Enchanted Forest Cross Country Ski Area

Winter 2022 Update, December 5th

It is with a heavy heart that we report founders John and Judy Miller both passed away Thanksgiving week. The entire Enchanted Forest community is saddened by their passing. They both skied and snowshoed as long as they could, and even visited the area in the last 2 years.

As of December 5th, there are only a few inches of snow on the ground in shady areas and still long bare stretches on the trails. It was warm this last weekend and actually rained some. We are waiting for the shift in La Nina and more cold temperatures moving south and snow in the forecast.

All but 2 trails in the system are cleared! Yuki Ona snowshoe trail will remain uncleared for the season. We need the logging crew to remove the heavy treefall in that area. Also, one Dog Trail is still blocked, Upper Kitty Corner. Other than those we have a 100% cleared trail system!

The Little John yurt is repaired and open again for winter rentals, and the Midway yurt is repaired and ready for those needing a break or a lunch spot this winter!

We will be ready to see you as soon as the snow flies. In the meantime, if you would like to hike or mountain bike please feel free!

Fall is glorious at Enchanted Forest and many of our trails are cleared out to the fabulous Pièce de Résistance view past the Long John Yurt and the Red River Overlook in the spectacular “Cathedral Grove”.

Cross country ski or snowshoe by candlelight Christmas night, December 25.

Help rebuild Enchanted Forest

Wednesday, December 15th brought 60-115mph winds to the Red River area. 95% of the Enchanted Forests trails were impassable with downed trees and debris. Whole swathes of forest were flattened, and several buildings were destroyed or damaged. Mike Ritterhouse, our longtime general manager, estimated “200 acres of our permit zone are 98% flattened, another 200 acres are 60% flattened.”

We have successfully opened nearly 100% of the area at this time, but there is still work to do and financial obligations we must meet after this devastating wind storm. The lack of snow and cold temperatures for fall 2022 has made it that much harder to finish recovery.

If you would like to contribute to our rebuilding, please visit our GoFundMe page

Thank you so much to those who have already helped! Without you we could not have gotten to this point and may have closed forever.

Special thanks go out to several volunteers who went above and beyond – Ham, Corey, Nort, Andy Lang, Ron and Dina Burnham, Ed Hampton and the many volunteers from Faith Mountain Fellowship, Bill MacDonald, and Richard Holmes among many others. Also, the field leadership provided by our chief snowshoe guide, Shane Clawson and the coordination efforts of longtime staff member Bob Blair have been essential. Many of you know Larry McConnell and he was able to come in the afternoons and early evenings to sharpen and maintain the chainsaws as well as our spirits.

Much of our food was provided at a significant discount and occasional donation from Old Tymers in Red River. Thanks to Carolyn Housley-Baños, Abbi, and all the crew at Old Tymers!

Donations through GoFundMe stand at $28,890 of our $100,000 goal. So far funds have gone toward buying forestry equipment and other supplies, chainsaw repairs, paying a core group of staff during our clearing efforts, buying lunch for volunteers, paying bills (such as our umbrella insurance and workers’ comp insurance, rental gear and other commitments made well before the disaster.) We have also been able to process most refunds for folks who booked in the fall.

As I have asked in each of these updates, please share our donation link — https://gofund.me/2e752ca3 .

If you are interested in other updates or continued information please check out our internet presences at:  https://enchantedforestxc.com/ , https://www.facebook.com/enchantedxc/ , and https://www.youtube.com/user/enchantedforestxc .

If you have any questions or constructive criticism, please contact us via the above-mentioned contact methods.