In some cities like Ottawa, Quebec City and Calgary it has been estimated that up to 5% of the population puts on a pair of Nordic skis at least once a year. That may seem like a lot but it’s nothing compared to the Norwegians. Sophie Redisch, a Norwegian blogger at Sophie’s World tells me that she doesn’t know of one person in Norway who doesn’t own a pair of skis.
She goes on to say that the ability to put on skis right outside the front door can be an important criterion when buying a house. It’s a rare Canadian that can throw on a pair of cross country skis and head out their front door. But there are loads of places across Canada that offer cross-country skiing on as much as 200 kilometres of trail. Here are the top 20 places in Canada for cross-country skiing.
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Location map of places to cross country ski in Canada
The Okanagan – one of the best places for cross-country skiing in Canada
Silver Star and Sovereign Lake are a winning duo. Between the two resorts are 105 km of interconnected trails. Renowned for their early season snow, this is the place to ski if you want to be seen with Olympic athletes. Carefully groomed trails are used by the Canadian and American National Cross Country teams as well as the Biathalon teams for early season training.
Callaghan Country near Whistler
Callaghan Country near Whistler was the site of the Nordic events in the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. It’s in a snow belt and claims to have some of the deepest snow anywhere in Canada.
Look for over 90 km of trails – with lots of easy and moderate trails making loops in the vicinity of the day lodge. Another option is to ski to Callaghan Country Lodge – and on weekends enjoy a lunch – if you can’t stay for the night. Bring your pet too. There are several kilometres of pet friendly trails but you must purchase a pet pass first.
Skiing at 100 Mile House in British Columbia
Head to 100 Mile House in BC’s Chilcotin region, specifically 100 Mile Nordics to enjoy 45 km of well-marked ski trails groomed for both classic and skate skiing. If you love night skiing, you can enjoy 3.5 km of trails lit till 10 PM. There is also a lodge that’s open from 9 AM – 3 PM.
Vancouver Island for cross-country skiing
Mount Washington on Vancouver Island offers 55 km of machine-groomed Nordic ski trails. Sitting adjacent to Strathcona Provincial Park, the trails offer mountain and parkland views. In really good snow years, snowfall amounts reach epic proportions. The resort offers night skiing on Fridays and Saturdays.
Cross-country skiing in Invermere, BC
The Whiteway is a 6-metre wide path of ice around the circumference of Lake Windermere. It started off several years ago as a 15-km loop but has grown to include the whole lake and is now officially 29.8-km (18.5 mi) long and a Guinness World Record holder.
Snow cleared from the ice is piled up on one side to allow for cross-country skiing. So not only can you skate but you can ski for almost 30 km.
Kananaskis Cross-country skiing
Peter Lougheed Provincial Park in Kananaskis Country is home to 90 km of trails with the majority falling in the easy and moderately difficult category. It’s a popular area for people from Calgary because it’s relatively close – especially the north set of trails.
Open from November until April, you’ll find loads of snow and plenty of spectacular mountain views. It’s $10/vehicle but you must bring your own equipment.
Canmore skiing
The Canmore Nordic Centre is another one of Canada’s Olympic legacies – developed for the 1988 Winter Olympics. Located just minutes from downtown Canmore and less than 15 minutes from Banff National Park, it’s the place to go if you want a great workout.
The 60 km of terrain, geared for advanced and intermediate level skiers, is groomed for both classic and skate skiing. Night skiing is also possible on a 6.5 km trail. Don’t be surprised if that person smoking you on the hill is a septuagenarian.
Little Red River Park, Saskatchewan
Prince Albert Ski Club has maintained the cross-country ski trails for over 30 years in Prince Albert’s Little Red River Park and Nesbit Forest.
When I was in the area one summer, a number of locals spoke of their love of the skiing here and the variety in the trails. According to their website, the club maintains one of the best and most extensive urban single – track ski trail networks in North America. Prince Albert is located a few hours north of Saskatoon.
Visit Prince Albert National Park, Saskatchewan for cross country skiing
Prince Albert National Park, north of the town of Prince Albert in northern Saskatchewan offers approximately 150 kilometres of trails with plenty that are graded easy to moderate. Most are found near the town of Waskesiu Lake. Six warming huts are available but because the trails are so remote it pays to carry the 10 essentials and lots of extra food and hot drinks. Buy a park pass to access the trails.
The closest cross-country skiing to Saskatoon
Eb’s Trails, located an hour from Saskatoon in Nesbit Provincial Forest, offers 55 kilometres of groomed, classic ski trails. Cliff Speer of Canoe Ski tells me the trails traverse rolling forested terrain ranging from deep dark spruce woods to open ridges of jack pine and aspen bluffs and says there is plenty of inspiring scenery to soothe the urban weary soul. There’s a cross-section of trails to cater to all abilities.
A top place in Manitoba for cross-country skiing
Whiteshell Provincial Park delivers some of the best cross country skiing in Manitoba. Seventy kilometres of groomed trails are offered throughout the park in eight different locations. The Elf Hole – Goose Sanctuary and Pine Point Rapids Trail are two of the most scenic trails.
