Bitterroot
Blackfoot
Flathead
Glacier National Park
I-90
Missoula
Northwest
Seeley-Swan
BITTERROOT CORRIDOR
Lolo Pass
Glide through the Lolo National Forest and open meadows along the Montana-Idaho border, where you’ll find some of the most reliable snow in the region groomed for classic and skate skiing, as well as a warming hut and the Lolo Pass Visitor Center. Along the trail you’ll pass the historic Glade Creek area where Lewis and Clark camped.
Length: 13 km
Skalkaho Pass
East of Hamilton in the Bitterroot Valley find groomed skiing on the Skalkaho Highway through the Sapphire Mountains and over the pass to just 1 mile short of the sapphire mine in Philipsburg.
Length: 19 km
Skalkaho/Rye Road
This seasonal road winding through the Sapphire Mountains is closed to traffic in winter and groomed once a week from Skalkaho Pass road to within 6 miles of U.S. Highway 93 south of Darby.
Length: 45 km
Chief Joseph Pass
At the southern tip of the Bitterroot Valley on the Continental Divide, eight loop trails provide a variety of lengths, and skill level ranges from beginner to expert.
Length: 49 km; 33 km groomed for skate and 16 km for classic.
FLATHEAD CORRIDOR
Blacktail Mountain Nordic Trails
Take in phenomenal views of Flathead Lake from this system of trails 8 miles above the town of Lakeside. The North Shore Nordic Club grooms the varying terrain for skate and classic skiing daily.
Length: 25 km
GLACIER NATIONAL PARK + SURROUNDING AREA
Skiing in the park requires the purchase of a park entrance pass.
Upper Lake McDonald
From West Glacier, follow Going-to-the-Sun Road for 12.9 km along Lake McDonald, to Lake McDonald Lodge.
Length: McDonald Falls: 2.9 km; Sacred Dancing Cascade: 8.5 km round trip; Avalanche Picnic Area: 18.6 km round trip
Polebridge
These trails begin at the Polebridge Ranger Station. Access to the area is via county road 486, running north from Columbia Falls. This road is infrequently plowed and skiers should check on local road conditions. Park on the east side of the North Fork Bridge at Polebridge Ranger Station.
Length: Big Prairie: 6.4 km round trip; Bowman Lake: 19.3 km round trip; Covey Meadow: 4.8 km loop trail; Lone Pine Prairie: 9.6 km round trip
Marias Pass: Autumn Creek Trail
This is the most popular ski route in this area. The trail begins at the summit of Marias Pass and crosses into the park.
Length: 9.6 km
Two Medicine Valley
Start skiing at the end of the plowed road (6.4 km north of East Glacier) near the junction of U.S. Highway 49 and Two Medicine Road. Destinations include: the park boundary: 9.6 km round trip; Running Eagle Falls: 16 km round trip; and Two Medicine Lake, a strenuous and hilly 25.7 km round trip.
Length: varies
St. Mary
East of scenic St. Mary Lake, the main trailhead for these trails is the parking area near the 1913 Ranger Station.
Length: Beaver Pond Loop: 4.8 km and Red Eagle Lake Trail: 12.8 km round trip
Apgar-West Glacier
This trail system runs north from West Glacier, west of Lake McDonald, and the trails can be accessed from two separate parking areas.
Length: Lower McDonald Creek: 3 – 5 km round trip; Rocky Point: 9.6 km round trip; Apgar Lookout: 16.9 km round trip; Site of Old Flathead Ranger Station: 16 km round trip; McGee Meadow Loop: 18.5 km round trip
Surrounding Area:
Meadow Lake Nordic Trails
This Meadow Lake Golf Course trail system at Meadow Lake Resort in Columbia Falls offers gently rolling terrain for all skill levels.
Length: 6 km
Many cross-country skiers wisely plan their trips to include both of our national parks: Glacier and Yellowstone. To help make the most of your time, we’ve put together several Nordic skiing-based itineraries. For inspiration, visit Glaciers to Geysers
I-90 CORRIDOR
Lookout Pass Ski Trails
Some of the highest snowfall amounts in the state are recorded at Lookout Pass downhill ski area just off Interstate Highway 90 on the Montana-Idaho border. The Lookout Pass Cross Country Ski Trails surrounding the mountain offer multiple options for a day on the skis. Take an 8 km loop around Lookout Pass starting from the parking lot. Multiple trails fan out from the lot, covering ground around Taft and the Hale Fish Hatchery. There are also some backcountry routes in the area, for expert Nordic explorers.
Length: 8+ km
MISSOULA
Pattee Canyon Recreation Area
The Missoula Nordic Ski Club provides groomed classic and skate trails in this pretty, wooden canyon area close to town. The south side trails offer hills and the north side is much flatter.
Length: 10 km
Rattlesnake National Recreation Area
This Missoula ski trail groomed for classic skiing offers a slight but easy upgrade to Pilcher Creek.
Length: 8 km
NORTHWEST CORRIDOR
South Flower Creek Cross Country Ski Trail
Nine trails and several loops close to the town of Libby range from easy to difficult. Bonus: Friday night skiing features lanterns and a warm bonfire. Trails are groomed twice a week.
Length: 14 km
Bear Creek Cross Country Ski Trails
These four trails on mixed terrain south of Libby are groomed every seven to 10 days and terrain ranges from easy to difficult.
Length: 5.5 km
SEELEY-SWAN CORRIDOR
Seeley Lake Nordic Trails
This system offers classic and skate ski trails and loops for all skill levels. The area gets reliable snow and more of it than surrounding valleys. The trails are groomed regularly and there’s a warming hut near the parking lot.
Length: 18 km
Bigfork Trail System
Just northeast of Bigfork at the corner of Foothills Road and Jewel Basin Road these flat and gently rolling trails are maintained by the Bigfork Community Nordic Center and groomed 5 days per week—Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Length: 10 km
TOUR 200
Ross Creek Cedars Ski Trail
Ski among giants on this intermittently groomed single track that gains 400 feet in elevation to the Ross Creek Cedars Scenic Area, where you’ll find 1,000-year-old western red cedars up to 12-feet in diameter. Ski to the observation point for Cabinet Mountain views.
Length: 5.3 km
WHITEFISH
Big Mountain Trails
For advanced skiers, these cedar forest trails are groomed daily and offer exceptional views of Whitefish Lake, Flathead Valley and the surrounding mountains.
Length: 25 km
Glacier Nordic Center
Located on the gently rolling terrain at the Whitefish Lake Golf Course, the skate and classic skiing trails are groomed daily by the Glacier Nordic Club and offer great views of the surrounding mountains and lakes. Plus, 4 kilometers of trails are lit for night skiing until 10 p.m. Skiers must purchase a day or season pass.
Length: 12 km
Round Meadow Winter Trails
North of Whitefish, Round Meadow has seven interconnecting nicely wooded loop trails on easy to difficult terrain that’s groomed weekly. Round Meadow offers a quiet escape in the Flathead National Forest.
Length: 20 km
