Outdoors

Washington’s mountains dotted with more than 40 cross-country skiing venues

By Craig Hill

Updated November 28, 2015 5:26 PM

Canuche Terranella of Seattle, skis toward Copper Creek Hut on a 4.6-mile trek that is part the Mount Tahoma Ski Trail System. Janet Jensen File photo (2006)

There are plenty of reasons to give cross-country skiing a try this winter.

The venues are usually much less crowded the alpine ski hills. You’ll burn more calories, so you can feel a little less guilty about that après burger. It’s also considerably less expensive than resort skiing.

The Methow Valley is the epicenter for the sport in the Northwest, but there’s an abundance of trail systems. Here’s a closer look:

SNO-PARKS

The state’s nonmotorized Sno-Parks are some of the most popular cross-country skiing trail systems in the state. To use these trail systems, you must purchase a pass for your vehicle. Passes are $20 per day. Season passes are $40 and an additional $40 for a Special Groomed Trail pass. For more information, visit parks.state.wa.us/winter.

MOUNT BAKER/METHOW

SALMON RIDGE: 30 kilometers, groomed, 360-856-5700.

SHADOW OF THE SENTINELS: 15 kilometers, 360-856-5700.

HIGHLANDS: 18 kilometers, groomed, 509-486-2186.

SOUTH SUMMIT: 30 kilometers, groomed, 509-996-4003.

LEAVENWORTH

CHIWAWA: 15 kilometers, groomed, 509-763-3103.

LAKE WENATCHEE: 28 kilometers, groomed, 509-763-3101.

BLEWETT/I-90

PIPE CREEK: Varies, not groomed 509-852-1100.

SWAUK CAMPGROUND: Varies, not groomed, 509-852-1100.

SALMON LA SAC: 6 kilometers, groomed, 509-852-1100.

BLEWETT PASS: Varies, groomed, 509-852-1100.

CABIN CREEK: 15 kilometers, groomed, 509-656-2230.

CRYSTAL SPRINGS: 11 kilometers, groomed, 509-656-2230.

GOLD CREEK: Varies, not groomed, 509-656-2230.

HYAK: 11.2 kilometers, groomed, 509-656-2230.

KACHES: Varies, not groomed, 509-656-2230.

LAKE EASTON: 7 kilometers, groomed, 509-656-2230.

MOUNT RAINIER AREA

MOUNT TAHOMA TRAILS: 80 kilometers, partially groomed, skimtta.com.

CROW LAKE: 9.7 kilometers, groomed, 509-653-1400.

HELLS CROSSING: 9.7 kilometers, groomed 509-653-1400.

GOOSE EGG: 1.6 kilometers, not groomed, 509-653-1400.

PLEASANT VALLEY: 9.7 kilometers, not groomed, 509-653-1400.

NORTH FORK TIETON: 26 kilometers, groomed, 509-653-1400.

SUN TOP: Varies, not groomed, 360-825-6585.

SOUTH CASCADES

COUGAR: Varies, not groomed, 360-449-7800.

MARBLE MOUNTAIN: Varies, not groomed, 360-449-7800.

WAKEPISH: Varies, not groomed, 360-497-1100.

PINESIDE: 27 kilometers, groomed, 509-395-3400.

SNOWKING: 28 kilometers, groomed, 509-395-3400.

SMITH BUTTE: Varies, not groomed, 509-395-3400.

SPOKANE/COLVILLE

MOUNT SPOKANE: 25 kilometers, groomed, parks.state.wa.us/winter.

DEER CREEK: Varies, groomed, 509-775-7400.

FRATER LAKE: 16 kilometers, groomed, parks.state.wa.us/winter.

OTHER WESTERN WASHINGTON SYSTEMS

OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK: Varies, not groomed, 360-565-3000.

MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK: Varies, not groomed, 360-569-2211.

SALMON RIDGE: 30 kilometers, groomed, nooksacknordicskiclub.org.

STEVENS PASS: 28 kilometers, groomed, stevenspass.com.

SUMMIT AT SNOQUALMIE: 50 kilometers, groomed, summitatsnoqualmie.com.

WHITE PASS: 18 kilometers, groomed, skiwhitepass.com.

OTHER EASTERN WASHINGTON SYSTEMS

ECHO RIDGE: 28 kilometers, groomed, lakechelannordic.org.

LEAVENWORTH: 26 kilometers, groomed skileavenworth.com.

LOUP LOUP SKI BOWL: 23 kilometers, groomed, skitheloup.com.

MAZAMA: 32 kilometers, groomed, methowtrails.org.

METHOW: 31 kilometers, groomed, methowtrails.org.

RENDEZVOUS: 44 kilometers, groomed, methowtrails.org.

SUN MOUNTAIN: 59 kilometers, groomed, methowtrails.org.

This story was originally published November 27, 2015 at 6:27 PM with the headline "Washington’s mountains dotted with more than 40 cross-country skiing venues."