Riding From Prince George to Wells Once a Year
A yearly ride from Prince George to Wells sounds like one long backcountry adventure, but the practical route is not a single continuous ATV trail. Highway corridors, private land, active resource roads, and seasonal closures can interrupt a plan quickly. This guide explains how to shape the trip into legal, manageable riding days, choose staging areas, and prepare for changing Cariboo conditions.
Plan the ride as a series of legal sections
Do not assume there is a continuous ATV trail
Prince George and Wells are connected by a road network, but that does not mean an ATV or side-by-side can legally travel the same way as a highway vehicle. A route line on a map may cross a highway, private land, a closed road, or terrain where motorized use is restricted. Plan the trip as a series of riding areas and verified connections rather than assuming there is an uninterrupted off-road corridor.
For many riders, a practical annual tradition means hauling the machine from Prince George to a suitable staging area, riding locally, then continuing the trip by truck and trailer to another area closer to Wells. That is less romantic than imagining one unbroken trail, but it avoids arriving at an impassable gate or discovering that a connection is not open to ORVs.
The Prince George area offers established riding opportunities, including Tabor Mountain. Farther south and east, the Cariboo has a different mix of forest roads, recreation areas, and terrain. Wells and Barkerville make an appealing destination, but a destination is not proof of a legal ATV route. For regional context, see BC Cariboo and the Gold Rush Trail and Prince George Riding on Tabor Mountain.
Separate highway travel from off-road travel
A truck route and an ATV route are two different plans. Use a truck and trailer for highway travel unless you have confirmed that a specific road section is legally open to your machine and that you meet all applicable requirements. Do not treat a shoulder, road allowance, or short paved link as an informal connector.
Forest Service Roads can be part of some ORV outings, but access and conditions vary. A road may have active industrial traffic, posted restrictions, a closure, or a temporary hazard. Check the rules and conditions for each road before setting out; BC Forest Service Road Rules for ORVs and BC Resource Roads With Active Hauling are useful background.
A mapping app such as onX Offroad can help you organize possible route segments and keep track of planned stops. Treat any mapped line as a planning clue, not permission to ride. Confirm access with the relevant land manager, posted signs, and current closure information before committing to a connection.
Choose a realistic annual trip format
A one-day ride between the two communities is not a sensible default. Instead, decide whether this year’s outing is a Prince George-area weekend, a Wells-area weekend, or a multi-stop trip where the machine is transported between riding zones. The choice affects where you stay, how much fuel and food you carry, and whether you need to arrange a shuttle or trailer parking.
A simple framework is to build the trip around one main riding base and one optional second stop. For example, a group could spend the first day checking machines and riding a familiar local area, use the next day for the main loop, then travel by truck to a second base if conditions and time allow. A more ambitious plan should include a spare day for weather, repairs, or a road closure.
Before departure, list every planned segment and mark it as one of three things: confirmed riding area, road travel by truck, or connection requiring further verification. If a segment remains uncertain, do not let it become the only way home.
Build a route that can change without becoming a problem
Verify access, closures, and land status
Access can change with wildfire risk, maintenance, logging, hunting-season restrictions, or local land-management decisions. Check the status of each riding area close to departure, then check again before riding a section that depends on a road or trail connection. Pay attention to gates and signs on the ground; an old track shown on a map does not override a current restriction.
Crown land is not automatically open to every kind of motorized travel. Rules may differ across managed recreation sites, parks, private parcels, and areas with specific closures. Review BC Crown Land Riding Explained and BC Motor Vehicle Closures and How to Find Them when laying out the trip. If a route crosses private land, obtain permission rather than assuming that a visible trail is public access.
Use more than one source when checking conditions. An app such as onX Offroad can help you visualize alternatives and save a planned route, while official notices and signs help establish whether access is currently allowed. Download or save maps for offline use if your plan enters a low-service area. A phone screen is useful, but it should not be your only navigation backup.
Make the itinerary flexible
A strong itinerary includes a primary plan, an easier option, and a way to turn around. If a road is blocked or a group is tiring, you should be able to shorten the ride without crossing an unverified connection. Pick a clear meeting point for each riding day, and make sure everyone knows where the trailer or support vehicle will be.
| Planning item | What to decide before the ride | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Riding base | Where the machines will be unloaded and parked | Avoids last-minute scrambling for safe staging |
| Route status | Which trails and roads are confirmed open | Prevents reliance on outdated map lines |
| Alternate loop | A shorter option near the staging area | Helps when weather, fatigue, or repairs change the day |
| Fuel plan | Starting fuel, estimated range, and refill options | Remote stretches may not offer convenient services |
| Communications | Phone coverage, radio plan, and emergency contact | Cell service can be limited outside communities |
| Return plan | How the group gets back to the truck or trailer | Prevents an ambitious one-way ride from becoming a recovery problem |
Share the itinerary with someone who is not riding. Include the staging location, expected return time, vehicle details, and the person to contact if the group is overdue. If the route changes, send an update whenever service allows.
