As autumn fades, the world shifts gears, and with it, so do our trails. Leaves fall and then come the first flurries, transforming the landscape. For many, the trails become a different kind of escape, an entirely new opportunity, a blank canvas of white inviting us to continue exploring. The snow doesn't erase our paths; it gives them new life. So, as we trade our hiking boots or mountain bikes for skis or snowshoes, let’s talk about what these trails mean to us when winter moves in, and why they continue to matter just as much, maybe even more, with snow under our feet.
Winter trails: A different adventure
Winter often brings an introspective quiet, a muffled calm. You step out onto a snow-covered trail and suddenly the world narrows to the crunch of snow underfoot, your breath in the crisp air, and the soft glow of daylight glistening off icicles. Cross-country skiing is perhaps one of the most cherished uses of winter trails, gliding across fields of white, the rhythmic push and glide, an echo of cycling’s rolling momentum, but slower and more meditative. It’s a way to keep the same spirit of movement, of connection with nature, alive through the cold months.
But that’s not all. Winter trails invite us to layer up and venture into snowshoeing, winter hiking, or even fat biking. Snowshoeing takes the terrain and opens it up to anyone, regardless of skill level, welcoming us to tread paths that might be impassable in summer. It’s a slower journey, deliberate. With snowshoes, you go where skis cannot; you scramble up steep hills, cross soft powder, and sink just enough to feel held by the landscape.
Fat biking, meanwhile, takes the principles we know from our mountain bikes and applies them to a whole new setting. These oversized tires allow riders to continue their love for trails through the winter, it's an exhilarating contrast: the sharp bite of cold air while pedalling hard, the snow crunching, the balance constantly tested by icy patches.
Trails transform in winter, but they don’t lose their importance. Instead, they offer the community a new kind of adventure, a way to keep our bodies moving, our hearts healthy, and our connection to nature intact through even the darkest months.
Trails connect us season to season
Some may wonder why do we need trails even with snow on the ground? Wouldn’t winter just be the time to stay in, stoke the fire, and wait for spring? The answer lies in what these trails mean beyond mere physical paths; they are conduits for resilience, for connection to the land, and to each other.
Cross-country ski trails, for instance, are not just groomed tracks for gliding; they’re places where families meet, where children learn to balance and glide, falling into soft snowbanks and laughing, where friendships form on cold mornings, bonding over shared effort. The presence of a well-maintained trail encourages activity; it makes nature accessible and inviting, no matter the season.
For those of us who live in places like the Cariboo, the winter isn’t something to endure, it’s a chapter to embrace. It’s long and often demanding, but it also holds a unique beauty that’s worth exploring. When we have trails that invite us to venture out, we’re more likely to stay active, keep our mental health steady, and find joy in the changing rhythms of the year.
There’s also something deeply satisfying in seeing the landscape change as you move through it. The very trails we might hike, run or ride on a summer's day, become quiet corridors of snow-laden trees, marked by animal tracks and the long shadows of winter sun. Moving through that landscape reminds us of the constancy of nature even amid change. It reminds us that we are a part of this cycle, not separate from it.
Community well-being: The role of winter trails
Trails also foster community. They give us shared spaces to come together in appreciation of our surroundings. When we support trail maintenance year-round, we’re investing in communal well-being. Winter trails bring us outside during a time of year that otherwise might see many of us isolated indoors. This becomes even more important in smaller communities, where the availability of healthy, active outlets is crucial for both physical and mental health.
Whether it’s organized group snowshoe hikes, cross-country ski lessons for kids, or simply running into a neighbor on a winter walk, these moments of connection are vital. We’ve seen this especially in the past years. That sense of connection, of sharing a space in nature, gives us a much-needed antidote to long stretches of darkness, both literal and figurative.
As a trail planner, I plan and design for all seasons. A well-thought-out trail system considers not only summer riders but winter adventurers too. Groomed cross-country trails, packed fat bike loops, well-marked snowshoe routes take effort and care, and they’re worth it because they contribute to the vibrancy and resilience of our community. Winter trails are not just an add-on; they’re a commitment to ensuring that nature remains accessible, regardless of the weather.
Reconciliation, year-round
It’s also important to note how trails contribute to our broader goals of reconciliation. Trails in winter, just like in summer, represent a bridge between cultures. They allow us to explore lands with deep histories, to continue learning, respecting, and appreciating those who came before us. Many Indigenous communities have their own winter traditions tied to the land, and winter trails can be a way to keep those traditions alive, to invite people of all backgrounds to understand the resilience that comes with living in sync with the seasons.
When we talk about Indigenous-led trail networks or inclusive winter recreation programs, we are talking about opportunities for shared understanding. By moving through these
landscapes respectfully, we come to appreciate the full cycle of the land, to respect the stories that it holds in summer, winter, and all the seasons in between. We are reminded that all trails are Indigenous, and they continue to be, even under a blanket of snow.
Preparing for the season
As winter sets in, it’s time to start preparing, not just physically but mentally, to engage with the trails in a new way. It’s time to wax those skis, dust off the snowshoes, and make sure our fat bikes are ready for the cold. The trails we cherish in summer are waiting for us, transformed but no less inviting.
Let’s make the commitment to keep moving, to keep connecting to each other, to the land, and to the stories that these trails hold. Winter is not a time to turn inward entirely; it’s a time to step out into the cold and find warmth in community, in movement, and in nature’s quiet resilience.
So this winter, let’s meet out there on skis, on snowshoes, fat bikes or snowmobiles. Let’s embrace the adventure that winter brings, knowing that these trails, even under snow, remain our connection to nature, to each other, and to the deeper stories of the land.
