#skinorthbc west itinerary
Ski above the clouds and mingle with the locals.
Bragging rights will be yours once you've skied this itinerary, featuring one of North America's best ski outs and the longest t-bar in North America.
Two awesome ski areas anchor this itinerary:
Hudson Bay Mountain Resort, Smithers
Murray Ridge, Fort St. James
But don't forget to indulge in cozy ski and stay spots, sleigh rides and historic sites along the way.
This itinerary is built around a 5-day trip but feel free to extend!
Packing checklist
- your preferred downhill ride (ski or snowboard)
- skates (epic lake skating)
- cross-country skis
- snowshoes
- a solid car with winter tires (required Oct 1 - Apr 30 in BC)
Plus all the essentials. This one is full of adventures!
Budget tip: have a season pass to another resort? Check your reciprocal deals for savings on #skinorthbc resorts.
Stop #1: Smithers, BC
Home to Hudson Bay Mountain Resort, Skeena Cat Skiing and Hankin Evelyn Backcountry area, you have all the shred options you could want here. Flight options via Air Canada to Smithers Airport even make it possible to fly in and shred in the same day!
With a Ski & Stay program offering savings on boutique accommodations and deals on lift passes, Smithers really rolls out the red carpet for skiers and snowboarders.
Day 1-2: ski or ride your choice
Hit the lifts for laps at Hudson Bay Mountain Resort (open Wed-Sun), ride the cat for pow turns with Skeena Cat Skiing or earn your turns in Hankin Evelyn backcountry. There's no wrong choice!
Day 3: "down" day with skating, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing
Stretch the legs after a couple big days by un-clipping from your downhill bindings and into some other winter activities in Smithers.
With two mountain lakes cleared for skating, over 50km of trackset nordic trails and fresh snow for stomping around in, there's tons of fun to have off piste.
Skate at Seymour Lake or Lake Kathlyn. Head to Bulkley Valley Nordic Centre for a glide. And for a rare snowshoe view, try taking the lift up to the top of Hudson Bay Mountain, where you might be snowshoeing above the clouds! (See above—could be you!)
Dining & apres
check out Tourism Smithers for a list of great places to eat, from craft breweries to sushi stops
Where to stay
Ski & Stay Smithers
That in itself would be an epic trip, but you've got one more stop!
Next, it's on to Murray Ridge, at 211 kilometres away.
Stop #2: Murray Ridge (Fort St. James)
A town full of soul will welcome you to Fort St. James. In addition to the longest t-bar in North America, this is a hub of winter adventure.
Depending on your arrival time (or the level of fatigue in your legs from shredding three days) you could swap Day 4 and 5.
Day 4: shred Murray Ridge
Don't be surprised by the warm welcomes here—the locals here love their hill and they're keen to show it off.
Day 5: nordic & history
Take a pause from all the action to visit Fort St. James National Historic Site, established by Simon Fraser in 1809.
Then pop back over to Murray Ridge for a different kind of skiing: cross-country. In addition to the downhill runs, Murray Ridge maintains trackset trails, including night skiing.
Slowing it down with a glide along the nordic trails amid boreal beauty is just what ski-weary legs need to recover.
This could be the end of your tour, or if you're hungry for more, you might want to continue east towards Powder King and Troll Ski Resort for some more #skinorthbc adventures. Or just grab the full #skinorthbc itinerary and plan to complete the whole tour.
Check the snow reports at SnowSeekers.ca for the latest conditions.
Timing and travel tips
Follow the flow, enjoy the laidback vibes of #skinorthbc and free yourself from hectic schedules and deadlines.
Ideally, budget a down day or two to rest along the way, and you can capitalize on good snow conditions where you find them and great times when they happen.
Plan your #skinorthbc epic
Share this itinerary with your friends and start plotting your own powder-fuelled adventure.
Get started planning with this easy plug-and-play map.
