Few activities can compare to cross-country skiing for the opportunity to experience a quieter, more serene side of winter (with a killer cardio workout to boot). While many alpine ski areas also offer Nordic trails, some of the best cross-country skiing is found at dedicated resorts. For everyone from beginners to long-time skiers, you can find cross country-ski resorts in your area at www.xcski.org.
The top 10 winners in the category Best Cross-Country Ski Resort are as follows:
- Devil’s Thumb Ranch - Tabernash, Colo.
- Snow Mountain Ranch - Granby, Colo.
- Bearskin Lodge and Resort - Grand Marais, Minn.
- ABR Trails - Ironwood, Mich.
- Stokely Creek Lodge - Goulais River, Ontario
- Tahoe Donner Cross Country Ski Center - Truckee, Calif.
- Breckenridge Nordic Center - Breckenridge, Colo.
- Tahoe Cross-Country Ski Area - Tahoe City, Calif.
- SilverStar Mountain Resort - Vernon, B.C.
- Great Glen Trails - Gorham, N.H.
A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote.
Congratulations to all these winning resorts!
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The Experts
Jenny Beckman
Jenny manages the Nordic ski department at Gear... Read More
Jenny manages the Nordic ski department at Gear West, one of North America’s largest cross-country ski retailers, located just outside of Minneapolis in Long Lake, Minnesota. She previously worked as the North American Nordic Community Manager for sports equipment manufacturer Salomon. While serving in that position, she traveled across the continent for races and other consumer-facing events. When not at the store, Beckman coaches skiers of all ages and abilities for the City of Lakes Loppet Foundation and was awarded “Coach of the Year” in 2018.
Jenny Beckman
Jenny manages the Nordic ski department at Gear West, one of North America’s largest cross-country ski retailers, located just outside of Minneapolis in Long Lake, Minnesota. She previously worked as the North American Nordic Community Manager for sports equipment manufacturer Salomon. While serving in that position, she traveled across the continent for races and other consumer-facing events. When not at the store, Beckman coaches skiers of all ages and abilities for the City of Lakes Loppet Foundation and was awarded “Coach of the Year” in 2018.
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, former 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, events manager, promotional marketer, in project-based strategic development and media resource. Considered an industry expert and insider, Reese 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, former 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, events manager, promotional marketer, in project-based strategic development and media resource. Considered an industry expert and insider, Reese operates internationally to support and promote the sport of cross country skiing, growing public awareness and participation. He lives in Woodstock, Vermont.
Nancy Fiddler
Nancy Fiddler has been everything in the Nordic... Read More
Nancy Fiddler has been everything in the Nordic world from instructor to coach, elite skier to ski program director. A remarkable athlete, she is a 14-time U.S. National Champion cross-country skier who competed for the U.S. on two Olympic and four World Championship teams. She graduated from Bates College in Maine with an English degree and was on Varsity teams in cross-country skiing, field hockey, and lacrosse. Fiddler has skied, instructed, or coached from coast to coast, including Sun Valley, Idaho and Mammoth Mountain, California. She currently lives near Mammoth Mountain.
Nancy Fiddler
Nancy Fiddler has been everything in the Nordic world from instructor to coach, elite skier to ski program director. A remarkable athlete, she is a 14-time U.S. National Champion cross-country skier who competed for the U.S. on two Olympic and four World Championship teams. She graduated from Bates College in Maine with an English degree and was on Varsity teams in cross-country skiing, field hockey, and lacrosse. Fiddler has skied, instructed, or coached from coast to coast, including Sun Valley, Idaho and Mammoth Mountain, California. She currently lives near Mammoth Mountain.
Chris Frado
Chris Frado was President of Cross Country Ski... Read More
Chris Frado was President of Cross Country Ski Areas Association for 30 years, representing Nordic centers in both the U.S. and Canada. In the 1980s, Frado earned the rank of Senior Nordic Patroller (#007) and was also one of the early Nordic instructors certified by Professional Ski Instructors of America. Most recently, she has been lured out of retirement to leverage her industry knowledge for the former publisher of SkiTrax Magazine in his new venture, producing a North American travel resort guide, Best Nordic Ski Great Escapes, scheduled for release in winter 2019-‘20. She lives in New Hampshire.
Chris Frado
Chris Frado was President of Cross Country Ski Areas Association for 30 years, representing Nordic centers in both the U.S. and Canada. In the 1980s, Frado earned the rank of Senior Nordic Patroller (#007) and was also one of the early Nordic instructors certified by Professional Ski Instructors of America. Most recently, she has been lured out of retirement to leverage her industry knowledge for the former publisher of SkiTrax Magazine in his new venture, producing a North American travel resort guide, Best Nordic Ski Great Escapes, scheduled for release in winter 2019-‘20. She lives in New Hampshire.
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 dozens of publications on three continents. Jonathan has also consulted on more than 200 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 dozens of publications on three continents. Jonathan has also consulted on more than 200 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.