Northwest Nordic Ski Club Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/groups/952238471486228
GoogleGroups - Northwest Nordic Ski Club
Club list serve for time-sensitive news, updates, and messaging
https://groups.google.com/g/nwnsc
Cross Country Ski Lessons
REI.com conducts cross-country ski lesses from mid-January through February. For more information, go to https://www.rei.com/events/a/snowsports-cross-country-skiing
Nationwide Destinations and Gear
Trail Conditions
Skinnyski.com gives trail conditions, race & lodging information.
Friends of Lapham Peak provides a trail report of this popular, nearby skiing destination.
Destinations
Stokely Creek Lodge, Sault Ste. Marie, ON, is a world-class destination for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing (closed in 2020-2012 due to covid).
Maplelag Resort, MN, has proven popular with NNSC.
Minocqua Winter Park is an evergreen favorite and the closest natural setting to Chicago (about 5 hours drive).
ABR and Wolverine, two of the excellent ski areas near Ironwood, MI, are well known for abundant snow and expert train grooming.
South Kettle Moraine State Forest is probably the nearest significant trail system near Chicago (1.5 hours).
Directories
XCSkiResorts.com is a useful site for planning longer trips in the U.S. It lists all of the major sites including Maplelag, MN; Minocqua Winter Park, WI; and other U.S. locations.
Ski Gear
XC Ski Headquarters in Roscommon, MI is the best! Call Bob and he'll give you advice and options.
(Good options also exist at Minocqua Winter Park and ABR if you join one of those trips.)
Local ski shops
Ski & Sports Chalet
5039 6th Ave.
Kenosha, WI
262-658-8515
Sells new xc skis, mostly classic, some skate,
Fischer & Rossignol
They also have an inventory of used skis
No rentals
Ski Haus, Inc.
1975 E. Rand Rd.
Arlington Heights
224-735-3133
REI
1466 N. Halsted St.
Chicago
312-951-6020
XC Ski Sales & clothing, classic skis only
Skate skis can be ordered online.
REI
17 W. 160 22nd
Oakbrook Terrace
630-574-7700
XC Ski Sales & clothing, classic skis only
Skate skis can be ordered online.
REI
888 Willow Rd.
Northbrook
847-480-1938
XC Ski Sales & clothing, classic skis only
Skate skis can be ordered online.
Viking Ski Shop
3422 W. Fullerton Ave.
Chicago
773-276-1222
Sales only – Classic Skis, no skate skis
Viking Ski Shop
131 W. NW Hwy.
Barrington
847-381-1188
Sales only – Classic Skis, no skate skis
Williams Ski & Patio
1672 Old Skokie Valley Rd.
Highland Park
847-831-4300
Sale of classic skis, no skate skis
Rental: Downhill only
Advanced Reservations Suggested
Sportsman Country Club,
Northbrook
847-291-2351
XC Skiing if there’s 4+ inches of snow
Rentals
Ski Rentals
Arrowhead Golf Course/Herrick Lake Forest Preserve
26 W. 151 Butterfield Rd., Wheaton
630-653-5800
Groomed Trails – both classic & skate
Rental Pkg. - $15/adults/ 2 hrs.
$10/child (under 12)
Lessons usually on weekends, but call ahead
Camp Sagawau/(close to Palos Trail System)
12545 W. 111th St., Lemont
630-257-2045
3 miles of Groomed Trails
Trail pass required, but it’s free
Rental: $15/pp, Senior: $10, Family: $40
Group (10 or more): $5/pp
Lesson/Rental Combo: $30/pp or $20 for lesson only.
Sat. & Sundays, 9:30am (Jan.-1st wkend in March)
First come, first served; no reservations.
PSAI Instructors
Trail Map on website
Open 9-4 daily, conditions permitting
Nature Center
2821 Ridge Rd.
Highland Park, IL
847-433-6901
Rentals (classic)- $14/day/adults, $9/children
(Deposit of keys, credit card, $ required)
3-4” snow required
Daily 9-4
Morton Arboretum
4100 Illinois Route 53
Lisle
630-968-0074
Rentals: 10-3 weekdays/9-4 weekends
3.5 miles of groomed classic or blaze your own
Rentals: $18/2 hrs., $21/all day
+ Admission fee (nonmembers): $14/adults ($9/Wed.)
$12/seniors (65+) ($8/Wed.)
Snowshoe Rentals: (nonmembers)
$13/2 hrs., $17/ all day