MOVE YOUR SOUL

VALEMOUNT, BC

A SLED-ACCESSED WEEKEND ITINERARY TO MOVE YOUR SOUL

From the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies to the little village in the ‘Vale’ - there are few better places to gain perspective than Valemount, BC.  

Three raw and rugged mountain ranges convene here into one of the world’s most productive snow belts and sought after adventure destinations. From breweries to backcountry experts, coffee roasters to railway pioneers - everyone is eager to share their unique story and help curate one of your own. Explore a sled accessed weekend itinerary full of panoramas, personalities, and powder to get your soul in motion. 

DAY 1: ARRIVE IN VALEMOUNT

TRAVEL TIME: 5 HOURS / 490KM FROM EDMONTON, AB OR 3 HOURS / 300KM FROM PRINCE GEORGE, BC OR 3.5 HOURS / 320KM FROM KAMLOOPS, BC

The journey to Valemount is a scenic 5 hour drive from Edmonton, Alberta through Jasper National Park or an easy after-work commute from Kamloops or Prince George in BC. We begin our trip on the Yellowhead Highway. This route was named ‘Tete-Jaune’ (Yellowhead) after the blond hair of the Iroquois-Metis fur trader Pierre Bostonais who led a brigade of Hudson's Bay men through the pass in 1819. Located in the northern most reaches of British Columbia’s Thompson Okanagan region, the landscape here is as diverse as the year round adventures within.

Valemount stands in a valley created by nature and shaped by the Simpcw, part of the Secwepemc, or Shuswap First Nation. Soon after the explorations by Pierre Bostonais came the railway, and eventually the workers who stayed to homestead. Standing sentinel though the years is 12,972ft Mt Robson (Yuh-hai-has-kun) who greets your arrival from the shoulder of the modern highway. Her headwaters feed the largest salmon producing river in the world, the Fraser River, before flowing 1,378km to the Pacific Ocean.

Exit the busy flow of the Yellowhead as you turn south on Hwy 5 to reach our destination. Check into the Best Western Plus Valemount Inn and Suites. On offer are ‘just right’ room options include a triple queen or family suite so no matter who is joining you for the weekend, everyone has an ideal place to rest after a day of activity.

Unpack and head downstairs to craft a Caesar with all your favorite fixings in the Cranberry Lounge. Grab a seat by the wood burning fireplace and see who else is in town for the weekend. If you’re hungry, head over to the in-house Summit Grill for a 6oz steak and hand cut fries or garlic steamed mussels. 

Our adventure in Valemount is all about moving in flow with nature, so put your shoes or skates on for an after dinner stroll to Cranberry Marsh. Cheer on local kids as they toss the puck and try to score against mom or dad - better yet, join in!

If you are in need of a rental sled or pretty much anything else to get going for the weekend, see the fine folks at Alpine Country Rentals.  

Valemount is home to three of BC’s most awe-inspiring snowmobile areas Clemina, Chappell, and Allan Creek as well as the Westridge Family Loop. The Valemount and Area Recreation Development Association (VARDA) provides trail grooming, day use shelters, and other services that improve the quality of public recreation opportunities. Support these efforts by purchasing a membership, day pass, or putting user fees in the box at the trailhead.

If you packed your downhill snowsliding devices of choice - spend the day exploring the one of a kind Crystal Ridge sled ski zone. The area has six semi-cleared ski runs boasting 2,200ft of vertical with a designated up track for snowmobiles. Take turns sledding up and skiing down runs like the original ‘PowderBoarder’s Choice’ and ‘Crazy Chicken’.

You can access Crystal Ridge by the Westridge Staging Area just a few minutes south of town. The Westridge loop itself provides a nice family-friendly 22km return trip with a day use warming shelter and panoramic views of the valley.

For those strictly here for the mountain sledding, spend the day exploring Clemina or Chappell Creek. If it is your first time riding in Valemount or you are looking to maximize your time on the snow under the watchful support of a professional guide, reach out to Frozen Pirate Snow Services. They also offer a variety of avalanche skills training courses throughout the season to help level up your skills on the snow.

Clemina offers family friendly sledding options including rewarding tree riding for those poor visibility days. The staging area is 30km south of Valemount on the east side of Hwy 5. Travel the regularly groomed 17km trail to reach the day use shelter and fun valley bottom playzones.

Excellent alpine riding can be found above the cabin via a short groomed trail into the Goat Ridge Bowl. On the other side of the valley, backtrack a little and head up through the cutblocks to reach the old Hillclimb and Bauer’s Second Chance areas. Don’t forget to stop and snap a pick with the Dixon glacier as your backdrop. The glacier is closed until April 30th but the view can be enjoyed year round from the saddle.

Chappell Creek is a great option for riders looking to get off the beaten path. With riding elevations between 6,000-8,000ft it can hold some of the most abundant snow in the valley. The trailhead is 58km south of town on the west side of highway 5. Follow the 26km groomed trail to reach the always rewarding meadow play zones surrounding upper and lower Tiffany Lakes.

There is no better place for a meal after a day of sledding on the doorstep of the Canadian Rockies than in a log cabin steakhouse. If prime rib with four deep fried shrimp, mashed potatoes, sauteed mushrooms and onions sounds good to you - order the Pasture and Pond at Valemount’s Caribou Grill. 

Ready to après like a local? Three Ranges Brewing puts the ‘ale’ in Valemount. This small town brewery has been making big flavor beer since 2013. Stop by the tasting room to share a pint with friends and soon to be friends.

It is an easy ride up the 9km groomed trail to reach the modern day-use shelter built in 2018. From here, the zone unfolds in a linear arm. Great family riding can be found around the cabin and in the nearby Family Lakes zone up the hill to the east. To the west - a seemingly endless system of bowls, meadows, and alpine terrain unfold before you. Start exploring!

When your body’s eventually had enough, head back down the mountain to the staging area and reconvene with friends new and old. Take a few moments to relish in the setting of the sun and trade stories of the weekend’s adventures. You never know what inspiration you may pick up for your next trip to Valemount.

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Sledder Resources For This Trip

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