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Sponsored by Destination BC
Deep powder. Uncrowded mountains. Historic ski towns where the culture is as much a part of the experience as the terrain. British Columbia has a way of making any ski trip feel like an adventure.
The harder question is where to begin.
Explore the welcoming mountain villages of Interior BC. Chase legendary vertical from Revelstoke to Kicking Horse. Road-trip through the East Kootenays, where each mountain has its own character. Or settle into Rossland and Nelson and discover the independent spirit that has made RED Mountain and Whitewater favorites among skiers in the know.
Four adventures. Four distinctly different ways to experience British Columbia. Which one belongs on your bucket list?
1. The Interior BC Resort Sampler
BIG WHITE | SILVERSTAR | SUN PEAKS
This BC ski trip lets you explore your options.
Start in Kelowna, a lakeside city surrounded by Okanagan wine country with a strong local food scene. Big White is less than an hour away and is a true ski-in/ski-out village where skiers of all abilities can spend the day their own way and still meet back up for après. Or squeeze in some extra turns after dark, as Big White is Western Canada’s largest night-skiing area.
Nearby SilverStar offers a colorful pedestrian village and a mountain that easily transitions from cruisers to glades and more challenging terrain. Want to swap your downhill skis for Nordic skis? SilverStar is also home to an extensive network of cross-country ski trails.
Your next stop is Kamloops, the gateway to Sun Peaks. Canada’s second-largest ski area features enough terrain and village life to warrant a vacation on its own or serve as the final stop on a longer Interior adventure.
What ties the three together is that this trip lets families, couples, and mixed-ability groups experience distinctly different mountains while enjoying a village-based ski vacation.
Legend Has It…
If you’ve built up an appetite after a day on the slopes, Kelowna is the place to indulge your inner foodie. As Canada’s first UNESCO City of Gastronomy, many of Kelowna’s restaurants feature evolving seasonal menus, intimate tastings, and internationally acclaimed local wines.
Best for: Couples, families, mixed-ability groups, and intermediate skiers
Pass access: Big White — Indy | SilverStar — Ikon | Sun Peaks — Ikon + Mountain Collective
Getting there: Fly into Kelowna International Airport (YLW), about 55 minutes from Big White and 50 minutes from SilverStar. For Sun Peaks, fly into Kamloops Airport (YKA), about 50 minutes from the resort. Seasonal shuttle service is available from both airports.
Give it: Four+ nights
Make it yours: Pair Big White and SilverStar for an easy four-night sampler, add Sun Peaks to extend your adventure, or settle into one mountain for a slower-paced escape.
2. The Big-Mountain Doubleheader
REVELSTOKE | KICKING HORSE
Looking for serious vertical, steep lines, and the kind of terrain that leaves your legs pleasantly spent? Revelstoke and Kicking Horse pair two legendary big-mountain experiences with two authentic mountain towns.
Start at Revelstoke, home to North America’s longest lift-served vertical descent at more than 5,600 feet. Spend your days exploring bowls, glades, and adventurous terrain, then head downtown. This historic railway and mining town has evolved into a lively mountain community with a sophisticated dining scene.
Next, follow the Powder Highway, the legendary route that links resorts, backcountry ski lodges, and renowned cat- and heli-skiing, east through spectacular Rogers Pass to Golden and Kicking Horse. Here, more than 4,000 feet of vertical and nearly 3,500 acres deliver another dose of big-mountain skiing. Afterward, explore Golden’s restaurants, breweries, and cafes, and walk across the landmark Kicking Horse Pedestrian Bridge, one of the longest freestanding timber-frame bridges in Canada.
Two mountains. Two historic towns. One spectacular stretch of British Columbia.
Legend Has It…
The best table in Golden may be 7,700 feet above sea level. Canada’s highest restaurant, Eagle’s Eye, perches atop Kicking Horse Mountain and is a worthy place to toast a day spent skiing big terrain.
Best for: Advanced and upper intermediate skiers
Pass access: Revelstoke — Ikon + Mountain Collective | Kicking Horse — Epic
Getting there: Fly into Kelowna International Airport (YLW), about a 2.5-hour drive from Revelstoke, and take the resort shuttle or rent a car. Revelstoke and Kicking Horse are about 1.5 hours apart via Rogers Pass. Alternatively, Calgary International Airport (YYC) is about a 2.5-hour drive from Kicking Horse.
