two-dog maximum per person.
Tahoe Cross Country hosts some of the region’s premier cross-country events including the start of the Tahoe Rim Tour on Feb. 9, the 37th Annual Great Ski Race on March 2 and the 13th Annual Gourmet Ski Tour on March 9.
The Nordic Neighbor deal offers an $18 trail pass when guests show a pass from other area resorts, or enjoy discounted multi-day passes. Enjoy twilight skating and striding for $15 for adults and $12 for juniors and seniors after 3 p.m.
Tahoe Donner Cross Country
Tahoe Donner boasts one of the nation’s premier cross-country centers with a wide variety of terrain and several Olympians on staff. With a diversity of terrain, skiers may enjoy gliding through pines and aspen groves, climbing challenging peaks or cruising along gentle rolling hills through aspens or the flats of Euer Valley. Tahoe Donner offers more than 100km of trails groomed daily for diagonal striding, skating and snowshoeing. Dog lovers can buy a pass to ski with their dogs on 3km of designated trails including Cup of Tea, Piece of Cake and Dogonit.
Tahoe Donner Cross Country Ski Center hosts a variety of events, programs and clinics throughout the season for skiers of every level. The resort also offers two expert trails, four snowshoe only trails and two wilderness trails for diagonal stride only.
New for the 2013-14 season, Tahoe Donner has created a new trail to link Hastings and Firewalker, making it a fun, intermediate loop. New multi-day programs and lessons for kids have been added to the ski school offerings, as well as a series of clinics starting in January including Skating 101, Masters Training Group and a Women’s Training Group.
Guests may enjoy special offerings such as snowshoe tours, moonlight skiing to Euer Valley, and full moon ski and snowshoe tours followed by dinner.
In the spirit of this Olympic year, Tahoe Donner Cross Country Ski Center is offering a new Junior Biathlon program led by former U.S. biathlon team member Tom McElroy. This program will be an introduction to the winter Olympic sport of biathlon, a combination of skiing and rifle marksmanship, for children in second through eighth grade. The sport was first introduced as an Olympic sport at the 1960 Games at Squaw Valley.
As well, Tahoe Donner is planning many special events to celebrate and allow guests to experience the Olympic sports of skiing cross-country skiing and biathlon. Two local athletes that trained at Tahoe Donner are hoping to compete in the 2014 Winter Games in Russia – Matt Gelso and Russell Kennedy (representing Canada).
