Wells BC is a Winter Wonders Factory
Your order of winter wonder is up in Wells, BC, where the adventures never end along the Barkerville Highway and the Cariboo Mountains. #SkiNorthBC
District of Wells, BC - Think Willy Wonka’s Chocolate factory, substitute out the snow for chocolate and welcome to the next #skiNorthBC Getaway series, welcome to Wells BC.
This is a story about the Wells Winter Wonders Factory; and your order is up! All you gotta do is get here and pick it up. At the foothills of the Cariboo Mountain Range, is where this third instalment of our #SkiNorthBC Getaway series lies; 20 mins up the road up the Historic Barkerville Highway from Troll Ski Resort, about an hour east from Quesnel.
As someone who's been privileged enough to Nordic ski, snowshoe and sled here in the winter, I can tell you this is a community that knows how to make good times. Wells’ network of trails is expansive, taking you far into the Cariboo Mountains, or just a bit from town in a winter wonders meadows moment.
This March the community is hosting a community carnival, Wells's Winter Wonder Carnival, to celebrate all things winter.
Wow yourself with the winter wonders of Wells
“Wells is a town with soul,” Williams Lake local Brittany Cleminson describes, as she and her partner experienced some of those Wells winter wonders earlier this month for our cameras. Its geography commands adventure for those after gold—karat or white gold—as it can be around every turn.
History was made here and just down the road in Barkerville; this region of BC is home to one of North America’s biggest gold rushes.
Photo:
Ember Harper-Fedirko
The meadows just at the outskirts of town will be a main location for activities during the Wells Winter Carnival. And they're perfect for a nordic ski!
Any time in Wells can lead you to white gold, while if you are seeking a big dose of community spirit at its best, check in March 2, 2024, for the second annnual Wells's Winter Wonder Carnival.
This is a town who knows how to throw a good time—again, just ask someone who's been privileged enough to visit this community in the summer during ArtsWells.
“It’s one of the best festivals I have ever been to, the energy is off the charts,” says our video producer Après Wheeler (and Wheelers’ a festival aficionado; a guy whose content has been featured on Pearl Jam’s Instagram).
Photo:
Ember Harper-Fedirko
The friendly small town of Wells is filled with history and character, and creative spark.
We bet you’ve never seen anything like it; the entire community of Wells becomes a festival venue. So as the community starts to roll out the white carpet for this winter, SnowSeekers had to get in there and bring you the goods.
Wells’s Winter Wonders Carnival, March 2, 2024
(Keep posted on event details at FestivalSeekers).
Whether you make it there this March or not, it's no big deal—the winter wonders experiences of Wells are available November through April every year.
“Normally up here in the mountains we usually start winter in October and end with break up in June (kidding, not kidding). When the rest of the province seems to be celebrating the first signs of spring, we are having one blizzard after another,” explains co-Carnival organizer Angela Ward.
Be in Wells this winter if you seek winter wonders. Be in Wells for March attending its first annual Wells’s Winter Wonders Carnival and be part of a community experience that will make your soul sing. Community to its core, Clark wanted us to assure everyone that “of course there will be SMORES!”
When you go
Here’s how to score some Wells winter wonders!
Getting there/winter activities on the Barkerville Highway
Pack your Nordic skis, downhill skis and snowshoes, then drive to Quesnel - take the highway east, known at the Barkerville Highway, and you will arrive in Wells about an hour later (78km). Along the drive you will pass Troll Ski Resort. It's easy to stay in Wells and double back to Troll for a day or two of skiing (about 20 mins down the road).
Watch for wildlife along the drive
As Cleminson describes, “getting to Wells from Quesnel is convenient, as it is not a long drive and there are no turns to get lost on! The sights along the road are beautiful, and you will often see wildlife along your travels—we saw two moose on our way out this time!”
Where to stay & eat in Wells
There are a few accommodation options in Wells - we at SnowSeekers recommend Frog on the Bog. (Ask about their White Gold Adventures guiding services, and expect to get your perma grin on – say hi to Dave and Cheryl for us.) Score a delicious dinner at the Jack O Club Pub, co-founders of the inaugural Wells Winter Carnival.
More Wells adventures
In a SnowSeekers’ first, we had someone from in front of the camera, join us behind it for this story. It was last year that Ember’s Cariboo Adventures (her snowshoe guiding business) was featured in Wells 2021 SnowSeekers showcase. Read the story here, and remember the Wells winter invite is eternal.
Share your Wells adventure
Please let us know what you find and feature #skinorthBC or @SnowSeekers in your posts so we can possibly feature them.
More Wells #SkiNorthBC adventures
Like Our Facebook Page
