White Grass Ski Touring Center, Lapland Lake Nordic Vacation Center, Trapp Family Lodge and Devil's Thumb Ranch also winners
For those who relish enjoying the natural majesty of North America in winter while getting a killer workout, it doesn't get much better than cross-country skiing (a.k.a. Nordic skiing). While many downhill ski resorts also maintain Nordic trails – there are a couple on this list – the best Nordic skiing is often found at dedicated resorts.
We asked a panel of cross-country ski experts to nominate their 20 favorite resorts, and for the past four weeks, our readers have been voting for their favorites.
The top 10 winners in the category Best Cross-Country Ski Resort are as follows:
- American Birkebeiner Trail - Hayward, Wis.
- White Grass Ski Touring Center - Davis, W.V.
- Lapland Lake Nordic Vacation Center - Northville, N.Y.
- Trapp Family Lodge - Stowe, Vt.
- Devil's Thumb Ranch - Tabernash, Colo.
- Maine Huts & Trails - Kingfield, Maine
- Sun Mountain Lodge - Winthrop, Wash.
- Jackson Ski Touring Center - Jackson, N.H.
- SilverStar Mountain Resort - Vernon, British Columbia
- Vista Verde Guest Ranch - Steamboat Springs, Colo.
A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to picked the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote. Experts Reese Brown (Snowsports Industries America (SIA)), Wendy Clinch (TheSkiDiva), Lyndell Keating (Powderhounds), Nate Musson (The Not Snowboarding Podcast) and Jonathan Wiesel (Nordic Group International) were chosen based on their skiing expertise.
Other nominees for Best Cross-Country Ski Resort included Bretton Woods Nordic Center, Craftsbury Outdoor Center, The Lodge at Jackson Fork Ranch, Lone Mountain Ranch, Mount Bachelor Nordic Center, Royal Gorge Cross Country Resort, Soldier Hollow, Sundance Mountain Resort, Sun Valley Nordic & Snowshoe Center and Whiteface Lake Placid.
Congratulations to all our worthy cross-country winners.
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The Experts
Reese Brown
Reese Brown is Executive Director of U.S./Canadian... Read More
Reese Brown is Executive Director of U.S./Canadian trade group Cross Country Ski Areas Association, Nordic Director for non-profit Snowsports Industries America, and a noted photographer for U.S. Ski & Snowboard, the national governing body for Olympic skiing and snowboarding. He has worked in the snowsports industry since 1981 as a coach, event manager, promotional marketer, and in project-based strategic development. Considered an industry expert and insider, Brown operates internationally to support and promote the sport of cross country skiing, growing public awareness and participation. He lives in Woodstock, Vermont.
Reese Brown

Reese Brown is Executive Director of U.S./Canadian trade group Cross Country Ski Areas Association, Nordic Director for non-profit Snowsports Industries America, and a noted photographer for U.S. Ski & Snowboard, the national governing body for Olympic skiing and snowboarding. He has worked in the snowsports industry since 1981 as a coach, event manager, promotional marketer, and in project-based strategic development. Considered an industry expert and insider, Brown operates internationally to support and promote the sport of cross country skiing, growing public awareness and participation. He lives in Woodstock, Vermont.
Wendy Clinch
Wendy Clinch is the founder of TheSkiDiva.com, the... Read More
Wendy Clinch is the founder of TheSkiDiva.com, the leading online community for women who love to ski. A resident of Vermont, Wendy is the author of two ski mysteries: DOUBLE BLACK and FADE TO WHITE. She is also a member of the North American Snowsports Journalists Association, and received the organization’s Harold S. Hirsh Award for Excellence in Snowsports Blog Writing in both 2016 and 2017.
Wendy Clinch
Wendy Clinch is the founder of TheSkiDiva.com, the leading online community for women who love to ski. A resident of Vermont, Wendy is the author of two ski mysteries: DOUBLE BLACK and FADE TO WHITE. She is also a member of the North American Snowsports Journalists Association, and received the organization’s Harold S. Hirsh Award for Excellence in Snowsports Blog Writing in both 2016 and 2017.
Lyndell Keating
Lyndell Keating is one of the directors of Read More
Lyndell Keating is one of the directors of Powderhounds, a ski and snowboard travel website that reviews snow destinations around the world to facilitate readers in their pursuit of the perfect powder stash. Lyndell has skied at 200-plus ski resorts and a multitude of cat skiing, heli skiing and backcountry bucket list areas.
Lyndell Keating

Lyndell Keating is one of the directors of Powderhounds, a ski and snowboard travel website that reviews snow destinations around the world to facilitate readers in their pursuit of the perfect powder stash. Lyndell has skied at 200-plus ski resorts and a multitude of cat skiing, heli skiing and backcountry bucket list areas.
Nate Musson
Nate is the founder of snowboarding’s #1 podcast, Read More
Nate is the founder of snowboarding’s #1 podcast, The Not Snowboarding Podcast, and the only snowboarding specific insole/foot bed company, Shred Soles. The skateboarding and snowboarding industry is his life-long passion in both participation and consultation/sales. Nate has 22 years of experience - including retail management/buying, consulting and developing and scaling e-commerce solutions. Nate, his wife Colleen and their newly adopted Siberian Husky, Rayna, live a short walk from a ski resort Southern Pennsylvania. The trio can often be found road tripping up and down the east coast in search of snow and waves.
Nate Musson

Nate is the founder of snowboarding’s #1 podcast, The Not Snowboarding Podcast, and the only snowboarding specific insole/foot bed company, Shred Soles. The skateboarding and snowboarding industry is his life-long passion in both participation and consultation/sales. Nate has 22 years of experience - including retail management/buying, consulting and developing and scaling e-commerce solutions. Nate, his wife Colleen and their newly adopted Siberian Husky, Rayna, live a short walk from a ski resort Southern Pennsylvania. The trio can often be found road tripping up and down the east coast in search of snow and waves.
Jonathan Wiesel
Jonathan Wiesel splits his time between writing... Read More
Jonathan Wiesel splits his time between writing about cross-country skiing/snowshoeing and designing Nordic ski areas. He’s been a ski instructor and guide, ski patrolman, international trips planner and leader, and resort owner; and he’s written on cross-country skiing and snowshoeing for publications on three continents. Wiesel has also consulted on more than 190 Nordic projects across North America, from communities to four-season resorts, ranches to real estate. His latest strategy is working with U.S./Canadian Snowbelt golf courses to develop winter recreation. Originally a New Englander, he lives in Bozeman, Montana.
Jonathan Wiesel

Jonathan Wiesel splits his time between writing about cross-country skiing/snowshoeing and designing Nordic ski areas. He’s been a ski instructor and guide, ski patrolman, international trips planner and leader, and resort owner; and he’s written on cross-country skiing and snowshoeing for publications on three continents. Wiesel has also consulted on more than 190 Nordic projects across North America, from communities to four-season resorts, ranches to real estate. His latest strategy is working with U.S./Canadian Snowbelt golf courses to develop winter recreation. Originally a New Englander, he lives in Bozeman, Montana.