With abundant snowfall, expansive alpine terrain, and an active sledding community, Northwest BC is one of British Columbia’s premier snowmobiling destinations. From wide-open meadows and mountain bowls to groomed access trails and backcountry cabins, riders of all experience levels will find places to explore.
Grab your sled and discover why locals look forward to winter all year long.
SNOWMOBILING IN NORTHWEST BC
Snowmobiling, or sledding as it’s known around these parts, can grant you access into powder-filled backcountry areas few other people see — and in the Northwest, there’s a lot. The area’s generous and reliable snowfall, good mix of terrain, spectacular scenery and established sledding scenes make it a prime spot to play. There are trails for both beginners and seasoned sledders, offering up everything from open cutblocks and gentle rolling meadows to gnarly chute climbs and high alpine slopes. Take on the popular Telkwa Range and explore powder-laden meadows and steep hills from either Houston or Burns Lake.
The area between Terrace and Nisga’a Territory is a sledding hotspot, maintained by the Skeena Valley Snowmobile Association, with easy access to climb trails offering scenic treed terrain, subalpine views, and backcountry cabins. And for a truly remote wilderness experience, Stewart and the Stewart-Cassiar Highway offers some incredible, untouched terrain. Some would argue the snowmobiling in Kitimat is truly the crown jewel of the Northwest. With over the meters of snowfall on average per year, the area is known for high precipitation and deep, deep powder. The recreation areas on Robinson Ridge and Clague Mountain offer endless trails and undulating features, along with cabins and a robust and active snowmobile club.
If high altitude sledding ins’t your jam, don’t miss the Burns Lake Snowmobile Club‘s Cold Smoke Drags, an annual competition with a groomed track, pro lights, and bleachers where you can watch all the action. Fort St. James is home to 210 kilometres of trails, many of them beginner-friendly, that are maintained by the Fort St. James Snowmobile Club. Sledding in Stewart will take you in close view of glaciers, high alpine bowls, and backcountry sled shacks, all easily accessible as day trips.
