Get Outside This Winter: 10 Unforgettable Experiences You Can Have Right Now

British Columbia offers plenty of unique ways to safely and responsibly embrace winter and take advantage of the joys of a new year. Retreat on weekends or make it a week, and find unforgettable outdoor activities that will warm you from the inside out. 

From frolicking in the snow to soaking under the stars in secluded hot springs, here are 10 unique experiences in BC that you can enjoy this winter. 

1. Go Skating Under Open Skies

Enjoy wide open spaces and fewer faces with a winter skate at an outdoor rink or frozen lake, like the Lake Windermere Whiteway in the Kootenay Rockies. The world’s longest ice-skating pathway connects the communities of Windermere and Invermere, allowing skaters to glide for more than 30 kilometres surrounded by towering mountains. While you’re there, check out Lake Lillian Whiteway down the road; a five-dollar contribution to the Toby Creek Nordic Ski Club gets you a day pass for both. Before skating in these areas, be sure to check weather and ice conditions.

In Kelowna, the Stuart Park Outdoor Skating Rink lights up each year with an outdoor fire pit to warm fingers and toes after laps around the ice (check for opening times). In Manning Park Resort, guests have the option of two outdoor skating ponds with on-site skate rentals. Sticking closer to the coast? Head for Harrison Hot Springs and glide around their newly opened Starlight Skating Rink.

In Smithers, skate under the shadow of Hudson Bay Mountain on Lake Kathlyn, or along the groomed and flooded pathways on Seymour Lake. The Prince George Outdoor Ice Oval is a 400-metre lit track on natural ice, perfect for an evening skate under the stars.

Ice skating on outdoor ponds and lakes can be dangerous. Everyone in your group should understand minimum ice depths and know what to do in an emergency. Get more information on ice safety from AdventureSmart.

Bull Mountain Cross-Country Ski & Snowshoe Area, just north of Williams Lake, is an exceptional 28-kilometre trail system with a lengthy groomed network. Skiing here means your furry friend can tag along with three kilometres of designated dog-friendly trails.

Iconic snowshoeing destinations also sit atop local mountains on Vancouver’s North Shore. Overnight at Lonsdale Quay Hotel, or a short SeaBus ride away in historic Gastown at the Auberge. Snowshoe your way to fondue at Mt. Seymour, try a Lights to the Lodge self-guided tour at Cypress Mountain to a historic warming hut, or snap on snowshoes at Grouse Mountain and try the Snowshoe Grind.

In Whistler, head out on a self-guided snowshoe through Lost Lake Park or to snow-covered lakes and frozen waterfalls in the Callaghan Valley. If you prefer to be guided, tour options are also available (as are last-minute deals on accommodations).

The Caledonia Nordic Ski Club at Otway offers both snowshoe and cross-country ski trails (rentals, including sit-skis, are available), and the Bulkley Valley Nordic Centre also offers an extensive lit trail system through rolling forests.

Snowshoeing and hiking in winter conditions or through avalanche terrain can be hazardous. Everyone in your group must be self-sufficient, carry all the proper gear, and have avalanche skills training. Read more safety information from AdventureSmart.

5. Take Cozy to New & Unique Places

It’s now more than ever that we need a change in scenery and a break from being at home. And a getaway to someplace new is the perfect way to do it. 

At Snow Valley Lodging, in the mountain town of Fernie, guests can book a stay in one of six newly built tiny homes. Each one is within walking distance to the centre of town and features views of the towering Three Sisters Mountains overhead. Or, pack light and walk-in to one of seven backcountry yurts at Radius Retreat, just outside Radium Hot Springs in BC’s Rocky Mountains. 

For cabin lovers, retreat to Miska Haven Bed & Breakfast north of Vernon for a scenic and private stay with access to a large property for winter activities. Alternatively, enjoy snowy views from your wrap-around patio at Quaaout Lodge in the Shuswap, or head to the Thompson Plateau and settle into one of 22 lakeside cabins at Beaver Lake Mountain Resort.

Further north, in Terrace, book a tranquil getaway along the banks of the Skeena at Skeena River House or the unique Hidden Acres Farm and Treehouse Resort. For those who want a unique ranch stay—and a trot in the snow on horseback—head to Big Bar Guest Ranch or Wettstone Guest Ranch in the Cariboo.

Want to pair your snug stay with a soothing winter soak? Head for BC’s outdoor hot springs and spas for a relaxing getaway. What about backcountry snowshoeing right up to your cabin? Try Azouzetta Lake Lodge at Powder King Mountain Resort, north of Prince George.

6. Celebrate Winter Under the Lights

Just because the holidays are over doesn’t mean the new year can’t be bright. Whistler’s newest attraction, Vallea Lumina, sparks the imagination with an immersive light show hidden in the forests of Cougar Mountain. 

On Vancouver Island, witness the glowing city of Victoria. Stroll along the Inner Harbour to see the thousands of lights sparkle on the Parliament Buildings, the Fairmont Empress, and the tree-lined streets of downtown. Or indulge in a stay at Kingfisher Spa and Resort in the Comox Valley and enjoy the return of their annual Serenity Gardens Winter Light Display (on until the end of January)—including 10-foot dandelions!

In North Vancouver, visit the lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park for a display of sparkling bridges, boardwalks, canyons, and cedar trees. Don’t miss the Cliffwalk for an adrenaline rush or the Treetops Adventure for a squirrel’s eye view of the rainforest.

8. Be a Kid Again: Go Tubing!

For kids, and kids-at-heart, tubing is a great way to spend a few hours giggling away in a winder wonderland. And who couldn’t use a bit of laughter? 

On Vancouver’s local mountains of Grouse, Seymour, and Cypress, snow sliders can twirl, twist, and bounce down designated tube zones. Book an overnight stay on Vancouver’s North Shore for easy mountain access. On Vancouver Island, whoop-de-do at Mount Washington‘s newly expanded Tube Park, where timed tubing slots make it a breeze with fewer lineups and more tubing. 

Heading out to the Fraser Valley, The Polar Coaster is Manning Park Resort’s very own tube park. Enjoy a day of tubing on four beginner and advanced groomed runs. Lift service is provided so you can tube down and ride up.

Near Kamloops, pair tube rides with panoramic views at Harper Mountain. Outside Vernon, the tube park at SilverStar Mountain Resort comes with a lift up, saving precious energy for smiles and screeches on the way down. 

Tube parks in the Kootenays, such as at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, have an added bonus of jaw-dropping alpine views and resort accommodations for tired tubers. 

Originally published in October, 2022.