With ample snow and plenty of gorgeous scenery, it's no wonder snowmobilers love visiting the Wells and Barkerville area. The nearby snowmobiling trails are enough to keep you entertained all season long.
For information on snowmobile trails in Wells and Barkerville, check out the Wells Snowmobile Club trail maps.
Passes are available in Wells at the Jack 'o' Clubs General or you can just join the club for a season pass.
Day passes: $25
Membership/season pass: $250
This 29-kilometre trail is rated for all skill levels, and is accessible through the rear bulkhead area of Barkerville (via Stout's Gulch) or from Wells via Lowhee Drive.
Once there, you can take on some hill climbing routes on the summit of Mount Agnes, and relax at a warm-up cabin located right at Groundhog Lake.
You can access this trail right behind the Barkerville Historic Town offices (via the snowmobile bridge). On the way up the summit, you can even take a side trip through an old 1930s mining camp.
Proserpine connects with Bald Mountain, where you can find ample powder to play in, and an expert trail that leads to the Groundhog Lake network. Please be aware that the south side dropping off from Bald Mountain is closed for Caribou habitat.
You can reach Yanks Peak from Barkerville Historic Town by taking Proserpine Trail to the A Rd Junction, then following the groomed trail to the 3100 road - this will enable you to avoid logging traffic for three and a half kilometres. The Yanks Peak Trail begins at the X Road junction. This riding zone is the most challenging in the area, rated for expert riders only, with an elevation of 1,905 metres. A round trip from Wells to the summit is more than four hours, and you can find a club warm-up shelter at Rocky Top Mountain, which is adjacent to Yank's Peak. The cabin can be accessed via the logging road at the old Cariboo Hudson Mine.
This is the most family-friendly snowmobile trail in the area. It begins in the Wells meadow, and when it is groomed, this 35-kilometre trail is rated for all skill levels. It takes about three hours to ride both ways. Please be aware of wildlife such as moose and caribou, and respect their habitats by staying on the designated trail while sledding here.
This dedicated organization maintains a number of snowmobile trails in the Wells and Barkerville area.
The laws governing snowmobile use differ by province and can be confusing. Here, we make it easier to understand what local and out of province snowmobilers will need in terms of insurance, registration and licensing to ride B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
Trial maps, top snowmobile trails, club contacts and other useful information you can use before planning a snowmobile trip to Wells and Barkerville, B.C.
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by Mason Buettner