How long is the drive to Mount Washington?

Plan on 45 minutes to an hour. Take Highway 19 south to exit 130, then drive up the Strathcona Parkway. Allow more time in snow.

Do I need winter tires and chains?

Yes. Vehicles on the Strathcona Parkway need good winter tires (mountain and snowflake or M+S, at least 3.5 mm tread) and must carry chains. Chains are mandatory for all vehicles when the chain-up lights are on.

Is there night skiing?

Night skiing has run Thursday to Saturday evenings in past seasons, but not every year. Check the resort's night skiing page before you go.

Where can I take an avalanche course?

Avalanche Canada lists recognised Avalanche Skills Training (AST) providers and publishes the Vancouver Island avalanche forecast. Take a course before you go past the resort boundary.

What else is there to do on a winter evening in town?

Walk the Sea Walk, visit the Museum at Campbell River, or see a show at the Tidemark Theatre.

Skiing & Snowboarding Campbell River: The Local Guide (2026)

Q: Is there a shuttle to the mountain?

The resort lists a shuttle service on its Getting Here page. Check pickup points and times there before you plan around it.

THINGS TO DO · MOUNT WASHINGTON

Everything you need for a day at Mount Washington: the drive, the tire and chain rules, the season and the backcountry beyond the boundary.

Mount Washington · Updated October 2026Things To Do Guide · Campbell River Guide

Photo: Mount Washington Alpine Resort via Google

01AT A GLANCE

The details that matter.

Mount Washington Alpine Resort, about 50 km south of Campbell River, is the closest ski hill. The drive takes 45 minutes to an hour, and the Strathcona Parkway needs winter tires and chains in your car. Past the resort boundary, Strathcona Provincial Park is unpatrolled avalanche terrain.

Best Season: Usually December to April (opening day depends on snow)
Book Ahead: Lift tickets, rentals & lessons
The Drive: About 50 km, 45 to 60 minutes
Good to know: Winter tires and chains for the Strathcona Parkway

02THE STORY

On Mount Washington, you ski with the ocean in view.

Vancouver Island's biggest ski hill is under an hour from Campbell River, close enough for a day trip whenever the snow is good.

Winter on this coast means rain in town and snow up high. For Campbell River, "up high" means Mount Washington Alpine Resort, about 50 km south. Take Highway 19 to exit 130 and drive up the Strathcona Parkway. Allow 45 minutes to an hour each way, more when it's snowing.

The setting is what makes the drive worth it. From the runs you look out over the Strait of Georgia to the mainland mountains on one side, and into the peaks of Strathcona Provincial Park on the other. Terrain runs from gentle beginner slopes to steep expert lines, so a mixed group can all have a full day.

The road is the part to plan for. The Parkway climbs quickly, and the resort asks every driver to have good winter tires and chains in the car. When the chain-up lights are on, chains are mandatory for every vehicle, four-wheel drive included. Check the resort's road report and DriveBC before you leave, and practise putting your chains on at home rather than on the side of the mountain.

Opening day depends on the snow, and the resort posts a tentative date each fall. Night skiing has run on some evenings in past seasons but not every year, so check the resort's website before planning around it. Book rentals and lessons online, and if you plan to ski often, buy a season pass early: it's usually cheapest before the snow arrives.

Past the resort boundary is the Strathcona Park backcountry, which is not patrolled or controlled for avalanches. If you're heading out there, take avalanche training, carry the right gear, ride with a partner, and read Avalanche Canada's Vancouver Island forecast every time.

Open skiing & snowboarding on the map

•ON THE MAP

Find it on the map.

Mount Washington on the live map. Tap the pin for photos and directions, then open the full profile.

1: Ski resort

Open skiing & snowboarding on the map Browse the full list

•LOCAL KNOWLEDGE

Coastal Snowpack and Alpine Routes

Local knowledge makes a big difference when dealing with mountain weather and highway conditions. Here are the exact spots to catch fresh tracks and stay safe on the coast.

The short answer

Mount Washington Alpine Resort, about 50 km south of town, is where Campbell River skis and rides. Check the resort's snow and road reports before you go, and carry chains for the Strathcona Parkway.

01Island Alpine

Mount Washington Alpine Resort

Mount Washington Alpine Resort is the ski hill for Campbell River: about 50 kilometres south, off Highway 19 at exit 130 and up the Strathcona Parkway. Plan on 45 minutes to an hour from town, longer in snow. The runs look out over the Strait of Georgia and the peaks of Strathcona Provincial Park, with terrain from beginner to expert.

Night skiing has run on Thursday to Saturday evenings in past seasons, but it is not offered every year. Check the resort's night skiing page before you plan an evening on the hill.

Opening day depends on snow. The resort posts a tentative opening date on its snow report each fall.

Local tips

Book rentals and lessons online before you arrive.
Season passes are usually cheapest before the snow falls.
Check the resort's snow report and road report on the morning you go.

Mount Washington Alpine Resort

02Getting There Safely

Getting up the Strathcona Parkway

The Strathcona Parkway climbs fast and the weather changes quickly on the way up. Vehicles on the Parkway need good winter tires (the three-peaked mountain and snowflake symbol or M+S, with at least 3.5 mm of tread), and you must carry chains. When the chain-up lights are on, chains are mandatory for every vehicle, four-wheel drive included.

There are chain-up areas on the way up. Check DriveBC and the resort's road report before you leave town.

If your car is not set up for winter roads, the resort lists a shuttle service on its Getting Here page. Check pickup points and times before you go.

Local tips

Practise putting your chains on at home, not on the hill.
Pack a shovel, flashlight, gloves and a blanket.
Give snowplows plenty of room on the Parkway.

03Before you leave the boundary

Backcountry and avalanche safety

The terrain outside the resort boundary, including much of Strathcona Provincial Park, is not patrolled or controlled for avalanches. Anyone heading into it needs avalanche training, a transceiver, shovel and probe, and a partner who carries the same.

Avalanche Canada publishes the avalanche forecast for Vancouver Island and lists recognised Avalanche Skills Training (AST) course providers. Read the forecast every morning before you go.

Local tips

Take an AST 1 course before your first backcountry day.
Tell someone where you are going and when you will be back.
Cell coverage disappears quickly in the park.

04Coastal Culture

Evening at Sea Level

After a cold day at elevation, head back to sea level. The local pubs serve hot seafood chowder, a nod to the area's history as a major salmon fishing hub. You can walk it off along the Sea Walk toward Willow Point.

Downtown has the Discovery Fishing Pier, the first saltwater fishing pier in Canada. Nearby, the local museum documents the 1958 Ripple Rock blast. It gives you a good sense of the rough coastal history.

You can also catch an evening show at the Tidemark Theatre. If you have a free afternoon, take the 10-minute BC Ferries ride to Quadra Island and walk through the Nuyumbalees Cultural Centre at Cape Mudge.