Backyard Olympics: Cross country resorts

Not only are cross country resorts generally less expensive than downhill resorts, the low-key atmosphere is attractive for anyone interested in a peaceful day out on the snow.

• Tahoe Cross Country Ski Area - 40 miles of trails with numerous views of Lake Tahoe.

www.tahoexc.org

925 Country Club Drive, Tahoe City, CA 96145

(530) 583-5475

Specials

Master Passes: Skiers 60-69 years old ski all day for $17; half-day tickets are $13.

Midweek Lunch Special: Folks with a flexible midweek schedule can take advantage of the midweek lunch special Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Get a full day trail pass plus a sandwich for $25 (all ages). Seniors (60-69) pay $20.

$12 Tuesday: Trail passes are just $12 every Tuesday.

Learn Free: Beginners can learn free. Classic/striding lessons taught at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Thursdays and skate lessons are 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Wednesdays and 9:15 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays (trail pass and rentals not included).

Ski Free: Skiers 70 years and older ski free every day all season.

• Tahoe Donner Cross Country - more than 62 miles over 4,800 acres featuring trails for all ability levels.

www.tdxc.com

15275 Alder Creek Road, Truckee, CA 96161

530-587-9484

Specials

Master Passes: Skiers 60-69 years old ski all day for $18; from 1 to 5 p.m. for $15; and from 3 to 5 p.m. or night skiing 5 to 7 p.m. for $12.

Ski Free: Skiers 70 years and older ski free every day all season. Manager Jo Jo Toeppner says she gives away about 100 comp passes per month to Super Boomers.

• Northstar-at-Tahoe - 1,400 acres of groomed cross country and snowshoe trails adjacent to downhill ski resort.

www.northstarattahoe.com

530-562-3270

Northstar Resort at the top of the Gondola next to Vista Express Lift

Northstar Drive, Truckee, CA 96161

Specials

Moonlight Tours: Offered Feb. 25-26 and March 26-27 starting at 5 p.m. Experience Northstar on a 2.5-hour, four-mile trek culminating with acoustic music and bonfire. Cost is $35 not including rental.

Master Passes: Skiers over 65 years old ski for $13.

• Squaw Creek Cross Country Ski Center - beginner course provides 18 kilometers of trails.

Resort at Squaw Creek, Olympic Valley, Calif.

530-583-6300

• Royal Gorge - North America's largest cross country ski resort with 320 kilometers of trails.

www.royalgorge.com

9411 Hillside Drive, Soda Springs, CA 95728

800-666-3871

Specials

Ski Free: Only skiers older than 75 can ski free at Royal Gorge.

California Gold Rush: 45K, 30K and 15K races to benefit Far West Nordic on March 28.

• Camp Richardson - 22 miles of groomed cross country trails near Lake Tahoe, moonlight skiing available.

www.camprichardson.com

1900 Jameson Beach Road, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96158

530-541-1801

• Hope Valley Cross Country - 60 miles of marked trails

www.hopevalley

outdoors.com

Picket's Junction Highway 88/89, Hope Valley, CA 96129

(530) 694-2266

Specials

Free Skiing: No trail passes any day all day, donations are accepted.

Full Moon Tours: Offered Feb. 27, full moon tours cost $20 per person and begin at 6 p.m.

Snowshoe Thompson Interpretive Tour: Learn about the legend of the Carson Pass 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 6. Tour is $20 including equipment; $10 without.

• Spooner Lake Cross Country - 50 miles of trails spread over 9,000 acres

www.spoonerlake.com

775-749-5349

Specials

Bring a Friend: Adults save big on Tuesdays and Thursdays when they bring a friend for $1. That's $22 for two people.

Half-Day Wednesdays: Ski all day for half the price of a regular all-day adult ticket.

Master Pass: Skiers between 60 and 69 years old ski all day every day for the half-day price.

Ski Free: 70 years and older ski free every day.

• Kirkwood Cross Country - 50 miles of high elevation machine-groomed trails

www.kirkwood.com

209-258-6000

1501 Kirkwood Meadows Drive, Kirkwood CA

Masters Pass: 65-69 ski all day for $17 and half-day for $22. Folks over 70 years old pay $12 for full and half-day tickets.

Compiled by Wendy Lautner