The Mount Cain Ski Area is located in a regional park and is run by the non-profit Mount Cain Alpine Park Society. It is Vancouver Island’s only community-owned and operated ski and snowboard facility. Situated on the north end of Vancouver Island, Mt. Cain offers a unique experience for skiers, snowboarders and backcountry explorers.

At Mount Cain on a Saturday morning you’ll find untouched runs with snow that has accumulated over the mid-week and the friendly, welcoming atmosphere of a family-oriented mountain. Affectionately referred to a ski hill frozen in time, Mount Cain has the character and community vibes from a bygone era. With its Island interior location, Mt. Cain tends to have drier snow than other Coastal mountains. Mount Cain also has the highest base elevation of any coastal ski hill in British Columbia, Alaska and Washington State. Mount Cain’s peak elevation is second only to Whistler on the coast.

Mt. Cain is accessed from the Island Highway 19 and is located 8 km south of the Woss turnoff. It’s a 16-km drive on a maintained logging road from the highway to the day lodge. Roads are regularly snow cleared by the mountain’s maintenance department, assisted by the forest companies and local district. The driving time from Port Hardy to Mt. Cain is 1 hour and 45 minutes, and 2 hours from Campbell River.

Directions From the South: From Nanaimo, take the Inland highway north to Campbell River, then continue northward on Hwy 19. After passing Campbell River, in a round an hour and a half, look for the blue highway signs signifying both Mount Cain and Schoen Lake Provincial Park. If you make it to Woss, you’ve passed the Mount Cain turnoff. Turn left onto a gravel road and follow the signs to Mount Cain.

Directions From the North: The Mount Cain turnoff is about a 50-minute drive south of Port McNeill, and about 5 minutes (8km) south of the Woss turnoff. Look for the blue Mount Cain and Schoen Lake Provincial Park highway signs on your right, then follow the access road signs to Mount Cain.

The carrying of chains is mandatory, so make sure you have chains that fit and you know how to use them. The use of chains may be required for going both up and down the access road. Actually putting tire chains on is often required for all vehicles, including 4×4’s with good snow tires. Towing services are not available. Requiring a shovel on the Mount Cain road is also always a possibility, as you may need to dig your own car out of the snow.

New for the 25/26 season is a shuttle bus service being operated by Western Educational Services, who are planning to provide Friday departures and Sunday returns from the South Island. Delivering snow enthusiasts to Mount Cain and nearby hotels with Saturday/Sunday day trips and pick ups and drop offs in Campbell River and stops in Sayward, Woss and the base parking lot. For more information check their website (https://weacharters.ca/vancouver-island-ski-bus.htm)