Build in a conservative turnaround rule
Groups often lose time at the start of the day while unloading, checking tires, adjusting gear, and discussing the route. Set a turnaround time before leaving, not when everyone is already tired and hoping to squeeze in one more ridge or creek crossing. If the group has not reached a planned point by that time, take the shorter route back.
Conditions around the Cariboo can differ from what riders experienced during their previous annual trip. A dry road one year may be muddy or rutted the next; a familiar track may also be affected by work or a closure. Avoid treating memory as a current trail report. Keep the route flexible enough that one changed condition does not force the group to improvise.
Prepare the machine and group for Cariboo conditions
Check the machine before leaving town
A breakdown far from the staging area can turn a relaxed outing into a long recovery. Before the trip, inspect tires, brakes, steering, lights, battery connections, fluids, winch operation, and any straps or recovery points you rely on. Carry basic tools and the parts most likely to matter for your machine, such as a tire repair kit, spare belt where appropriate, and enough supplies to handle small fixes.
Think about how the machine will be transported as well as how it will ride. Secure the ATV or UTV properly on the trailer, check the tie-downs after the first stop, and keep the loading area clear. Bring registration documents and any other required paperwork for the machine. The practical requirements are covered in BC ATV Registration Requirements.
For a multi-day trip, make a simple maintenance log: note unusual noises, warning lights, loose fasteners, or tire damage at the end of each ride. It is easy to dismiss a small issue after a short local loop. That same issue can become a serious problem once the group is farther from the truck.
Pack for remote riding, not just the forecast
Weather can change, and a forecast for Prince George or Wells may not describe conditions on a higher or more exposed route. Pack layers, rain protection, gloves, eye protection, water, food, and a first-aid kit. Bring a headlamp even if you expect to be back well before dark; a delay can stretch a ride unexpectedly.
For a group, agree on what each rider carries and what stays in the support vehicle. At minimum, the riding group should have a way to navigate, communicate, make basic repairs, and respond to an injury. If there is little or no cell service, tell everyone how the group will handle separation. A lead rider and a sweep rider help keep the group together, especially at junctions.
Fuel deserves particular attention. Estimate range using the machine’s real riding conditions rather than its best-case figure. Mud, hills, heavy loads, and slow technical sections can increase consumption. If the route depends on a fuel stop, confirm that the stop is actually available to your group; do not build the day around an assumption that a service will be open.
Make sure the group is ready to ride together
A mixed group can include experienced riders, first-time passengers, different machine types, and very different comfort levels. Discuss the route before unloading. Agree on hand signals, spacing, passing etiquette, and what to do if someone needs to stop. A slower pace that everyone can manage is usually better than repeatedly splitting the group and trying to regroup at uncertain junctions.
Review riding rules that apply to the places you plan to use, including helmet requirements, registration, insurance, and any age or passenger restrictions. Rules can differ depending on where the machine is operated, so do not assume the same requirements apply to every road or trail segment. For general trail planning and seasonal considerations, see BC Trails With Camping and BC Trail Closures in the Hunting Synopsis.
Turn the yearly ride into a repeatable tradition
Keep notes after every trip
At the end of each ride, record what worked while it is still fresh. Note the staging location, the condition of the route, where the group stopped for fuel or food, how long the day actually took, and any confusing junctions. Save the date and the source you used to check access, but remember that a useful note from last year is not confirmation for this year.
Mark problems as clearly as successes. If a planned connection turned out to be closed, remove it from the next year’s draft until you verify it again. If a loop was too long for the least experienced rider, make the shorter version the default. A shared trip log can help a group avoid repeating the same planning mistakes every season.
Apps such as onX Offroad may help keep your route notes and saved plans organized, but keep a second copy of essential information. A paper map or offline map, a written list of key junctions, and a clear return plan are valuable when a phone battery dies or reception disappears.
Keep the focus on the ride, not the mileage
The best annual Prince George-to-Wells outing may not involve riding every kilometre between the place names. It can be a carefully planned set of rides that includes a familiar staging area, a new local loop, and time in Wells or the surrounding Cariboo communities. That approach leaves room to enjoy the scenery, take breaks, and respond sensibly when a road or trail condition changes.
If you are planning a broader trip with multiple stops, use the same approach as a staged itinerary: confirm each riding area, plan transport between areas, and leave a buffer day where possible. BC Weekend Riding Itineraries can help with the broader trip-planning perspective.
A recurring trip becomes easier to plan when the group treats it as a tradition with a checklist, not a route that must be completed at all costs. Confirm access, carry the right gear, keep a realistic turnaround time, and be ready to change plans. The payoff is a safer, more enjoyable ride—and a better reason to come back next year.
Disclaimer
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Laws, prices and regulations vary by location and change over time. Consult a qualified professional for guidance on your specific situation.
