Whitefish Nordic Ski Options
Nordic skiers have even more options in the Whitefish area 
now, thanks to the opening of the Stillwater Mountain Lodge and their Nordic ski trails nestled in the foothills of the Whitefish Range just north of town. Stillwater Nordic, just 8 miles northwest of Whitefish, offers options for all ability levels, with nearly 20 kilometers of groomed trails that wind through old growth forests, roll over ridge tops, and meander along lakeshores.
“Family skiing is what we are all about,” said Tom Healy, co-owner at Stillwater. “We offer free rentals and skiing for children 12 and under and our increased dog-friendly terrain is quite popular. Little sleds are available to rent so you can pull younger kids along and we’ve also just added 10 kilometers of cruising terrain for a good balance of fun technical skiing and wide open cruising. With all this incredible snow, the season has been great.”
Trails are groomed for skate-skiing, with a track set on the side for classic or "diagonal stride." The three and a half miles of "dog-friendly" trails allow owners and their four-legged friends an opportunity to enjoy some exercise together -- or some even try ski-joring where the dog pulls the owner. Dog owners are great about keeping their dogs under control and trails clean.
“We love to ski with our dogs and know that other folks do too,” said Healy. “We groom every day and wanted there to be an emphasis on a portion of dog-friendly terrain. I would say that probably half of our guests show up with dogs.”
Snowshoeing and off-trail skiing are permitted activities, with plenty of “off the beaten path” opportunities and stunning vistas.
Trail grooming is accomplished daily with state-of-the-art equipment. A Yellowstone Track System groomer is pulled with a four-stroke Yamaha VK Professional snowmobile, reducing noise and emissions in the pristine area.
“Nordic skiing is a growing sport and I think that we have a nice combination of a family atmosphere, but with a great variety of mixed terrain for the advanced skier. It is really conducive for anyone being able to come out and have a good time. Our warming hut has lots of kids playing all the time -- so mom and dad can take turns or tag team with other families and the kids.”
Healy and his wife Meagen opened the lodge two winters ago with friends Reid and Kirsten Sabin. Reid is a former world champion telemark ski racer, so free heel skiing runs in his blood.
“Reid and I were visiting about the fact that there was not a Nordic venue like this in the Whitefish area. We started keeping our eyes open for a piece of property adjacent to State Land and found this 16 acre parcel where we could develop some good trails on. It’s been great working with the state. They have been great partners.”
Season and day passes are available. For more information, visit www.stillwatermtnlodge.com , call (888) 205-7786, or e-mail info@stillwaterlodge.com .
Other Whitefish-area Nordic Options:
• Round Meadows (406.758.5204) - located off Star Meadows Rd. 13 miles north of Whitefish
• Glacier National Park - stop at Apgar Visitor Center for trail maps (open weekends 9am-4pm) or Park Headquarters (open M-F 8am-4:30pm)
• Glacier Nordic Center (406.862.9498) - 1200 Hwy 93 N., located at the Whitefish Lake Golf Course
• Whitefish Mountain Resort Nordic Center (888.859.3526) – Big Mountain Road, located at Whitefish Mountain Resort
“Family skiing is what we are all about,” said Tom Healy, co-owner at Stillwater. “We offer free rentals and skiing for children 12 and under and our increased dog-friendly terrain is quite popular. Little sleds are available to rent so you can pull younger kids along and we’ve also just added 10 kilometers of cruising terrain for a good balance of fun technical skiing and wide open cruising. With all this incredible snow, the season has been great.”
Trails are groomed for skate-skiing, with a track set on the side for classic or "diagonal stride." The three and a half miles of "dog-friendly" trails allow owners and their four-legged friends an opportunity to enjoy some exercise together -- or some even try ski-joring where the dog pulls the owner. Dog owners are great about keeping their dogs under control and trails clean.
“We love to ski with our dogs and know that other folks do too,” said Healy. “We groom every day and wanted there to be an emphasis on a portion of dog-friendly terrain. I would say that probably half of our guests show up with dogs.”
Snowshoeing and off-trail skiing are permitted activities, with plenty of “off the beaten path” opportunities and stunning vistas.
Trail grooming is accomplished daily with state-of-the-art equipment. A Yellowstone Track System groomer is pulled with a four-stroke Yamaha VK Professional snowmobile, reducing noise and emissions in the pristine area.
“Nordic skiing is a growing sport and I think that we have a nice combination of a family atmosphere, but with a great variety of mixed terrain for the advanced skier. It is really conducive for anyone being able to come out and have a good time. Our warming hut has lots of kids playing all the time -- so mom and dad can take turns or tag team with other families and the kids.”
Healy and his wife Meagen opened the lodge two winters ago with friends Reid and Kirsten Sabin. Reid is a former world champion telemark ski racer, so free heel skiing runs in his blood.
“Reid and I were visiting about the fact that there was not a Nordic venue like this in the Whitefish area. We started keeping our eyes open for a piece of property adjacent to State Land and found this 16 acre parcel where we could develop some good trails on. It’s been great working with the state. They have been great partners.”
Season and day passes are available. For more information, visit www.stillwatermtnlodge.com , call (888) 205-7786, or e-mail info@stillwaterlodge.com .
Other Whitefish-area Nordic Options:
• Round Meadows (406.758.5204) - located off Star Meadows Rd. 13 miles north of Whitefish
• Glacier National Park - stop at Apgar Visitor Center for trail maps (open weekends 9am-4pm) or Park Headquarters (open M-F 8am-4:30pm)
• Glacier Nordic Center (406.862.9498) - 1200 Hwy 93 N., located at the Whitefish Lake Golf Course
• Whitefish Mountain Resort Nordic Center (888.859.3526) – Big Mountain Road, located at Whitefish Mountain Resort
