Nordic Centers offer FREE entertainment

Nordic skiing is a lot of fun, with a variety of activities and great places to go enjoy the day. The best part is, most Nordic Centers are FREE… That’s right, how can you beat that? You get great scenery, good times, great exercise and family fun, all for just the right price – nothing but the gas to get there. So, what is Nordic? Cross country skiing, either back country style or on groomed trails or snowshoeing on those same trails are part of Nordic.

Nordic winter sports encompass all types of skiing where the heel of the boot cannot be fixed to the ski. This includes a wide range of ski equipment and techniques such as classic and skate cross country skiing, ski jumping, biathlon, and telemark skiing. It also involves racing.

In the Northwest part of Colorado – Keystone offers nine miles of groomed trails and access to the 35 miles of White River National Forest trails. Snowshoeing, snow skating, cross-country skiing, lessons, rentals, and tours are all available. Open daily 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. begining December 18, 2009 – mid-April. Call the Keystone Nordic Center at 970-496-4275 for more information.

“The Aspen/Snowmass Nordic Trail System offers trail users over 90 kilometers of free cross country ski and snowshoe trails, connecting the communities of Aspen, Snowmass and Basalt. With two world class cross-country ski centers, the Aspen Snowmass Nordic Trail System offers a combination of both varied, entertaining ski trails and wonderful vistas. For more information on ski trail conditions or to contact the cross-country ski centers, call the Nordic Hotline at (970) 429-2039.”

Steamboat has a few areas to offer including the Ski Touring Center, Lake Catamount Touring Center, Steamboat Lake State Park Touring Center, Latigo Ranch Nordic Center, Three Forks Ranch, and Howelsen Hill Nordic Center. Many of the ski resorts offer a Nordic Center adventure to the public. For more information – call 970-879-4300

In the southwestern part of the state is Wolf Creek, with almost 10 kilometers of groomed trails. The Nordic Center at Durango Mountain Resort is now open, with 6 groomed beginner trails, and 8 groomed intermediate open trails to enjoy.