Nason Ridge Map XC Trail
This map is also useful for hikers or mountain bikers.
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Nason Ridge trail system
The Nason Ridge XC ski trail starts just above Miracle Mile near the Pelton Place road, along an old forest service road. For golfers who know the course, the trails starts just above the 15th tee. This spot is marked on the map as 2,000’ elevation at the south end of Miracle Mile.
For hiking or walking, the un-groomed trail at the top of the map is a relatively easy hike, a steady although not steep rise, and mostly in the shade. Starting behind the water tower, up-and-back is about 5 miles.
The round trip of the ridge is better left to the cooler days of late spring and early summer or late summer and early fall, as the 5.3 km section from the 2,000’ starting spot to the 2,120’ mark (a two-way intersection that I call the loop junction) is 75% facing east and in the bright hot sun.
For Hikers and Bikers it is 13.6 mile round trip from behind the water tower on the 8th fairway.
For XC-skiers from the Kahler Glen gate near the Pelton Place starting spot it is a 23.6 km (or 14+ miles) round trip using the outside and upper ridge trail.
Many mountain bikers use the trails during the summer; however the north-facing section of the trail from the 3,200’ summit is narrow and steep in places. During the XC season I recommend using this un-groomed trail for skiing.
XC-skiing trips starting from the Pelton Place.* It is saver to start and end your trip on the Nason Ridge XC if you start by walking up to the opening in the berm on Pelton Place.
For emergencies --- cell phone reception is good on most of the Nason Ridge Trail system.
A skier who is only just above the beginner level can use the first 8/10th of a mile with relative safety. Turn-back when it starts getting too steep and come back to Pelton Place
Intermediate level trips.
Out to the first crossing of the Power lines. This includes going down a steep hill one mile from Pelton Place. It can be fast when it is icy. This would be a 4 mile round trip. Just beyond the Power lines at the bottom of the easy hill is a view of Nason Creek.
First upper Nason Creek junction. This would be a 6+ mile round trip. It includes a steady climb from the just below the first crossing of the Power lines for the next 1+. At this point the trail is wider and provides a great downhill run on the way back.
Butcher Creek junction. The junction is less than 2/3rd of a mile from the upper Nason Ridge junction and would be about an 7.5 mile round trip back to the Kahler Glen gate. It is an uphill climb to this junction and leads to the western summit or to the Butcher Creek Gate.
Butcher Creek Gate. This brings you across the Kahler Creek bridge ˝ mile from the junction. This route provides both up and down hills and a great view looking west above US-2. This round trip would be about 10.5 miles long.
Intermediate and above skiing level.
The Upper Nason Ridge loop trail. This would be a 14+ mile round trip and requires a good deal of energy and some preparation – water and a snack. Great views on clear days. I recommend going up the first intersection, as it is steeper and wouldn’t be fun coming down on an icy day, but do stop and look at the views while you are going up the next 1000 feet climb.
I usually go out beyond the loop junction and then head home. A couple of times each season I reach the various summits, but those trips take much more time, energy and planning and can require a much more skilled skier, depending upon the conditions. Conditions on the day you ski should be gauged carefully. A snowy early morning day will be slow on the downhill runs and will take more time on the trail. An icy day will make the downhill runs very fast and at times at the skill limit of many skiers.
The trail to the Butcher Creek doesn’t show up completely on this map but the Butcher Creek Gate does. The trail is groomed from Pelton Place to that gate and it makes a good place to turn around. An alternate entry to this route is from the Butcher Creek side just north of the power lines, but it is un-groomed from the road to the gate and lots of folks walk their dogs over that section, making skiing more interesting. Skiing downhill from the gate on a steep and un-groomed road is not easy, while going up that section is easier. If you select to use this route, get someone to drop you off at the Butcher Creek Road near the Power lines and then use your cell phone to get picked up once you get to Kahler Glen or the State Park. That would be approximately a 6 mile ski from the Butcher Creek road to Pelton Place at the 2,000’ mark on the map. It would be a good idea to check out the area prior to skiing so you will have a better idea of distances and locations for finding the trail head from that location.
Bill Miller
20682 Miracle Mile
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