Last Updated on 7th June 2024 by Steve
British Columbia in western Canada offers some of the most stunning ski resorts in the country. The award-winning Whistler Blackcomb mountain resort may be one of the largest ski areas in the world, but the province can also tempt visitors with other options such as the ‘Powder Highway’.
These somewhat smaller ski resorts in western BC offer fabulous powder snow experiences and are not as ‘commercial’ as some of their rivals south of the border in states such as Colorado.
Map of ski resorts in BC
Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort
Whistler Blackcomb is often described as the biggest ski resort in North America, although US ski areas such as Palisades Tahoe in California and Powder Mountain in Utah might wish to dispute that title.
It is certainly a popular winter destination and has won numerous ‘Best Ski Resort’ awards over the years.
Whistler Blackcomb ski resort is located 75 miles to the north of Vancouver in the Coast Mountains and reached by the aptly-named Sea to Sky highway. The two mountains, Whistler and Blackcomb, were originally separate ski areas, but were combined in 1998 and are now owned by the Vail Resorts ski area conglomerate.
Whistler Blackcomb was a venue for the 2010 Winter Olympic games, with the alpine skiing events held on Whistler mountain and bobsleigh, luge and skeleton events held at Blackcomb.
The massive ski area of more than 8000 acres on Whistler and Blackcomb mountains can be reached from several different resort villages, with the best-known and liveliest being Whistler Village. Other options are Upper Village at the base of the Blackcomb skiing and Creekside, with its own gondola connecting into the skiing on Whistler mountain.
Whistler Blackcomb ski video
Whistler Blackcomb ski stats
Lifts: The Whistler Blackcomb ski area has 37 lifts, including five gondolas and 16 chairlifts
Terrain: The skiable area covers more than 8000 acres, with over 200 marked trails
Vertical drop: The difference between the valley and the top station is 5133 feet
Longest run: The longest ski run is the Peak to Creek trail at around seven miles in length
Ski resort accommodation at Whistler Blackcomb
The most popular area to stay is at the busy Whistler Village, where the lifts can access the skiing at both Whistler and Blackcomb mountains and the apres-ski is the liveliest.
Alternative resort accommodation can be found at Creekside a short distance down the road, where the Whistler skiing can be reached via the Creekside gondola.
Four Seasons ResortThe Four Seasons Resort offers rooms, suites and townhouses sleeping up to nine adults plus children. It is located in the Upper Village in Whistler and is a few minutes’ walk from the Blackcomb lifts but also offers a free shuttle service to Whistler Village and the lifts. Facilities includes hot tubs and a heated outdoor pool.
Website: www.fourseasons.com
Nita Lake LodgeNita Lake Lodge is located as its name suggests by a lake in the Creekside area around 500 metres from the base of the lifts. The boutique retreat offers spacious suites as well as a range of dining options. There is a heated outdoor pool, fitness centre and hot tub.
Website: www.nitalakelodge.com
Fairmont Chateau ResortThe Fairmont Chateau Whistler is located at the base of the Blackcomb lifts in the Upper Village and offers 519 rooms and suites of various standards and sizes. The resort has its own health club and spa and a variety of dining options, as well as a shuttle service to Whistler Village and the ski lifts.
Website: www.fairmont.com
Check other accommodation availability at Whistler Blackcomb
Other accommodation options, including vacation rentals and hotels, are available in different areas of Whistler Blackcomb resort. Enter the dates of a proposed stay to find availability of all types of lodging in the ski resort and use the ‘+’ or ‘-‘ signs to zoom in or out. Zooming in reveals more accommodation. Click on any accommodation to check availability:
Ski area website: www.whistlerblackcomb.com
Sun Peaks Resort
Sun Peaks Resort is located to the north-east of Kamloops in central British Columbia. The ski resort opened in 1961 and was originally known as Tod Mountain.
The resort operations suffered from financial problems and subsequent ownership changes until it was taken over by Nippon Cable and renamed in 1993. The resort expansion that followed has greatly increased the ski area and year-round attractions at Sun Peaks, but has also been controversial, with a campaign of resistance from First Nations protesters.
Covering three mountains, Sun Peaks Resort is now the second largest BC ski resort with skiable terrain of more than 4000 acres and is particularly popular with families and intermediate skiers.
Sun Peaks ski video
Sun Peaks ski stats
Lifts: The Sun Peaks skiing is served by 13 lifts, including seven chairlifts
Terrain: The skiable terrain covers more than 4000 acres, with nearly 140 marked slopes
Vertical drop: The difference between the valley and the top station is 2894 feet
Longest run: The longest ski run is five miles in length
Ski resort accommodation at Sun Peaks
The settlement at the base of the lifts was designed in European style so that, given enough snow, skiers can ski through the village back to their accommodation. It includes resort hotel accommodation, with some listed below, as well as condos and other vacation rentals.
