Explore the Mountain Resorts in the Thompson Okanagan
The Thompson Okanagan is an incredible winter destination where adventure seekers, soft adventurers, and families can find fun in the snow at the different mountain resorts within the region. While snowboarding and skiing are popular amongst visitors and locals alike, you can enjoy snowshoeing, tubing, skating, fat biking, cross-country skiing, and more. After a day of fun, the mountain resorts also offer delicious food and beverages, cultural activities, festivals, and events to fill your visit with non-stop mountain fun.
Get to know the Mountain Resorts
Apex Mountain Resort
Apex Mountain is 36 kilometers from Penticton and 389 kilometers from Vancouver. Apex is a must for snowboarding and skiing. The mountain is the only one in the region that faces the Northeast, which results in dry champagne powder. The resort offers routes for all levels, from the newest beginners to the seasoned pros. If you are ready to switch it up from skiing and snowboarding, the resort also has skating through the forest, Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, and tubing. Apex is also well known for the après-ski experience, with the Gunbarrel Saloon hosting events, open mics, and karaoke.
Baldy Mountain is 37 kilometers from Oliver and 443 kilometers from Vancouver. Baldy is British Columbia’s third-highest-elevation ski resort. Visitors can enjoy the beauty of the Nk’mip Desert and the inland rainforest of the West Kootenays while skiing and snowboarding the slopes or while adventuring into their dedicated 240 acres of glade tree skiing. Visitors can enjoy fun off the slopes and try snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, tubing, and disc golf.
Big White is 59 kilometers from Kelowna and 448 kilometers from Vancouver. Big White has the second-largest lift system in British Columbia that keeps adventurers skiing and snowboarding down 119 designated trails. Big White caters to all levels and is ranked 10th on The Times UK’s list of “best ski resorts for beginners.” After traversing the runs, visitors can enjoy Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, tubing, dog sledding, snowmobiling, horse-drawn sleigh rides, and skating at Happy Valley.
Harper Mountain is 27 kilometers from Kamloops and 380 kilometers from Vancouver. Harper Mountain is celebrating 50 years of skiing and snowboarding the champagne powder of their 16 runs and 400 acres of terrain. Along with skiing and snowboarding, visitors can snowshoe on the 16 kilometers of dog-friendly trails, ski on their 3-kilometer Nordic loop, and take the family tubing.
Manning Park is 178 kilometers from Penticton and 218 kilometers from Vancouver. Manning Park is a laid-back resort in the Cascade mountains that offers adventurers 140 acres of skiable terrain, 64 kilometers of Nordic terrain, and 300 kilometers of snowshoe trails. Families can also enjoy tubing and ice skating.
Phoenix Ski Hill is 490 km from Vancouver and 177 km from Kelowna, located between Grand Forks and Greenwood, 8km off Highway 3. Phoenix Ski Hill is known as the best little mountain in BC, offering family-friendly skiing and snowboarding.
Silver Star is 24 kilometers from Vernon and 464 kilometers from Vancouver. The resort has 3,282 acres of skiable terrain over four distinct mountain faces for any snow enthusiast to enjoy a day full of downhill fun. Silver Star has the most extensive cross-country trail network in North America with 105 kilometers of trails. The adventures don’t stop there; visitors can enjoy snowshoeing, fat biking, ice skating, and mini snowmobiles.
Sun Peaks is 58 kilometers from Kamloops and 411 kilometers from Vancouver. The resort is Canada’s 2nd largest ski area. Skiers and snowboarders can soak up the beauty of the Thompson Okanagan shining under the sun while enjoying their mountain adventure (Sun Peaks gets 2000 annual hours of sunshine!) Sun Peaks has three skiable peaks with 139 runs for adventurers to tackle. After that, visitors can enjoy the alpine village and soft adventure offerings like yoga, axe throwing, and horse-drawn sleigh rides.
There is no denying that the Thompson Okanagan hosts incredible opportunities for any traveller looking for a snow-filled adventure. Many of the resorts listed offer visitors to the region adventures all year round. Regardless of the resort you choose to visit, they are all accessible with a short trip from the nearest community or one of the regional airports like Kelowna International Airport (YLW), Kamloops Airport (YKA), or Penticton Airport (YYF). #KnowBeforeYouGo and be aware that between October 1 and April 30, many BC highways require winter tires.
