VIKING NORDIC CENTER

Steve Bruner is the new director of Viking Nordic Center
click here to read more about Steve
Looking for happy xc skiers & snowshoers!
Come 'work' at Viking Nordic Center

How Will You Get Outside? Click the picture for more information

CLASSIC SKI

SKATE SKI

SNOWSHOE

FAT BIKE

WITH KIDS

Experience the Best Viking Has to Offer

Beautiful trails wind through old woods, past classic Vermont scenery, around a busy beaver pond, and alongside the West River. Where will you find yourself?

We meticulously groom 26 km of ski trails for both classic and skate skiing, with another 4 km of dedicated snowshoe trails. Our relaxed atmosphere embraces all types of skiers: from young to old, from those going out for an easy tour to those training for a race. Viking is an especially great place to introduce your kids to the joy of cross country skiing, with our full selection of kids rental equipment and our Great Cookie Hunt, they'll be asking to come back again soon!

After your ski, visit our café for wonderful soups, chili, grilled cheese sandwiches, and tasty treats. Nothing beats the chill like hot chocolate and cookies.

For a unique winter experience, join us on special nights when we light 3 km of trails with overhead lights and 1900's gas lanterns. Check our calendar for special night skiing events, or book Viking at night for your own special party.

Not sure where to start? Viking offers private, group, and family ski lessons to get you on your feet and gliding down the trail.

And for when you want to walk out the door and put on your skis, Viking has two on-site rental properties, The Apartment over the Ski Shop for groups of up to 8, and our 1800's farmhouse for families of 10.

Classic Skiing

The oldest and most popular form of skiing, the classic technique has been dated back to as early as 600 BCE! Connect with your winter roots on our 26km of groomed ski trails winding through old growth forest, farmland, beaver ponds, and CCC timber stands, all under your own power. When the snow allows, all of our trails have parallel grooves, called 'tracks', set that are perfect for pushing off and gliding effortlessly forward. If you're new to the sport, or want to feel like you're on an ancient Viking highway, Classic skiing is where you should start.

Need some help? Viking offers private lessons for beginners and experts alike.

Skate Skiing

For the fastest path through the woods, try out skate skiing. A relatively modern technique created in the 1980's, skate skiing involves pushing your skis backwards at an angle, much like ice skating. Get your arms in the mix and find your rhythm, and you'll be flying down the trail in no time! Though our trails are narrow by some modern standards, every one of Viking's ski trails are groomed with skate skiers in mind. Single track on one side, and a wide, flat, skate lane on the other. Don't forget to get a good hot wax to really leave that pesky friction in the dust (snow dust that is).

Snowshoeing

Not about all that gliding and sliding? Then snowshoeing may be for you. With archaeological evidence pointing to the use of snowshoes nearly 6,000 years ago, you're getting in to a sport even older than skiing! Float over deep snow by distributing your weight all around the surface of the snowshoes, or confidently stride over ice (it's the East Coast, there will be ice) with the crampons attached the the bottom. If you can walk, then you can snowshoe. And if you can snowshoe, then you can get outside and experience the beauty of a Vermont winter.

Fat Biking

Fat Bikes have exploded in popularity the last few years. With extra large tires, bikers can ride over snow that would stop a normal mountain bike cold. Though Viking has no Fat Bikes for rent, we are more than happy to see them on our trails. Check our Trail Conditions page or call ahead though, as we don't usually allow biking when the snow is soft, to avoid making ruts that could trip up skiers.
Two items to note:
In the 'spring' fat biking is best early morning when the snow is firm. On days when temperatures head above freezing we recommend coming early.
We do not allow electric bikes on our trails. Our grooming is not done with a tiller, so our snow can not withstand the extra weight.

Kids at Viking

Viking has long been THE place to introduce your kids to cross country skiing. Beginner-friendly trails, rental boots down to a US size 1 (and special skis for those even smaller), and tiny tiny dinosaur snowshoes mean we can get you and your kids out on the trails to enjoy nature and a unique winter experience. Viking even has two pulks to rent (drag-behind covered sleds) to bundle your children into.

Need a bit more motivation for your little ones? Then our Great Cookie Hunt may be just what you're looking for. Every child 12 and under gets a cookie card. Find all the cookie punch stations on the trails, and that cookie card is good for one free cookie from Wigo's Café! Sound simple? it is! (And oh so very effective).

Learn more about the Great Cookie Hunt Here