City: Soda Springs, CA

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (530) 426-3661 (Rainbow Lodge)

Description: Ranked the No. 1 cross-country ski resort in North America by Snow Country magazine, Royal Gorge has absolutely everything you could want for a perfect Nordic ski vacation. With 330 kilometers of groomed track and more than 9,000 acres of skiing terrain, it’s also the largest cross-country ski resort in North America. The 90 trails range in elevation from 5,800 feet to 7,538 feet and are ranked 28 for beginners, 44 for intermediates, and 16 for experts. The resort also has four surface lifts for telemark skiing. Because of its immense size and diversity, Royal Gorge is a world unto itself. You could ski here for a week and still not explore it all. Beginners especially enjoy the Van Norden Track System, a large open meadow ringed by magnificent jagged peaks. Intermediates have a mind-boggling array of trails to choose from, including the Palisade Peak and Devil’s Peak systems for awesome views of the surrounding country. Experts have more than their share of challenging terrain, including the 22.6-kilometer track to the edge of the Royal Gorge of the American River. The resort has warming huts, trailside cafes, and several overnight lodges, such as Ice Lakes Lodge, which is tucked deep in the trees on the edge of a pine-rimmed lake For a traditionally elegant stay, you can choose Rainbow Lodge, which is also owned by Royal Gorge. At this old stagecoach stop along the Mormon-Emigrant Trail, Western history seems to ooze from its heavy rock walls. Insiders have long known that a continental dinner at the lodge’s Engadine Cafe, served with just the right wine, is the ideal ending to a day of skiing at Royal Gorge. With trail pass fees of $29 on weekends and holidays and $25 during the week, Royal Gorge is more expensive than other cross-country ski resorts, but you get what you pay for here since Royal Gorge offers the ultimate cross-country ski experience. With a recent change in ownership, the resort has reduced operating days to Thursday through Sunday except over holidays when it is open daily. To reach Royal Gorge from Reno/Sparks, head west on I–80 about 45 miles to the Norden/Soda Springs exit and follow the signs to Summit Station. From Tahoe City take CA 89 north to Truckee, and then I–80 west about 10 miles to the Soda Springs/Norden exit.