There is something synonymous with the words “winter” and “north”. These words spark excitement within those who love the type of outdoor adventure that can be had while enjoying the dazzling beautiful winter scenes that abound in the northern part of the province. After exploring and enjoying the fresh snow, endless tracks and trails, and downhill slopes, you can settle into some comfy accommodations, eat some great food and discover local breweries. Take some indoor time enjoying the unique shops or simply spend time relaxing and savouring the views.
**Please follow all COVID-19 health guidelines by B.C. Health. Do not travel to other communities if travel restrictions exist due to COVID-19.**
Smithers
The lovely small town of Smithers has an Alps vibe at any time of year, but the snowy months of winter create a magic in this area that you may not have experienced before. Fabulous downhill runs and fun cross-country ski paths can be found at the famous Hudson’s Bay Mountain, not to mention the unlimited opportunities to go snowshoeing through the winter wonderland.
The town itself boasts great little shops, eateries and accommodations, including its own brewery.
The Smithers Snowmobile Association grooms trails in three areas and maintains six mountain cabins, so you can enjoy some time out if you happen to be bringing along your own machine, or check out the available snowmobile tours and rental equipment available from Harvey Mountain Adventures.
There are limited flights with Air Canada from Vancouver, or it is an easy, and beautiful drive down Highway 16 from either Prince George or Terrace.
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Terrace
Just a couple of hours down the road from Smithers you will find the small city of Terrace.
Larger than Smithers, this destination is a perfect, and gorgeous, place to have a getaway for a week or a few days this winter.
If you are boarder or skier you can head over to the incredible Shames Mountain Ski Resort, which is only 35 kilometers outside the city and home to 1600 vertical feet of powder, 28 cut runs, and an abundance of natural glades.
If you are looking for more adventure, try out Heliskiing with Northern Escape Heli Skiing or White Wilderness Heliskiing.
If you are trying to get a fishing fix to tide you over until spring, you can get it here when you enjoy some ice fishing for steelhead.
There are plenty of accommodations, restaurants and shops to enjoy here as well. Air Canada and Westjet both have flights into Terrace, otherwise, drive Highway 16 to enjoy the views of the mountains and valleys.
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Prince George
This city is not necessarily where people think of when they want a getaway in the northern part of the province, but there is plenty to keep you busy on some vacation days here.
There are some indoor activities that you can enjoy, such as the art galleries and stores, but it is the outdoor experiences that abound here.
The scenery is gorgeous so I am sure you are going to want to spend every moment outside that you can. Snowshoeing, cross country skiing, ice climbing, winter biking, skating, snowmobiling, downhill skiing or snowboarding – take your pick.
There are dozens of snowshoe trails around town: Forests for the World, Otway and Eskers Provincial Park are just a few of the places that offer varying degrees of difficulty. The Caledonia Nordic Ski Club operates on the Otway trails to keep groomed options for cross country.
Head 20 kilometers outside the city to Tabor Mountain Ski Resort for downhill adventure or check out Hart Ski Hill within the city limits. Accommodation and restaurants are plentiful here. Fly in for your fun time away or drive from Alberta or other parts of BC.
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Atlin
The name Atlin comes from the Tlingit word “atlah,” which means “Big Water.” Both of these descriptions are suitable for this small, isolated community that sits on the province’s largest natural lake and is surrounded by massive mountain ranges and ice fields.
Atlin is one of the more remote towns in northern B.C., so it’s not the easiest place to get to, but once you are there you will understand why it is a destination all on its own. If you love winter and the fun, outdoor activities that the snowier months bring, then head up to Atlin to discover the best of this season.
There are plenty of places to enjoy cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, curling and ice fishing. Pack up your gear and head up to this winter wonderland – catch a flight to Whitehorse, Yukon and then drive down to Atlin, or drive up the Alaska Highway from Dawson Creek and wind your way over to Atlin.
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Skeena Mountain Range and Bear Claw Lodge
With access to one of the largest heli skiing areas in the world with an area of 9,525 km2, you can enjoy some crazy heliskiing opportunities in the Skeena Mountain range.
There is a huge diversity of terrain, from the high vertical slopes with steeps to powder bowls with pillows and shoots. Heli skiing doesn’t stop during bad weather, instead taking advantage of plenty of tree skiing and an abundance of sweeping glades. Bear Claw Lodge offers clients very exclusive, personal and high-quality accommodation, and is only 6 minutes by helicopter to your first runs.
