Cross-Country Ski Resorts

Tahoe Donner

• Getting There: Donner Pass Road off I-80. Drive time 3:15. www.tahoedonner.com

• Trail Pass: Adult $25 (half-day $20); twilight $15.

• Terrain: 49 trails, 115 kilometers of trails, 4,800 acres for all levels.

• Reason to go: It's one of the nation's top cross-country centers featuring a variety of terrain.

Royal Gorge

• Getting There: I-80 east to Soda Springs exit. Drive time 2:45. www.royalgorge.com

• Trail Pass: Adult $34 weekend-holiday ($29 half-day), $29 mid-week non-holiday ($25 half-day).

• Terrain: 65 trails, 195 kilometers.

• Reason to go: Eight warming huts, four surface lifts and four trailside cafes spoil guests. Diverse trail system.

Northstar

• Getting There: I-80 to Highway 267, 6 miles. Adjacent to Northstar downhill area. Drive time 3 hours. www.skinorthstar.com

• Trail Pass: Adult $26 (half-day $20); 5-12 $14 (half-day $9), snowshoes $26.

• Terrain: Nearly 40 kilometers of cross country and snowshoe trails.

• Reason to go: The new expanded cross country, telemark and snowshoe center features sundeck and larger teaching area.

Tahoe Cross Country

• Getting There: I-80 to Truckee, south on Highway 89 to Tahoe City. East on Highway 28, two miles. At Dollar Hill, take Fabian Way to Village Drive to Country Club Drive. Drive time 3:30. www.tahoexc.org

• Trail Pass: Adult $23 (half-day $18), twilight $13; 10-17 $19 (half-day $14), twilight $9.

• Terrain: 65 kilometers.

• Reason to go: Ski anytime on Tuesdays for $12 (non-holidays). Dogs are welcome Monday through Friday (non-holidays).

Kirkwood

• Getting There: Highway 99 to Eight Mile Road (north of Stockton) to Highway 88 through Jackson. Drive time 3:10. www.kirkwood.com

• Trail Pass: Adult $22 (half-day $19); 13-18 $17 (half-day $15).

• Terrain: 80 kilometers of groomed trails.

• Reason to go: A new grooming machine has been added to the fleet. All trails have snowshoe and skating lanes.

Dodge Ridge

• Getting There: Highway 108 to Pinecrest exit 32 miles east of Sonora. Drive time: 1:45. www.dodgeridge.com

• Trail Pass: Free.

• Terrain: One mile ungroomed loop trail.

• Reason to go: Crabtree and Goosberry systems, which begin a half-mile from Dodge, offer ungroomed but extensive trails.

Badger Pass

• Getting There: Yosemite National Park (take Highway 120), Glacier Point Road. Drive time: 2:45. www.yosemitepark.com

• Trail Pass: Adult $42 (half-day $32.50); 13-17 $37 (half-day $30); 7-12 $22 (half-day $18).

• Terrain: 25 miles of machine-groomed track and 90 miles of marked trails.

• Reason to go: Cross country track and skating lanes are groomed from Badger Pass to Glacier Point (21-mile round trip). Great for the novice and expert.

Bear Valley

• Getting There: Highway 4 east of Murphys. Drive time: 2:15. www.bearvalleyxc.com

• Trail Pass: Adult $22 ($42 for 2 days); 13-17 $15 ($28 for 2 days).

• Terrain: 35 groomed trails covering 65 kilometers.

• Reason to go: Trails carefully groomed for track, skate skiing and snowshoeing. Sledding and tubing also available.

Spooner Lake

• Getting There: Highway 28, ½ mile off Highway 50, on Nevada side of Lake Tahoe. Drive time: 3:50. www.spoonerlake.com

• Trail Pass: Adult $22 (half-day $18), twilight $12; 13-18 $12.

• Terrain: More than 80 acres of groomed trails spread over 9,000 acres

• Reason to go: Pretty beginner trails featuring two overnight wilderness cabins.