Bruce’s Trail History and Trail Updates

November 25, 2024: Both upper and lower loops have been groomed for skate and classic skiing today.  

Lots of new snow today 5″ but the grooming was done this evening. Temps are cold, near 10 degrees, trail is packed powder now but should settle well overnight. We’ll try to get a classic track in tomorrow. Tomorrow is THE day to carve out some time to ski at Bruce’s.

Mountain Crest Sports, Inc. is a permittee of the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests, and an equal opportunity service employer. Operations are conducted on public lands under a special use permit with the Routt National Forest.

Mountain Crest Sports, Inc. contracts the grooming service on the Bruce’s Trail (Forest Service XC ski trail 1D see map)to Steamboat Nordic. (Geo-referenced Map Forest Service Cross-Country Ski Trails – non-motorized)  

In 1992 Bruce’s Trail was created by long time Steamboat locals who wanted an opportunity to Nordic ski on a groomed trail before the Yampa Valley was coated in snow. This trail gives all skiers the opportunity to ski at high altitude during the early season. 

Bruce’s Trail is groomed by volunteer members of the Steamboat Nordic. 

This trail is open to all users of the national forest. 

This trail is groomed until there is enough snow in the valley for the local Nordic centers to open.

 Once local Nordic centers in the Yampa Valley open for skiing, Bruce’s Trail will no longer be groomed.   

Bruce’s Trail was named after and dedicated to Bruce Ablin- A great guy with a strong Nordic spirit. Unfortunately, Bruce was killed during training by a pumper truck.  

This trail lives on in Bruce’s Memory. 

The grooming of Bruce’s Trail is funded by donations. 

To learn more about the Routt National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov