Cross Country Skiing in the Mountains of Vermont
"Real skiers ski uphill" is an old expression in Vermont, where cross country skiing is as much a winter tradition as hot chocolate and making snow angels. The Green Mountain State boasts a treasure trove of cross country ski areas that provide wonderful settings to get some exercise and take in the gorgeous natural beauty that Vermont is known for.
Trapp Family Lodge
Home to the first cross country ski center in the Americas, the Trapp Family Lodge is a unique, four-season resort specializing in European-style accommodations and cuisine, spectacular mountain vistas, upscale amenities, and outdoor activities. Situated on 2,500 acres overlooking the classic New England village of Stowe, the Trapp Family Lodge is the perfect setting for a vacation during any season. Trapp Family Lodge is constantly improving and expanding its trail system, which is used to host the NCAA Ski Championships among many elite-level competitions.
Prospect Mountain Nordic Ski Center
Prospect Mountain Nordic Ski Center features more than 30 miles of expertly-groomed trails and a comfortable lodge with excellent hot food available. Prospect's 2,300 ft. of elevation gives it great snow that usually stays all winter. This summer, Prospect improved some trails near the top of the mountain. Well-marked snow trails are available along with skinning up and skiing down Prospect's former alpine trails for the more adventurous skiers.
Sleepy Hollow Inn, Ski & Bike Center
The Sleepy Hollow Inn, Ski and Bike Center offers 32km of nordic ski trails groomed for both skate and classic. The center features a 2km snowmaking loop that's great for consistent snow conditions. Sleepy Hollow also offers 2km of night skiing Mon, Wed, and Fri nights from dusk to 8:30 p.m. Its ski shop features a full range of kids and adult rentals for both classic and skate skiing. The center also offer snowshoeing and snowshoe rentals.
Mountain Top Inn and Resort
Mountain Top Resort offers 60km of trails. Cross country skiing at Mountain Top has been a favorite pasttime since 1964. With all of that history, state-of-the-art grooming, snowmaking, both classic ski track and skating lanes, pet friendly trails, varied terrain and sweeping views, instruction for all levels, access to the catamount trails and onsite ski, snowshoe rentals, onsite restaurant & spa and luxurious overnight accommodations, you are sure to have the experience of a lifetime.
Catamount Outdoor Family Center
For more than 40 years, Catamount Outdoor Family Center has offered a very wide variety of trails for all abilities of cross country skiers. Located just 8 miles from Burlington, COFC offers more than 20 miles of trails with breathtaking views of Camel’s Hump, Mount Mansfield, Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks. Join COFC to ski, snowshoe, sled or fat bike, with lodging available at the Catamount B&B.
Stratton Mountain Resort
For a change of scene, and a good workout, Stratton offers 12km of rolling, scenic trails for Nordic skiing and snowshoeing as well as classic, skate and snowshoe rentals out of the cozy wood-stove warmed Stratton Nordic Center. Fat biking and group lessons are available. Guided snowshoe tours and full moon and stargazing snowshoe experiences are popular activities. Trails wind through tall fir trees in the Sun Bowl and are groomed daily for classic and skate skiing. Offering mellow groomers and challenging hills, Stratton’s trails are home to Olympian and World Cup champion Sophie Caldwell and training ground for Stratton Mountain School athletes.
Stowe Mountain Resort
Stowe Mountain Resort's Cross Country Ski Center offers 45 kilometers of groomed trails and 30 kilometers of backcountry terrain. At our rental shop, we offer a wide selection of nordic snowsport gear including snowshoes, touring gear, performance skate ski and classic ski packages, and backcountry gear. We also have a full selection of kids gear for children age 3 and older, including little snowshoes and sleds for the sledding hill. Also available is a pulk sled for parents with infants/toddlers.
Mount Snow Resort
Right across the street from Mount Snow, you’ll find Timber Creek Cross Country with a vast network of trails and rental equipment available. Timber Creek offers a great variety of terrain ranging all levels of difficulty, and skiers appreciate the quiet and scenic route through the trees while still offering gorgeous views of Mount Snow.
Fox Run Nordic Centert
Beyond the village of Ludlow, past the road to Okemo’s Clock Tower base area, a different sort of skiing is taking place… one that moves at a slower pace. FoxRun Nordic Center offers alternatives for enjoying the outdoors in winter. Extending across pristine snow-covered meadows and rolling hills, a hidden world of beauty and adventure invites people of all ages and abilities to discover the joys of cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The well-marked trail network features 22 km of machine-tracked and skate-groomed lanes for skiers, and 13 km of trails dedicated to snowshoeing. Foxrun Nordic Center trails are ideally suited to all ability levels and are groomed daily using state-of-the-art grooming machines. Rentals are available.
Bolton Valley Resort
Bolton Valley offers 100km of Nordic trails, with 15km groomed for skate and classic skiing. The Bolton Nordic Center sits at elevation 2100’ and is one of the highest cross-country trail networks in New England, providing a consistent snowpack all season long. The ungroomed trails are open for exploration on skis, snowshoes, or splitboards, and some are even available to fat bikes. The circuitous backcountry Nordic trails serve as a great introduction to backcountry skiing or more adventurous cross-country touring. Nordic instruction is available on site, and the Bolton Nordic Center offers rental equipment for classic, skate, and backcountry Nordic skiing, as well as snowshoes and Pulks for outings with small children.
Smugglers Notch Resort
The beauty of Vermont’s Winter landscape is readily apparent on Smugglers’ Notch Resort’s network of 30 kilometers of cross-country skiing trails and 24 kilometers of dedicated snowshoe trails that wind their way through woods and meadows. The full-service Nordic Ski and Snowshoe Adventure Center offers equipment rentals, lessons, snacks to purchase, and a wood stove to warm up by. Cross-country lessons include 1.5-hour group lessons, one-hour private lessons, and Mom & Me/Dad & Me lessons in which parents learn the sport with their children ages 6 and older. Incorporated into the level learning area is a Nordic terrain park that features a series of three gently rolling small hills for gaining confidence with balance, movement, and speed control. Daily access to Smugglers’ Nordic network is part of the lift ticket inclusion on the resort’s three vacation packages.
Sugarbush Resort
Sugarbush Resort offers two great ways to experience quiet scenery, signs of wildlife, and get some winter exercise--solo or with a guide. Guest can access designated terrain via self-guided trips or opt for guided tours on the Gate House trail and into Slide Brook Wildlife Management Area. Note that guided tours must be booked at least 48 hours in advance.
Mad River Glen
The Mad River Valley’s two cross-country centers, Ole’s Cross Country Center and Blueberry Lake Cross Country and Snowshoeing Center, offer an extensive network of classic and skating trails for all abilities. These well-maintained trails traverse both wooded and open terrain just minutes away from Sugarbush Resort and Mad River Glen. The Catamount Trail also winds its way through the Mad River Valley.
Saskadena Six Ski Area
The Woodstock Inn & Resort’s Nordic Center grooms 45km of trails for cross-country skiing in hills surrounding the picturesque village of Woodstock, Vermont. Nearly half of the groomed trails are located in the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Park providing a truly unique skiing experience. In addition to the ski trails, the Center maintains an additional network of dedicated snowshoe trails that provide several stunning vistas of the village below. The Center’s retail, service and rental shop are located in the Woodstock Inn’s Country Club, providing out-the-door access to the Mt Peg trail network. Guests can also try fatbiking on the groomed ski trails on Mt Peg or for those seeking a greater challenge, on the single-track bike trails.
