It’s time to brush the dust off your snow gear, because it’s finally powder season!
If you’re looking for a winter resort destination that offers a change of scenery from the B.C. coast, head over to Sun Peaks, Canada's second largest ski area.
Located in the B.C. Interior, Sun Peaks is a four and a half hour drive – or less than an hour by air – from Vancouver, making it a prime choice for a weekend getaway this winter season.
A skiing and snowboarding paradise
4,270 acres of expansive ski terrain is spread across the three mountains that make up Sun Peaks – Mt. Tod, Sundance Mountain, and Mt. Morrisey.
The Sun Peaks terrain consists of 10% novice, 58% intermediate, and 32% advanced and expert trails for a grand total of 144 trails, with the longest run being up to 8 km long. Each of the skiable peaks are easily accessible from the central village at this ski-in, ski-out resort, making it entirely possible to ski and ride all three mountains in the same day.
A brand new express chairlift in the West Bowl zone of Mt. Tod will add a new aspect and open up additional terrain for skiers and riders of all ability levels this winter. Cruisy groomed and off-piste blues, access to powder-laden terrain in Gil’s and easy connections to the rest of the resort make the West Bowl a great destination for your next trip.
Even if you don’t ski or snowboard, Sun Peaks offers an abundance of winter activities both on and off the slopes for visitors to enjoy. In addition to popular alternatives like snowshoeing and snowmobiling, here’s what else you can look forward to:
Try Nordic skiing
With 37 km of groomed and trackset trails and 19 km of backcountry trails, Sun Peaks is a favourite destination for cross-country winter recreation.
Go Nordic skiing along the trail to the McGillivray Lake Outpost warming hut, which also doubles as a pet-friendly route. More experienced Nordic skiers can hop aboard the Morrisey Express chairlift to access scenic mountain views off the Holy Cow trail.
Sit back and enjoy dogsledding, sleigh rides… and snow limos?
Feel the rush of riding in a dog sled through the snow-covered backcountry of Sun Peaks. With sled times ranging between 30 minutes to an hour, a guided dog sledding expedition is an experience you won’t soon forget (and don’t forget to bring your camera!)
Or, hang back at the Sun Peaks village and take in the surrounding sights and sounds with a horse-drawn sleigh ride, which winds through the village before moving out into the open for a closer view of the valley and mountains.
Snow limo rides make the mountain experience accessible to all snow adventurers. A personal chauffeur will take you for a comfortable ride along the mountain trails, so riders can take in the entire splendour and beauty of Sun Peaks from their seat.
Take a stroll around the Sun Peaks ski-through village
After you’re done exploring the mountain trails for the day, you can ski or ride down from the lifts to the Sun Peaks ski-through village, which is just like a winter wonderland come to life with a collection of restaurants, cafes, bars, local shops and lodging.
You can spend hours indulging in a variety of foods from sushi to schnitzel, bison burgers to grilled salmon, and homemade fudge to fresh baked goods, or browsing the boutiques for locally-crafted jewellery, artwork and other souvenirs.
Feast on fondue
Warm up after a long day on the slopes with a melt-in-your-mouth apres-ski fondue experience. The Fondue Stube offers traditional cheese, meat and chocolate fondue made with only the finest ingredients, or perfectly paired with wine from their expertly curated wine list.
This winter, you can book a reservation for an exclusive mountain dining pop-up at the Sunburst Bar + Eatery. Take the Sunburst Express chairlift up to the top for a customizable fondue experience underneath the starlight, and afterwards, descend back to the village along the freshly groomed 5 mile run for a private run.
The lifts will be spinning until the middle of April, giving you lots of time to plan an unforgettable winter adventure.
You can save up to 40% off on full day tickets when you buy in advance online. Go to www.sunpeaksresort.com/explore/sun-peaks-in-winter for more information.
