Murray Ridge keeps the soul of skiing alive
northern BC ski resort builds on 50 years of DIY radness
Fort St. James, BC On a bluebird Sunday, with laughter in the lift line and s’mores by the fire, Murray Ridge Ski Area feels less like a ski resort and more like a gathering place. Ruka, the local dog, trots around with a lift pass clipped to her collar like she owns the place. I guess, in a way, she does.
This winter marks Murray Ridge's 50th season, a milestone for a small town, non-profit ski area built by volunteers and supported by generations of skiers.
Steady, familiar, and full of history, the Ridge rises into the northern skyline just 15 minutes beyond Fort St. James (under two hours from Prince George, BC).
For some 50 years now, families have been driving in from across the region to play on these slopes. Nearly every run carries the name of a sponsor who helped make it possible, and the mark of volunteer effort and care to keep it running smoothly.
Folks like local Murray Ridge board member Daniel Goff, who has been skiing here since he was eight.
HIT PLAY > to hear Daniel Goff introduce the rad history of the Ridge
We meet up for warm up with laps on perfectly corduroyed groomers that are fast, forgiving and very fun, before pointing our skis toward black diamond terrain that makes it clear this hill punches above its weight.
“We put out good skiers here,” Goff says with a grin. After a few runs, it’s hard to disagree.
Post-ski, we duck into the lodge for some Caesars, GM Cody Willick joining us, along with a handful of locals, some who’ve been skiing here for more than 30 years.
That’s when the stories start flowing. Legends of Murray Ridge, powder days that have turned into lifelong friendships. Generations raised on this slope.
Among the group is a local with a full arm sleeve tattoo dedicated to Murray Ridge. You don’t make that kind of commitment unless a place means a lot to you.
Goff sums up the last 50 years in one word: “resilience.” He explains that the hill was built by volunteers and continues to be held together by volunteers and staff.
From the beginning, local loggers cleared the runs, many of which still carry the names of the companies that helped develop them.
Millwrights, mechanics and electricians from this industrial town show up whenever something needs fixing. Why do people in this community care so much?
"The mountain keeps the culture,” Goff says. In a small northern town, culture matters.
That culture includes strong bonds forged with nearby First Nations, who support the ski hill through recreational partnerships.
“There are a few different nations around here, and each one has programs focused on health and well being. They bring their members up to ski, and the bands financially support that," explains Cody Willick, GM at Murray Ridge.
Recently, that relationship deepened in a visible way. Murray Ridge which sits on the traditional territory of Nak’azdli Whut’en hosted a land blessing led by the Tremblay Family, Prince Family and Aslin Family, which moved all in attendance.
“It was about the ground,” says Goff. “It was about all of our connections to the ground. It was about the families that were here before. The past, the present and the future.”
A recognition that while the ski hill may be 50 years old, the land it’s on holds a far longer story.
Later, I click into skis with Jen Duncan, whose connection to Murray Ridge runs deep. Her father was a preliminary board member and instrumental in securing funding that built the lodge after receiving funding from Expo ’86.
Duncan grew up at the ski hill; she was so young she doesn’t even remember learning to ski. We head up the lift and straight for her favorite run, Stuart Lake.
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She skis with confidence that only comes from decades of getting to know the same slope. When she left for Vancouver after high school, she assumed she’d be behind skiers raised on bigger hills.
Instead, she discovered something else. “Our terrain is advanced” she says with a grin. “People who learn to ski here, ski well.” Murray Ridge didn’t limit her, it shaped her.
After a few laps, we settle by the fire pit to talk. On growing up here, she says, “This is just where everybody was.”
Parents skiing together, their kids skiing together and everyone pitching in. Now she watches her own children ski the same terrain their grandfather helped build.
“There is nothing that I enjoy more than standing on a run with my kids and my husband,” she says.
It’s the little things like her daughter texting from university asking if they can ski together when she’s home. “Always,” is her answer.
Her hope for the next 50 years is simple: that skiing here remains a given. That families buy passes because they value having the hill, that kids grow into instructors and patrollers and that one day she’ll teach her grandkids how to ski here.
Duncan notes that when diving into Fort St. James, the first thing you see is Murray Ridge Ski Resort rising in the distance. For her, it’s more than just a landmark on the horizon, it’s a reminder that she’s home.
As my day winds down, one thing is glaringly obvious to me:
Murray Ridge thrives not because it’s large, but because it’s loved.
Volunteers splice lift cables and fix snow cats. Businesses invest not for billboard exposure, but to strengthen community. Families buy passes, bring their kids, and linger long after their last run.
In an industry that often measures success in vertical feet and high-speed lifts, Murray Ridge measures it in connection.
Fifty years in and the lesson is simple: it takes a community to raise a ski hill, and here that community keeps showing up.
When You Go
Getting here Murray Ridge Ski Resort is located just 15 minutes outside Fort St. James, overlooking beautiful Stuart Lake in northern BC.
It’s an easy drive from surrounding communities:
- 2 hours from Prince George via Hwy BC-16
- 1 hour from Vanderhoof via Hwy BC-16
- A scenic northern road trip from across the region perfect for a #SkiNorthBC adventure
Where to Stay
Pitka Bay Resort where I stayed! Updated rooms with a stunning view of the lake, making it the perfect place to unwind after a full day on the mountain.
Jen’s Airbnb stay like a local and experience the hill’s community connection firsthand, plus there’s a hot tub!
Ski run recommendations
Murray Ridge may be community-built, but the terrain delivers big mountain energy.
Stuart Lake: a must-ski for epic sunset laps with incredible views over the lake
Haslinger: natural halfpipes, fun fall-line skiing, and playful black diamond tree terrain
Groomers are fast, forgiving, and perfect for cruising — but don’t miss the steeper terrain that proves this hill punches above its weight.
Upcoming Events
Mar 7 Everest Challenge – all ages, 18 runs, 30,000 feet
Sherpa Challenge: all ages, ski all 22 runs in one day
Base Camp Challenge: under 10 years old, 10,000 feet
Mar 14 Denim & Disco
Celebrate 50 years of Murray Ridge in style at the anniversary party!
Mar 21 Slush Cup & Bathtub Races
One of the hill’s most legendary events! Costumes, creativity, and chaos, from witches’ cauldrons to giant beer boxes, anything goes. Teams include riders, steers, and brakes, and everyone is part of the show.
For more information about the region, visit https://murrayridge.com/ and visit @murrayridge on Instagram.