While the general public might know the Aspens and Vails of the world, places like Gunflint Trail or the Methow Valley are the kind of places restricted to the true blue cross-country skiing enthusiast. Here is a list of five of the places you have to visit if you love cross country skiing.
Mount Washington Valley
Mount Washington Valley consists of the small towns of Conway, Sugar Hill, Bartlett and Jackson in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. It has five great alpine ski areas and six cross-country ski areas. All of this is centered on the base of the most awe-inspiring mountain in eastern America, the Mt. Washington. The breath taking scenery is only improved by the hundreds of lodges, inns and restaurants and great shopping. As you ski along the 150km network you could go past streams, a white steepled church, and wooden covered bridge-the works!
Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe
The first cross country ski center in America, the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vt., is thirty eight years old. Situated next to the highest peak in Vermont, Mt. Mansfield the lodge is among the most famous cross country ski trail networks in America. Three Stowe ski areas connect to roughly 150 km of trails, and 100 km of backcountry. Don’t forget to visit the Vermont Ski Museum in downtown Stowe or Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream headquarters (this is the most popular attraction in Vermont) in Waterbury.
Gunflint Trail
The Gunflint Trail (near Grand Marais) in north-east Minnesota offers over 200 km of excellent trails in the Laurentian Highlands (which are located next to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness). Cross country skiers can go past moose yards, ridges, old trapper-trails and rail road beds. Other incentives to go there include extensive breath takingly spectacular cliffs.
Sun Valley/Ketchum
Sun Valley/Ketchum, Idaho has been a great winter destination for over seventy years now. It was originally developed by the railroad mogul, W. Averell Harriman in a bid to attract train travelers. Famous for its awesome alpine skiing, the network features over 200 km of trails. Be prepared to witness colorful performance striders and skaters mingling with snowshoers walking the dog here.
Methow Valley
Located in northwest Washington, Methow Valley lies on the eastern slopes of the North Cascade Mountain. It is one of the best kept secrets in the cross country skiing network. Comprising of a network of 200 km of trails it is home to beautiful lodges and warming huts along the trails, surrounded by over a million acres of wilderness and forests.
Other great cross country ski places include Lake Tahoe, California; Quebec, Colorado; and Lake Placid, New York.
By: Tom Jones
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