Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing

At Nipika Mountain Resort in British

Columbia- 9200 Settlers Road, Invermere, BC

Nipika Mountain Resort (250-342-6516, 877-647-4525, www.nipika.com) in Invermere, BC borders the Kootenay National Park and the Assiniboine Provincial Park in the Canadian Rockies. It is on 144 acres of wilderness in a recreational playground. There are 50 km of trails groomed for classic and skating (15 km are classic only).

Nipika has rental equipment for xc skiing ($30 Cdn per day) and snowshoeing ($15 Cdn per day) and there are child pulks available ($20 Cdn). Lessons are $30 Cdn for xc skiing (classic or skating) and private lessons are $40 Cdn. Snowshoe tours on Sunday are guided starting at 9 AM for $40 Cdn. Beginners and intermediates will like the trails along the Cross River, while the Natural Bridge trail is more for intermediates and advanced skiers. Also ice skating and tobogganning.

Sit by the outdoor fire pit roasting marshmellows and listen to howling wolves in the distance. There are 7 hand-built cabins on the property that can accommodate between 2-13 guests, respectively. The largest being a lodge, which has 4 bedrooms. All of the lodging is fully equipped with kitchen facilities and dining rooms. Facilities have private baths, wood burning stoves and propane furnaces and rely on solar energy and mico hydro systems for power (backed up by a propane charging unit). There is no restaurant on site. Nipika is pet friendly and welcomes pets for $15 per pet per night. The Bill Yearling Interpretive Cabin is a trappers cabin learning center for natural surroundings, culture, history, wildlife exhibits, library, and Stagazer telescope.

Nipika is close to 7 alpine ski resorts and the Canmore Nordic Centre. There is a hot mineral springs pool in Radium Hot Springs only 32 km away. In the other seasons, Nipika has whitewater rafting and guided canoe or kayak trips down the Kootenay River. The property, which is between Banff and the Radium Hot Springs. CCSAA member