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Golden, British Columbia

Treasure the ride

Happy trails near friendly Golden

by Michelle Dobrovolny

A small town with a friendly attitude, Golden is a welcoming haven for vacationing sledders. This snowmobile-loving community has trails running from the edge of town right up to the peaks of the Purcell mountain range. With the area being home to 200 kilometres of groomed trails, even beginners can find ample riding to take up the better part of a week. “

We’ve got some of the best snowmobiling in British Columbia,” said Dan Pecora, a longtime Golden sledding enthusiast, “from family trails that are low-level riding to extreme riding at high elevations.”

A taste of the best
Golden’s sledding hot spot, Quartz Creek, is well maintained and features 20 kilometres of groomed trails and a cabin. This area is suitable for novice and expert riders alike, with the Prairie Hills offering champagne powder and hillclimbing. “It’s very impressive and it gets quite a bit of snowfall annually,” said Pecora.

Getting there: Quartz Creek is accessed 45 km west of Golden along Highway 1.

Hitting the high points
The highest elevations in the trail system around Golden are found at Gorman Lake and Silent Pass; both afford spectacular views at dizzying altitudes that reach up to 9,000 feet. Silent Pass offers a more relaxed ride, with groomed trails leading over rounded hills, while Gorman Lake is a choice trail for experienced sledders looking to push their limits. Riders should take extra precaution in this area as the avalanche risk is fairly high. A good option for less skilled sledders who would still like to experience the thrills of Gorman is to book an excursion with one of several tour operators in Golden.

Getting there: Gorman Lake is accessed from the Dogtooth Forest Service Road next to the Golden Golf Club. To get to Silent Pass, take the Spillimacheen Forest Service Road about 37 km south of Golden along Highway 95.

Ride back in time
A route steeped in history, Blaeberry River Trail is sure to set the imagination alight as snowmobilers follow the path taken by Canadian explorer David Thompson when he made his first trip over the Rocky Mountains in 1807. Aside from having this historical aspect, the area around Blaeberry River has terrific sledding, offering lots of powder action without the avalanche risk of powder playgrounds at higher elevations. All this, set against the backdrop of the spectacular Mummery Glacier, makes the Blaeberry River Trail a great day of riding.

Getting there: To access this area, turn off the Trans-Canada Highway onto Moberly Branch Road, then go left on Golden-Upper Donald Road. Take another left on Moberly School Road; the parking lot is adjacent to Blaeberry River.

Whatever a heart desires
The riding options around Golden are limitless. Stretching across two mountain ranges—where weather often differs even over small areas—snowmobilers can usually find a trail with bright, sunny skies for a perfect day of sledding.

“Our riding areas are spread so far out that we’re basically in different weather zones,” said Pecora. “It could be snowing north of Golden while the sun is shining in riding areas south of Golden.”