People who adore cross country skiing should visit Craftsbury Outdoor Center in Northern Vermont. What makes a cross-country ski trip to Craftsbury especially memorable is the balance between high-quality skiing and a relaxed, community-oriented atmosphere. The center’s nonprofit mission focuses on encouraging lifelong participation in outdoor sports while protecting the surrounding environment.
The drive to Craftsbury Outdoor Center is a peaceful journey through the small villages and snowy backroads of northern Vermont. Stop at the not-to-be-missed Craftsbury General Store on your way. It is curated in everything Vermont quintessential, right down to local cheese, baked goods, and maple products. It’s about a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Boston or Western Massachusetts.
My Experience Cross Country Skiing at Craftsbury
My friend Angel invited me for a weekend trip to Craftsbury. I had first visited Craftsbury Outdoor Center in the 1980s when the lodging was simple, dorm-style rooms. Yet, I fell in love with the authentic experience grounded in the traditions of Nordic skiing. When our daughter was two years old, we introduced her to the Craftbury experience. I would carry her in a baby carrier on my back to ski. As I climbed the hills on the trails, she realized how taxing it was for me. She started singing kids’ songs to help me get up the snowy inclines. A little voice in my ear would sing the Alphabet song as I ascended. Honestly, it really helped me scramble up the elevation. Then, as we swopped down, I heard the gleeful “Whee” she shouted out the whole way.
As a family, we were hooked on Craftsbury. Like many other Nordic skiers who returned year after year to experience winter in this corner of Vermont, we came back each year. Our daughter learned to cross country ski on the fields in front of the lodge. After a few years, she became adept at skiing down the steep, wide trails, still yelling “Whee” at the top of her lungs.
However, life became complicated so the weekend with Angel was my first time back to Craftsbury in 25 years. But, I’m hooked again. I can’t wait to bring my all-grown-up daughter and her toddler back to start the Craftsbury family tradition once again.
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Craftsbury Cross Country Skiing Overview
A cross country ski trip to Craftsbury Outdoor Center feels less like visiting a fancy resort and more like stepping into a quiet winter community devoted to Nordic skiing. Located in Vermont’s remote Northeast Kingdom, the center sits on the shores of Big Hosmer Pond and is surrounded by rolling farmland, dense forests, and the picturesque Green Mountains. When snow blankets the region, this landscape becomes one of the most celebrated cross-country ski destinations in the northeastern United States. The atmosphere is unpretentious and welcoming, attracting everyone from beginners learning their first glide to elite racers training for competitions.
There is a family/community-friendly vibe at Craftsbury. I was delighted to interact with several ski groups on the trails and in the dining hall. Ski for Light is an organization that offers cross country ski and snowshoe programs for adults with visual disabilities. Blind skiers and their guides skied side by side on the specially groomed double-tracked trails. We met skiers and volunteers from all over the country on-site for the event.
There was also a BIPOC skiing event on the weekend to provide a space for people of color to enjoy winter activities at Craftsbury. Combined with kids, seniors, and families skiing, it was a welcoming and diverse weekend on the Craftsbury campus and trails.
Rentals and lessons are available for those new to Nordic skiing. The quality of equipment is excellent and well-suited to the Craftsbury trails. They have the most popular brands of classic and skate rental equipment. The lodge also has a cafe to grab some coffee and homemade pastries.
Besides cross country skiing trails, Craftsbury Outdoor Center offers well-designed snowshoe trails. Rent a pair of snowshoes and glide through the quiet woods.
Cross Country Skiing at Craftsbury: What’s It Like?
Craftsbury maintains more than 100 kilometers of groomed cross-country trails, prepared for both classic and skate skiing.
Because of careful grooming and snow management, the conditions are often excellent even when other places in the region struggle with snow. I was there in mid-March, when snow was melting across the Northeast, and it rained for part of the weekend. Even so, the trails were in excellent condition. Top-of-the-line snow grooming machinery smooths out the snow and cuts perfect tracks. On trails with bare spots, snow is piled up and groomed. The result for the weekend I was there was 85 km of open trails. In addition, up-to-date information on which trails have been groomed helps you select a ski route.
We spent hours exploring the interconnected loops around the outdoor center. Some trails follow the edge of Big Hosmer Pond, where on Saturdays you can stop at Charley’s Cabin for hot drinks and snacks. Other trails weave through remote forest corridors where the only sounds are wind in the branches and the soft glide of skis. Longer trails will take you all the way to Craftsbury village or to another 40 km of cross country ski trails at Highland Lodge in Greensboro.
I enjoyed the 2-mile loop around Duck Pond for the woodsy scenery. The blue-rated Moss Hill was like an escalator going downhill, so I did it twice. The black diamond trails here are wide and well-groomed, so they are fun to descend without feeling like you’re going to crash and burn.
For adventurous backcountry skiers, sections of the long-distance Catamount Trail also pass near the center, linking Craftsbury to Vermont’s 300-mile statewide ski route that stretches from Massachusetts to Quebec.
The Lodging at Craftsbury Outdoor Center
There are lodging options for different-sized groups and budgets.
Cedar Lodge offers traditional dormitory-style accommodations in the heart of the campus, with shared bathrooms in each hallway. Additionally, some rooms have private bathrooms. The cozy Cedar common spaces include a lounge area and a kitchenette.
The hillside cabins offer a little bit more privacy. An open floor plan gives off a feeling of rustic simplicity. Cabins can sleep four, two people upstairs, and a trundle and a window seat bed downstairs. Each cabin has a private bath and kitchenette that includes a microwave, small refrigerator, French Press, and dishes and silverware. Pine cabin is a public gathering area with a full kitchen, laundry, games, and a lounge to share with other guests.
Other larger cottages are away from the hustle of the main campus. They offer more room for larger groups or families and have a full kitchen for on-site cooking.
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The Food at Craftsbury Outdoor Center
The price of lodging at Craftsbury includes three nutritious all-you-can-eat meals served buffet style. This is not your traditional camp food. It’s fresh and simple gourmet with locally sourced ingredients. Each meal has a choice of two hot entrees with one always vegetarian. Add in a deluxe salad bar, home baked desserts, and a drinks station with some of the best tea I’ve ever had, for some incredible dining.
Wrap Up of Cross Country Skiing at Craftsbury Outdoor Center
Staying overnight at Craftbury Outdoor Center is the perfect way to absorb the sense of community among kindred cross-country skiing enthusiasts. It’s easy to get hooked, and you may find yourself adopting the tradition of regular visits.
Multiday stays are popular, so book a few months in advance. Mid-week stays are more open and cheaper. Rates vary according to the quality of the lodging. Check the Craftsbury rate page for current rates. Remember, the price includes meals, trail passes, fitness classes, and gym access.
Even if you don’t have a toddler singing you up a snowy hill, I hope you get to experience the magic of cross country skiing at Craftsbury.
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