Whitefish — Cross-country

Whitefish Mountain Resort Nordic Center (406-862-2900) is adjacent to the Outpost Lodge (bottom of Chair 6) and has 16 km. of groomed trails for classic and skate skiing. Downhill ski pass holders can use the cross-country trails for free. Trail passes, maps and rentals are available at the Outpost Lodge or Whitefish Mountain Resort Sports in the base village. Snowshoers will find wooded terrain near the Nordic Center. A foot-passenger ticket can be bought for the chairlift to the summit where you can hike around in that area. Naturalist guides and snowshoe rentals are available.

Grouse Mountain Lodge (406-862-3000) in Whitefish has 10 km. of groomed cross-country trails and night skiing with 3.8 km. lighted.

The Izaak Walton Inn (406-888-5700), 62 miles east on Highway 2 (also an Amtrak flag stop), has 33 km. of groomed trails as well as guides who take skiers into the Glacier National Park wilderness. Guides for privates and groups are available. Here’s a trail map.

Glacier National Park provides a natural cross-countryskiing and snowshoeing paradise. Here the unplowed park roads and trails provide kilometer after kilometer of ungroomed passages. Check with the Communications Center (406-888-7800) or the park rangers for weather and snow conditions.

Photo courtesy of Big Mountain Resort