Devil’s Thumb Ranch Wins Cross Country Ski Resort Poll

Devil's Thumb Ranch's 120km trails nestled in the pristine and private Ranch Creek valley at the base of the Continental Divide. (Devil's Thumb Ranch)

Devil’s Thumb Ranch Resort & Spa is number one in the public’s eye, according to The USA Today 2018-19 10Best Poll for cross country ski resorts.

The list of winners recognizes cross country ski resorts all have groomed trails, but after that there is a wide diversity among the 10Best. This year’s 10Best list includes two ranches in Colorado including the overall winner, Devil’s Thumb. 

For the first time, there are two cross country ski areas from the central part of the U.S. - Cross Country Ski Headquarters in Michigan and the family-oriented Maplelag Resort in Minnesota. 

Tahoe Donner Cross Country Center in California is part of a homeowners’ association that has recently renovated its lodge and Jackson Ski Touring is the center of a quintessential New England community. 

The poll included two areas in New York, which surprisingly is the state with the highest number of ski areas in the U.S. Last year’s winner, White Grass Touring Center in West Virginia, is still among the 10Best.

A panel of Nordic ski experts nominated their 20 favorite resorts for the poll, which was then voted on by the public.

The expert panel included Jennie Bender – cross country ski competitor, who has raced all over the world; Reese Brown – Executive Director of Cross Country Ski Areas Association; Roger Lohr – owner and editor of XCSkiResorts.com; Cami Thompson Graves – coach of Nordic ski team at Dartmouth College; Jonathan Wiesel – consultant and entrepreneur in the ski industry with Nordic Group International.

Congratulations to Devil’s Thumb. The cross country ski resorts for the 2018-19 USA Today 10Best Poll voted Top 10 include: 

Devil’s Thumb Ranch Resort & Spa, Colorado

Cross Country Ski Headquarters, Michigan

Tahoe Donner Cross Country, California

Garnet Hill Lodge, New York

White Grass Touring Center, West Virginia

Lapland Lake Vacation Center, New York

Maplelag Resort, Minnesota

Sovereign Lake XC Center & Silver Star Mountain Resort, British Columbia

Latigo Ranch, Colorado

Jackson Ski Touring Center, New Hampshire