How to Have the Best Skiing Day at Nipika Mountain Resort?

Nipika Mountain Resort offers easier sections on the south side trails and if you want more exciting tracks with blue or black runs the north side is where you’ll want to go! There is a beautiful black run that is exciting to descend, with gorgeous scenery by the river. Classic and skate skiers will be in nature heaven whichever way you choose to cross-country ski. The day-use cost is reasonable, and they have rentals available if you don’t have gear or the right gear, depending on conditions. It’s a beautiful area to explore, fifty kilometres of skiing! Warm-up huts are provided throughout the skiing area to take a break, refuel and get cozy for a few minutes before heading out on the groomed trails. Have an amazing ski!

Quick Look

• Cost for Ski Day Pass
• Rent Skin Skis
• North & South Trails
• Warm Up in the Huts
• Bring Your Lunch
• What to Wear When Skiing at Nipika Mountain Resort

Cost for Ski Day Pass & Parking

The cross-country skiing fees for the day cost $20 per adult. It’s a good deal for all the access provided on the north and south trails. There is ample parking in front of the check-in building, as seen in the picture above.

Rent Skin Skis

When the weather is hovering around zero and not favourable for wax skis, you can rent skin skis, boots, and poles for $30/day per adult. That’s what Kris did, which provided him a much more pleasant excursion than battling with the sticky snow under his skis. The skin is placed under the ski, where you’ll apply pressure with your boot to get grip when going uphill, and the glide wax at the tip allows easier gliding in warmer conditions. The picture above shows what FJELLTECH M44 Skin Skis look like.

North & South Trails

The north trails offer a mix of trail difficulty, with green (easier), blue (moderate), and black (more difficult) runs, whereas the south trails focus more on the easier green runs. They have classic and skate skiing on both sides.

If you take the black trail along the river on the north side, you’ll end up cross-country skiing in some beautiful scenery. The turquoise river is pretty to look at, too.

Tip: There’s a steep downhill track to the river, then a steep climb back up to the main trail. If you’re like me, you’ll chase the blacks and enjoy a nice downhill plowing. It can be icy during freeze-thaw weather cycles, so be careful when heading down.

North Trails

The classic tracks are wonderful for cross-country skiing. At some places, we found icy tracks, but Kris and I enjoyed the sections that were in perfect condition, and we made the best of our ski. Maps and signs are located throughout the trail to help you locate your whereabouts.

Warm Up in the Huts

Four warming huts (two on the north and two on the south trails) are situated along the trails, each with a wood-burning stove, chopped wood, and firestarter. They provide refuge from wind, snow, and bad weather. It’s a place to sit down and eat your lunch while warming up from the cold outside.

Mountains are within view throughout the trail, making you feel like you’re in nature.

Each intersection shows a number corresponding to your location on the map, making it easy to find where you are.

Bring Your Lunch

There are many picnic tables outside, near the warming huts, where you can eat your lunch if it’s warm enough or if you want to eat outside. If you forget it in your vehicle, you can also eat near the parking lot.

Behind me, you’ll see cabins where you can book to spend the night.

What to Wear When Skiing at Nipika Mountain Resort

It all depends on the weather. You’ll want more layers the colder it is. These are the layers I wore when the weather was around +3°C.

Top Half

This is what I wore to keep myself warm:

• Midweight Ossipee Women’s Crew 100% Merino Wool
• DANISH ENDURANCE Merino Wool Thermal Top
• Columbia Fleece Jacket
• Shell Cross-Country Skiing Jacket
• Chaos Multi Tubular Headwear

Bottom Half

I wore two pant layers as indicated below:

• MEC Cold Rush Thermal Tights – Women’s
• MEC Trax Nordic Softshell Pants – Women’s
• Outway Everyday Merino Wool Crew Socks
• Cross-country skiing boots

Final Thoughts

Nipika Mountain Resort was a magical place to find! Located in the middle of the mountains, with a variety of trail difficulty and fifty kilometres of classic and skate skiing, it’s the perfect destination to ski. The cabins provide easy access for multiple days of skiing, allowing you to enjoy the relaxing atmosphere in nature. The warm-up huts are wonderful for getting toasty for a few minutes while you eat and chill. It’s awesome to have rentals easily accessible for changing conditions. Enjoy an amazing location for skiing!

Additional Links

• 10 Reasons to Love Cross-Country Skiing
• Happy and Warm X-Country Ski
• What are the Benefits of Skiing?
• XC Skiing Near Me
• Mistakes Made While Cross-Country Skiing Pyramid Lake Road

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