Nordic Snow School
Cross-country ski lessons, snowshoe tours, and seasonal programs at the Mount Washington Nordic Centre — from your first glide to race-day technique.
Learn to XC Ski Free
Anyone ages 13+ who has never cross-country skied before can learn FREE this winter.
Includes:
- Nordic trail pass
- 1.5-hour lesson
- XC equipment rentals
Youth & Adult
3 Sessions
Ages 13+
- December 11–20, 2026
- February 15, 2027
- March 29 – April 2, 2027
Kids Discovery Days
New!
Ages 7–12
- December 19 & 20, 2026
- March 26–29, 2027
Saturday Special Kids Discovery Days.
Booking information coming soon.
Cross-Country Ski Lessons
Classic or skate, first-timer or veteran — group and private lessons with our CANSI-certified instructors.
Learn to Glide
Mount Washington’s Learn to Glide package combines 3 of our most successful and popular lesson programs — our Discover Cross-Country Skiing package plus 2 group lessons.
Includes: 1.5-hour lesson, trail pass, and rentals.
Packages are available for classic or skate style; disciplines cannot be combined within one package.
50% Off
A 6IXPAK & seasonal rental when you complete this package!
| Category | Price |
|---|---|
| Youth/Adult (13+) | $194 |
| Child (7–12) | $124 |
Receive 50% off a 2026/2027 Nordic 6IXPAK and seasonal rental when the 3-lesson Learn to Glide package is completed — all ages, no date restriction. For 2026/2027 season only.
Discover Cross-Country Skiing
Classic — this introduction to classic skiing covers:
- Getting up
- Moving on the flats
- Snowplow to control speed down a small hill
- Herringbone to climb a small hill
At the end of this lesson you’ll be able to successfully ski a Green trail on classic skis.
Skate — learn beginner skate ski techniques, including:
- Getting up a hill and moving along the flats
- Free skate
- One skate
- Diagonal skate
Strongly recommended you have classic skiing experience first.
Includes: 1.5-hour lesson, full-day trail pass, and rentals.
| Category | Times | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Child (7–12) | Daily, 10am, 12pm, 2pm | $50 |
| Youth/Adult/Senior (13+) | Daily, 10am, 12pm, 2pm | $80 |
| Family of 4 (6+) +$56 per additional person | Daily, 10am, 12pm, 2pm | $224 |
Pre-booking highly recommended. Guests will be grouped together based on age — group sizes are 6 guests per 1 instructor. Please indicate classic or skate at the time of booking.
Group Cross-Country Skiing
A great way to improve your skate or classic skiing in a fun and supportive group environment. Each 1.5-hour lesson works on techniques that build confidence to enjoy your time out on our trails.
Includes: 1.5-hour lesson in either classic or skate skiing.
| Category | Times | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Child (7–12) | 7 days/week, 10am, 12pm, 2pm | $39 |
| Youth/Adult/Senior (13+) | 7 days/week, 10am, 12pm, 2pm | $49 |
Please be sure to indicate classic or skate skiing and ability level at the time of booking. See the ability guide for more info: mountwashington.ca/nordic-lessons
Private Cross-Country Skiing 4+
Whether you’re new to the sport or a seasoned veteran, a private lesson is the best way to improve your skate or classic technique. Our private lessons are 1.5 hours long, scheduled with one of our CANSI-certified instructors. Children ages 4–12 must be accompanied by an adult.
| Category | Times | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Private Cross-Country Skiing | 7 days/week, 10am, 12pm, 2pm | $109 |
Add person to private lesson $29
Add-onsTrail Pass $27 Adult · $22 Youth/Senior · $17 Child/TotRental $27 Adult/Youth/Senior · $17 Child/TotAdd to any Nordic lesson.
Gratuities Tipping your instructor is never expected, but always appreciated. If your instructor made your day, a gratuity is a lovely way to say thanks.
Snowshoe Tours
Guided treks through our snowshoe trail network and beyond.
Group Snowshoe Tour — 7+
A great way to enjoy quality time with family and friends. Your guide leads a 1.5-hour trek through our scenic snowshoe trail network on novice-intermediate terrain. Guests of all applicable ages are grouped into one tour.
Includes: 1.5-hour tour, full-day trail pass, and rentals.
| Category | Times | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Child (7–12) | Daily, 10am, 12pm, 2pm | $39 |
| Youth/Adult/Senior (13+) | Daily, 10am, 12pm, 2pm | $59 |
| Family of 4 (6+) +$29 per additional person | Daily, 10am, 12pm, 2pm | $154 |
Private Snowshoe Tour 4+
Enjoy a private 1.5-hour snowshoe tour led by one of our seasoned guides — a leisurely walk on the Old Cabin Loop, or a more advanced hike along Tree Beard’s or Rossiter’s Rise. Your guide offers proper technique and educates on local alpine flora and fauna along the way.
| Category | Times | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Private Snowshoe Tour +$15 per additional person | 7 days/week, 10am, 12pm, 2pm | $79 |
Winter Wonderland Snowshoe Tour — 13+
Wander beyond the marked trails with a guide on this 4-hour snowshoe adventure. The group travels to one of the lakes in Strathcona Park. The route depends on weather and group ability, so not all tours reach the lakes. Pre-booking required.
