New Indy XC Pass for cross country skiers

Most dedicated winter sports enthusiasts are familiar with the major season passes such as Epic, Ikon, Mountain Collective and Indy Pass, among others. Until recently, these multi-ski area passes have been geared only toward Alpine skiing and snowboarding. Not anymore! Make way for the season pass specifically for cross country (XC) skiing and a deal that highlights XC skiing for Alpine skiers and snowboarders. 

Nordic skiers at Woodstock Nordic Center

The Indy XC Pass has doubled the number of participating XC ski areas for the 2023-24 season with now more than 40 XC ski areas providing two days of trail access for $99 adult and $49 youth (12 and under).  XC skiing is also offered as an add-on pass to the regular alpine/snowboard Indy Pass that was available (during specified dates for $399 for adults. The Indy XC Pass for alpine/snowboard passholders is $79 add-on for adults and $39 add-on for kids at 180 alpine ski areas, where applicable.

The Cross Country Ski Areas Association (CCSAA), which is an organization of XC ski areas) partnered with Indy. Check the Indy Pass website for the full list of participating XC ski areas. Some of the significant XC ski areas that are located in different regions where XC skiers can ski two times at each area include:

EAST

High Point XC Center, NJ; WhiteGrass Touring Center, WV; In Vermont the Indy areas include Woodstock Nordic Center, Rikert Nordic Center, Trapp Family Lodge, Jay Peak XC Ctr and Catamount Outdoor Family Center; in NH Jackson XC and the Adventure Center at Waterville Valley; the Rangeley Lakes Trails Center (on the banner photo at the top of the article) and Quarry Road Trails in Maine, and Garnet Hill, NY.

CENTRAL, MOUNTAIN and WEST

Maplelag Resort, MN; Treetops Resorts in Gaylord, MI, Minoqua Winter Park, WI; Enchanted Forest Cross Country Skiing and Snowshoe Area in NM; Crosscut Mtn Sports Ctr in Bozeman, MT; and Bear Valley Adventure Ctr in CA and Methow Trails in WA. There are 8 others in these regions.

Alpine ski areas that have XC skiing on the Indy Pass include Black Mountain of Maine; Jay Peak, VT; Waterville Valley, NH; Andes Tower Hill, MN; 49 Degrees North in WA; and Meadows Nordic Center at Mt Hood, OR.

Canadian resorts are participating, too including Whistler Olympic Park, Manning Park, Sovereign Lake, Nickel Plate XC Ski Club and 9 others in British Columbia.

The Indy Pass XC ski areas provide a wonderful cross section of experiences and destinations and it is anticipated that the Indy XC Pass will extend to more XC ski areas in future years.

Trails at Waterville Valley

Depending on where one lives, that cost for XC skiing can be reduced with the Indy XC Pass. For example, those who live in the northeast can receive two visits at each of participating resorts in New England and New York within reasonable driving distance for the $99 Indy XC Pass or about $8 per visit. However, the $99 price tag allows XC skiers to discover new areas to visit and also offers an attractive enticement to those who are interested in learning the sport.

Most XC ski areas charge about $25 for a day pass to ski on their marked, maintained, and groomed trails. Many of these trails have set manicured tracks that make it easy for anyone to ski. Taking advantage of the Indy XC Pass will save a small amount and help XC skiers to discover some new ski areas to visit.

Promoting the Indy XC Pass will increase awareness of XC skiing and it will educate nonskiers and Alpine skiers about XC skiing at areas that provide marked and regularly groomed trails. The image of XC skiing to many people is going out to ski at parks when it snows, breaking trails, or skiing in a previous skiers’ tracks in ungroomed snow conditions. Cross country ski areas use machines to groom the trails to provide consistent ski conditions all winter. Additionally, there are more than 50 areas that can produce machine-made snow because sometimes Mother Nature can be snow-stingy in the winter.

Preliminary result findings about redemptions of the Indy XC Pass in the first year show that many of the users were Alpine skiers going to the Indy XC Pass areas. This was a great way to introduce XC skiing to Alpine skiers and encourage them to try it. The fact is that the Indy Pass is the only major pass offered to skiers that offers either or both Alpine and XC skiing.

XC skiers who go to a few XC areas because of the Indy XC Pass may very well discover the joy of XC skiing regularly and raise it to a higher status as a prime recreational endeavor in their quiver of things to do in the winter. For more information, see https://www.indyskipass.com/  or https://xcski.org/