Plain Valley Nordic Ski Trails cross-country skiing

The Plain Valley Nordic Ski Trails are a creation of Rob, enterprising owner of the locally famous Plain Hardware store. The valley floor that forms small “downtown” Plain area consists mostly of relatively smooth and open agricultural land. Rob coordinated four local property owners in opening up their land to the skiing public for the Plain Valley Nordic Ski Trails in return for a share of the proceeds. The crew at the hardware store creates and grooms the trails, rents both nordic and skate ski ensembles, and can even provide lessons.

Day passes are purchased at Plain Hardware. Then skiers park by the store and walk across the street to the trail system. The trails wind around and loop back and forth to cram over 6 miles of trails into a relatively small area. The gentle terrain provides a great training location for novice skiers, or a fun spot for experienced skiers looking to get in a fast workout with a pleasant valley view. One section ascends a hillside to provide some brief extra exertion and downhill rides, but the majority of the trails are relatively flat. There are many shortcuts within the trail system, so loops of many lengths can be created as desired.

The setting is quite pastoral, with skiers swooshing by agricultural equipment and looking out to the snow-covered hills lining the valley. Farmhouses rim the open land’s lower horizon, before the dark snow-outlined conifers ramp up the hillsides.