The highly experienced guides are UIAGM or ACMG/CSGA certified and and our helicopter pilots have many hours mountain flying experience. From Vancouver you can fly into Smithers, which is the closest airport, then the van shuttle will take you on the 1½ hr drive from Smithers to the Bear Claw Lodge.
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Fort Nelson
Winter is a spectacular time to travel to the Fort Nelson area. Don’t expect fancy hotels or resorts here, but instead expect beauty, quiet and gorgeous open spaces and wilderness areas.
Check out Andy Bailey Regional Park, about 38 kilometers southeast of the town, which has some of the driest, fluffiest powder snow in the province, and there’s hardly anyone to share it with. This is the perfect place to cut your own track. Stay up late to experience the incredible northern lights which frequent the sky.
Take your snowshoes out to Parker Lake to trek at sunset. This is one of the most spectacular winter sunset areas that you will ever see. When you get cold, take a drive up the highway to Liard Hot Springs and soak the cold away. You can drive up to Fort Nelson from Fort St. John or Dawson Creek, which both have airports, or take one of the limited flights into Fort Nelson itself.
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Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park
This is one of the most popular places to visit along the Alaska Highway, in summer or winter.
One of Canada’s largest hot springs is waiting to help you warm up during the cold months of the year. Head north on the Alaska Highway from Fort Nelson to find this incredible gem of a place. If you want some adventure, try climbing a peak in Stone Mountain Provincial Park.
Due to their inland location, the Northern Rockies don’t receive a ton of snow so the adventurous spirit that just can’t get enough hiking during the summer and fall will find some accessible routes here.
Along the route you can stop and do some ice skating on Muncho Lake, surrounded by the gorgeous mountains and beautiful vistas. This is where you will stay anyway, if you don’t want to drive back and forth to Fort Nelson, so take advantage of the location.
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Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Park
The Tatshenshini-Alsek Park has been designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and the mighty rivers that carve their way through the park are responsible for much of what’s special in the area. The great gap they’ve created through the coastal mountains allows cool, moist ocean air into the cold interior. Bordering on the Yukon and Alaska, this is one of the great off the beaten track destinations for the winter (well, and the summer too), and offers some very good snowmobiling opportunities.
Be aware though that this is a remote destination with no facilities, so if you choose to winter camp please contact BC Parks before heading out. In recent years, BC Parks and the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations have taken the necessary steps to provide winter recreation opportunities for those wishing to ride snowmobiles in this magnificent corner of British Columbia. At the same time, BC Parks is committed to protecting the natural environment and preserving wildlife species and their habitat. Snowmobile use is only allowable in a specified area within the park.
The roughly 60,000-hectare, snowmobile area is in the park’s Natural Environment Zone, one of two management zones within the park. The other zone in the park is called the Wilderness Recreation Zone. The objective of the Natural Environment Zone is to provide a limited number of entry points along the Haines Highway where snowmobile use is permitted. Access is restricted largely to valley bottoms and valley ridges in this portion of the park.
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Kitimat
The Kitimat area is a beautiful place to spend some time exploring the outdoors during the winter months. If you have your own snowmobile and like to ride, this destination needs to be on your bucket list, if only for the high snowfall levels which create fantastic conditions. Choose from the scenic trails that have overnight cabins which are considered by some to be the nicest snowmobile cabins in the province.
If you are not into riding, the mountainous area is waiting to be discovered on skis or snowshoes. The Snow Valley Nordic Ski Club run and maintain 35 km of Onion Lake Ski Trails, located halfway between Kitimat and Terrace. Night skiing is available on 5 km of lit trails and dog owners can ski with their best friend on the 6 km “Doggy Trail”.
The trails were built to suit a variety of skill levels and have spectacular views. You can also spend some time snowshoeing, which is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to exercise or get out and enjoy the snow. If you don’t mind driving a little, there is access to two world class ski hills – Shames Mountain by Terrace and Hudson Bay Mountain in Smithers.
Fly into Terrace and rent a vehicle to get to Kitimat, it’s only 60 kilometers down the road.
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Prince Rupert
This is another small town which you may not have considered as a winter destination, but this is a great place to hang out for a couple of days and just relax. Life here is on slow mode, there is no hurry.
Savor the quiet days and enjoy the fantastic ocean views that delight visitors even in the colder months. There are some historical sites that may (or may not) be open for a visit, such as the North Pacific Cannery National Historic Site, but don’t count on spending too much time in places like this, as many of them close for the winter. Despite the warmer coastal temperatures, this area can be excellent for snowshoeing and there is even a local outfitter who can provide tours or rentals.
Winter biking is also a fun activity here, and fat tires are a good idea – providing stability in the mud (and occasional snow) and taking some of the effort out of the uphill climbs.