Give it: Five+ nights
Make it yours: Build in an extra night and add a day of backcountry ski touring or heli-skiing. When the snow is falling this hard, your itinerary should follow the mountain, not the other way around.
3. The Memorable Multi-Mountain Road Trip
PANORAMA | KIMBERLEY | FERNIE
Three mountains. Three personalities. Three excellent reasons to rent a car. All connected by the Powder Highway.
Start at Panorama, with its long vertical, wide-open cruisers, and challenging expert terrain. You can also hop on a Monster X snowcat for access to nine double-black diamond runs and plenty of unnamed lines waiting to be explored.
Continue your trek to Kimberley, where the mountain feels relaxed, approachable, and connected to a genuine small town. The grand finale? Fernie combines legendary powder and five alpine bowls with a vibrant historic mining town tucked beneath the dramatic peaks of the Canadian Rockies.
The magic of this trip is the contrast. You aren’t simply skiing three resorts; you’re moving through three distinctly different versions of BC mountain culture, with snowy mountainous scenery connecting the dots.
And yes, shorter lift lines don’t hurt.
Legend Has It…
A Fernie powder day may affect the local business schedule. When more than 20 centimeters falls overnight, don’t be surprised if a few shops get a late start while the locals hit the hill.
Best for: Destination samplers, couples, families, and mixed-ability groups
Pass access: Panorama — Ikon + Mountain Collective | Kimberley + Fernie — Epic
Getting there: Canadian Rockies International Airport (YXC) has daily flights and is about 20 minutes from Kimberley and a little over an hour from Fernie. Be prepared for winter driving on the Powder Highway.
Give it: Five to seven nights
Make it yours: Ski all three over five nights, stretch it into a week and slow things down, or choose two mountains for an easier four-night road trip.
4. The Authentic Mountain & Historic Ski-Town Escape
RED MOUNTAIN | WHITEWATER
If immersing yourself in authentic mountain culture is on your bucket list, RED Mountain, Whitewater, and the historic Kootenay towns of Rossland and Nelson check the box.
Nestled in the Monashee Mountains, RED has a fiercely loyal following. It delivers natural terrain, exceptional tree skiing, plenty of room to roam… and no lift lines. Stay slopeside or minutes away in Rossland, an outdoorsy former mining town with an impressive independent dining scene.
Next, make the roughly one-hour drive to Nelson, your base for Whitewater, which is smaller, snowier, and known for its deep powder, glades, and steeps. Après ski, embrace the laid-back local vibe and explore Nelson’s restaurants, cafes, and breweries.
Ski hard. Linger over dinner. Then wake up and do it again.
Legend Has It…
Après at RED has a way of turning visitors into locals, at least for an evening. Head upstairs to Rafters in the base lodge after the lifts close and prepare to make new friends.
Best for: Experienced skiers and travelers who value authenticity and local culture
Pass access: RED — Ikon | Whitewater — Independent, lift tickets, Legend Card, or Whitewater Season Pass
Getting there: Spokane International Airport (GEG) is about 2.5 hours from RED/Rossland and 3.5 hours from Nelson, with seasonal shuttle service to both destinations. Kelowna International Airport (YLW) is about 3.5 hours from RED/Rossland and 4 hours from Nelson. For regional access, Trail Regional Airport (YZZ) is just 20 minutes from RED/Rossland, while West Kootenay Regional Airport (YCG) is roughly 30 minutes from Nelson and 45 minutes from RED/Rossland; both offer service from Vancouver.
Give it: Three to four nights
Make it yours: Start with RED and Rossland, then spend a night or two in Nelson and ski Whitewater. This is about experiencing two distinctly Kootenay mountains and towns in one easy road trip.
WHISTLER
And then, of course, there’s Whistler, British Columbia’s internationally known mountain destination, and an adventure worthy of its own trip.
Which British Columbia Are You?
The beauty of skiing British Columbia is that no two trips look alike. Follow the snow. Use your multi-resort pass to explore somewhere new. Linger in a historic mountain town. Or find a mountain you love and stay awhile
That’s the point. There’s always another side of British Columbia to discover.
Choose your adventure. Give yourself at least three nights. And don’t be surprised if you head home already thinking about where you’ll ski next.
Hero image of Sun Peaks-©Destination BC Reuben Krabbe
September 07, 2026