Includes:
- 4-hour guided snowshoe tour
- Bagged lunch
- Full-day snowshoe pass and rentals
| Category | Time | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Winter Wonderland Snowshoe Tour | Daily, 10am | $129 |
Nordic Programs & Clinics
Multi-week programs with the same instructor, plus one-day clinics to sharpen your classic and skate technique.
5-Week Adult XC Ski Program — 19+
Promotes the development of classic or skate skiing by giving participants the skills to enjoy the great ski trails at the Mount Washington Nordic Centre. Working with the same instructor each week gives you the opportunity to build new skills through exercises and guided mileage. Available to guests ages 19+ of all abilities. Please indicate your ability level at the time of booking.
Includes:
- Same instructor each week
- Skill-building exercises and guided mileage
- 1.5-hour weekly sessions
| Style | Dates | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Classic | 5 consecutive Sundays from Jan 10, 10–11:30am | $132 |
| Skate | 5 consecutive Sundays from Feb 21, 10–11:30am | $132 |
Add-ons: Nordic 6IXPAK $169 · XC seasonal rentals $249.
Midweek Masters Program — 19+
New this year — a midweek program that pairs you with the same instructor each week, catering to novice, intermediate, and advanced levels. The first 5 sessions focus on classic skiing, the next 5 on skate. Choose one or both 5-week sessions.
Includes:
- Same instructor each week
- 5 weeks of classic, 5 weeks of skate (choose one or both)
| Style | Dates | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Classic | 5 consecutive Tuesdays, Jan 12–Feb 9, 10–11:30am | $132 |
| Skate | 5 consecutive Tuesdays, Feb 16–Mar 16, 10–11:30am | $132 |
Add-ons: Nordic 6IXPAK $169 · XC seasonal rentals $249.
Women’s Day — 19+
Lessons designed especially for women — women of similar abilities are grouped into small classes to meet new friends and revisit old ones as you improve your skiing techniques. For all ability levels; space is limited. All female-identifying individuals welcome.
Includes: 1.5-hour group lesson, après lunch at Raven Café.
| Dates | Time | Price |
|---|---|---|
| March 8 | 10am | $59 |
Add-on: discounted trail pass, $27.
Adult Skill Development Clinic
A full day of ski instruction led by our certified CANSI instructors, catering to novice, intermediate, and advanced levels — the perfect chance to refresh your skiing after the off-season.
Includes:
- Full-day instruction, 10am–3pm, with a lunch break
- Skills from hill climbing to descending
- Choose classic, skate, or both
| Style | Date | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Classic | March 13, 10am–3pm | $69 |
| Skate | March 14, 10am–3pm | $69 |
Add-on: discounted trail pass, $27.
Snow to Surf XC Ski Clinic — 13+
Back again to help prepare you for the race! Explore the very trail used in the annual Snow to Surf adventure relay and learn essential techniques from our certified instructors.
Includes:
- Techniques to optimize your efficiency on the Snow to Surf trail
- Open to classic and skate skiers
| Category | Date & Time | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Snow to Surf XC Ski Clinic | April 4, 12–3pm | $39 |
Add-on: discounted trail pass, $27. The racecourse may change prior to the event due to snow conditions.
Nordic Instructor Courses
Cross-country instructor certification through the Canadian Association of Nordic Ski Instructors (CANSI).
CANSI XC Instructor Courses
| Course | Dates | Price |
|---|---|---|
| XC Refresher | Jan 9 | Free |
| XC Level 1 | Dec 18–20 | $500 |
| XC Level 2 | Feb 4–7 | $650 |
Prices shown are for the course only — day passes can be purchased separately at 50% off the day rate.
Booking & Cancellation Policy
Lessons and tours must be booked with a Nordic reservation agent. Fill out our booking request form at mountwashington.ca/nordic-lesson-request or phone 250-334-5763 to speak with a staff member.
Private & Group Lessons / Daycare
- All lessons/Daycare must be paid in full at the time of booking.
- Lessons/Daycare can be cancelled or rescheduled more than 48 hours in advance.
- There are no refunds or changes allowed within 48 hours of the lesson time, unless due to medical issues or illness.
- No refunds will be issued due to weather conditions.
