Royal
Gorge Cross-Country Ski Resort is North America's largest
cross-country ski resort. It is superbly situated in the Sierra,
just a short drive from world famous Lake Tahoe and Reno,
Nevada. The peace and solitude of the mountains will embrace
you and the first-class cross-country skiing facilities will
indulge you.
Royal Gorge Cross-Country Ski Resort
offers skiers and snowshoers an extensive network of cross-country
skiing trails over 9,172 acres of snow-clad wilderness amidst
the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountain Range in northern California.
The highest elevation is 7,400 feet and the lowest elevation
is 5,800 feet, making for a vertical drop of 1,600 feet.
Royal Gorge has the largest cross-country grooming fleet in
the world which enables the entire track system of 330 kilometers
to be groomed continuously, weather permitting. Each of the
90 trails is 20 feet wide with two diagonal stride tracks and
a skating lane down the middle. There are 28 novice trails,
46 intermediate trails and 16 advanced trails. The longest trail
is 22 kilometers.
The annual snowfall exceeds 600 inches. A 15-kilometer portion
of the track system is covered by snowmaking, so even if the
resort should only get small amounts of snow at a time, you
can still have a great skiing experience.
There are four ideally located surface lifts out on the trails
that are open on weekends and holidays to help make your day
more enjoyable. Four trailside cafes and ten rejuvenating warming
huts are spread throughout the track system to keep you refreshed
and ready for more skiing.
Royal Gorge offers two challenging Interconnect
trails within its track system.
The Rainbow Interconnect allows you to
ski all the way to the Rainbow Lodge from Summit Station on
a 22 kilometer trail that will challenge and reward you with
breathtaking descents and vistas. It is a one-way trail with
a warming hut along the way and the Rainbow Skiers Cafe at the
end to offer refreshments. There is a free shuttle bus ride
back to your car at Summit Station.
If you are looking for variety in your day, the Sugar Bowl Interconnect
allows you to ski to the Sugar Bowl Ski Area via your choice
of groomed trails ranging from novice to advanced. Sugar Bowl's
day cafe is connected back to Summit Station by the Van Norden
track system and the two-way Sugar Bowl Interconnect. The round
trip from Summit Station is 17 kilometers. On weekends and holidays,
you can ride the Sugar Bowl tram out to the parking lot and
catch the shuttle bus back to Summit Station at Royal Gorge.
By the way, there is a gorge at Royal Gorge and it is 4,417
feet deep! Definitely off-limits!
Ski
Instruction and Equipment Rentals at Royal Gorge Cross-Country
Ski Resort Whatever your ski level, it always
helps to start your day off on the right ski by taking a lesson
from a ski professional. The Royal Gorge Ski School offers a variety
of group and private lessons for all ages. Programs include telemark
and skating clinics and Ski-Able -- a special program for skiers
with disabilities. Private lessons with video analysis are available.
Royal Gorge has a well-stocked ski and snowshoe equipment rentals
shop at the Summit Station Day Lodge.
Pee
Wee Snow School at Royal
Gorge Cross-Country Ski Resort Children are always welcome at Royal
Gorge. With a little help from specially trained instructors,
your little ones will be passing you on the trails. Special programs
for children ages 5-12 provide a fun introduction to the snow
and basic skiing technique in a safe, kids-only environment. Available
on weekends and some holidays, these programs include equipment
rental, trail pass, instruction, supervision and lunch with the
morning or all-day sessions. Kids ages 12 and under ski free at
Royal Gorge!
Mountain Lodge, Trailside Cafes
and Warming Huts Royal Gorge offers guests easy and
convenient access to a variety of dining options. The Summit Station
Day Lodge includes a cafe, bar and rentals shop. The Wilderness
Lodge Cafe, the Rainbow Skiers Cafe and the Sugar Bowl Cafe are
trailside cafes that serve food and bverages. There are ten warming
huts located on beautiful mountain tops along the outer perimeter
of the track system. Stop in to warm up, sip complimentary hot
tea and coffee and enjoy the vistas through large picture windows.
COOL
FACTS
CROSS-COUNTRY
LIFTS
4
ACRES
9172
TRAILS
90
KM
OF TRAILS
330
KM
GROOMED
330
LONGEST
TRAIL
22
km
SKATING
LANES
YES
SIDE
TRACKS
YES
TRAIL
RATING:
BEGINNER
28
INTERMEDIATE
46
ADV
& EXPERT
16
VERTICAL
DROP
1600
SUMMIT
EL
7400
BASE
EL
5800
AVG
SNOWFALL
600"
MACHINE-MADE
SNOWFALL
YES
Mountain Trail Map, Royal
Gorge Cross-Country Ski Resort
Hours Royal Gorge Cross-Country Ski Resort
is open for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing Saturday, Sunday
and Holidays between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. and Monday through
Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Trail
Passes Trail passes go on sale on Saturday,
Sunday and Holidays at 8:30 a.m. and Monday through Friday at
9:00 a.m. Half-day trail passes go on sale at 1:30 p.m. daily.
Pricing Royal Gorge Cross-Country Ski Resort
provides a wide variety of trail pass programs and options to
fit your vacation plans. There is sure to be a trail pass option
just right for you.
Information 530-426-3871
Equipment
Rental Ski and snowshoe equipment rentals
on-site.
Physical
Address Royal Gorge Cross-Country Ski Resort
9411 Hillside Drive
I-80 to Soda Springs/Norden Exit
Soda Springs, CA 95728
Main Numbers 530-426-3871
Directions
By Plane: Frequent commercial service by most
major and regional carriers to
Reno-Tahoe International Airport.
All-Weather
Highway Access:
From
Reno to South Lake Tahoe
U.S. HWY 395 south to U.S. HWY 50 west
58 miles, 1.25 hours
From
South Lake Tahoe
SR 89 north, I-80 west, Soda Springs/Norden exit, follow the
signs to Summit Station
60 miles, 1.0 hours
From
San Francisco
I-80 east, Soda Springs/Norden exit, follow the signs to Summit
Station
170 miles, 3.0 hours
From
Sacramento
I-80 east, Soda Springs/Norden exit, follow the signs to Summit
Station
80 miles, 1.5 hours to Royal Gorge Cross-County Ski Resort
530-426-3871
From
Reno to South Lake Tahoe
