Top 5 Ways to Enjoy Winter in BC

Wander Winter's Wonderland

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.

Feel Nature’s Power at the Edge of the World

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.