Cross country skiing at New Hampshire’s Bretton Woods Nordic Center

Bretton Woods Nordic Center, located in the beautiful White Mountains National Forest, is one of the largest Nordic centers in the East. The center is located on the grounds of the gorgeous Omni Mt. Washington Hotel. Other winter resort activities you can enjoy here include tubing, alpine skiing, and snowshoeing. While we did not stay at this beautiful resort – we did enjoy cross country skiing while on our vacation at Bear Mountain Lodge in Bethlehem NH (highly recommended).

The resort is a quick 20 min drive from the property, so a perfect winter daytrip. We had not been getting a lot of snow in the Providence area, so we really wanted to ski while we had the opportunity. This was only our second time cross country skiing, the first time being in Idaho, so we were a bit nervous. We had a lot of fun even though it was a massive workout and we were sore for days afterwards.

Cross country skiing is an amazing workout

We didn’t really know what to expect as this was only our second time skiing. When we arrived, we found out that there are 62 miles of trails ranging in difficulty from easy to moderate. The trails are all groomed which is much easier for beginning skiers. Also, there are also 20km of back country trails available for experienced skiers. We were happy that there were rentals available on-site. Last time we skied, we had to go through the hassle of renting elsewhere and driving to a state park, so our experience here was much smoother.

Skiing is definitely a full body workout and a great way to get out and enjoy nature. You will burn a ton of calories and enjoy views so much nicer than staring at a machine in your gym. I recommend bringing some snacks and water with you! We brought one of those hydration water backpacks, but unfortunately, it froze along the way. I recommend coming prepared with some type of insulated water bottles.

We were out on the trails for over 3 hours so the snacks came in handy. We were still starving afterwards though as you really work up a sweat and appetite. I jog and bike frequently, and this was even more of an intense workout. Even though I try to avoid chains, we drove right over to The Olive Garden and enjoyed the endless soup and breadsticks. It was a real treat indulging in lots of carbs and hearty soup after being out in the cold for hours.

First, we chose an easier trail (still an intense workout but no major hills). The views were amazing and this was the perfect day as the snow was falling down while we were skiing. I felt like we were skiing in a snowglobe. We tried out an intermediate trail as well which was pretty difficult. There were at least 4 moderate hills which are as difficult to climb up as they are to go down! The small hills will let you practice a bit on your downhill skiing skills. I’ve always wanted to go downhill skiing, but I am scared that I will go tumbling down the hills. Practicing on these small hills make me feel a bit more comfortable with the thought of skiing on a bunny hill. If you are not a fan of hills I would recommend sticking solely with the easy trails!

Overall, we had a blast skiing for several hours. Yes, we were completely exhausted afterwards and sore for a few days afterward. I would definitely visit again and possibly challenge myself to a few more intermediate trails. I totally recommend planning a weekend roadtrip; this resort is so convenient to so many cities in New England. Next time, I would love to stay in the Omni and take advantage of the convenient ski access.

Pricing Details

Trail passes are $24 per adult ($15 seniors and kids) and rentals were $25 per adult ($19 senior/kids). For under 100 bucks, we got to enjoy the beauty of the White Mountains all afternoon. Really, it’s not a bad price to pay since it includes all the ski rental equipment. There is a small cafe inside the center and a fireplace for warming up. Various discounts for military, locals, and resort guests – check the website for further details.

*Please check the Omni website for this year’s prices and special deals.

Additional Info

Location: Mount Washington Road Route 302 Bretton Woods, New Hampshire 03575
Season: mid-November to early-April
Hours: 8:00am-4:00pm

More winter fun in New Hampshire

New Hampshire is one of my favorite winter getaways from the Providence metro. It’s a quick weekend drive and there are many beautiful inns and B&B’s to choose amongst. Plus, there are so many ways to enjoy the beautiful White Mountains scenery, from skiing, to sleigh rides, to ice skating. One of my favorite places is Nestlenook Farms. At this gem, you can enjoy a horse drawn sleigh ride and skate on a timeless Victorian rink featuring amazing views of the beautiful snow capped mountains. I really loved the scenery here, the old time vibe, and the incredible ice rink which was like a scene out of a Hallmark movie.