Skiing in the cariboo
The Cariboo is a skiers paradise. Forget the long lineups and chaos seen at Lower Mainland ski hills during peak season. The Cariboo offers a remote wilderness feel that’s diverse, challenging and scenic.
Prime opportunities for skiing and boarding scatter the entire Cariboo region, ranging from thrill-seeking backcountry routes to family-friendly fun. You’ll find big resorts with dozens of downhill slopes and tons of amenities, scenic cross-country routes and rugged backcountry. And if you’re feeling extra-adventurous, take a helicopter up into Cariboo Mountains to experience true untouched wilderness.
DOWNHILL SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING
There are two main mountains for downhill skiing and boarding in the Cariboo, each with lodgings, chair lifts, gear rentals and classes. Mount Timothy is located in Lac La Hache, then near Quesnel you’ll find Troll Resort with 30+ runs for a range of skill levels.
MOUNT TIMOTHY RECREATION RESORT
Mount Timothy Resort has been a cornerstone of the Lac La Hache community since 1988. Recent upgrades have allowed the resort to welcome more skiers, boarders and families to experience the charm of the Cariboo winter. Ther resort offers something for all skill levels, including 32 runs, 4 lifts and 100 skiable acres.
Due to its proximity and availability of lodgings, gear rentals and restaurants, many Mount Timothy ski trippers use 100 Mile House as their home base. The slopes can be reached from 100 Mile House in just 45 mins via Highway 97 and Timothy Lake Road.
Slopes
Shooting down the picturesque landscapes of Mount Timothy are numerous runs of varying difficulty. Accessed by both a T-Bar and a 3-person chair lift, the runs range from Green to Black Diamond. The resort breaks down the difficulty of their runs like so:
- 11% beginner
- 49% intermediate
- 40% most difficult and expert
For passes the resort offers punch cards, season passes and single day passes. Early bird pricing is available if you book in advance. And if you want to take a load off, there’s even a special park for tubing.
Accommodations
Mount Timothy Resort has eight beautiful wood cabins for families and groups of carrying size. Smaller cabins sleep 4, while larger cabins can sleep up to 12. Every cabin has showers and flush toilets – plus, they’re pet friendly!
The Yeti Café is resort’s community hub with panoramic mountain views for slope-goers to refuel and relax. Warm up with a hot beverage or choose from the menu of local beer, cider, wine and spirits. For grub, you can tuck into deep-fried classics, burgers and other favourites.
Getting There
Mount Timothy is located east of Highway 97 and Lac La Hache. Traveling on the highway, the turn off to access the resort is Timothy Lake Road, which you’ll find in the town of Lac La Hache.
The drive from Lac La Hache is roughly 30 minutes. Once you’re on Timothy Lake Road, follow the signs for the resort, as GPS signal is often spotty. Just past the Greeny Lake Recreation Campground is the turnoff for the resort.
Learn more: Mount Timothy Resort
TROLL RESORT
Troll Resort is located under an hour away from Quesnel, offering a community-oriented atmosphere for all levels of skill. The resort was established back in 1972 by Lars Fossberg. Today, Troll Resort remains in the family with Lars’ daughter Hildur at the helm.
Slopes
Troll Mountain is the main spot with 527m of elevation. The mountain is home to numerous runs after varying difficulty, plus designated runs for night skiing. In 2026, Troll opened their new Black T-Bar on Pinegrove Mountain, which is designed for advanced black diamond skiers and boarders.
Cabins are available for rent at Troll Resort, along with a snow shop for gear rentals, night riding, and special ski and snowboard clubs. Lift passes are available with discounts for seniors. Super seniors (80+) and children 5 and under ride free! You can also purchase 10-day punch passes and season passes.
Getting There
Troll Resort is located on the Barkerville Highway 26, about a 40-45 minute drive east of the town of Quesnel. From Quesnel, get on Highway 97 and head north for about 5 minutes, at which point you’ll see the turnoff for the Barkerville Highway 26.
Learn more: Troll Resort
CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING
If downhill isn’t much your style, there are plenty of opportunities for cross-country Nordic skiing through the Cariboo region. Popular destinations include Hallis Lake, Bull Mountain and Alexis Creek.
HALLIS LAKE
Hallis Lake is a popular winter destination in Quesnel, known for its extensive trail network and as home of the Cariboo Ski Touring Club. The trail network includes over 75km of trails through serene Cariboo wilderness.
The ski and snowshoe trails are located on the Hallis Lake Service Road, which can be accessed by Highway 97 from Quesnel heading south, before getting on Quesnel Hydraulic Road and following it past Dragon Lake.
There’s also a lodge, rental show and concession stand located right next to the trail network on 4427 Quesnel Hydraulic.
BULL MOUNTAIN
Bull Mountain is a cross-country skiing resort just north of Williams Lake that’s home to the Williams Lake Cross Country Ski Club. The club offers cross-country skiing lessons, rentals, school programs, day passes and season passes.
The mountain itself has 125m of elevation gain with roughly 28km of trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Whether you’re up for a steep challenge or a gentle cruise, the trails at Bull Mountain are diverse enough for all skill levels.
From the town of Williams Lake, Bull Mountain can be reached in just 15 minutes. Just head north on Highway 97 until you see a left turn for Bull Mountain Road.
ALEXIS CREEK
Alexis Creek cross-country ski trails consist of about 10km of track-set trails that are maintained by local volunteers. Great for both cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, the trails loop around each other and interweave through serene winter forests.
Alexis Creek is located west of Williams Lake, roughly a one hour and 20 minute drive along Highway 20. Once in Alexis Creek, the cross-country trails are accessed via Stum Lake Road.
99 Mile Trails
The 99 Mile Recreational Trails is a collection of dedicated trails for cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and snowshoeing. For cross-country skiing alone, there are roughly 45km of trails with a 5km section available after dark.
Located just a quick car ride from 100 Mile House, visitors can reach the cross-country trailhead from Highway 97 before turning right onto Ainsworth Road. Upon arrival, skiers are greeted with a collection of green and blue runs – enough to keep you exploring the Cariboo wilderness all day long.
BACKCOUNTRY SKIING AT BOWRON LAKE
If you’re looking for a backcountry adventure through the wilderness, one of the best places to do so is Bowron Lake. Bowron Lake Provincial Park is home to numerous lakes, waterways, campgrounds and trails, making it a destination in the summer time. But backcountry skiers will flock in the winter.
With the help of expert guides, multi-day trips and excursions will give you the chance to explore snowy portages, frozen lakes and all the winter beauty of the Bowron lake area.
To access Bowron Lake Provincial Park, head east along Highway 26 from Quesnel. Guided tours and excursions will shuttle you out there or arrange for transportation to the wilderness area.
HELI-SKIING IN THE CARIBOO MOUNTAINS
There’s nothing quite like the thrill of heli-skiing. Sweeping across remote wilderness by helicopter, enjoying unseen views of the forested mountains, then being dropped down to experience some of the best backcountry skiing or snowboarding in the country. BC is a premier destination for heli-skiing, with our vast untouched lands, breathtaking scenery and ideal winter conditions.
The Cariboo Mountain region is a hotspot for heli-skiing, with numerous operator companies and no shortage of remote mountainsides filled with excellent backcountry skiing. You can book week-long excursion packages or just go for the day.
Heli-skiing is typically aimed at advanced skiers only, although there are opportunities for more intermediate skill levels. There are a number of safety precautions involved in heli-skiing, plus mandatory training before you go. Before you make a decision, be sure to reach out to an operator in the region.