- Guests who are late for their lesson will not be able to join. Guests collecting rentals must arrive at the rental counter at least 30 minutes before their lesson start time. We recommend arriving 1 hr & 30 mins before your scheduled lesson time to allow for rental and ticket collection.
Lesson Packages
Applies to Group 5-Packs, Private 5-Packs and Learn To Turn. You may cancel and refund a lesson package up until 48 hours prior to the first lesson redeemed.
- If no lessons have been redeemed, you may cancel the package and receive a full refund prior to 48 hours before the first lesson booking.
- No full or partial refund of the package is available after the first lesson redemption.
- Lessons not redeemed during the purchased season due to availability restrictions are not eligible for a refund.
- Refund requests must be made before our closing date of that season. Unused lessons will not transfer to future seasons.
- Lessons can be cancelled or rescheduled more than 48 hours in advance.
- No refunds will be issued due to weather conditions.
- Guests who are late for their lesson will not be able to join. We will do our best to rebook for later that day, if possible. We recommend arriving 1 hr & 15 mins before your scheduled lesson time to allow for rental and ticket collection.
Multi-Day Programs, Camps & Seasonal Programs
- All lessons must be paid in full at the time of booking.
- Lessons can be cancelled or rescheduled more than 48 hours in advance.
- No refunds, cancellations, or changes will be permitted within 48 hours of the program start date.
- No refunds will be issued due to weather conditions.
- Guests who are late for their lesson will not be able to join until lunch time. Parents or guardians will be responsible for supervising until they are able to meet the instructor. We recommend arriving 1 hr & 15 mins before your scheduled lesson time to allow for rental and ticket collection.
- Refunds may be considered only for verified medical reasons. A valid doctor’s note must be provided stating that the registered participant is unable to attend 50% or more of the program. Requests without appropriate documentation will not be approved.
Need to cancel or reschedule?Contact the Snow School by phone at 250-338-1386 ext. 384 or email [email protected].
For Educational, Community and Corporate group bookings, please see our separate cancellation policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Snow School lessons are available?
Mount Washington Nordic Snow School offers group and private cross-country ski lessons (Classic Ski and Skate Ski) and snowshoe tours, as well as multi-week programs and full-day tours.
What age can children start lessons?
Our main group lessons and tours start at age 7, but children can participate in a private lesson from age 4.
Do I need to have my own equipment?
No. Guests can rent cross-country skis, boots, poles, snowshoes, chariots and other Nordic-related equipment through the rental area of the Raven Lodge.
What should I bring to my lesson?
Please arrive dressed to be active in winter conditions. The following items cannot be rented:
- Waterproof jacket and pants
- Gloves or mittens
- Goggles or sunglasses
- Warm socks
- Warm layers
Are helmets required?
Helmets are not mandatory for cross-country skiing and we do not rent them. Participants can choose to bring their own helmet if they wish.
What if I’ve never skied or snowshoed before?
No experience is necessary. Beginner lessons are designed to teach the fundamentals, including equipment use, balance, stopping, turning, and mountain safety. And if you can walk, you can snowshoe!
How are lesson groups organized?
Group lessons are generally organized by age and ability level to ensure participants learn with others of similar skills and experience.
What happens if weather conditions are poor?
Lessons operate in all winter weather conditions. In cases of extreme weather or operational changes, guests will be notified of any cancellations or schedule adjustments.
Can I request a specific instructor?
Requests for private lessons may be accommodated based on instructor availability, but cannot always be guaranteed. Please ask at the time of booking or prior to your private lesson.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancellation and refund policies vary by program. Guests should review the terms and conditions at the time of booking, view our cancellation policy, or contact the Nordic department directly for details.
How do I book a lesson?
Lessons need to be booked by contacting the Nordic department at 250-334-5763 or by emailing [email protected]. Multi-week programs can be booked online through the Mount Washington website. Early booking is recommended during weekends, holidays, and peak season periods.
Are private lessons available?
Yes. Private lessons provide personalized coaching and allow guests to progress at their own pace. Private sessions can often accommodate individuals, families, or small groups.
Will I be riding the chairlift during my lesson?
Apart from our advanced Upper West trail, the cross-country ski terrain is not accessed via the chairlift, so participants will not ride the lift during their lesson.
How do I know what level lesson to book?
You can reference our ability guide to match your skills to a lesson level!
What should I learn first, Classic Skiing or Skate Skiing?
We recommend trying Classic Skiing before Skate. Classic skiing teaches the foundational balance, weight transfer, and gliding techniques in a stable, intuitive way, making it easier to build confidence before tackling the more technical and physically demanding skate skiing. Starting with classic skiing ensures you develop the skills and stability needed to progress smoothly to skate skiing later.