Step-by-Step Guide to Building and Grooming a Nordic Skiing Trail

Creating a Nordic or cross-country skiing trail can be a very rewarding winter activity. Regardless of whether you plan to build a trail for classic tracks, free skating, or both, you want to ensure you have a step-by-step guide to making your trails as good as possible.

In this guide, we are referring to compact snow grooming equipment that can be towed behind snowmobiles or tracked ATVs.

This guide to cross-country trail building works for professional trails to your own trails in the backyard.

Step by Step Guide to Building Cross Country Skiing Trails

Step 1: Plan out your Route

Choose where you would like your ski trail to go
Make sure your trail is clear of rocks, stumps, logs, and brush (summer time job with trimmer and mowers)
Terrain – Select a mix of nice flat or gently sloping terrain. Avoid Steep hills if possible
Avoid areas that may have heavy wind and drifting snow
Natural Features – enhance the experience by incorporating in scenic views and routes
Land Permission – Make sure you have permission from landowners or local authorities (proper permits and liability insurance may be required)

Step 2: Design your Cross Country Ski Trail Layout

Width – Plan for a minimum trail width of 10 feet (3 meters) to accommodate both skate skiing and classic skiing. Wider trails (12-15 feet) are ideal for skate skiing as skaters need more space for their lateral movements.
Classic Tracks – Allocate space for two parallel Classic tracks on one side of the trail, leaving a wide area for free skating.
Loops or Connections – Design loops of varying lengths (1km, 2km, 5km), allowing for different skill levels. Include clear signs for different trail systems and avoid sharp turns when setting in classic tracks.
Map your Trail – Create a detailed map with landmarks, intersections, and distances. There is GPS software like Trailscape that can help you map it out.
Mark your Trail – Put in visible trail markers like signs, reflectors, and colored flags to guide skiers

Step 3: Clear and Prepare the Trail

Pre-season preparation – Summer/Fall walk the trail route and remove fallen trees, branches, rocks, and tall grass. Use tools like chainsaws, pruning shears, and shovels.
Drainage – Make sure you clear the ditches and culverts to prevent water pooling (dammed up water can really ruin your trails quickly)
Level the surface – Seasonal roads usually make really great cross country skiing trails as they typically are already cut in and pretty level. If you don’t have those try to smooth out and create level trails.

Step 4: Winter Preparation

Check Snow Depth – With ultra compact snow groomers we typically start grooming with at least 6-12 inches of snow. Less snow might make it hard to set in proper classic tracks.
Remove new obstacles – Clear any branches or downed trees that get knocked on the trail from winter storms
Snow Groom Often – Knock the air out of snow everytime it snows. This allows for really hard compact level skiing trails.
Timing – We like to groom after it snows and usually in the early evening as it gives the snow time to freeze up once compacted. Wait at least 2 hours after you snow groom fresh snow before you ski on it.
Temperature -Groom when temperatures are 25–30°F with a forecast of below-freezing overnight to allow the trail to set firmly. Avoid grooming in warm weather (above 50°F), as the trail won’t hold
Groom when temperatures are 25–30°F with a forecast of below-freezing overnight to allow the trail to set firmly. Avoid grooming in warm weather (above 50°F), as the trail won’t hold.

Step 5: Select your Snow Grooming Equipment

We have a few options to choose from when it comes to towing with a snowmobile or tracked ATV/UTV.
Size for a snowmobile – Typically, a 48″ wide or smaller snow groomer works great for towing behind a snowmobile. If you don’t super steep hills you can tow a larger 72″ wide snowgroomer – SEE BELOW FOR RECOMMENDED SNOWMOBILES.
Classic Tracksetter – You can buy a tracksetter as its standalone snowgroomer or as a caboose behind a larger snow groomer.

Step 6: Select your towing equipment

Snowmobiles – Utility snowmobiles that have a 20-24″ wide track with a high/low gear box are what we recommend – CLICK HERE FOR SNOWMOBILES WE RECOMMEND
Tracked ATV/UTV – You can get an ATV or Side By Side with winter tracks from companies like Camso, Apache, Kimpex, and others.
Pros and Cons – We tend to get stuck more with our snowmobiles and, like the ATVs are now cabbed, which means its colder. The Snowmobiles and Tracked ATV’s are smaller than the UTV’s and allow you to see your snow grooming efforts. UTVs are really nice and allow you to sit down like a car and drive in a cab with heat and a large windshield.

Step 7: Maintain your Trail

Regular Snow Grooming – Groom after every snowstorm and after heavy skier traffic
Keep off – Make sure snowshoeing and hiking trails are NOT using your ski lanes.
Renovate – Use cutting blades or rippers to keep your snow workable and smooth
Fill in holes – Moose and deer love to use your ski trails and create “post holes” which need to be filled in.

Step 8: Community

Ski the trail with friends and gather feedback on how it could be better
Adjust your grooming techniques based on snow conditions – Warmer snow requires more snow grooming.
Identify problem areas and keep on top of them
Widen narrow sections and smooth out rough areas.

Step 9: Have Fun!!

Creating a cross country skiing trail allows you to have fun while you are outside in the snow grooming your trail but it also allows you to create your own beautiful nordic trails for limitless fun with friends and family in the magical winter wonderland.