Of course, every end-of-the-road town needs a local brewery, and, luckily, Prince Rupert has a great one. The Wheelhouse Brewing Co., which is tucked into a warehouse in Cow Bay is the town’s local watering hole. Try their spruce tip beer for something truly unique. Fly into Terrace and drive the stunning section of Highway 16 that leads to the town, just 144 kilometers west.
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Dawson Creek
While Dawson Creek is well known for the history here, and for being the start of the Alaska Highway, there is much more to do here in the winter for outdoor activities lovers.
For adventurous ice climbers, Tumbler Ridge is a dream destination in the winter. Find your way to Babcock Falls with ice plunging down from a sandstone cliff or choose to climb Bergeron Falls set in a natural amphitheatre frozen in time.
You can also spend some time doing some winter hiking at Bear Mountain Wind Park, which is a real treat at sunset. Experience the power of wind, while gazing out at expansive views of the Rocky Mountain foothills to the southwest.
For even more activities check out the snowshoeing or cross-country skiing at Bear Mountain Nordic Ski Club – a two-for-one opportunity! Head out for a lap around the boreal forest entrenched ski system managed by the Bear Mountain Nordic Ski Club.
Of course, there are lovely little shops, plenty of hotels and restaurants and some history to be seen in the town as well. This is an easy drive up from either Alberta or other parts of B.C., or utilize their airport which has several flights coming in and out.
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Fort St. John
If you want to spend some time in Fort St John in the winter, make sure to take a pair of snowshoes along with you.
The hiking trails in Beatton Provincial Park near here double as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing routes and provide 12 kilometers of paths to enjoy. Snowmobiling at Redfern-Keily Provincial Park in the Rocky Mountains is another great winter activity in the area.
Don’t forget to visit Big Bam Ski Hill, which is a volunteer-run community ski hill located on the south side of the community of Taylor, 25 kilometers south of Fort St. John. A new tow-lift is capable of moving over 400 people per hour up the 750-ft tow line to an elevation of 180 feet.
Make sure you spend some winter nights outside as well in a dark place, to view the spectacular northern lights! The city itself has lots of options for food, accommodations and shopping. There is an airport here if you want to fly in, otherwise look at driving up from either Alberta or other areas in B.C.
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Powder King Mountain Resort
Located 120 kilometers from Prince George and 210 kilometers from Dawson Creek on Highway 27, this ski and snowboard destination is someplace that will capture your heart. They have some of the best powder skiing in the entire province. Nestled in the pristine wilderness of the Canadian Rockies, the ski hill and resort offer the best of the great outdoors, from virgin snow and breathtaking drops, to the gentle groomed slopes of beginner runs. Most of the terrain, spread over a vertical rise of 2,100 feet (640 m), favours intermediate-level skiers. The 24 runs are serviced by a chairlift, 2 T-bars and a platter tow. There is a hostel type accommodation at the hill itself, or choose to stay in a private cabin, suite or bunkhouse at Azouzetta Lake Lodge.
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Skeena Cat Skiing Basecamp
B.C. is well known as the cat skiing mecca of the world, with over 20 operations in the province. Cat skiing began in B.C. over 30 years ago when a couple from Meadow Creek realized that ski resort grooming machines (snowcats) could also access the backcountry for skiing. Skeena is the only cat skiing operation in the northern part of the province and operates from the only Backcountry Base Camp in Canada. With only 1 cat taking 12 guests per day on one of the largest and most skiable tenures, with an area of approximately 600 square kilometers! This area has long been known by local loggers and powder hounds as a crazy snow belt. It is here where the warm, moist Pacific air collides with the cold, dry air from the interior creating huge dumps of perfect powder snow. The local mountains further enhance the accumulation. If it’s snowing anywhere in BC, it’s most likely snowing here.
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Chetwynd
A lovely place to spend a couple of days ice fishing, snowmobiling or enjoying the recreation facilities including the public skating rink. Moberly Lake is a large lake on the west side of Highway 29 north, just 30 kilometers north of Chetwynd.
In the winter months you can do some ice fishing for Northern Pike, Lake Trout and Ling Cod (Burbot). This area also offers some of the best sledding the province has to offer. Chetwynd offers up some incredible deep powder, challenging slopes and virgin territory.
Whether it’s the quiet solitude of forest or the exhilaration of the wide-open throttle on an untouched alpine meadow, you will find what you want to experience on your sled. You can also stay in the quiet town and travel to Powder King Mountain to enjoy the downhill adventures available there.
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