Plan a winter road trip through British Columbia

Where to go on a winter roadtrip through British Columbia

Many people think of road trips as a summer time activity in western Canada, but a winter road trip through British Columbia has many advantages. Travelling in the off season usually means lower prices and more selection for accommodation, less crowds at popular activities and attractions, and a chance to see famous sites and landmarks covered in snow for a different perspective. It is also a great time to try seasonal activities like skating, snowshoeing, ice fishing, dog sledding, winter hiking and, of course, stopping by one of the many ski resorts around the province. 

Lots of destinations in southern British Columbia don’t even get too cold in the winter relative to the rest of Canada, although you still want to be prepared for winter conditions and don’t forget to pack your skis or snowboard! 

I had the chance to drive across the province of British Columbia over six weeks in the winter of 2020, and I am sharing some of my favourite stops and most memorable experiences on this winter time adventure in western Canada.

This article will outline ten destinations you can visit on a road trip across southern British Columbia in the winter time. Each listing includes drive times from Vancouver and a list of recommended winter activities for each stop. They are organised approximately by distance from Vancouver going from west to east.

Sections

1. 1. Vancouver
2. 2. Squamish and the Sea to Sky Highway
3. 3. Whistler
4. 4. Pemberton
5. 5. Kamloops
6. 6. Salmon Arm
7. 7. Kelowna
8. 8. Golden
9. 9. Lake Louise
10. 10. Sparwood and Crowsnest Pass

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This was our actual rental car, we drove more than 5000 km in total.

Driving through British Columbia in the winter

A winter roadtrip through BC can be a memorable, once in a lifetime experience but there are some important things to consider before you get in the driver’s seat. 

 If you have no experience driving in snow and ice conditions, do some research in advance to ensure you learn about winter driving hazards and safety techniques. Also consider what style of rental car will be suitable and whether it comes with snow tires, as some driving routes in BC require their use between October and April.  

We completed our road trip with a Mercedes Cargo Sprinter van and a Ford Flex rental car and while the entire route involved driving on major highways and roads in the southern part of the province, we still ran into some challenges. For example, our van got stuck sideways on the snowy streets of Vancouver and had to be dug out of a snowbank. We also faced a major road closure due to a landslide and our vehicles got separated on the Coquihalla Pass where the van was delayed for several hours by weather conditions on the top of the mountain even though the car made it through the same area with no issues twenty minutes earlier. 

Be sure that your vehicle is at minimum stocked with a shovel, blanket, food and water and consult expert advice before driving in any remote areas in the winter. You can keep up to date with road conditions and closures on the DriveBC website and get winter driving tips on the government of BC website here. 

Keep reading to start planning your own winter roadtrip through British Columbia!

1. Vancouver

If you are visiting British Columbia from outside the province or country, Vancouver will likely be your arrival point and the best place to pick up a rental car for your journey.

The Museum of Vancouver and the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia

What to do in in the winter in Vancouver: 

• Spend a day on the slopes at one of the three ski hills, Grouse Mountain, Seymour Mountain and Cypress Mountain, which are around 30 minutes from downtown Vancouver 

• Go ice skating in Robson Square and enjoy some shopping afterwards or stop by the Vancouver Art Gallery, which is just next door

• Visit the famous Capilano Suspension Bridge, which has less crowds in the winter and features a special light show display during the holiday season 

• Get active in Stanley Park with a winter hike or visit for the ‘Bright Nights’ holiday light display 

• Spend an afternoon exploring Granville Island, which is home to a food market, many shops and galleries and you can even take a brewery tour

• Explore the historic Gastown neighbourhood with cobblestones streets and lots of options for food, drinks and shopping 

• For indoor activities, try the Museum of Vancouver, Science World, the Vancouver Aquarium or the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia 

• Start planning your visit on the official Destination Vancouver website

2. Squamish and the Sea to Sky Highway

Driving distance from Vancouver to Squamish: 65 km / 1 hour drive

What to do in Squamish and along the Sea to Sky Highway in the winter:

• The drive north from Vancouver to Whistler is along the Sea to Sky Highway which is a famous drive with many places to stop for panoramic views of the ocean coastline

• Take a ride on the Sea to Sky gondola near Squamish, from the top there are beautiful views, a panoramic lookout platform, visitor’s lodge and suspension bridge 

• Enjoy a craft brewery  or distillery tour or tasting, there are several in the area and you can follow the official Craft Tasting Trail Map to visit them all

• Visit the Railway Museum of British Columbia which hosts the largest collection of railway stock in Western Canada with over 90 heritage rail cars and artefacts

• Stop by the Britannia Mine Museum National Historic Site for an underground train tour of the old mine, a lesson on gold panning and a large collection of historic machinery 

• Start planning your trip on the  official Tourism Squamish website

3. Whistler

Driving distance from Vancouver to Whistler: 120 km / 1 hour 45 minutes drive

What to do in Whistler in the winter:

• The obvious option here is to go skiing or snowboarding at Whistler Blackcomb, one of the top ski resorts in the country with more than 200 runs

• The pedestrian village below the ski area has enough to do for a few hours and features many shops and restaurants 

• For indoor activities, stop by the Audain Art Museum, the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre or the Whistler Museum, which presents the history of the area 

• Try a new winter sport like ice climbing, snowshoeing or cross country skiing or try a new activity like dog sledding or winter ziplining 

• Have an Olympic experience at the Whistler Sliding Centre where you can try bobsleigh or skeleton 

• Start your day at the Whistler Visitor Centre for help to plan your visit

4. Pemberton

Driving distance from Vancouver to Pemberton: 150 km / 2 hours drive

What to do in Pemberton in the winter:

