Big Sky Montana Cross Country Skiing

Big Sky, Montana is a scenic winter wonderland. A great way to experience this big sky country is to set off on a pair of cross-country skis and glide over the landscape to soak in the awesome beauty of this mountain paradise.

Cross-country skiing is an ideal winter sport. It offers a sense of freedom in the great outdoors, with very little fuss to get you going. The sport originated some 4,000 to 4,500 years ago in Scandinavia as a means of transportation for snow and ice-bound northerners. Cross county skiing is still appreciated today and provides an excellent full body workout along with a unique experience in the winter terrain.

The most popular style of cross-country skiing is referred to as classic. The classic technique, which is also the most popular and easily learned, is simply a walking motion with enough oomph to be gliding, while your skis are parallel. This form of cross country skiing can be done on powder, un-groomed snow and groomed trails.

Big Sky, Montana's Lone Mountain Ranch offers 90 kilometers of international-caliber Nordic skiing for all levels, with groomed and skating lanes. Beginners enjoy gentle open meadows, while other trails offer a greater challenge through its forested canyons. Cross-country ski equipment along with winter and outdoor accessories can be found and purchased at the Lone Mountain Ranch Ski Shop.

Technically, you can cross-country ski anywhere. But the true thrill of the sport is not simply the means by which you travel, but rather the locale, the scenery and for some it's the challenge. The Gallatin National Forest is easily accessible from Big Sky, Montana offering numerous trails, and neighbor Yellowstone National Park is a great area to cross country ski. Guided cross-country ski tours are available and are ideal for those seeking spectacular raw scenery complimented with the wintering herds of elk and bison.