Gore Mountain Nordic Center
Author: Camille
Summary:
The Gore Mountain Nordic Center is a part of Gore Mountain ski resort but has a separate entrance that makes parking easy and makes the resort feel more accessible. They offer 4 kilometers of professionally groomed trails for cross country skiing and lighting so you can go at night as well. Snowshoers are also welcome to use the outside of the groomed paths and there are wooded areas you can explore as well. You are very near the town of North Creek where you can visit before or after your time on the snow.
Date: Observations and data on January 19, 2024
Site/location: Gore Nordic Center is located at Ski Bowl Road, North Creek, NY 12853. *Note this is a different entrance from the main ski area of Gore
Distance from Camp Hudson Pines: 37 Miles (approx. 50 minute drive)
Participants: An active woman in her 40s
Length of Observation: about 3 hours
Links: https://goremountain.com/the-mountain/nordic-center/
Activity: There is a small lodge on Ski Bowl Road where the Nordic Center is located. Inside, you can purchase a day pass for cross-country skiing or snowshoeing and rent equipment.. Online, you can purchase a season pass but not day passes, so plan on bringing a credit card and getting your pass the day of your adventure.
I rented my snowshoes and they gave me poles, but if you have your own, you can bring them and pay for only the day pass. The staff was very helpful and gave me a map and told me about pathways I could take.
Since I rented snowshoes, I quickly veered off into pathways between the trees where it was quiet and beautiful. There were overlooks giving you great views of the high peaks as well as open areas to move around. You can venture near some of the downhill skiing runs and watch for skiers, if you came with any. It is fun to go by groomed pathways as well and watch the cross country skiers push up the hill. There was an advanced cross country skier when I was there and it was impressive to watch.
They have different levels of trails so whether you are a beginner or expert there is terrain for you to enjoy. I went earlier in the season, so the base was not as deep and a few times off the beaten pathways there was just dirt, which was more difficult on snowshoes. But overall, there was snow in most places and it was easy to maneuver around anywhere there wasn’t.
The Nordic Center has a big fireplace where you can warm up but no food options. They are building a much larger lodge nearby so in the future that may be an option.
Photographs:
Reflections:
This is a great way to get outdoors and be active. There was plenty of terrain and I felt very comfortable alone in the woods. They have lessons that you can sign up for if you have never been and are wanting to try out something new. I didn’t cross country ski while I was there but it looked very fun and they had trails that were completely flat as well as hills. I grabbed lunch at Izzy’s Market in North Creek before and highly recommend their sandwiches. I will definitely be back and highly recommend this as a fun winter activity in the Adirondacks.