Sun Peaks Grand HotelThe Sun Peaks Grand Hotel & Conference Center offers rooms and suites sleeping up to four persons. The hotel, only two minutes walk from the village, has a heated outdoor pool and three slopeside hot tubs, as well as fitness facilities and dining options.
Website: www.sunpeaksgrand.com
Sun Peaks LodgeSun Peaks Lodge is a traditional family-run hotel offering rooms and suites sleeping up to six adults plus children. The accommodation is only a few yards from the lifts and the main village and also offers a steak restaurant and its own ski rental shop.
Website: sunpeakslodge.com
Coast Sundance LodgeThe Sundance Lodge is a member of the Coast Hotels group and is situated in a ski-in ski-out position at the heart of the village. Accommodation is in rooms and suites and amenities include fitness facilities and an outdoor hot tub as well as restaurants and bars.
Website: www.coasthotels.com
Check other accommodation availability at Sun Peaks
There are plenty of other accommodation options in Sun Peaks, including vacation rentals and chalets, and most are easily accessible because of the ski-in ski-out nature of the resort. Enter the dates of a proposed stay to find availability of all types of lodging in the ski resort and use the ‘+’ or ‘-‘ signs to zoom in or out. Zooming in reveals more accommodation. Click on any accommodation to check availability:
Ski area website: www.sunpeaksresort.com
Big White Ski Resort
Big White ski resort is located in the Okanagan Highland a relatively short drive to the south-east of the city of Kelowna and at an altitude of 5757 feet. It opened back in 1963 and has slowly expanded over the following years.
Big White is now a sizeable ski area which is well-suited to the beginner and intermediate skier and is ideally suited to family winter vacations, with good access and plenty of ski-in ski-out accommodation. It is the third largest BC ski resort and offers the largest night skiing operation in the province.
Big White ski video
Big White ski stats
Lifts: The skiing at the Big White area is served by 16 lifts, including one gondola and ten chairlifts
Terrain: The skiable terrain covers 2765 acres, with nearly 120 marked trails
Vertical drop: The difference between the valley and the top station is 2550 feet
Longest run: The longest ski run is four and a half miles in length
Ski resort accommodation at Big White
The resort accommodation at Big White is mostly ski-in ski-out with condos and other vacation rentals available at the base of the lifts and further up the mountain. Enter the dates of a proposed stay to find availability of all types of lodging in the ski resort and use the ‘+’ or ‘-‘ signs to zoom in or out. Zooming in reveals more accommodation. Click on any accommodation to check availability:
Ski area website: www.bigwhite.com
SilverStar Mountain Resort
The skiing at SilverStar Mountain Resort is located on Silver Star mountain in the Monashee Mountains range to the north-east of the city of Vernon and within easy reach of Kelowna.
It originally opened back in 1958 and, for around a decade at the start of the 21st century, was taken over by nearby Big White ski area. It is now owned by Utah-based ski resort operators POWDR.
SilverStar is another ski-in ski-out area which is optimal for families and intermediate skiers and has a larger area of skiable terrain than Big White (although a smaller number of lifts serving the area). It also grooms around 60 miles of cross-country ski trails in the surrounding countryside.
SilverStar ski video
SilverStar ski stats
Lifts: The SilverStar skiing is served by 12 lifts, including one gondola and five chairlifts
Terrain: The skiable area covers 3282 acres, with more than 130 marked trails
Vertical drop: The altitude difference between the base area and the top station is 2500 feet
Longest run: The longest ski run is five miles in length
Ski resort accommodation at SilverStar
The compact village at the base of the ski area does have a few resort hotel options:
Vance Creek HotelThe Vance Creek Hotel & Conference Center is located at the heart of the ski-in ski-out village. Accommodation is in rooms, apartments or suites for up to six adults and facilities include a bar/restaurant and café, as well as a rooftop hot tub.
Website: www.vancecreekhotel.com
The Bulldog HotelThe Bulldog Hotel is located on the SilverStar ski slopes and offers 25 rooms and apartments sleeping up to six adults. The hotel also houses a café and tapas wine bar/restaurant as well as a hot tub and its own ski storage.
Website: www.silverstarmountain.com
Check other accommodation availability at SilverStar
SilverStar accommodation also offers other options, such as vacation rentals and chalets, and most are easily accessible because of the ski-in ski-out nature of the resort. Enter the dates of a proposed stay to find availability of all types of lodging in the ski resort and use the ‘+’ or ‘-‘ signs to zoom in or out. Zooming in reveals more accommodation. Click on any accommodation to check availability:
Ski area website: www.skisilverstar.com
Fernie Alpine Resort
The skiing at Fernie Alpine Resort is located in the Lizard Range of mountains just outside the small town of Fernie in southeastern British Columbia.