• The Pemberton Valley area is a well-known snowmobiling destination, you can rent one locally or bring your own 

• Try another winter sport like ice fishing, snowshoeing, heli-skiing or snowboarding or cross country skiing 

• Take part in the Raven Backcountry Festival in February which offers presentations and lessons to backcountry winter sports enthusiasts

• Stop by the Pemberton Distillery for a tour and tasting of organic handcrafted spirits

• Book a weekend stay in the mountains and enjoy the alpine sunset from a hot tub or hot springs, for an authentic family farm experience, try Sweetwater Lane Farm

5. Kamloops

Driving distance from Vancouver to Kamloops: 360 km / 4 hours drive

What to do in Kamloops in the winter:

• Hit the slopes at Sun Peaks Resort, one of the largest in the country

• Explore downtown Kamloops for locally owned shops and restaurants and take a walk through the Riverside Park 

• Schedule your visit during a festival or special event, check out this list from Tourism Kamloops

• For indoor activities, visit the Kamloops Museum and Archives, or the Kamloops Art Gallery  

• Try a typical winter activity like winter biking, ice fishing, skating, snowshoeing, or winter hiking 

• Hike the trails in Kenna Cartwright Nature Park for views over the city

6. Salmon Arm

Driving distance from Vancouver to Salmon Arm and Shuswap region: 460 km / 5 hours drive

What to do in Salmon Arm in the winter:

• Try a range of winter sports and activities like snowmobiling, ice fishing, snowshoeing, winter hiking and cross country skiing

• Visit the Salmon Arm Wharf wooden boardwalk and keep an eye out for local wildlife

• Enjoy a wine tasting at Larch Hills Winery, which is the most northern winery in British Columbia 

• Book a stay a the Quaaout Lodge which features beautiful views over Little Shuswap Lake along with a spa and restaurant featuring seasonal cuisine 

• If you get hungry, stop for a pie at the Shuswap Pie Company or check out the Westgate Public Market in Salmon Arm for artisanal products and food

• Start planning your visit on the Shuswap Tourism website here

7. Kelowna

Driving distance from Vancouver to Kelowna: 390 km / 4 hours 15 minutes drive

What to do in Kelowna in the winter:

• Stop by one of the many wineries in the area to see the vineyards covered in snow and sample some wine, many wineries are still open for tastings and will be much less busy than usual, just check opening times in advance as some may have limited hours, try Quails’ Gate for beautiful lakeshore views and excellent wine 

• If you are not a fan of wine, there are several craft breweries in the area you can stop by for tastings 

• Visit the Okanagan Heritage Museum for a fun and informative indoor activity to learn more about the history of the region and add a quick stop at the Kelowna Art Gallery if you particularly enjoy art 

• Enjoy some free skating at the Stuart Park Ice Rink right in the town of Kelowna 

• Go on a winter hike at Knox Mountain Park

• There are also two ski resorts less than an hour from Kelowna, Big White Ski Resort and SilverStar Mountain Resort

• Start your visit at the lakefront Kelowna Visitor Centre for help to plan your visit

8. Golden

Driving distance from Vancouver to Golden: 715 km / 8 hours drive

What to do in Golden in the winter:

• Don’t miss your chance to see the ‘World’s Largest Paddle’ just come prepared with snow boots in the winter as the snow can be quite deep around the structure, it is located about 25 minutes south of Golden on Highway 95

• Spend the day on the slopes at the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort

• Try an adventurous activity like heli-skiing or cat-skiing

• Explore the town of Golden and take a walk over the Kicking Horse Pedestrian Bridge, which is the longest freestanding timber frame bridge in the country

• Stop by the small Golden Museum and Archives to learn more about the history of the area 

• Start your visit at the Golden Visitor Centre for help to plan your visit

9. Lake Louise

Driving distance from Vancouver to Lake Louise: 800 km / 9 hours drive

This destination is actually about 25 km over the provincial border into Alberta, but it is well worth the stop if you are driving east on your road trip towards Calgary.

What to do in Lake Louise in the winter:

• Go skating on the frozen ice of Lake Louise, which is cleared in front of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise hotel, skate and hockey equipment rentals are available inside the hotel

• Visit inside the luxurious Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise which offers accommodation, restaurants and some shopping 

• Wander along the lakefront in front of the Fairmont and stop by the ice castle sculptures, or take a horse drawn sleigh ride around the lake

• Hike the Fairview Lookout trail for views over the lake and hotel,  which should still be accessible in the winter 

• Have a winter adventure on the Johnston Canyon Icewalk, around 30 minutes from Lake Louise

• Try skiing or snowboarding or tubing at Lake Louise Ski Resort a few kilometres away, or at Sunshine Village, about 40 minutes away in Banff National Park

10. Sparwood and Crowsnest Pass

Driving distance from Vancouver to Sparwood and the Crowsnest Pass: 970 km / 11 hours drive

While Sparwood is located in BC, the Crowsnest Pass region is just over the border into Alberta and features several interesting stops along Highway 3 if you are driving towards Lethbridge.

What to do in Sparwood and the Crowsnest Pass in the winter

• Stop by the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre, where modern, interactive exhibits tell the story of  Canada’s deadliest coal mine rock slide, and there is also a walking trail 

• Hit the slopes for skiing and snowboarding at the Pass Powderkeg Ski Area

• Visit the Crowsnest Museum and Archives in Coleman for the cultural history of the region 

• Enjoy the outdoors at the Allison Lake cross country ski trails

• Don’t miss your chance to see the “Terex Titan” in Sparwood, BC, once the largest truck in the world and there is a tourist information centre right next door

• Start planning your trip on the Crowsnest Pass Tourism offical website

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