Skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, and other adrenaline-pumping sports are a big draw to the Canadian mountains in the winter, but you don’t need to hit the slopes to make the most of your time in Golden. There are plenty of winter activities to stay busy with, especially if you're coming to Golden to slow down and chill out. Here’s a little list to inspire you:

 

Cross-Country Skiing:

Golden has an abundance of groomed classic and skate cross-country ski trails and many options for creating your own tracks across frozen lakes and through forests.

Nordic (cross-country) skiing is an easy and fun way to enjoy the majestic beauty of the mountains in the winter. Take it easy and glide through the snow for a leisurely run, or pick up the pace a bit and get yourself a good cardio workout. The Dawn Mountain Nordic Centre has over 33 kilometers of groomed classic and skate trails with a few good hills to get your heart rate up. You can also access the tracked trails at the Golden Golf Course by leaving a donation.

 

Cross-country skiing at the Golden Golf Course

Credit: Maur Mere Media

 

Winter Hiking

A stroll through the winter woodlands can be a day well spent, or even just part of a day. If you want to stick close to town, try walking the Rotary trail system, a 14-kilometer loop through the forests, residential and along Golden’s historic rivers. You can venture east of Golden to hike to the Wapta Falls lookout in Yoho National Park, an easy 4.8-kilometer hike to view the largest waterfall on the Kicking Horse river (you might want to take micro-spikes or snowshoes). Deeper into Yoho National park, you can hike (or cross-country) around Emerald Lake. 

 

Winter hikes around Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park

Credit: Nadeem Sufi

 

Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Sanctuary

A unique facility dedicated to awareness and conservation for the wolf. Northern Lights is home to nine resident wolves, which you are able to view, and photograph. Interpretive tours are 25 minutes long and guides teach all about the wolves and their wild cousins.  The Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Centre also offers Photography Tours for adults (16) for 1.5 hours you can walk alongside a wolf & photograph it with no boundaries, fences, or leashes. Reservations are needed, see the website for pricing and more details here: https://northernlightswildlife.com/

 

Wolves at the Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Sanctuary

Credit: Dave Best

 

Dining

If you want the views of Kicking Horse Mountain Resort without the fuss of strapping on skis or a snowboard, you can enjoy a delicious meal at the top of the mountain resort in Eagle’s Eye Restaurant, the highest dining experience in Canada. Or, enjoy any of the great eats in town. You have your choice of cafes, pubs, restaurants, and even a local brewery, each with diverse menus and many that use fresh, local ingredients.

 

Cocktails in the Eagle's Eye

Credit: Andrew Chad

 

Curling

The local Curling club has drop-in curling nights on Fridays. Everyone is welcome, beginner and advanced alike, so sign up with a team of 4 or just drop in and get put onto a team. In between and after games, you can grab a drink or play a game of pool upstairs in the lounge area. Curling drop-in is really popular, so make sure to get there early and secure your spot! This is a great way to get to know some of the locals. Find out more at the curing club’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GoldenCurling

 

Curling at the Legion in Golden

Credit: Dave Best

 

The dynamic activities and authenticity that Golden offers hold an adventure for everyone, adrenaline-seekers and chillers alike. If you want to learn more about how to make your time in Golden slow and intentional, you can read Slow Down In Golden: Winter Edition. We love to see how you spend your time in Golden, tag our account @tourismgolden and use the hashtags #GoldenBC and #GoldenRules to be featured on our social media accounts.