The winter set-up here is a little different from the ski resorts mentioned previously and is similar to somewhere like Steamboat Springs in Colorado, in that there is a small ski village at the base of the lifts and then a ‘normal town’ a short distance away. The town of Fernie grew up as a base for the coal mines nearby and the refreshing and down-to-earth atmosphere is probably partly because not everything revolves around skiing.
The Fernie ski area is renowned for its five bowls, which provide plenty of advanced and expert skiing in the open bowls and glades below. But there is also an excellent sizeable area near the base of the lifts suitable for the beginner skier.
Fernie ski video
Fernie ski stats
Lifts: The skiing at Fernie is served by 10 lifts, which include seven chairlifts
Terrain: The skiable area covers more than 2500 acres, with 142 marked runs
Vertical drop: The altitude difference between the base area and the top station is 3550 feet
Longest run: Falling Star, the longest ski run, is three miles in length
Ski resort accommodation at Fernie
There are two options for ski accommodation at Fernie. There are lodges and vacation rentals available in the village directly at the base of the ski area. Alternatively, there is a more extensive choice in the lively town of Fernie itself five miles to the north. The town is connected to the ski area by a regular ski bus service.
Enter the dates of a proposed stay to find availability of all types of lodging in the ski resort and use the ‘+’ or ‘-‘ signs to zoom in or out. Choose either the ski village or the town of Fernie by moving the map and zooming in to see a full choice of accommodation. Click on any accommodation to check availability.
Ski area website: skifernie.com
Panorama Mountain Resort
Like Fernie, Panorama is another ski resort in the southeastern part of British Columbia and is also part of the ‘Powder Highway’ group of ski areas.
Panorama Mountain Resort is located in the Purcell Mountains around 12 miles to the west of the small town of Invermere. Skiing here started back in the 1960s with a single tow before different groups of developers became involved and started to expand the operations. After being bought out by Intrawest, the ski area is now owned by local investors.
The skiing here has an impressive vertical drop and a good selection of groomed trails for all levels of skier. Half of the marked trails are classed advanced or expert level, and there is also the option of sno-cat skiing into expert level terrain from Friday to Sunday during the main season.
Panorama ski video
Panorama ski stats
Lifts: The Panorama ski area is served by 10 lifts, including six chairlifts, plus an additional sno-cat service on certain days
Terrain: The terrain covers just under 3000 acres, with 135 marked runs
Vertical drop: The altitude difference between the base area and the top station is 4265 feet
Longest run: The longest ski run, in Taynton Bowl, is four miles in length
Ski resort accommodation at Panorama
A good proportion of Panorama’s accommodation is ski-in ski-out, with lodging in a lower area connected either by walking uphill or by means of a transport gondola. The purpose-built ski village mostly offers condos and other vacation rentals.
Ski area website: www.panoramaresort.com
Kicking Horse Mountain Resort
Kicking Horse ski area is located just outside the town of Golden on the Trans-Canada Highway in eastern British Columbia.
The skiing here is renowned for testing runs suitable for powder enthusiasts and expert skiers, with 60% of the runs rated either black or double black diamond. This doesn’t mean the beginner and intermediate skier are ignored, however, as the bottom part of the mountain flattens out and offers some gentler experiences.
Kicking Horse Mountain Resort can date its history back to the 1980s, when it was known as Whitetooth ski area. The small resort was sold in the Nineties and underwent expansion after 2000. It is now part of the Resorts of the Canadian Rockies group, along with Fernie and Kimberley.
Kicking Horse ski video
Kicking Horse ski stats
Lifts: The sizeable Kicking Horse ski area is served by just five lifts, including one gondola and three chairlifts
Terrain: The terrain covers just under 3500 acres, with more than 120 runs
Vertical drop: The altitude difference between the base area and the top station is 4314 feet
Longest run: The longest ski run is ‘It’s a Ten’, which is over six miles in length (or ten kilometres)
Ski resort accommodation at Kicking Horse
Visitors can choose between the resort accommodation at the base of the lifts, or the livelier and wider range of lodging down in the town of Golden nine miles away. The accommodation near the ski lifts includes two resort lodges:
Palliser LodgePalliser Lodge offers a selection of condominium suites, with kitchen or kitchenette, and some with private hot tub. The lodge is ski-in ski-out and also offers ski storage and fitness facilities.
Website: www.kickinghorselodging.com
Winston LodgeWinston Lodge consists of two small lodges offering 21 guest rooms sleeping up to five adults, with fridge and coffee-making facilities. The Winston Bistro is one of the most popular eating and drinking spots on the mountain.
