As a family photographer in the Fox Valley, I meet a lot of families who are looking for suggestions for fun adventures to do with their family. And during the winter one of my favorite places to suggest is Nordic Mountain!
Winters seem to be hard for some in Wisconsin because it’s so cold and there doesn’t seem like much to do. BUT what if I told you that you could take a mini adventure with your family just outside the Fox Valley? You and your family are sure to have an absolute blast at Nordic Mountain!
Nordic Mountain is ski resort located in the rolling hills of Mt. Morris, Wisconsin. They opened in 1976 for skiers, but have since expanded and now also offer snowboarding, tubing and mountain biking. It’s conveniently located just outside of the Fox Valley, about a 45 minute drive to pure bliss and adventure for the whole family!
Nordic Mountain Information
Here’s a quick rundown of the Mountain facts:
– Skiable Vertical: 265 ft
– 18 runs (easy to black diamond)
– 16 lit runs for night skiing
– 3 terrain parks (small, medium, large)
– 5-10 chutes for tubing
– Make their own snow
– Lift services: triple chair, double chair, beginner handle tow, park handle tow, tubing conveyor lift, beginner small conveyor lift and beginner big conveyor lift.
There is no onsite lodging available, but there are plenty of places to stay in the area. For a list of their recommendations click here.
Skiing and Snowboarding
For beginners: If you don’t have your own equipment, don’t worry they have gear you can rent. They also have lessons too if you feel you want to learn more. They offer a learning area for you to get the hang of things and a feel for the snow. Once you feel good there, check out the gentle giant hill.
For intermediate: There are a quite a few blue runs available for you to try. Including Dynamite, Me Nords, Nitro, Hari Kari and Crisis. They’re site recommends Hari Kari and Nitro.
For advanced: There are many difficult and expert runs available at Nordic. Just keep in mind at the bottom there is a slow zone to protect the other skiers from other runs who aren’t as experienced. There’s even a glades section that brings you through the trees if you’re looking for a challenge.
For skiing and snowboarding hours click here.
Snow Tubing
If you’re not a fan of skiing or snowboarding, but you still want to have some winter fun then you need to try tubing at Nordic Mountain! All ages are welcome, but there is a height requirement of 42 inches for safety reasons so keep that in mind when planning your visit.
Tubing here is easy. You ride your tube to the top of the hill using their lift. And then you just have to sit down in the tube and slide down one of the chutes. Tubes can reach up to speeds of 40 mph making this super exciting and thrilling. It has over 100 ft of vertical drop and the ride is more than a quarter mile long! The tubing park also has 12 rollers.
For tubing hours click here.
Mountain Biking
Searching for a scenic area to mountain bike? Nordic Mountain covers quite a large area with over 104 acres. The trails for mountain biking wind and twist throughout the whole property. Whether you are a beginner and want an easy trail or looking for a more challenging course with a world-class cross country trail, they’ve got you covered! For updated information about trails follow the Waushara Area Mountain Bike Association here.
Dining at Nordic Mountain
All of this fun and excitement is sure to make you and your family hungry.
Check out Nordy’s Pub, located on the upper floor of the lodge. The pub serves many different appetizers, sandwiches, wraps, pizzas, drinks and even specialty hot drinks. Did you know that this pub was actually built using the timbers that were logged from the hill when they were clearing the run in 1975? Pretty cool!
Don’t want to slow down and just grab something quick to eat? There is also a cafeteria styled setting at the Nordic Cafe, located on the lower level of the lodge. You will find quick options like hot dogs, fries, snacks and drinks there.
Thank you for reading my post about Nordic Mountain. I hope you and your family have an absolute blast! For more information about Nordic check their website.
Here are some other blog posts you might like:
Fun Things to do in Appleton WI with Your Kids
10 of the Best Things to do in Oshkosh With Your Family
