Getting Here

Mount Cain Shuttle bus:

Leaves lower

parking lot at 8:30 AM for ski hill.

The lower parking lot is located at the beginning of the Mount Cain road next to the Island Highway.

 

 

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Directions
small mapMt. Cain is located in Northern Vancouver Island, about 75 km NW of Sayward (roughly half-way between Campbell River and Port McNeill). Mt. Cain is easily accessed from highway 19 and is located 8 km south of the Woss turnoff. It's a 16 kilometer ride on a gravel road from the highway to the lodge. Roads are regularly maintained by the mountain's maintenance department, assisted by the forest companies.

 
Directions From The South
The driving time from Campbell River to Mt. Cain is one and a half hours. Take the new Island highway (19) to Campbell River, then continue northwards. After a little more than an hour, look for blue highway signs signifying both Mt. Cain and Schoen Lake Provincial Park (if you make it to Woss you've gone past it).  Turn left onto a gravel road and follow the signs to Mt. Cain.

Directions From The North
 
The Mt. Cain turn-off is about 50 minutes drive south of Port McNeill and about 5 minutes (8km) south of the Woss turn-off. Look for the blue Schoen Lake Provincial Park highway sign and follow the signs to Mt. Cain along the access road.
DRIVING TO MOUNT CAIN 
BEFORE TRAVELING

GETTING TO MOUNT CAIN



From/To

Distance

Approximate Driving Time

Nanaimo to Campbell River

153 km

1.5 hours on Inland Hwy

Campbell River to Sayward

73 km

45 minutes

Sayward to Mt. Cain turnoff

75 km

45 minutes

Highway turnoff  to Mt Cain

16 km on gravel road

30 minutes

When traveling from the south and see the Highways sign saying “Woss 14 km” you are then about 6 km south of the Mount Cain turnoff. Next watch for the blue sign: “Mt. Cain Ski Area.” 
Mount Cain’s unpaved turnoff road is on the west side of the road, and is about 200 meters north of the “Mt. Cain Ski Area” sign.
ARRIVING ON FRIDAYS
On the first Friday of Christmas break and on every Friday after January 1st, drive up the Mt Cain road AFTER 3:00 p.m. Each week’s accumulated snow covers the road such that the road is often not passable, even with chains. Sometimes you cannot even see the road until the snow is cleared. MCAPS equipment operators need to clear snow from the road and parking lot without the hazard of sharing the road with private vehicles.
SAFE DRIVING ON THE MOUNT CAIN ROAD
Drive with HEADLIGHTS ON at all times. 
Drive SLOWLY at blind corners and single lane sections, which is most of the road.
When meeting other vehicles, the vehicle climbing the hill to Mount Cain has right of way.
The vehicle descending the mountain and traveling to the highway must STOP and move out of the way and to the right.
On any day when the ski hill is open,

  • Uphill/climbing traffic only from dawn until 1:00 p.m.
  • Downhill/descending traffic only from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

CHAINS ARE MANDATORY
Chains that fit, Chains that you know how to use, Chains that you intend to use
Chains are mandatory for going both up and down the access road. 
Make sure your chains are the right size for your vehicle, are in good repair, you know how to install them, and you are READY to install them. Actually putting tire-chains ON the tires is often REQUIRED FOR ALL VEHICLES, including 4x4’s with good snow tires. Unprepared drivers put other drivers and their passengers at risk. 
TOWING SERVICE IS NOT AVAILABLE.
Heed this important safety message: Chains are mandatory.
When road conditions are poor, all vehicles will be stopped and checked for correctly fitting chains, and vehicles without chains will be denied access.
BUNGEES, and a SHOVEL
Use two strong, short bungee cords at each tire to tighten the chains. Also, carry a shovel. Mount Cain often receives 2 to 5 feet of snow overnight, and you will need to dig your own car out of the snow. Needing a shovel on the Mount Cain road is also always a possibility