Top 5 reasons to visit Barkerville in winter

The Town

Rich with Gold Rush nostalgia, Barkerville Historic Town & Park is a cool glimpse into the past. Fully restored shops, accommodations, churches and even a Chinese village are ready for exploring or wandering by. But winter wandering certainly gets better when you use a Norwegian kick sled to cruise the streets. Many Norwegians helped settle the area and they brought with them their famous snow mode of transport. It’s an excellent way for parents and kids alike to glide along the town streets.

Tube Park / Skating

At the entrance to the park, you’ll notice a massive snow wall and hear the giggles from afar. This tube park is brag-able in size and fun for all ages. Once inside the park, one of the first buildings you’ll notice is a picture-perfect cedar structure. It’s used for a shady spot to have lunch in the summer, but in winter, it is converted to a skating rink – much more fun if you ask me. No need to pack skates, they have plenty to rent onsite.

Backcountry skiing

Barkerville Mountain envelops the town, and just a tad further down the valley is Richfield and Cow Mountain, both waiting to be skied. While you’re on your ski tour, you can easily imagine exploring this land on the hunt for gold before roads were built. What a daunting task for some young men in the 1800s, but what a treat for ski tourers to glide on fresh snow and cruise all the way back into Barkerville.

Snowshoeing

Lining the hill above town on both sides are a series of trails and lookouts. In winter they are only accessible by snowshoe. It's worth the wander for the impressive bird’s eye views and a little sweat equity before or after a hearty lunch at the café.