Freeheel and Wheel / Ski

Come toWest Yellowstone and experience world renowned Nordic skiing for all levels, from powder to immaculately groomed tracks. Free Heel and Wheel is your Nordic Ski headquarters in the greaterYellowstone area. We are a full service ski shop offering a complete line of cross country skis, service, accessories, and rentals.

Didn’t bring your cross country gear or just in town for the day and want to hit the trails? No problem, we have a complete line of rental gear. We offer classic touring skis, rugged touring skis, performance skis, race skis, and snowshoes. All rental packages include skis, boots, and poles. We provide instructions on how to use all binding systems and provide trail maps and advice on various options for places to go either inWest Yellowstone or the surrounding area. Consider a lesson for the ultimate on-snow experience!

Touring Skis: These skis are suited for machine groomed or skier groomed trails. Skis are usually 50-60mm wide so they float well in softer snow. We rent mid-length or traditional length touring skis. Mid-lengths are nice for new skiers due to their maneuverability and stability. Traditional lengths have longer glide zones which is better for groomed trails or more experienced skiers. Our Rossignol X2 boots are an extremely comfortable and cozy light touring boot along with NNN3 Touring bindings which can be stepped into without bending over! This category is the most versatile of the rentals and fun for all levels of skiers. $20 per day $5 per hour

Performance Skis: These skis require machine groomed surfaces for classic or traditional cross country skis. Skis are narrower than touring skis and can be waxable or waxless. Perfect for the Rendezvous Trails. This package will give you more speed than waxless touring yet remain stable in groomed tracks. $25 per day $7 per hour

Race Skate Skis: For the adrenaline junkies! We rent fast skating skis for those who want lots of glide or to try something new. This category includes high end race skate skis (Atomic, Rossignol, and Fischer!), Salomon's pilot skating boots, and bindings. Head over to the Rendezvous trails for buff skating lanes and terrain for all levels. $30 per day $8 per hour

Rugged Touring Skis: This set-up is ideal for ungroomed touring trails which may also be shared with snowshoers and wildlife. We carry mid-length metal edge kick and glide skis for fun in deeper snow. Boots are comfortable, warm, and utilize NNN Backcountry bindings which are slightly wider and beefier than NNN3's. We think of them as snowshoes with GLIDE! $25 per day $7 per hour

Pulk Sled: A pull trailer for kids made by Wilderness Engineering. Bring your little ones along on the adventure in this enclosed sled with waist harness, which can be used for either classic or skate skiing. It can also be used to hall extra gear on those long trips. $20 per day $5 per hour

Snowshoes: We rent the 1000 series of snowshoes from Atlas. These shoes are one of Atlas's premiere shoes. Exceptionally durable and easy to use. We rent all lengths including kids so the whole family can go! Rentals include poles and tips on places to go. $20 per day $5 per hour

Hourly rentals please stop by our shop at40 Yellowstone Avenue, West Yellowstone,Montana.

We will need a major credit card to guarantee and confirm your reservation. Reservations cancelled within 24 hours of arrival will be charged for the day’s rental.

Let the experts at Free Heel and Wheel guide you on your next winter outing. Whether you are new to Nordic skiing, want to improve your classic or skate skiing techniques, or simply would like a local’s in depth knowledge of the area, the guide staff here is right for you.

Lessons and guided tours can accommodate any schedule from a quick one hour lesson to an all-day excursion. Let us know what type of terrain or skiing technique you are interested in and we will recommend or rent the appropriate gear. There is nothing better than a private lesson to really get your skiing “back on track”.

Free Heel and Wheel is the best choice to tune and wax your Nordic ski equipment. Use the experts at Free Heel and Wheel to make sure you apply the appropriate wax. Our professionals will do it for you or show you the way to tune at home. We carry a complete selection of waxes and tuning gear.

West Yellowstone is the place to be for free heel skiing. Cross country skiers of all skill levels will enjoy our local options. West Yellowstone has the best groomed trails in theUS and top options for the backcountry and touring skier. Our winter season starts long before others, so come over and enjoy the snow from November through April. The staff at Free Heel and Wheel is always ready to offer advice on current ski opportunities.

Riverside Ski Trail. Access this great ski tour or snowshoe walk off ofBoundary Street and head intoYellowstone Park. The "Upriver" and "Downriver" loops combine for nearly 10K of skiing along theMadison River with incredible views and potential wildlife viewing. A great spot for an afternoon picnic!!

There are other opportunities for skiing into Yellowstone with access at trailheads located on Highway 191 heading north to Big Sky andBozeman. Here are some suggestions:

Telemark Meadows (Mile post 18): Gentle slopes for some telemark skiing with views ofMadison andGallatin Mountains.

Bighorn Pass Trail (Mile Post 20): A popular trail with great touring for all levels and skiing inYellowstone.

Fawn Pass Trail (Mile post 22): This trail parallelsBighorn Pass meandering up a gorgeous meadow to a connector 8km in. Make a loop or just go out and back. Great spot to see elk.

Specimen Creek Trail (Mile post 27): Follow Specimen Creek up a beautiful drainage, keep your eyes open for petrified trees and moose! Good spot for a snowshoe walk.

Snowshoes are allowed on any ungroomed ski trails inYellowstone Park.

Harriman State Park inIsland Park, Idaho (26 miles fromWest Yellowstone). There are trails for all levels of ability including more than 7 miles of skating lanes. Ski along the Henry's Fork of theSnake River or try the Ridge Loop for a wonderful view of the park from the Ridge Overlook.

This after-school program is open to kids in first through sixth grade. Meet once a week and spend up to two hours on the local trails. Instruction, education, games, and races establish the base for a lifetime activity. Rental gear is available at a discounted rate. Call us at 406.646.7744 for more details.