Mountain Dell ski area sits in Parley’s Canyon off exit 134. The area is operated by The Utah Nordic Alliance and their volunteers. Groomed daily, the 12 kilometers of trails serve as the training space for competitive college teams, including national champs — University of Utah. This scenic venue is open to the public with a daily fee or season pass.
Round Valley
Round Valley, a network of 25 kilometers of trails weaving across rolling hills, has multiple trailheads, steep ascents and fast downhill. The most popular trailhead is located in Quinn’s Junction. These trails are dog friendly and you’ll probably pass a snowshoer and snowbiker or two as the area is multi-use and free.
Soldier Hollow Nordic Center
Soldier Hollow Nordic Center, nestled in the quaint town of Midway, was the Nordic skiing venue in the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. You can experience this world-class biathlon course for yourself with 25 kilometers of groomed cross-country trails. Cross country ski trails open the third week of December. See also the nearby Wasatch Mountain State Park.
Utah Olympic Park
The Utah Olympic Park is part of the larger Basin Recreation trail network. Basin Recreation prides itself on packing and grooming 29 kilometers of connected trails in the Utah Olympic Park and Willow Creek Park areas. These trails run along some of Park City’s highlights such as the Swaner Nature Preserve, the Copper Moose Organic Farm and the historic Wallen Farm site. You’ll find a mix of bridges, neighborhoods, a creek and beaver ponds along the route.
White Pine Nordic Center
White Pine Nordic Center in Park City offers some of the best groomed trails available. This fee area provides 25 kilometers of groomed trails. You can also take a lesson, rent gear, have your skis tuned or enjoy a guided tour. Experience their 3K, 5K and 10K groomed cross-country loops, or hire a guide to take you out and get the inside scoop. Check out their website for current conditions.
White Pine Nordic Center
White Pine Nordic Center
Cross-country Skiing in the Tracks of Olympians
Utah cross country skiing for beginners starts with techniques. Soldier Hollow is the perfect location and hosted 2 events for the 2002 Winter Olympics.
Lessons, Tours & Rentals
Cross country skiing is easy to learn and even beginners will be swooshing along in no time. That being said, premade tracks require certain etiquette to keep the tracks in good condition, and learning skills for descents and glide will probably require at least an introductory lesson. Providers like White Pine Nordic Center and Soldier Hollow Nordic Center can help you with lessons, tours and rentals.
Things To Know
What To Pack
- Water and snacks. For longer distances, a hydration pack may be helpful.
- Sunglasses and sunscreen are a must.
- While you may not ski in a hard shell jacket, having one ready to slip on when you finish will keep you from catching a chill as your body cools.
What To Wear
Layering and ventilation are your keys to dressing for the cross country ski trail. Whether you are skating or classic cross-country skiing, that internal heater burns and you’ll want to be able to adjust temperature. Wear breathable fabrics and remove layers as you heat up.
- Baselayer: A wool or synthetic fabric that wicks moisture away from your body.
- Pants: Regular snow pants are a little bulky. Choose a more streamlined wind-resistant pant.
- Gloves: A lighter glove with the possibility to layer with something thicker if needed.
- Socks: Mid-weight socks will fit inside the tight ski boot without being too bulky. A good wicking fabric like merino wool will keep your toes happy.
- Jacket: A wind resistant jacket that will breath as you work up a sweat provides the right combination of protection and performance.
Pet Policies
Pet policies vary according to the venue, but where pets are allowed they should be leashed and in control at all times. Always pick up after your pet to maintain a clean recreation environment, and to ensure that pet allowances will continue.
More Winter Activities
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Backcountry Skiing & Snowboarding
Thousands of people each day enjoy Utah's famous backcountry — the areas outside of ski area boundaries.
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Cross Country Skiing
Cross-country skiing Utah is awesome! Find popular Nordic trailheads in the north, high altitude serenity in central Utah and miles of regularly groomed trails in the south.
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Ice Fishing
Utah’s award-winning waters hold some of the best ice fishing in the country, and with so many large lakes and reservoirs, it’s easy to grab your gear and join in.
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Ice Skating
Find the best ice skating rinks in Utah and plan the perfect skate night with your friends and family. Lace up and get skating!
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Skiing
Skiing in Utah? Choose from 15 resorts — 10 within an hour of the airport. Discover lively ski towns, best times to visit and tips for booking lessons and rentals.
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Snow Tubing & Sledding
The classic, winter tradition of finding the perfect hill from which to launch a tube or sled is alive and well in Utah. Whether you’re looking for commercial parks with structured lanes or a local hill and your own thermos of hot cocoa, we’ve got it all.
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Snowboarding
To put it simply, the riding in Utah is epic. Thirteen snowboarding resorts are positioned perfectly for dumps of fluffy powder all winter long.
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Snowmobiling
Snowmobile vacations are popular outdoor adventures. Utah’s 800+ miles of groomed trails offer winter snowmobiling fun for all — find out more!
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Snowshoeing
Experience snowshoeing the greatest snow on Earth.
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Winter Hiking
You might think the cold is unavoidable and the terrain impassable during the winter months, but if you can surpass these doubts you might just be rewarded with your best hike of the year.
