For over 30 years, Highland Lodge in Greensboro has maintained a cross-country ski trail system connecting Highland Lodge to private and conservation lands. The trails traverse high meadows, sugar bushes, and boreal woodlands and offer panoramic views of frozen lakes, mountains including Mansfield, and the Worcester, Woodbury, and Lowell mountain ranges. On clear days, the White Mountains and western and southern Green Mountains are visible.

David Smith, now in his 31st year of innkeeping at Highland Lodge, conceived the idea of a Greensboro nordic system in the 1970s, when his parents were the innkeepers. “We realized that we could extend our season into the winter if we gave guests something to do.” By the mid 1970s Smith and wife Wilhelmina, along with other members of the family, had established a trail system laid out for views from hilltops and down through fields. The result, decades later, is a trail system that provides extensive access to the Northeast Kingdom highlands, with several loops that give skiers short to full-day ski options.  “People tell us all the time that these are the most beautiful trails in the east. We’ve kept our emphasis on classic ski touring because that’s what we designed these trails for,” says Smith.

Now the Smiths want to offer that type of “head out with a pack, snack and camera” ski experience to everyone. “Many volunteers help us get the trails ready each fall. Landowners give us access across their land. To a large extent, this trail system is a result of good will. We know that many families and even individuals don’t participate in this sport because it’s expensive. Rather than charging a flat trail fee, we are  now asking people to make a donation. We’re not setting a price, but everyone must drop by to pick up a ticket in order to ski,” explains Willie Smith. The Smiths will continue to rent snowshoes and skis. Driving directions, ski reports, and other winter specials information can be found on the Highland Lodge website: www.highlandlodge.com. The winter ski season at Highland Lodge begins on December 25 and runs until March 14th. The ski shop is open  from 9 to 5 daily during the season.