If we were to ask you to name four different ways to go skiing, could you? We’ll give you a hint – it largely has to do with the way you get UP the mountain! In British Columbia and particularly the Gold Rush Trail, skiing is an activity we know very well, so let’s explore the different ways you can hit the slopes or trails from the Lower Mainland to the South Chilcotins and up into the Cariboo.
Backcountry Ski Touring
Fresh turns and powder are well-earned in this exhilarating style of skiing. In BC, and particularly along the Gold Rush Trail, ski touring has seen a surge in popularity. This unique adventure blends specialized equipment, avalanche safety training, and a deep appreciation for the rugged mountain terrain. This form of skiing uses “skins”—so named because, in earlier times, real animal hides were used. These skins allow skis to glide forward easily but prevent them from sliding backward, much like stroking fur against the grain.
To get started, the skier attaches skins to the base of their skis, adjusts the ski bindings specifically designed for touring, and begins the trek uphill. It’s a workout that pays off in the best way: reaching untouched, hard-to-access powder where every turn feels like a reward for the effort.
This rewarding form of skiing can be enjoyed just five hours from Vancouver with Wilderness Trails in Gold Bridge. Accessing some of the best backcountry skiing around, Wilderness Trails’ backcountry skiing package combines catered backcountry hut accommodation and guided skiing in the South Chilcotin Ranges—some of the best backcountry BC has to offer. Customize your adventure and stay at the lodge, cabins, or the mountain hut.
Whitecap Alpine operates from McGillivray Pass Lodge, one of the oldest backcountry lodges in BC which is accessible by helicopter. Founded by skiing enthusiasts in the early 1970s, it is the closest all-inclusive backcountry adventure lodge to Vancouver. Offering a range of backcountry skiing tours tailored to your preferences, it promises some of the best experiences you can have.
Experience the magic of being one of the few people to ski the Bowron Lake Chain in winter – a journey reserved for adventurers! Glide over snowy portages and down frozen lakes with expert guides. We highly recommend a guide for this trip and Whitegold Adventures offers everything from day trips to multi-day ski excursions.
Cross-country skiing
Also known as Nordic skiing, cross-country skiing is a popular activity throughout BC, especially in the Cariboo. Like ski touring, it’s a fantastic workout—and the best part is, you can enjoy it at night under a sky full of stars!
100 Mile Nordics offers an affordable winter destination, with trails suitable for both beginners and experts. Their Nordic ski club has been welcoming skiers for over 25 years, providing a fantastic place to explore the season’s beauty. They are open until 10 pm with lit night ski trails, promising a truly unique adventure.
The Williams Lake Cross Country Ski Club at Bull Mountain is another excellent choice for daytime skiing. Both facilities also provide snowshoeing, lessons, and rentals, and are located near charming lodges and accommodations, making it easy to pair a cozy cabin getaway with winter activities.
Located in Quesnel, the Cariboo Ski-Touring Club is one of the largest independent ski clubs in the region, with an extensive trail system spanning approximately 75 kilometres (29 mi). It’s suitable for all ages, and the facility offers equipment rentals, ski classes, 4 kilometres of illuminated tracks, day-use passes, and memberships.
Downhill skiing
With what is likely the most well-known form of skiing, we’d be remiss not to mention the authentic community hills that make the Cariboo the winter adventure hub we know and love, or a hill that might be the Lower Mainland’s best-kept ski secret! BC has a rich history of skiing from the pioneering days to hosting the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games. While many large resorts are available, the Gold Rush Trail offers affordable options that preserve a community-focused, family-owned atmosphere.
Near the beginning of the Gold Rush Trail in the Lower Mainland, Sasquatch Mountain Resort near Harrison Mills receives famous west coast snow accumulations, while views of Harrison Lake and large cedar trees are enjoyed without waiting in long lift lines.
Making a grand return this season after a year of no snow, Timothy Ski Resort near Lac La Hache and Williams Lake welcomes visitors back to their renowned ‘Cariboo Champagne Powder’ once again! Alternatively, longtime locals’ favourite in the Quesnel area, Troll Ski Resort, is another family-friendly Cariboo mountain that puts the community first and certainly has a ski run for everyone.
Heliskiing
It’s true that British Columbia is home to a lot of world-class heli-skiing, and we’re lucky to have some of the best on the Gold Rush Trail.
If you’re a skier, this one is likely high on your bucket list. The Gold Rush Trail is home to some of the most epic heli-skiing in both the Chilcotin and Cariboo Mountains, making it a true BC staple. Tyax Lodge & Heli-Skiing, just a five-hour drive from Vancouver, is one of the few lodges within driving distance and definitely worth the trip. Nestled at the doorstep of the South Chilcotins, this stunning lakeside lodge offers an experience all its own—then there’s the heli-skiing, of course! The South Chilcotins are world-renowned, with glaciers and verticals that will get any skier’s heart racing.
Equally stunning is Silvertip Lodge & Heli-Skiing, located in the renowned Cariboo Mountains. This A-frame lodge sits on its own 14-acre lakefront property on Quesnel Lake. After arriving in Williams Lake from Vancouver, guests are helicoptered directly to the lodge, where luxury in the backcountry awaits. From there, helicopters transport guests to the Cariboo Mountains—an area as world-famous as it is breathtaking, with vast glacial terrain and endless verticals. Known as the birthplace of heli-skiing, the Cariboo Mountains continue to deliver a world-class experience.