Dakota Ridge

As of 10 am January 12, 2021, it is 3C, light winds, high overcast and lightly raining. There is currently a base of 197 cm. Compact snow with slushy spots begin at 9 km on the forest service road. 4x4 and chains always recommended. See you out there!

January 01, 2021 Dakota Ridge Update. Road not plowed. 10 cm of new snow. Currently raining with temperature at 1 degree Celsius. A little windy currently. Trail grooming is currently underway.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE Season Passes need to be picked up asap! There are 50 season passes that have not been picked up yet. If you can, it's very important that you please pick up your seasons pass and sign the waiver today at the main administration building on Field Road. Staff are not sure when your next chance will be for picking up your pass!... Thank you!

Come pick up your previously purchased Dakota Ridge season passes at the Gibsons and Area Community centre room 209 before 2pm today. Access is from the outside near the basketball court.

As of 10 am January 7, 2021, it is 1C, light winds, low overcast, snowing lightly and limited visibility. There is currently a base of 197 cm. Trail grooming is in progress. Compact snow begins at 8 km on the forest service road, snow removal is in progress. There are logging trucks coming from Branch 5 so please drive with caution. Also road widening taking place, delays could be expected. 4x4 and chains always recommended.... Photo courtesy of Brian Smith. See you out there!

Sledding at Dakota Ridge is a thrilling way to enjoy the season and take advantage of the snow. So grab your sleds, toques, mitts, pack some hot chocolate and head to Dakota Ridge for some winter fun in the snow. Safety controls have been put in place to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. When visiting Dakota Ridge please practice physical distancing (staying 2 metres apart). The warming hut has a limit of five people, we ask that you please limit your time in the hut during... busy times and consider using your vehicle as an alternative to the warming hut if needed. For more information about Dakota Ridge, visit www.scrd.ca/dakota-ridge. See more

As of 9:30 am: Overcast at Dakota ridge with a temperature of -1c with limited visibility. Received 20 cm of new snow for a total of 200 cm. Grooming is in progress. Snow removal is in process on the access road. Snow begins at 8km and is slippery and compact. 4x4 and chains are strongly recommended.

The next Dakota Ridge road and trail update will take place on Friday January 8, 2021. So please Stay tuned! Regular snow and road updates are scheduled for Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturday and Sundays. These are the days that staff and/or volunteers are on the mountain, who provide us with updates.

Dakota Ridge Call for Volunteer Work Party to get ready for the 2020-2021 Ski, Snowshoe and Sled Season The SCRD is looking for enthusiastic individuals to assist in some seasonal trail maintenance and clean-up of the Dakota Ridge Winter Recreation Area. When: Friday, November 6, 2020 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. ... Where: Meet at the Dakota Ridge Upper Parking Lot There will be a tailgate safety meeting, including COVID-19 safety measures, to start the day. We ask that you wear a face mask/covering and practice physical distancing. Please do not attend if you have any of the following symptoms: new or worsening cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, temperature equal to or over 38C, feeling feverish, chills, fatigue or weakness, muscle or body aches, new loss of smell or taste, headache, gastrointestinal symptoms (abdominal pain), feeling very unwell. Work consists of trimming back brush from the snowshoe trails, stacking firewood and cleaning/tidying the warming hut amongst a few other chores. Please dress appropriately, and bring work gloves, loppers, water, snacks and a lunch. If you require further information, contact Geri Cuschieri at 604-885-6802.

**DAKOTA RIDGE UPDATE - OCTOBER 14, 2020** SCRD staff are working on plans to open Dakota Ridge Winter Recreation Area safely for the upcoming 2020-2021 winter recreation season. Plans will include COVID-19 safety measures to protect volunteers, visitors and staff. Dakota Ridge relies on Volunteer Trail Hosts, and we are currently recruiting Hosts for the 2020-2021 season. If you would like to contribute to an important recreational service in your community, or know of someone else who may be interested in becoming a Dakota Ridge trail host this year, please join us online for an information meeting on Tuesday October 27, 2020 from 7pm-9pm on Zoom. For further information about the meeting: https://www.scrd.ca//2020-OCT-14%20Invitation%20for%20Dako .

December 30, 2020 2nd update for Dakota Ridge. 10:20 AM Ridge Walker Trail being closed I due to white out conditions.

December 30, 2020 as of 930 AM -2 Celsius with obscured visibility from winter storm. 30 cm of new snow overnight with a total base now of 183 cm. Grooming and snow removal in progress and chains are required on vehicles going up to Dakota Ridge.

The Dakota Ridge Winter Recreation Area gate is closed because SCRD has adjusted service levels such that trail grooming and inspection will not be carried out and no road or trail condition reports will be provided. The service level change is designed to promote the safety our volunteers and staff, and responds to provincial health orders and guidance. The closure protects users, community assets and is aligned with the SCRD’s partnership agreement with the Province (the landowner to whom SCRD is responsible). We regret any inconvenience and encourage folks to make use of the other SCRD Parks and natural spaces on the Coast while following current guidance on managing the risks of COVID-19 coronavirus.

