Mt. Washington Valley — Cross-country

Jackson Ski Touring Foundation (603-383-9355 or 800-927-6697; Box 216, Jackson, N.H. 03846), on Rte. 16A, is a mecca for Nordic skiers with more than 150 km. of trails (93 km. are groomed, 80 km. are skate groomed), suitable for all ability levels. It has lessons, rentals and snowshoeing. Country inns are spaced throughout the region. The base lodge is in Jackson Village, near the Wentworth Resort. Here’s a trail map.

Mt. Washington Valley Ski Touring and Snowshoe Center (603-356-3042; Box 130, Intervale, N.H. 03845) has 65 km. of inn-to-inn trails (60 km. tracked, 20 km. skate groomed), plus ski school and rentals. It offers guided star-gazing tours and animal-tracking clinics.

The Appalachian Mountain Club (603-466-2721) maintains a network of touring trails radiating from the AMC Camp at Pinkham Notch. About 7 km. are rated Easiest or More Difficult (requiring skills up to a strong snowplow and step-turn), but about 40 km. are rated Most Difficult, with long challenging hills and narrow trails.

Great Glen Trails (603-466-2333) has 40 km. of cross-country skiing (14 km. tracked, 20 km. skate groomed) and snowshoeing trails at the base of Mt. Washington, which translates into jaw-dropping scenery all around you. Telemarkers, cross-country skiers and snowshoers can take a snowcat partly up the Mt. Washington Auto Road, then ski down; sightseers also are welcome. The resort recently added a snowtubing park. Here’s a trail map.

Bear Notch Ski Touring Center (603-374-2277) is one of the valley’s best kept secrets. With a truly beautiful setting just north of Bartlett Village (Rte. 302), the 70 km. (60 km. tracked and skate groomed) of trails offer uncrowded wooded scenery.

The Nestlenook Recreation Center (603-383-9443), also in Jackson, has 35 km. of touring tracks that wind through its 65-acre farm.

Purity Spring Resort ( 800-373-3754 or 603-367-8896), near Madison, has 15 km. of groomed and tracked trails. Rentals and lessons are available.