About Royal Gorge Cross Country Resort
Royal Gorge Cross Country Resort is North America's largest cross-country ski resort, sprawling across roughly 6,000 acres of Donner Summit terrain near Soda Springs, just west of Truckee. Integrated with the Village at Sugar Bowl, Royal Gorge offers an enormous network of groomed trails winding through pristine Sierra Nevada forest and open meadows, all set at high elevation where the snow falls deep and lingers late into the season. Its scale and grooming quality are unmatched in the region.
The resort features six distinct trail systems served by eight warming huts, with rentals available for classic cross-country, skate skiing, and snowshoeing. A professional Nordic ski school provides skate and stride instruction for all ability levels, from absolute beginners taking their first glide to advanced skiers refining technique, along with group clinics and youth programs. Day and season trail passes give access to the full trail network, and the lodge offers food, warmth, and a friendly base for a day on the snow.
What makes Royal Gorge extraordinary is simply its size and the sense of wilderness it offers — skiers can travel for miles on beautifully groomed track without retracing their steps, soaking in panoramic Sierra views. The connection to Sugar Bowl makes it possible to combine alpine and Nordic skiing in one trip. For cross-country skiers and snowshoers visiting the Truckee-Donner Summit area, Royal Gorge is a world-class destination and an essential experience.
