Here is a partial list of places in the Pinecrest/Sonora area where you can rent or purchase XC/snow shoe equipment. If you know of other resources, please email them to me so I can add them here.
There are XC ski rental places in the central valley and the bay area so it is best to pick up equipment ahead of time now. Do not expect there to be places to rent XC skis in the Pinecrest area. Others area on Hwy 4 (Bear Valley) and Tahoe area do offer XC ski rentals and groomed cross country ski areas but they are hours away from Pinecrest!
We recommend you purchase XC/snowshoe equipment used or new whenever possible. The equipment is mostly affordable (used under $100) and new around $200-$300 with skis, boots and poles and it will last a long time and does not need to be replaced by newer ski equipment every few years. Whenever I see older cross country gear package for sale (touring skis with waxless ski bases) that are designed for a normal size adult at a garage sale or second store, it’s best to buy and try and build up your equipment for you, your family and friends.
This mail order store back east is a good resource since our local REI has very few stores that carry ANY cross country equipment anymore in the store
Rentals:
- Heidi’s Ski Shop – On 108 about 3 miles west of Pinecrest this place offers rentals for snowshoeing and downhill skiing. They currently don’t offer XC skiing but be sure to ask them so maybe someday they will.
Heidi’s Ski Shop is located in Cold Springs, California just seven miles from Dodge Ridge.
We want you to Save Time and Save Money by renting skis, snowboards and snowshoes here.
29870 Hwy 108, Cold Springs, CA 95335 | 209.965.3450
- Dodge Ridge – This downhill resort does not offer any XC rentals of lessons that we are aware of (1/4/2016). Although in the past they have.
Lessons:
We don’t know of any place locally that provides lessons near Pinecrest but it’s fairly easy to learn.
Lots of great on-line videos showing the basic diagonal striding method that you would use on trails around the Pinecrest area.
The one thing to remember when reviewing other articles on the Internet about cross country skiing is that you will not be on “groomed” trails or even roads in the Pinecrest area. So Cross country skiing “skating” isn’t really an option. So make sure you either purchase or rent “touring skis” or “back county ski” packages if you planning to do some more aggressive hills.
Pinecrest Cross Country & Snowshoe Network 