Snow’s here, are you in? -Part 3

So now that you have skis, watched the videos to learn the basics, where do you go?  Well, luckily for you there are plenty of options.  Though like with mountain biking here in Washington you have to travel to get there.

Cabin Creek, Crystal Springs, and the Iron Horse Trail are the three places I’ve been too.  They are the closest and offer a good range of terrain.  Other areas that offer enough track and skating km’s include Stevens, Lake Wenatchee, and the Methow.

I-90/ Blewett

Cabin Creek, map

• Tracks & skate lane 16 km
• Sanitary facilities
• Scenic view point
• Shelter

Permits: Sno-Park Permit, Special Groomed Trails Permit sticker (required with Seasonal Permit—see permit information)

Crystal Springs, map

• Erling Stordahl Trails
• Tracks & skate lane 20 kilometers
• Lake Easton snowshoe trail 1 kilometer; dog-friendly trails
• Shared with snowmobile users
• Sanitary facilities
• Shelter

Permits: Sno-Park Permit, Special Groomed Trails Permit sticker (required with a Seasonal Sno-Park Permit or snowmobile Sno-Park Permit when engaging in a non-motorized sport—see permit information).

The Summit at Snoqualmie, map

• 50k of groomed trails
• Yurts
• Warming huts
• Summit facilities

Lots of trails.  Consistent grooming  and snow.To get to the majority of the trails requires you to ski all the way around the mountain or take a bus to the lift which takes you up to where the trails are higher up on the hill.  The benefit of this is that there is good snow earlier and later in the season.  Hopefully they will have the lift damaged in the landslide a few years ago fixed, which located right next to the nordic center, so taking the bus is no longer required.

Permits: Sno-Park Permit, Special Groomed Trails Permit sticker (required with Seasonal Permit—see permit information)

Iron Horse Trail, map

It isn’t a snow park but you can ski from Crystal Springs to Hyak on groomed trail or in tracks.

• Tracks, skate lane 12.3 km
• sanitary facilities

Permits: Sno-Park Permit, Special Groomed Trails Permit sticker (required with Seasonal Permit—see permit information)

Lake Easton, map

• Tracks, skate lane 9.6 kilometers (first .6 mile of snowmobile trail runs beside ski trail).

Permits: Sno-Park Permit, Special Groomed Trails Permit sticker (required with a Seasonal Sno-Park Permit or snowmobile Sno-Park Permit when engaging in a non-motorized sport—see permit information).

Salmon La Sac, map

• Tracks, skate lane 6 kilometers
Shared with snowmobile users
• scenic view points
• sanitary facilities

Sno-Park Permit required during the season

Leavenworth/Chelan Area

Stevens Pass, map

• 16 groomed trails
• 24.75 km (9.25 easy, 7.25 most difficult, and 8.25 most difficult)
• Sanitary facilities

A little further drive from Seattle, but higher elevation than Snoqualmie pass, good grooming, so a good alternative if Snoqualmie is lacking snow.

Lake Wenatchee, map

Lake Wenatchee South

• 30 kilometers south side
• Nason Ridge trails
• Snowshoe trail 8 kilometers

Lake Wenatchee North

• Tracks 5 kilometers north side & ; skating lane

The South Park offers a tubing hill, designated snow play area and day-use area open for camping (additional fees may apply—see Lake Wenatchee State Park web page. There is no tubing or snow play area in the North.

Nearby amenities: first aid, food, heated restrooms, overnight accommodations and ski and snowshoe rentals

Permits: Sno-Park Permit, Special Groomed Trails Permit sticker (required with Seasonal Permit—see permit information)

Nason Ridge, map

• Tracks, skate lane 28 kilometers
• Alternate access to trails in Lake Wenatchee Sno-Park South Park area and Nason Ridge backcountry
• Nearby amenities: first aid, food, heated restrooms, overnight accommodations and ski and snowshoe rentals

Permits: Sno-Park Permit, Special Groomed Trails Permit sticker (required with Seasonal Permit—see permit information)

