The first time I ever went X-C skiing I took my two young children. It was a learning experience for all of us and I came home just a bit stressed.
I wasn’t sure I was learning the sport as well as I could and the kids didn’t seem too happy either.
Fast forward one week and both kids were asking if we could go again!
That was many years ago and I once again was at Silver Crest X-C Ski Area in the Little Belt Mountains.
The area has had many improvements – a nice warming hut at the trailhead, better trail markings, it is groomed twice a week and the parking and rest room facilities are much nicer. There are even dog sled trails in the area!
We hadn’t had much snow in Great Falls and all week I worried that the snow wouldn’t be great. My concerns went away the day before we were going when Mother Nature dumped 4 – 5 inches of fluffy snow on a solid base.
I can’t say enough good things about the day.
It felt so good to get out of the office and spend the day exploring the X-C ski trails. The sun came out after we were there about an hour and our outer jackets came off. Well, the exercise kept us warm too.
It was mid-week and we only saw one other vehicle with two gals in it. We chatted briefly with them before they started on one of the trails.
We didn’t see any other X-C skiers for the rest of the day. It felt like our private mountain! What an experience!
Silver Crest is a real treasure and it is an easy drive on US Hwy 89, about 60 miles southeast of Great Falls.
X-C ski rentals are available in Great Falls and you can find lodging near the recreation area in Neihart, Monarch and White Sulphur Springs.
There is still amazing snow at Silver Crest in the Little Belt Mountains even though snow at lower elevations has melted.
My advice – take a “snow” day and enjoy winter in Central Montana.