It’s said that couples who play together, stay together. If that’s true, then the wilderness of the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast region is the perfect place to get away from it all and reconnect with your significant other. It’s also a great place to enjoy some classic winter activities.
Stretching from the Great Bear Rainforest on the coast to the Chilcotin plateau and the Cariboo mountains, the region’s cold-yet-dry winters offer the opportunity to snuggle up in front of a fireplace in a rustic log cabin. Or, heat things up with adventurous activities amid the powdery snow. From ice fishing, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing to snowmobiling and horseback riding, here are five ways to bond with your sweetie in the wilderness.
Get your hearts racing with an energetic snowshoe. Bring your own to explore snow-sprinkled forests or stay somewhere such as Wettstone Ranch, where you can borrow snowshoes to explore the trails around Henley Lake. Many of the region’s ranches have ungroomed snowshoe areas on the properties or can recommend nearby trails to explore.
Snowmobiling is an exciting way to see the diverse landscape on a high-octane adventure. Explore the Gold Rush Snowmobile Trail, which stretches from 70 Mile House up north to Horsefly. Sheridan Lake Resort is close to a network of snowmobile trails that follow old logging roads and range in ability from easy to difficult. If you’re planning to hit the deep powder of the Rainbow Mountains, the deluxe cabins at the Waterfront Resort Motel and Cabins at Nimpo Lake are less than an hour’s drive away and have romantic views of the Coast Mountain Range.
Kayanara Guest Ranch | Callum Snape
Home to Highway 24 (The Fishing Highway), the region is a well-known spot for ice fishing. Enjoy the tranquil peace of sitting around a hole in the ice waiting to catch one of the many kokanee fish that are swimming below the surface of the frozen lakes. Even non-fishers will enjoy the intimacy of quietly sitting amid the snow and cuddling up by a warm fire. Take a guided expedition from Loon Bay Resort on Sheridan Lake; they will take the two of you on a half-day trip to a frozen lake, bringing all the equipment you need to enjoy a romantic winter wonderland.
Home to more than 170 kilometres (106 miles) of cross-country ski trails, the Cariboo region is a popular destination for couples looking for a winter activity that lets you ski together at a pace that also allows for conversation as you explore the trails. Spend an afternoon on groomed cross-country trails at the 100 Mile Nordics Day Lodge, which offers rentals and is close to Fawn Lake Resort, where you can stay in either a modern or rustic style cabin for a romantic retreat.
If you already have your own skis, then the cross-country trails at Tweedsmuir Park are only a 30-minute drive from Eagle’s Nest Resort at Anahim Lake. Return after your adventure to enjoy gourmet food in the lakeside dining room and a hot tub under the stars.
Take a longer trip with a multi-day hut-to-hut cross-country skiing adventure with WhiteGold Adventures through the beautifully desolate Bowron Lake chain. Ski over snowy portages and frozen lakes, stargazing as you go, then snuggle up in front of the fire in your cabin or watch the Northern Lights before bed.
Wrap up warm and make the most of the dry, cold climate with a romantic horseback ride through the snow. Kayanara Guest Ranch has seven km (4.3 miles) of bridle trails on the ranch for experienced riders and a special area for beginners to learn how to ride during a two-hour session. Spring Lake Ranch is set in over 4,000 hecatres (10,000 acres) of lakeside wilderness and offers skis and snowshoes for guests to take a romantic stroll from their log cabins. For the ultimate winter romance, take the ranch’s one-horse-open-sleigh ride through the snow and melt your sweetie’s heart.
No matter what outdoor activity you are planning, be prepared. Outdoor activities in winter conditions can be hazardous. If you are travelling through avalanche terrain, you and everyone in your group must be self-sufficient—carrying all the proper gear (transceiver, shovel, and probe) and have avalanche training. AdventureSmart and Leave No Trace are great resources to help you get informed before heading outdoors. Follow the three Ts—trip planning, training, and taking the essentials.
From: Vancouver
Amy Watkins, a British-born travel and food writer, fell in love with Vancouver at the age of 18. She has travelled the world, but her steadfast love of the West Coast led her to move here in 2012. In the UK she worked as a features editor and freelance writer for 10 years, writing about travel for magazines and newspapers. She now writes about travel, food, and West Coast life for a variety of publications. When she’s not on her laptop, she can be found exploring Stanley Park or hiking in the rainforest with her bulldog, Rick James; tackling waves and tacos in Tofino; or eating her way around the province on a food-focused road trip. Amy has even been persuaded to eat kale chips and practise yoga—making her an honorary Vancouverite.
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