Southwest Nordic Ski Club
Grants Awarded
The Southwest Nordic Ski Club provides a year-round trail maintenance program on local Forest Service lands for various recreational activities, and specifically grooms trails in the winter for safe usage by all, including children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. Given the labor-intensive nature of trail grooming and the aging equipment, the club is aiming to purchase modern machinery that will facilitate work for the current team and ensure a smooth transition to the younger generation who will eventually take over the program. Since the 1970s, the club's well-established program has attracted numerous participants from various locations due to their well-maintained cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails.
The Southwest Nordic Ski Club (SWNSC) is dedicated to promoting cross country skiing in both our local community, and our greater Southwest region, including Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado. We are a 501c3 non-profit with a special cooperative agreement with the Santa Fe National Forest to maintain the Nordic trails at Cañada Bonita, anchored by the original Guaje Canyon Trail #282. Additionally, SWNSC administers and partners with other trail stewardship projects in Los Alamos County and beyond. SWNSC provides free cross-country skiing and snowshoe opportunities by grooming the Cañada Bonita trail system in the winter months, and maintains the entire trail system for all users during the rest of the year. The Southwest Nordic Ski Club was originally the Los Alamos Nordic Ski Club, which began in the 1970s. The original members of the LANSC developed the existing trail system during those early years, with improvements in subsequent years. The current trail system is the result of a long-time collaborative effort by the club and the SFNF, and is enjoyed by a wide range of users. SWNSC also organizes, promotes, and hosts many cross-country skiing activities and events, such as instructional clinics, tours, group ski and moonlight gatherings, and a free kids’ program. Off-season activities and events are also organized and hosted by the club.