Winter Adventures

Visit a guest ranch or lodge, stay in a cozy cabin, or try winter camping as you explore wide-open spaces filled with winter adventure opportunities along the Gold Rush Trail. Find fantastic snow conditions from mid-December to mid-March, perfect for downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, dog sledding, snowmobiling, wildlife viewing, and much more. As the temperatures drop below freezing, strap on a pair of snowshoes and head into the woods to find the perfect ice fishing lake, or plan a family getaway enjoying classic Canadian winter adventures like skating or touring by horse-drawn sleigh or dogsled.

Downhill Skiing, Snowboarding, Cross Country Skiing, Ski Touring & Heli-Skiing

Hit the Gold Rush Trail with a pair of skis and enjoy exceptional trail systems and extensive groomed networks to explore at your leisure during your winter adventures. For family-friendly downhill ski days, visit Sasquatch Mountain Resort near Harrison Mills, Mt. Timothy Ski Resort near Lac La Hache and longtime locals favourite in the Quesnel area, Troll Ski Resort. For nordic skiing facilities, be sure to add 100 Mile Nordics and Williams Lake Cross Country Ski Club to your list. And for the ultimate ski trip, consider a heliskiing vacation to experience the best powder and maximum vertical. You can learn everything you need to know about skiing the Gold Rush Trail at:

4 Ways to Ski the Gold Rush Trail: discover diverse ways to embrace winter adventures, from carving the slopes to exploring trails in the South Chilcotin Mountains and up into the Cariboo.

Winter Trails: find some of the best snowshoeing, winter hiking, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling trails for you to explore along BC’s Gold Rush Trail.

Spots to Warm up this Winter: a cozy and comprehensive list of huts, lodges and cozy cabins to warm up along the Gold Rush Trail.

Additionally, choose from a variety of spots where you can stay & play: Whitecap Alpine, Chilcotin Holidays, Whitegold Adventures, Tyax Lodge & Heli-Skiing, Silvertip Lodge & Heli-Skiing, & Mt. Timothy Ski Resort. 

Ice Climbing

It’s park-and-climb at Marble Canyon Provincial Park in the Pavilion Mountain Range near Lillooet, where the roadside icefalls are among the most thrilling and accessible in Western Canada. To make the best of your Gold Rush Trail ice climbing experience, consider a guided package with Canada West Mountain School. At the end of the day, curl up with a good book and a blanket by the fire in your cabin, chalet or lodge and rest up for more adventure in the morning!

Snowmobiling

Sled enthusiasts from across North America flock here for their winter adventures, drawn by the wide-open spaces, abundant hill climbs, and extensive trail networks—some of which link historic towns scattered throughout the region like gold nuggets. Snowmobilers can delight in the sheer magnitude of authorized trails waiting to be explored, including alpine peaks, noble forests, and lake tours. Try out the Gold Rush Snowmobile Trail, 170 km/106 mi long taking you from  70 Mile House to Horsefly. Other clubs and trails to check out are Wells Snowmobile Club, Williams Lake Powder Kings Snowmobile Club, and the Bralorne trails. For a great place to stay and play, don’t miss Bralorne Adventure Lodge.

Don’t forget to visit Winter Trails for more details.

Snowshoeing

Loved for its affordability, simplicity, and numerous health benefits, snowshoeing is a fantastic way to experience the magic of winter adventures along the Gold Rush Trail without the need for extensive equipment or time. While you can find trail information in our Winter Trails story, the beauty of snowshoeing is that you can do it almost anywhere with snow coverage! Rentals are available at many outdoor sporting stores and local ski facilities (please call ahead to confirm), or you can purchase your own set from places like Costco or MEC.

Ice-Fishing

Thanks to our vast number of lakes and not terribly cold winter temperatures, ice fishing is a popular activity for locals and visitors alike. Many of the lakes along The Gold Rush Trail are easily accessible during winter via plowed roads and some of the larger lakes even have lodges so that you can stay a while and really take it all in. If you prefer a more rugged experience for your winter adventures, you can explore a remote lake location, many of which have no services at all and even require a snowmobile ride or snowshoe in. Perhaps best of all about ice fishing out here, there’s lots to catch and no angling pressure, making it great for first-timers. 100 Mile House’s Canim Lake, Quesnel’s Dragon Lake, and Williams Lake’s Reservoir Lake are three popular ones to check out. Within the Land of Hidden Waters region, favourites include Irish Lake, Loon Lake, Bridge Lake, Lac La Hache, Hathaway Lake, and Horse Lake.

Other Family Activities

Winter with kids can be challenging, what with trying to make sure everyone is warm enough, fed enough, and entertained enough. And while we can’t necessarily ensure the first two, thankfully the Gold Rush Trail has plenty of immersive activities to keep everyone amused this winter season. For non-skier families or those looking for other unique and affordable experiences, ice-skating or playing hockey on a frozen lake, building snow people outside your own private log cabin, witnessing dog sleds charge past during the Sled Dog Mail Run event, or bundling up for a ride aboard a horse-drawn sleigh at Barkerville Historic Town & Park, Spring Lake Ranch, or Wettstone Guest Ranch can be great ways to create long-lasting memories for the whole family. Learn more about family getaways along the Gold Rush Trail at:

Learn more about family getaways along the Gold Rush Trail at Top Worry-Free Winter Getaways for Families. Happy winter adventures!