While skiers at Whitefish Mountain Resort, Turner, and Blacktail have to sit tight for opening day to start making turns, Nordic skiers can start gliding and skating as soon as snow paints the ground. Here are a few local places to get your Nordic groove going.
Glacier Nordic Center
The Glacier Nordic Club grooms 15 kilometers of trails regularly, so you can depend on a smooth ride – the only downside is that due to its lower elevation, these trails often see lower snowfall than other areas. Just under a mile west of Whitefish on U.S. Highway 93, a brown sign on the right indicates the Nordic parking lot. On the north side of the highway, the tracks cut through open sections of trees towards Whitefish Lake across flatter lands, which are generally better for beginners or skiers that want to fine-tune their technical skills. A tunnel brings skiers south of the highway, where they can branch off to a 3.6-kilometer loop that runs along Lost Loon Lake. Four kilometers of trail are also illuminated through the winter for night skiing. Daily trail fee is $8. Annual Membership is $55 for an individual and $110 for a family. Dogs are not permitted on the course.
Big Mountain Nordic Center
There are 23 kilometers of trails at the Big Mountain Nordic Center, which offers some more challenging terrain with steep and curvy descents. Glacier Nordic Club grooms 8.2 kilometers of these trails, and, because of the elevation, the conditions are often colder and snowier than in town. Access the well-marked trail system from the far end of the Willow Lot. Follow loops that circle around at the base of Big Mountain or head out to Iron Horse Golf Club and into the Haskill Basin. Season membership is $55 for an individual and $110 for families. The same pass works for all trails maintained by the Glacier Nordic Center. Dogs are permitted.
Blacktail Cross-Country
Ski trails south-facing and close to Flathead Lake, the Nordic trails on Blacktail get regular sun. They also offer views of the lake, the Swan Crest, and the Mission Mountains. Forty kilometers of trails run through clearcut forests and old Forest Service roads. With some of the best grooming for skate skiing, there are also many races here through the season. Skiing sets off from the main parking lot, which is 14 miles down Blacktail Road from US Highway 93 S. For the area’s most challenging terrain, head north on the 9.3-kilometer Powerline Loop. The North Shore Nordic Club does not charge trail fees, but donations keep operations running and trails groomed. Dogs are not permitted.
Seeley Lake Ski Trails
With excellent, regular grooming and the heaviest snowfall of any town trail network in the area, the Seeley Creek Ski Trails are worth the drive to the Flathead’s southeast edge. Volunteers hold the famous OSCR (Over Seeley’s Creeks and Ridges) and Seeley Lake Challenge Biathlon here every year. The OSCR, which is over three decades old, is a race around a 50 km loop with sections for skating and classic skiing. The biathlon, which combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting, has been organized in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce, snow machine club, and other groups, since 2008. The ski club does not charge trail fees, but donations are appreciated. Dogs are allowed, and dog mushers and skijorers are welcome.