Dakota Ridge Winter Recreation Area Closed for Season March 17, 2020 As part of continuing measures to manage risks of COVID-19, SCRD is closing Dakota Ridge Winter Recreation Area for the season effective March 17, 2020. The main gate will be closed and locked. The SCRD would like to thank dedicated Dakota Ridge volunteers for their hard work this season and the community for their patronage.

-15 C and clear skies. The base is at 207 cm no new snow. The road is bare up to km 8 and icy for the last 2 km. As always, use caution when driving and chains are recommended See you out there!

0 C with a partially blue sky. The base is at 220 cm which includes 20 cm of new snow. All cross country ski and snowshoe trails are groomed/compacted and ready to be explored. sled hill is ready for fun and laughter! The road is bare up to km 10 then icy from 10 km to 11 km. ... Compact snow starting at 11 km and continues to the top. As always, use caution when driving and chains are recommended. Photos courtesy of Karin Gunn. See you out there!

-1 C and overcast. Base is at 200 cm and there is 3 cm of fresh snow. All cross country ski and snowshoe trails are groomed and ready to be explored. The road is bare up to km 7 then patchy up to km 10, compact snow and some icy sections to the top. As always, use caution when driving and chains are recommended.... Photo taken the evening of March 9, 2020! See you out there!

Happy Fabulous Friday! -2 C and clear blue skies. Base is at 188 cm and there is 3 cm of fresh snow. Grooming on all trails is in progress and snowshoe trails are all open. The road is bare up to km 10 then compact snow and some icy sections to the top. As always, use caution when driving and chains are recommended.... See you out there!

Important Notice Fat Tire mountain bikes were on the snowshoe trails over the weekend causing extensive ruts in the trail surface. These ruts can make usage of the trails awkward and even hazardous. A reminder to all of our users that only snowshoes and skis are permitted on their respective trail systems. Thank you for your cooperation.... See you out there!

+1 C low overcast and limited visibility. Base is at 188 cm that includes 2 cm of fresh snow. Grooming is in progress. The road is bare up to km 9 then compact snow to the top. Use caution as road work is in progress.... Recommendation is to always be ready with chains. See you out there!

-2 degrees with blowing snow and icy winds. Grooming is in progress on all trails. 175 cm base with 5 cm new snow overnight. The road is not plowed, but there is good traction. As always, chains are recommended. Blue skies are on the way! See you outside.

+3 C, foggy and lightly snowing. Base is at 183 cm. Grooming is in progress. Cross country ski trails and snow shoe trails will all be ready to be explored this weekend. Pack some food and hot chocolate and bring the kids up to the sledding hill for some outdoor fun!... The road is bare to km 10, the last 2 kms is compact snow. Recommendation is to always be ready with chains. Sunrise at Dakota Ridge! See you out there!

0 degrees today. Base is at 172 cm and snowing heavily. Sunny over eastern trails and cloudy over west trails. Road slush from km 7. Plows have been called in. See you outside!

+1 C with a beautiful blue sky. Base is at 171 cm. X country ski trails and snow shoe trails are ready to be explored. Snow and ice starts at km 7. ... Recommendation is to always be ready with chains. See you out there!

-3 C and a beautiful blue bird day. Base is now at 171 cm. As you can see by the photo, x country ski trails are in phenomenal condition. Snow shoe trails are also ready to be explored. Snow and ice starts at km 7. There is a bulldozer and grader doing some road widening today, so please drive with caution. ... Recommendation is to always be ready with chains. See you out there!

-1 C and beautiful blue sunny sky. Powder conditions. Base is at 162 cm. Trails have been groomed and are ready to be explored. Snow starts at 8 kms then compact snow to the top. Recommend to always be ready with chains.... Make Family Day a Fun Day up at Dakota Ridge See you out there!

-1 C this morning and snowing lightly. The base is at 158 cm. Grooming is in progress and all ski and snowshoe trails are open. The road is in excellent condition. Snow starts at 10 km with compact snow and ice on the last 3 kms up. Be sure to always be prepared with chains.... See you out there!

Discover the Magic of Snow! Winter weather and the limited hours of daylight can bring out a natural instinct to hibernate and stay inside even in the most active person. More and more people are choosing to enjoy winter activities on the Sunshine Coast either on a daily basis or for the weekend, and one of the fastest growing winter activities that people are pursuing is snowshoeing.... Dakota Ridge offers visitors 7 kilometres of groomed and wilderness snowshoe trails that wind through old growth forests and open areas in a beautiful subalpine setting. For information on passes, to learn more about snow and road conditions, or for driving directions, visit the www.scrd.ca/Dakota-Ridge or call 604-885-6802. We’ll see you outside!