Activities Detail

Your pass to cross country skiing

The Steamboat Springs Nordic Council is intent on making the Yampa Valley a destination for cross-country skiing.


That means vacationers who want to take a day off from the Alpine slopes have more flexibility than ever.

The valley is home to seven diverse Nordic touring areas. That doesn't even include the marked trails on Rabbit Ears Pass.

The nordic centers include: Lake Catamount Touring Center, Bruce's Trail, Howelsen Hill Nordic Center, the Steamboat Ski Touring Center, Steamboat Lake State Park Touring Center, Latigo Ranch Nordic Center, Three Forks Ranch.

Anyone who can walk can enjoy cross-country skiing at the rudimentary level, but the advent of new equipment like Fischer's "Nordic Cruiser" skis is helping many people accelerate the learning process, said Birgitta Lindgren of the Steamboat Ski Touring Center. The shorter skis are available for both the traditional diagonal stride style of skiing as well as the flashier skating technique.

Each of the different ski touring areas has different strengths. All of the cross-country areas have tracks for both classic and skating style. Most offer lessons and require trail passes for use. Call ahead for grooming reports.

If the five touring centers don't offer adequate adventure, well-equipped and experienced skiers will find nine different cross-country and snowshoe trails on Rabbit Ears Pass in the Routt National Forest ranging from 1.6 to 7 miles. The trails are marked by blue diamond emblems that are nailed to posts and trees along the routes. Informal maps can be picked up at the Hahn's Peak Ranger District in the large building on east U.S. Highway 40, roughly across from the Holiday Inn.

Skiers on Rabbit Ears Pass should carry backpacks with topographic maps and a compass, emergency supplies and extra clothing. Visitors from lower elevation may have to make adjustments in their itineraries to account for elevations above 9,000 feet on Rabbit Ears.

www.steamboatxcski.com

< Back