Another Winter has settled in over Prince George, this should come as no surprise since you know, it happens every year! Are you an outdoor at all temps lover, or do you tend to hibernate for the winter?

 

We promise that the frosty season brings something for everyone and below are a few of our favorite Winter activities in and around Prince George! Not only does Winter here bring some pretty spectacular snow covered scenery & sunsets it also opens up more spaces to new and exciting ways to adventure!

 

 

1 ~   SKIING & SNOWBOARDING

Want to head to a local hill or maybe to the backcountry, the North offers plenty of opportunities for both! You can earn your turns after only an hour’s drive, grab your split board or skins & skis and head up Sugar bowl for some epic powder and wicked lines. Backcountry skiing does mean proper gear and training so make sure to check out a local provider of AST-1 courses & find a crew of experienced people to ride with prior to heading out!

If resorts are more your thing than you are in luck. From Powder King Mountain Resort located in the Pine pass with its unmatched snowfall, to the beloved Troll Ski Resort, Murray Ridge & Purden Ski Hill, you could easily fill a winter checking out all of these amazing places. New to skiing or snowboarding? Check out the hills local ski school and sign up for some lessons, it’s never too late to learn something new : )

If you would feel better keeping the planks of wood that are strapped to your feet on flatter ground than head over to the Caledonia Nordic Center. This local gem is located right in town and provides 55km of groomed trails, night skiing, dog friendly trails and numerous snowshoe trails.

 

2  ~   SKATING

A very Canadian past time is heading to your local frozen pond, lacing up some skates and spending an afternoon playing pond hockey. We are so lucky in Prince George to have many local outdoor skating rinks that are formed within tennis courts/lacrosse boxes by dedicated volunteers that spend their time making these rinks all winter.

If you are looking to add a little more adventure head out to Shane or Eena Lake, you might just want to pack a snow shovel with you to clear some snow!

Last but definitely not least, make sure to check out our very own Ice Oval! The Ice oval is a 400 meter long outdoor speed skating facility that makes for a great time skating some laps with friends or family!

 

3  ~   SNOWSHOEING

We had to save our favorite for last! Snowshoeing is an extremely versatile activity and Prince George and the surrounding areas are packed with places to explore. Whether you are looking to head out for an easy hour in town or wanting to tackle some backcountry snowshoeing, this area has something for everyone!

There are so many places to list but that’s for another blog! Keep in mind that lots of in town places get packed down pretty fast so wearing micro spikes over snowshoes may be a better option.  Below is some of our top choices for starting out with your snowshoe adventures!

If you need to rent gear check out Caledonia Nordic Club or Overhang. For any outdoor adventure we suggest you downloaded Gaia gps and start tracking your routes, that way if you get turned around you can just follow your track out!

Make sure to check out

• UNBC Greenway trails/Forests for the World – There are literally endless trails to discover and wander through right within the center of the city. You can stick to the larger main loops or venture off onto side trails on a quest for untouched trails.
• Pidherny – The town favorite for biking in the summer becomes one of the best Winter places to explore! You can spend an hour or 5 hours following the trails and taking in different sights above the city
• Livingston Springs – This requires a bit of a trek North of town. Located within the Crooked River Provincial Park, this trail is easy to follow with very minimal elevation change. It’s like walking through a snowy Winter wonderland, ending at a warm spring that doesn’t freeze over even in the grips of a Northern Winter. (sadly not a hot spring though, so don’t jump in!)
• Driscoll Ridge – If you are looking to start exploring more difficult terrain on your snowshoes, Driscoll Ridge is a great place to start. Driscoll Ridge is located within the Ancient Forest Provincial Park and is hands down one of the most breathtaking places. After only 10 minutes into this snowshoe you can turn around and take in the mountain range across the Fraser River. A few more steps and you break into an ancient, snowcapped cedar forest. You could easily spend hours sticking to the lower areas and just taking in these giant beauties or you can take on the climb and ascend around 300 meters to the first lookout, well worth the effort!

 

We could go on and on as Winter is absolutely one of our favourite seasons, right next to Summer ; )

If you are looking to find some more adventure community, or a Prince George snowshoe guide, join on a guided tour or check out the new local Prince George Adventure Club.

We have almost weekly snowshoes running through the club & all sorts of guided adventures running through The Adventure Bus Tour Co.

As always feel free to reach out with any outdoor adventure questions….from gear, trail info to safety we are here to help make your adventuring more accessible and to create a supportive outdoor adventure community within Prince George, BC