Top 5 Ways to Enjoy Winter in BC

Staring into a sky of flickering green, blue, and purple light is an ethereal experience. In British Columbia, particularly in the north, the aurora borealis can often be seen between November and March⁠. When the geomagnetic activity is high, head for Northern Rockies Lodge along the Alaska Highway and look up on cold, clear nights for a spectacular show.

For a more rugged experience, winter camp or RV at Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park. Here you can warm up in the hot springs while gazing up at the stars.

Prefer to be active? Hike amongst snow-covered trees to frozen waterfalls in Wells Gray Provincial Park. Hike to four waterfalls, including the largest, Helmcken Falls, which towers at 141 metres (463 feet). Depending on the temperature, this otherworldly show can be a mix of tumbling water, mist, icicles, and snow.

Gliding through nature is an option, too. In the Kootenay Rockies, skate along the Lake Windermere Whiteway—the longest ice-skating pathway in the world at 34 kilometres (21 miles) long—for a memorable winter’s day.

BC’s 13 major ski resorts are the perfect winter escape, even if you don’t ski. These resorts offer snowshoeing routes, cross-country ski tracks, trails for wintery walks, and much more.

It’s easy to become hypnotized by the rhythmic energy of waves as they crash against the shore.

Visit Tofino, often considered BC’s storm-watching capital, or venture farther north to remote Haida Gwaii. Curl up in a cozy cabin and watch the consistent swell break onto a remote beach, and witness powerful storms as they move across the Pacific Ocean.

While you’re here, don’t miss the opportunity to learn about the rich living culture of the Haida Nation at the Haida Heritage Centre and Haida Gwaii Museum, or in conversation with locals who have been stewards of this powerful place for millennia.

If you’d rather be immersed in it—literally—grab a surfboard and jump in. Cold-water surfing is not for the faint of heart, but those who dare know there’s nothing quite like moving in tandem with the sea. Whether you choose surfing or storm watching, you’ll feel a connection to nature’s power.

The strong sense of community and pride in small towns is on full display when residents come together to celebrate, and the winter months are no exception.

The Rossland Winter Carnival has been a favourite of residents and visitors alike since 1898, making it Canada’s longest-running winter carnival. Learn to luge, enjoy a beverage at an ice palace, and dance to live music. Don’t miss the signature bobsled race, where participants race down a hill in (often quirky) homemade bobsleds, reaching speeds of up to 85 km (53 mi) per hour. Past entries have included everything from a hollowed-out log to a piano.

The historic streets of the Okanagan’s oldest community come alive at the Vernon Winter Carnival. More than 100 events are spread throughout the town and nearby SilverStar Mountain Resort. Sip and savour the Okanagan’s best vintages, get your heart pumping during a guided snowshoe tour, or marvel at the birds-eye view from one of the many brightly coloured hot air balloons that fill the sky during the festival.

For something completely different, head to the Cariboo region for the annual Sled Dog Mail Run. Competing sled dog teams become official Canada Post mail carriers during the race as they mush along the Gold Rush Trail from Quesnel to Barkerville.