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Cross-Country Skiing at Royal Gorge
XC Ski Resort - PO Box 1100, Soda Springs, CA 95728
Photo
courtesy of David Madison/Royal Gorge
The largest private trail system in North America is at Royal Gorge (530-426-3871; 800-500-3871, nationwide; 800-666-3871, N. CA only; www.royalgorge.com) just off I-80, west of Donner Summit at the Soda Springs exit. Royal Gorge has nearly 9,172 acres of terrain, and more than 300 km of trails all machine groomed with a skating lane inside the tracks.
With incredible Sierra panarama views, there is an amazing amount of snow every winter but Royal Gorge also makes snow on 15 km of trails. And it claims to have the largest fleet of modern snowcats in the xc ski world. Adult trail fees are $29, for teens (13-16), $16; with discounts for midweek, multiday tickets and skiers 65 and older. Ages 12 and younger ski free.
Group lessons are
90 minutes for $25. Pee Wee School (ages 6-10) is $52 for all day or
$39 for half day includes lunch and a snack. XC ski equipment or snowshoe
rentals are $21 with lower fees for children and half day rates. On
Thursdays the trail pass and rental package is $37.50.
Royal Gorge has four surface lifts to help skiers up the tougher inclines. It is a full-service ski area, with xc ski, snowshoe, telemark ski, kids, and pulk sled rental equipment, ski school, 8 warming huts, four trailside cafes, two overnight lodges and a full-time ski patrol. Trailside lodging is at Ice Lakes Lodge, a beautiful Alpine Style Chalet.
Home
of the California Gold Rush, which is one of America's premier xc ski
races, Royal Gorge also has many other programs for recreational skiers
such as ski orienteering, Ski de Femme womens programs, Ski the Huts
for rewards, raffles and prizes, guided snowshoe tours, and the Easter
Bunny Jubilee egg hunt for little skiers and their encouraging parents.
CCSAA member
Photo courtesy of David Madison/Royal Gorge