Fresh Air and Family Fun at Pahaska Tepee

Photo by Jackie Heinert

It was a busy Saturday morning like most in our house, except this day we were going to introduce our four-year-old son to a new activity, and hopefully lifelong hobby. My husband and I both grew up Cross-Country skiing with our families in the winter, and now it was time to introduce the fun to Tyler. Our pile of gear grew bigger as we tossed in gloves, blankets and snow pants, not knowing how cold the kids might get. Being new to Wyoming, I am always looking for new family friendly activities, and when I stumbled on a website for Pahaska Tepee, a seasonal resort lodge west of Cody with Nordic ski trails, I enthusiastically researched the area.

Photo by Jackie Heinert

Would it be tolerable for a four year old? Are there restrooms? How much snow is on the ground? Are the ski trails groomed? The Pahaska website, along with the Park County Nordic ski club website filled me up with more information than I had ever hoped for. I called Sunlight Sports in Cody, and their inexpensive children’s ski rentals were too hard to pass up so we made a brief stop in Cody for coffee and skis, and even more information. Tyler had expert assistance from a store clerk and carried a brand-new pair of rental skis and boots out the door. My husband and I joked that he had would have the best gear on the trails.

The drive from Cody took nearly an hour, but that might have been because of all the dreamy photos we stopped to take. It’s no wonder that Teddy Roosevelt declared the stretch of highway between Cody and the East Gate of Yellowstone National Park "the 50 most beautiful miles in America.” With the surrounding peaks kissed lightly with new snow it was certainly breathtaking. The miles flew by as the kids excitedly counted Bighorn sheep, eagles, deer and other wildlife along the way.

Photo by Jackie Heinert

In the parking lot, we geared up slowly, mainly because of all the friendly folks strolling around and visiting with us. A bus dropped off a group who put on snowshoes and took off into the woods. Other families were sledding down a nearby hillside; their whooping and hollering was amusing.

Photo by Jackie Heinert

Once we glanced at a map and took off down the trail, tranquility set in and all we could hear was the North Fork of the Shoshone River murmuring next to us. The Park County Nordic Ski Club voluntarily grooms the trails and updates the public, and the tracks were flawless. An occasional skate skier whisked by us, but not without a greeting and the encouragement that Tyler was showing great skill. Our younger son sat snugly in a sled, bundled up and pulled smoothly along the trail. We could have gone miles (or kilometers as measured in the Nordic ski world) under the blue sky; it was so scenic and peaceful.

On a tip from my phone call to Sunlight Sports, we packed a Coleman camp stove, hot dogs, some snacks and a thermos of cocoa. It was the perfect ending to our trip, grilling our lunch and sitting on the porch of the lodge in the afternoon Wyoming sunshine.

Photo by Jackie Heinert

More Information:

There are porta-potties located at the lodge.

From Cody, it is approximately 50 miles along the North Fork Highway US-14/US-16/US-20

There is no vendor open in the winter, but picnic tables and benches are available, unless snowed under.

Trails are groomed regularly, and some trails go to Sleeping Giant ski area, which does has vendors

Lots of events such as clinics and moonlight ski/snowshoes are held regularly.

More information can be found at the following websites: 

http://www.pahaska.com

http://www.nordicskiclub.com

http://www.skisg.com 

Jackie Heinert: When Jackie Heinert and her family moved to the Bighorn Basin of Wyoming in 2012 they hit the ground running. She doesn't let having two little rambunctious boys stop her from getting out and exploring; they are finding Wyoming has no end to family friendly activities. She loves sharing their adventures and ideas, and hopes her stories help other families discover unique spots around Wyoming.

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