24 BEST NORDIC SKI GREAT ESCAPES 2022/2023
As one of North America’s most celebrated ski towns, Aspen, Colorado offers an unforgettable experience at the confluence of nature, culture and recreation. That renown has been reinforced by a vast, enormously popular, and free crosscountry ski trail network. The Aspen-Snowmass Nordic Trail System offers over 90km of groomed routes, connecting the communities of Aspen, Snowmass Village, Basalt and tiny Woody Creek. In 1984, Aspen native Craig Ward, U.S. XC Olympian and captain of the 1980 team at the Lake Placid Games, returned from racing in Europe with the vision of replicating what he’d found in Davos, Switzerland — a community-based Nordic network that would also be enjoyed by winter visitors. Ward’s vision has proven wildly successful and is often called “Aspen’s Fifth Mountain” as a tourism magnet and service to the Roaring Fork Valley’s residents. Among the things you’ll find are a long season, Rockies powder, varied terrain, great grooming on mostly double-track trails, plus lots of skating and smiling faces.
Pitkin County Open Space and Trails funds Nordic skiing, which is operated by the City of Aspen and overseen by a volunteer board of Nordic enthusiasts, the non-profit Aspen Snowmass Nordic Council. The annual budget is around $350,000. There’s a marvellous mix of partners in the project, ranging from the Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club to public and private golf courses, and 20 or more generous private landowners. This is the largest free municipal trail system in North America. The region originally had a series of small unconnected trail networks. Today, the combination of trail linkages and public transportation (also free) makes travel from point to point easy. There are also public parking areas accessing trails. Aspen Cross Country Center at the Aspen Golf Club offers marvellous beginner terrain together with rentals and instruction. It’s also home to the popular Red Mountain Grill with lunch, dinner and a full bar. Hickory House and Poppycock’s Café are popular breakfast spots in Aspen. If you’re craving baked goods, grab a pastry at the Louis Swiss Bakery. The Aspen high school has its own groomed trail network. Local XC/biathlon Olympic skiers have included Simi Hamilton, Noah Hoffman, Hailey Swirbul, Craig Ward, John Callahan and Terry Morse. Snowshoers are welcome everywhere, dogs and walkers on a couple of routes (ask about leash zones), while fat
PHOTOS: JIM PAUSSA
ASPEN-SNOWMASS NORDIC TRAIL SYSTEM