Bring your own equipment or rent from MEC in Winnipeg, 2 hours away to the west. Go fully prepared for any emergency as you may be the only ones on the trail.
Top places in Ontario for cross-country skiing
Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario is lucky to have three trail networks. Four loops ranging up to 13 kilometres in length make up the Fen Lake section. The Leaf Lake Trail system offers trails ranging from in length from one to 30 kilometres through some of the prettiest parts of the park.
For the full backcountry experience, check out the Minnesing Wilderness Ski Trail.
Stokely Creek Lodge
Head to Stokely Creek Lodge, near Sault Ste. Marie provides if you’re after superb cross-country skiing on a mix of groomed and back-country trails. Snow is consistently excellent because of the lake effect, the terrain is varied and you can expect to ski more vertical here than at any downhill ski resort in Ontario. (For some that may not be such a great thing.)
Enjoy stunning views of Lake Superior from some of the 135 km of trails. Keep your eyes open for wildlife. While you can book a room at the lodge, you can also visit as a day skier.
Cross-country ski in the Kawarthas
I’d recommend skiing in the Kawarthas. Located just 35 minutes north of Peterborough, trails run through beautiful Canadian Shield country. Read about my experience here.
Mont Ste. Anne in Quebec
The Mont Saint Anne cross-country centre is the largest in Canada. The area boasts 208 kilometres of classic trails, 125 kilometres of which can be skate-skied.
The area receives 400 cm of snow a year and enjoys a long season lasting from late November through until early April. It’s located just seven kilometres from the downhill area so you can expect the same wonderful Laurentian forest scenery – and plenty of ups and downs. Keep your eyes open for moose too. Tracks are everywhere.
Gatineau Park is a prime area for cross-country skiing
Gatineau Park, just outside of Ottawa, presents an outstanding array of Nordic trails – 185 km in total of which 100 km are groomed. There are 10 warming huts, some of which are absolutely beautiful, and a destination in themselves.
The ski season is long and the après-skiing in nearby Wakefield and Chelsea is excellent.
Cross-country skiing in the Laurentians
The Laurentians, an area located north of Montreal, are famous for their network of cross- country ski trails. Choose from over 1,000 km of trails in 30 locations.
A few of the more popular trails include the ones at Mont Tremblant, Parc d’Oka, the trails around Val-David and P’tit Train du Nord. There are options to put a multi-day trip together too. These trails offer something for all abilities.
It’s also possible to back-country ski into huts for the night in Mont-Tremblant National Park.
Check out Fundy National Park in New Brunswick
Fundy National Park, located in the southeast of the province, offers 40 km of trails, across a range of difficulty, but in two separate areas – Chignecto South and North. Look for incredible scenery on these trails through the hilly Acadian highlands.
Corner Brook, Newfoundland
The Blow Me Down Ski Club , started in 1973 near Corner Brook, Newfoundland deserves a mention. The club looks after 42 km of trails, crossing through some of Newfoundland’s most beautiful country. Trails for all levels are kept groomed and track set. Rentals are available onsite and day passes are approximately $17.70 for adults.
For the adventurous back-country skier there is superlative skiing to be found in Gros Morne National Park as well.
Thunder Bay area, northwestern Ontario
I would be remiss if I didn’t include the Thunder Bay area in this list. Drive to nearby Sleeping Giant Provincial Park so you can take advantage of over 50 km of trails. Closer to Thunder Bay is the Lappe Nordic Ski Centre with over 14 kilometres of trails.
And if you’re looking for a wilderness type experience – where you can rent your own cozy cabin, I would highly recommend the drive to Quetico Provincial Park to take advantage of their trails. It’s a fantastic way to spend a couple of days.
Skiing in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory
Even though the nights are long, and the winters are cold, it doesn’t mean that people in the Yukon don’t get out cross-country skiing a lot.
The Whitehorse Nordic Centre is home to 85 km of groomed trails and 20 km of back-country trails. There are lit trails – with two loops that can be combined to offer 10 kilometres if they are skied in both directions. The trail lights are turned off when it’s -30°C and colder. What a place to ski and experience the Northern Lights!
A few useful items for any cross-country skiing outing
Some of the cross-country ski trails in this round-up take you well into the backcountry. It pays to go prepared.
Always take the 10 essentials – no matter how short the outing or what the weather forecast is.
You’ll want to layer your clothing and peel off clothes as you heat up so you stay dry. I highly recommend merino wool tops and bottoms as base layers.
Add a mid-layer like a fleece. Wind-proof ones, depending on where you ski can be a real bonus. I love this one by Arc’teryx with a hood.
Some people cross-country ski in very light weight bottoms which is fine if you’re not going into the backcountry. I personally like insulated pants like these ones from the North Face.
A neck warmer or a buff is a great idea.
I’d also recommend a thermos with something hot to drink and hand warmers.
Further reading on things to do outdoors in winter
- Where to go Cross-Country Skiing in Alberta
- 87 Fabulous Things to Do in Canada in Winter
- How to Survive a Winter Drive: 15 Tips for Safety
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