Priest Lake Idaho Chamber of Commerce Visitors Guide

NORDIC SPORTS CENTER

The $25 (plus tax) annual Park N' Ski Pass
allows you to park and ski.
A 3-day pass is also available for $7.50 (plus tax).

Nordic sports have recently emerged as one of the fastest growing winter recreation activities at Priest Lake. Enthusiasts from throughout the region are discovering that Priest Lake offers a unique blend of excellent Nordic sports facilities provided at little or no cost, the beauty of Priest Lake and the Selkirk Mountains, an extremely wide range of terrain challenges, and the opportunity for spectacular backcountry Nordic adventures --all of which may be enjoyed without competing with the crowds and experiencing the high costs so commonly associated with many of the region's other Nordic areas. Nordic trail systems in the Priest Lake area include nearly 80-Kilometers of groomed cross-country trails, skate lanes at the Nordic Ski Center, and designated snowshoe areas. Couple these groomed trails with 523,000 acres of public forest available for backcountry Nordic adventures and the myriad of Nordic options at Priest Lake become readily apparent. Groomed Nordic trail systems are located on both the west and east sides of Priest Lake as well as at the south end of the lake. Most of the Priest Lake trails are classified at the beginner or intermediate levels, although many trail segments will challenge even an advanced skier.

During the winter season, the Priest Lake golf course, located just off State Highway 57 at Mile Post 28, is transformed into the Nordic Sports Center at Priest Lake. The club house magically becomes a rustic lodge befitting the hub for Nordic activities on the west side of the lake. It's a great place to start a day of x-country skiing, skating or snowshoeing. The Center trail system includes 15 kilometers of expertly groomed tracks and skate lanes with a practice tele-hill thrown in for good measure. The friendly Nordic Ski Center staff prides itself in the individual attention and extensive services they provide to make your experience at the center most enjoyable. The focus of the staff is family oriented, affordable, and fun Nordic recreation. The gentle terrain of the Nordic Ski Center trails make it ideal "teaching terrain" for inexperienced skiers and for those who desire to learn skating techniques.

From the Nordic Ski Center, the skier has access to both the Hill's Resort Trail System and the Hanna Flats Trail System. The combined Nordic Ski Center/Hill's Resort trail systems consist of eight trails totaling approximately 16 kilometers. A 10 kilometer connecting trail leads to the Hanna Flats system that consists of seven trails totaling more than 16 kilometers. Other access points into these systems are from Hill's Resort and the Hanna Flats trailhead parking area just west of State Highway 57, beyond Mile Post 32 (Immediately north of and across the highway from the USFS Priest Lake Ranger District headquarters).

The Nordic Ski Center cross-country trails will include exceptionally wide and well groomed skate lanes. For those who prefer to bounce over hill and dale in the newest high tech or grandfather's old traditional snowshoes, the Nordic Ski Center & Hill's Resort offer designated snowshoe trails / areas. Portions of the Hill's Resort snowshoe trail affords outstanding views of the lake and traverses beautiful forested areas as well.

The Rocky Point Trail System consisting of the Bayview Loop and the Forest Loop is a pair of 1.7k trails offering beginner/intermediate skiing, encompassing the Cavanaugh Bay area. The Waterfront Restaurant at Blue Diamond Marina is open on weekends, or by special request, as a warming hut and rendezvous point. Park at Blue Diamond Marina and begin your adventure from there.

The newest x-country trail system is located in the Coolin-Outlet Mountain complex at the south end of the lake. Due to lack of funding, this trail system is not being groomed for the 2005-2006 season, though will be cleared of downed trees, etc. Depending on your route selection, it can be the most challenging trail system at Priest Lake. The trails afford grand vistas of the southern portion of Priest Lake and the surrounding Selkirk Mountains. Approximately 17 kilometers of trails are available with areas also designated for backcountry skiing, snowshoeing, etc. The trailhead for this system begins in Coolin at The Inn at Priest Lake.

Another great area for skiing is the trail system located at the Indian Creek Unit of Priest Lake State Park. Indian Creek is located 11 miles north of Coolin on the east side of the lake. The Old Flume and Lone Star trails, totaling approximately 10 kilometers, comprise the Indian Creek system.

The Nordic Sports Center has taken a new direction this year. Following a meeting with the Non-motorized Idaho Parks and Recreation Program Manager, the Priest Lake Region elected to enter the Idaho State Park N’ Ski program. The Priest Lake locations include the trails within the State Park at Indian Creek, the Coolin Mountain trails, and the Blue Diamond-Rocky Point trail system, all on the east side of Priest Lake. On the west side, included are the U.S. Forest Service trails at Hanna Flats, and Chipmunk Rapids. The Priest Lake Golf Course, the trail from the golf course to Hill’s Resort, and the Lake Shore trail system are part of the Park N’ Ski Program.

The Program requires purchase of a parking permit for vehicles using the Park N’ Ski parking lots adjacent to the trail systems. A season permit is $25, and a three-day permit is $7.50. The permits allow for all the passengers in permitted vehicles. The permit is good for all Park N’ Ski areas throughout the State of Idaho. Information and maps of the Priest Lake regional ski and snow shoe areas can be found on the Idaho website: http://www.idahoparks.org/recreation/nordic/parknskipass.aspx.

. Ski condition updates are available through a 24-hour recorded message at (208) 443-2525 or at our Chamber of Commerce web page Winter Trails Update. You may also call the USFS Priest Lake Ranger District (208) 443-2512, Priest Lake State Park (208) 442-2200, or The Inn at Priest Lake (208) 443-2447 for trail conditions in their respective areas. Cross-country, snowshoe, and backcountry guided tours are available through Four Seasons Sports.

If you like to ski or snowshoe in the serene peacefulness of Mother Nature---and if the sound of the rhythmic gliding of skis over freshly groomed snow --- or the sharp crunch of snowshoes trekking over virgin snow --- is music to your ears, a Nordic experience at Priest Lake is probably your 'cup of tea'. It's a great get-away from the city crowds and traffic --- and a superb opportunity to enjoy a serene experience in nature's beauty while breathing crisp, crystal clear mountain air--