Local Adventure Awaits day number 2 took us to the winter paradise of Nipika Mountain Resort. It is located in a secluded location just off of highway 93; approximately a 45 minute drive from Copper Point Resort and well worth the drive! Nipika is surrounded by a magnificent trail network spanning over 1,500 acres, set along the Kootenay and Cross River valleys with stunning mountain, river, and forest views. The trails are built and maintained by the Nipika crew and include cross country skiing, fat biking, and snowshoeing in the winter and hiking, mountain biking, and trail running in the summer.
Our chosen activities for the day? Fat biking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Some of these we had never done, others, one of us hadn’t done in 30 years!
First up: fat biking.
FAT BIKING IS SO MUCH FUN. This is definitely something that both of us would love to go back and do for an entire day! Nipika has 30km of dedicated fat bike trails, groomed into smooth corduroy. Imagine singletrack fun in winter: flowy with rollers. Ride the south loop for a scenic expanse with panoramic views. Ride the north loop for forested trails with views of the canyon and rivers, and to ride across the Natural Bridge.
Next: Snowshoeing
Snowshoeing is such a relaxing activity and might be the best way to get in touch with nature. The silence of the forest, the crunch of the snow…ahh it’s a beautiful thing!
There are a variety of dedicated snowshoe trails that run on single track through the trees, along clifftops, and beside the rivers.
And lastly: Cross Country Skiing
First off, Steve, the General Manager hooked us up with ski rentals (yup, they offer rentals right there on site) and then we were on our way. Let’s just say that the founder of Nipika, Lyle Wilson, makes this sport look pretty darn easy. We started out on our butts but with some instruction and a quick lesson from Lyle we were on our way to success!
Nipika is a cross country ski mecca with 50km of groomed trails. They are professionally groomed on a regular basis for both classic and skate skiing. The terrain ranges from beginner to expert and flows through treed areas, open spaces with mountain views, and alongside the Kootenay and Cross Rivers.
So how much is it to play at this winter oasis? Day use fees are $12 per adult and $5 for children 12 and under. Check their website for rental fee rates: www.nipika.com/
And for our furry guests: don’t worry, you can bring your humans with you to Nipika as they are fully pet friendly! You might even meet a new friend or two!
Big thanks to Steve, Lyle, June and the rest of the Nipika crew for giving us a chance to check out some of the local adventure that they have to offer. We can’t wait to come back for more fun!
Source:
Trails. (2021, February 11). Retrieved February 19, 2021, from https://nipika.com/nipika-resort-rocky-mountain-trails/