Plan Your Trip Pacific Northwest Outdoors - Washington, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest - page 85

Cross-Country Skiing & Snowshoeing
In the Pacific Northwest, snowy winters make for a diversity of wonderlands to explore
on cross-country skis or snowshoes. And these sports are easy, accessible and appealing
to almost anyone. Renting equipment is affordable but not always available on-site, so
you may need to snag your gear before reaching your destination. Mountain-sport shops
and ranger stations are a great source of local information.
Washington
Washington's premier destination is the Methow Valley, the second-largest cross-country
skiing area in the USA, which boasts around 120 miles of groomed trails. You can also
break trail through alpine meadows and evergreens in Olympic National Park. The Mt
Baker area also offers many spectacular jaunts, with especially good trails around Silver
Fir campground and at Heather Meadows. Meanwhile, Wenatchee National Forest holds
some prime trails with mountain vistas, ice caves, ancient forests and solitude.
Oregon
Oregon's Mt Hood area has fantastic spots including Teacup Lake, Trillium Lake and
White River Canyon, all with great views of the mountain. Around Bend there's Mt
Bachelor, a world-class Nordic center with extensive groomed trails, and Dutchman Flat,
offering panoramas of the surrounding peaks. Further south you can ski around serene
Odell Lake and through pristine snow along the rim of Crater Lake, which is gorgeous in
winter - and devoid of crowds. And in eastern Oregon, near Baker City, is the Anthony
Lakes Mountain Resort.
British Columbia
In BC, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are hugely popular, and there are endless
possibilities all over the region. Vancouver has three ski areas less than 30 minutes from
downtown, with Grouse Mountain especially popular. Ski resorts such as Big White and
Whistler have tremendous trail systems.
Rock Climbing
With its wide variety of geology - think high granite cliffs and colorful volcanic rock -
there's some world-class sport and trad climbing in the Pacific Northwest. Anyone from
beginner to expert should find excellent, fun routes, many with views of surrounding
mountains, forests or even bodies of water.