Best Trails for Cross Country Skiing at Priest Lake

There are many reasons to love Priest Lake in the winter, one of which is our abundance of outdoor activities, including cross country skiing. A fairly easy sport to pick up for beginners, cross country skiing is also a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of life and explore Northern Idaho’s pristine landscape. So, hit the trails this winter and discover below our favorite places for cross country skiing at Priest Lake.

About cross country skiing at Priest Lake

The trails within the Priest Lake Selkirk Mountains area provide a great escape and usher you into a beautiful wintery landscape. Explore outdoors with simple and easy routes, plus more advanced routes for the experienced. Visitors will find over a hundred miles of groomed trails in the surrounding areas that are perfect for cross-country skiing and snow shoeing.

Hanna Flats 

Located about seven miles south of Elkins Resort on Priest Lake is cross-country ski area called Hanna Flats. With roughly six miles of trail, Nordic skiing at Hanna Flats is relatively gentle, in a meadow and forested landscape. Great for beginners.

Priest Lake Golf Course 

The Priest Lake Golf Course offers the most extensive groomed cross-country trail system near Priest Lake. During the winter, the course is blanketed with generous amounts of snow, and coupled with gentle rolling grounds, it’s one of the best places for cross country skiing at Priest Lake. 

There are a total of 31 miles of groomed trails from beginner to intermediate with lakeside routes and connections to the Hanna Flat in the north. Also, during the winter, the golf course is transformed into the Priest Lake Nordic Center where they offer rental equipment. 

Chipmunk Rapids

Chipmunk Rapids is a two-loop system of interconnecting roads near the Priest Lake

Visitors Information Center at Dickensheet Junction. The groomed trails are named the Kaniksu Marsh Loop and the River View Loop. Enjoy spectacular views of Kaniksu Marsh, Priest River, and the Selkirk Mountains for a picturesque day outdoors.

Priest Lake State Park

Resting along the eastern shores of Priest Lake, the Priest Lake State Park is one of the best places for cross country skiing in Northern Idaho. The Indian Creek Unit of the park is a Park N’ Ski area with about five miles of groomed trails for cross-country skiing on the east shore of Priest Lake. 

Stay at Elkins Resort

Make the most out of a cross country skiing vacation by staying at Elkins Resort. Our comfortable lodging options are open year-round and are an excellent place for staying warm this winter. Each cabin features convenient amenities, including fully equipped kitchens, bed linens, and most importantly, electric heat and warming fireplaces to keep you warm! 

Find your winter escape with these cross-country skiing trails and book your stay at Elkins Resort today!