There are few places where you can hop on a sled and head straight to the hills, but Mackenzie, B.C., is one of them. From this town in the heart of the Rockies, within 10 minutes you can be at the top of a mountain, taking in the epic view and trying to decide whether to spend the day riding bowls, tackling hillclimbs or cruising easy trails.
Morfee Mountain
Morfee Mountain draws snowmobilers of all abilities, including families and novice riders looking for a day’s worth of easy sledding, gorgeous scenery and a beginner's taste of mountain riding. Groomed, wide open trails with gently rolling hills and spectacular views make for a leisurely ride to the first cabin. After another 15 kilometres, sledders reach the top of Morfee, where big bowls and some moderate climbs can amp up the adventure.
Driving directions to staging area: Pass through town on MacKenzie Boulevard heading north. About one kilometre past Mackenzie, make a right onto Morfee Mountain Road. The parking lot, which has a sled ramp and plenty of spaces, is about 200 metres down the road.
Elevation: 4,300 feet
Distance from Mackenzie: 1.2 kilometres
Grooming season: December to March
Difficulty level: Easy to moderate
Beyond Morfee Mountain
Riders with a few winters under their belts will want to venture past the first cabin on Morfee Mountain and make the challenging trek to the top, where big bowls and plenty of hillclimbing await. Drop over and into endless ranges and valleys with alpine meadows and lots of powder, not to mention tight, narrow sidehilling spots and ravines that can be challenging. Whatever you do, don’t forget to slow down and soak in the breathtaking view.
Driving directions to staging area: Pass through town on MacKenzie Boulevard heading north. About one kilometre past Mackenzie, make a right onto Morfee Mountain Road. The parking lot, which has a sled ramp and plenty of spaces, is about 200 metres down the road.
Elevation: 5,600 feet
Distance from Mackenzie: 1.2 kilometres
Grooming season: December to March
Difficulty level: Moderate to difficult
Pine Pass
Thrill-seekers can head to Pine Pass for some big mountain riding complete with deep ravines and big open bowls. The Bijoux Cabin is a great place to stop for a warm-up before heading back into cool meadows, intense hillclimbing areas and plenty of places for technical tree riding.
Driving directions to staging area: Head north on Highway 39 for 29 kilometres. At the junction take Highway 97 towards Chetwynd and carry on about 40 kilometres. About one kilometre past Bijoux Falls, you’ll find a parking lot just past the train overpass.
Elevation: 3,600 feet at the parking lot, and the peaks go over 6,000 feet
Distance from Mackenzie: 70 kilometres
Grooming season: This area is not groomed, but someone usually breaks the trail around November, depending on the snow conditions.
Difficulty level: Difficult
Mark your calendar
Members of the Rocky Mountain Riders are anticipating an impressive turnout at the club’s annual Spring Snowarama event, scheduled for March 10, 2013. The pledged ride will take sledders 40 kilometres from Windy Point to Whiskers Point over excellent terrain, from wide, flat trails to deep powder. Last year’s event drew 109 sleds, more than 130 people, and $4,000 in pledges was raised. Visit the club's website for updates and member contact information.
The Rocky Mountain Riders also host bi-monthly club rides focused on drawing more women and children to the hills.
“Sledding tends to be a guys' sport,” said club president Marlon Spooner. “We’ve switched the focus to try and get more people out riding.”