Website: www.winstonlodge.com
Otherwise there is a good range of accommodation available in the town of Golden itself. Enter the dates of a proposed stay to find availability of all types of lodging in the ski resort and use the ‘+’ or ‘-‘ signs to zoom in or out. Choose either the ski village or the town of Golden by moving the map and zooming in to see a full choice of accommodation. Click on any accommodation to check availability.
Ski area website: kickinghorseresort.com
Kimberley Alpine Resort
Kimberley Alpine Resort is another of the collection of ski areas along the ‘Powder Highway’ in eastern BC. Not as big as Fernie or Panorama, the ski area is nonetheless worth a trip and is especially popular with families.
Located in the Purcell Mountains, Kimberley ski area is located just up the road from the small town of the same name. There is a small selection of accommodation at the base of the lifts and more in the town itself.
The skiing on the front side is very beginner and intermediate-friendly, while the runs on the back side are more suited to advanced skiers. The compact area has little which will challenge expert skiers.
Kimberley ski video
Kimberley ski stats
Lifts: The skiing at Kimberley is served by five lifts, including three chairlifts
Terrain: The skiable terrain covers 1800 acres, with around 70 marked trails
Vertical drop: The difference between the valley and the top station is 2465 feet
Longest run: The longest ski run is Ridgeway, which is four miles in length
Kimberley ski resort accommodation
Trickle Creek LodgeTrickle Creek Lodge is a ski-in ski-out lodge at the base of the Kimberley ski area. Accommodation is in 80 studios and suites sleeping up to six adults plus children and amenities include outdoor heated pool, hot tubs and a fitness room.
Website: tricklecreeklodge.com
Larix HotelThe Larix Hotel is a boutique establishment located at the edge of Kimberley’s pedestrian area. It offers 20 rooms and suites along with a complementary continental breakfast. There is a regular shuttle bus service from the town to the ski area.
Website: www.thelarixhotel.com
Ski area website: skikimberley.com
Revelstoke Mountain Resort
Revelstoke Mountain Resort is a relatively new ski area on the Trans-Canada Highway in the east of British Columbia. Located just outside the town of Revelstoke the skiing has the longest vertical drop in North America.
Skiing started here on Mount Mackenzie back in the 1960s but the ski area as it currently is opened in 2007. Despite the amount of terrain and the vertical drop, the ski lifts are limited and the ski resort is only part of the way along a schedule which will make one of the largest ski areas in North America.
It currently has a great reputation for advanced and expert skiers, although it is adequate for intermediates and has recently improved facilities for beginner skiers.
Revelstoke ski video
Revelstoke ski stats
Lifts: The Revelstoke skiing is served by five lifts, including one gondola and three chairlifts
Terrain: The skiable terrain covers 3120 acres, with around 75 ski runs
Vertical drop: The difference between the valley and the top station is 5620 feet
Longest run: The longest ski run is The Last Spike, which is just over nine miles in length
Ski resort accommodation at Revelstoke
There is limited accommodation at the base area, but it is close to Revelstoke town itself which offers plenty of options.
Enter the dates of a proposed stay to find availability of all types of lodging in the ski resort and use the ‘+’ or ‘-‘ signs to zoom in or out. Zooming in reveals more accommodation. Click on any accommodation to check availability:
Ski area website: www.revelstokemountainresort.com
Red Mountain Resort
Red Mountain Resort (or RED Mountain Resort, as the marketing department would prefer!) is located in southern British Columbia near the former mining town of Rossland.
The ski area here offers a good all-round experience for most levels of skier, with a slight emphasis on the advanced to expert end. Red Mountain calls itself Western Canada’s oldest ski resort and can trace the original gas-powered rope tow back to the 1930s.
The ski area includes three lift-served mountains and a fourth, Mount Kirkup, which is served by sno-cat.
Red Mountain ski video
Red Mountain ski stats
Lifts: The RED Mountain ski area is served by eight lifts, including six chairlifts
Terrain: The skiable terrain covers 3850 acres, with around 120 ski runs
Vertical drop: The difference between the valley and the top station is 2919 feet
Longest run: The longest ski run is around four and a half miles in length
Ski resort accommodation at Red Mountain
Red Mountain has its own ski village, which is being expanded and includes a boutique hotel. Otherwise visitors can stay in the pleasant town of Rossland.
The Josie HotelThe Josie Hotel is boutique lodging at the base of the Red Mountain ski lifts. Accommodation is in 106 rooms, studios and suites and amenities include slopeside wood barrel saunas and fitness facilities.
Website: www.thejosie.com
Ski area website: www.redresort.com
