Nordic Skiing At Revelstoke

If you’ve been looking for a new winter sport to enjoy (or a first winter sport to enjoy, if you’re like me and prefer spending your winter days indoors), then Nordic or cross-country skiing could be for you. In addition to being outside and enjoying the fresh, crisp air, it is widely accepted that Nordic skiing offers the best cardiovascular exercise and the low impact nature of this sport reduces the strain on your joints.

A popular destination for new and seasoned Nordic skiers is Revelstoke. With a population of just over 7,500, the city of Revelstoke has a lot to offer visitors, such as accommodations, shopping, restaurants and entertainment. For skiers, the base of Mount Macpherson, not far from the city, is where the action is – the mountain boasts over 30 kilometres of Nordic ski trails, which are groomed for skate and classic cross-country skiing. The trails are managed and maintained by the Revelstoke Nordic Ski Club, a non-profit organization that’s run mainly by volunteers. These trails include ones that are lit up at night, dog-friendly trails and even snowshoe trails. You can find the trail map here: https://www.revelstokenordic.org/trail-info-maps/.

Daily trail fees can be paid at the ticket office within the lodge from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Wednesday and Friday evenings until 8 p.m. Outside of those hours, trail fees can be paid online at https://www.goimonggo.com/shop/RNSC2015 or you can leave cash in the fee vault, which is a yellow metal box outside the lodge near the information boards. For the 2023/2024 season, the trail fee for adults over 19 years of age is $19, it’s $5 for youth ages six to 18, children under five are free and a family pass is $32. For backcountry users and snowshoers using the trails, the fee is $8 a vehicle.

If you haven’t tried Nordic skiing before, rentals (both skate and classic, as well as snowshoes) are available at the Nordic Day Lodge from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day and rentals must be returned by 9 p.m.

If you’re a seasoned Nordic skier hoping for something interesting, or if you’re new to the sport and looking for additional adventures, try skiing at night. The ski club offers six kilometres of trails lit up for night skiing from dusk until 9:30 p.m. every night. There are also five trails that are open to Fido, your furry skiing buddy, and apt dog lovers could even train their dogs in skijoring and add some additional fun to their Nordic skiing adventures.