Chiwawa, map

• See & Ski Trail groomed for track and skate skiing (6.5 km)
• Flying Loop (4.8 km)
• Squirrel Run (4 km) trails are not groomed and are suitable for either skiers or snowshoers.
• Sanitary facilities

Permits: Sno-Park Permit, Special Groomed Trails Permit sticker (required with Seasonal Permit—see permit information)

Leavenworth-Leavenworth ski/ tubing hill, map

• 7k of more difficult terrain.  Good grooming, fun trails.
• Food, beverages and warmth are available at the historic Ski Hill Lodge when the alpine hill is open.

The following are located in or around Leavenworth Icicle River Trails 8 km, Golf Course Trails 8 km, and Waterfront Park Trails 3 km.  26 km of total trails, 5 km of night skiing trails.

Rates

Chelan

Echo Ridge, map

• 25 miles Track & groomed skate lanes
• Warming hut
• The daily rate for skiers 18 and over is $10 a day at the trail head. 17 and under ski free.

Methow Valley

(Mazama, Methow Sun Mountain,  and Rendezvous) 166km of trails!

Passes & Tickets

Methow Community Trails, map

• 24K Easiest
• 6K More Difficult
• 1K Most Difficult

Sun Mountain Trails, map

• 13K Easiest
• 23K More Difficult
• 18K Most Difficult

Mazama Trails, map

• 28K Easiest
• 4K More Difficult
• 1K Most Difficult

Rendezvous Trails, map

• 23K More Difficult
• 25K Most Difficult

Greenwater/Yakima Area

1 Road, map

Tracks 44 kilometers

Sanitary facilities

Huts and yurt rentals available (contact Mt. Tahoma Trails Association,www.skimtta.com)

Sno-Park Permit required during the season

Road 92, map

• Tracks 28 km
• Sanitary facilities, hut rentals available (contact Mount Tahoma Trails Association, www.skimtta.com)

Sno-Park Permit required during the season

Crow Lake Way, map

• Tracks 11 km
• Sanitary facilities

Sno-Park Permit required during the season

Goose Egg, map

• Tracks, sporadic grooming

Sno-Park Permit required during the season

Hells Crossing, map

• Tracks 11 kilometers; marked ungroomed trail
• Sanitary facilities

Sno-Park Permit required during the season

North Fork Tieton, map

• Tracks 20 kilometers; small stretch of marked ungroomed trail
• Sanitary facilities; nearest public phone is at Silver Beach Resort.

Sno-Park Permit required during the season

Pleasant Valley, map

• Tracks 11 kilometers; marked ungroomed route
• Sanitary facilities

Sno-Park Permit required during the season

Portland

Note: your Washington State Sno park pass will work in Oregon as well.

Teacup Lake, map

• Tracks and Skating lane 20 kilometers
• Warming Hut
• Sanitary facilities

http://www.teacupnordic.org/index

Great trail system.  Busy on the weekends.

Mount Hood Meadows, map

• Tracks and Skating lane 15 kilometers
• Warming Hut
• Sanitary facilities

http://www.skihood.com/The-Mountain/Nordic-Center

Check out their schedule of races-  fun and well attended.
Excellent grooming.  If Teacup is busy, drive a mile back up the road and you can find some wide freshly groomed trails.

British Columbia

http://www.bcnordic.com/Locations?id=4

Skiing at Cyprus mountain will remind you that people in other countries laugh at what we consider a black diamond or expert run. They several beers on tap in the warming hut. Several trails would count as blue down hill ski runs here in the states.  Did I mention they sell beer in the warming hut, and that what they call a beginner trail is what we would consider expert.

There are other places in the North Cascades to go and British Columbia but this wist will keep you busy for a while.  If I missed one that you feel should be on the list or have any information wrong make a comment.

There are also numerous ungroomed locations throughout the state if backcountry is your thing. Map

———–

Scatman

Get out there!

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Southsummit.

Highlands

Others to look at are:
Salmon Ridge