Vancouver Island Snowshoe Nordic Trails are anywhere and everywhere above the snow line in the winter months... and that can vary in today's climate. After the first snowfall, the mountains peaks turn white and as the days pass the snow line drops lower and lower and soon some of the mid mountain summer hiking trails and deactivated logging roads are ideal snowshoeing nordic trails.

Some snowshoers even venture further into the backcountry to some of the private recreational warming huts. And there are some dandy ones!

The west coast mountains are notoriously famous for receiving some of the highest volumes of snowfall in BC, Canada (and in many years in Canada). The snow fall continues into early spring at the higher elevations keeping the nordic trails with snow cover, sometimes, until mid - March.

Because of the mild temperatures and the weather systems blowing in off the coastal mountains from the Pacific Ocean.. down drafts coming off the Strait of Georgia are created.. a combination of systems, a weather cocktail that delivers some of the heaviest snow fall in BC to island mountains.

The local island mountain ranges are often layered in powder snow during the winter months, with two mountain resorts catering to snowshoe hikers. In the Comox Valley, a community located centrally on Vancouver Island, is where the larger snow mountain resort of the two is located on Mount Washington. Further north up island, south of Port McNeill is the second of the island snowshoe hills, Mount Cain.

Mount Washington enjoys over 15 nordic trails. Plus many snowshoe enthusiasts take advantage of the many pull-out areas as parking spots located on the drive up the hill. The Nordic Centre, at the to of the hill is open at 8 am and provides rentals, maps and lessons. The nordic trails cater to all skill levels with 2 green trails, 6 blue trails and 7 black diamond trails for the experienced. Most of the trails explore Paradise Meadows.

The closest snowshoe resort mountain accommodations are located on Mount Washington where you are able to snowshoe to and from your front door. Next closest accommodations are in the communities located at the base of the mountain. Courtenay, Comox, Campbell River and Saratoga Beach are only a 1/2 - 1 hour drive away but with more amenities and services.

Mount Cain is a smaller snowshoe destination located further north on Vancouver Island near the community of Port McNeill, BC. The trail system starts on any of the pull-outs on the way up the hill, but best to start at the top of the ski hill at the parking lot. The mountain is run by volunteers and the roads may not be plowed so bring chains or phone ahead for road conditions. There are accommodations on Mt. Cain, although few. Most of the accommodations are located in the northern communities including Port Hardy and McNeill.

Vancouver Island Snowshoeing