Big White Resort

Big White Resort is a world class ski hill that attracts skiers from all over the world. It is the second largest resort in British Columbia.

It has the largest night skiing area in all of Canada and the largest totally ski-in/ski-out resort village in North America!

Imagine going anywhere in the village and ski or walk to the doorstep of whatever accommodation you are staying at.

The visitors and guests to the resort just love the convenience this offers them.

Big White Ski Resort has received a long list awards over the years and too numerous in count to list them all here on my site!

A lot of the awards come from Ski Canada Magazine which is very well known in the skiing world.

One of their proudest awards was being named North America's Best Family Ski Resort in 2003.

The average daytime temperature of -5°C (23°F) makes for ideal winter conditions.

There is over over 7.5 M (24.5 ft) of famous Okanagan champagne powder snow that falls here each year.

With an altitude of 1750 m (5741 ft) you will more often than not find yourself skiing above the clouds at Big White.

If you can find paradise in the winter you might agree that after a visit to Big White you will have found it.

Big White Activites

There is so much to do and to see up at Big White Resort. The whole family will enjoy the many activities this mountain has to offer.

Skiing With 2, 765 acres of ski-able terrain there is plenty of room on the mountain for everyone to enjoy, even on the busiest days of the year.

Snowboarding The variety of runs, glades and steep chutes keep the snowboarders coming back again and again. The Telus Park terrain park up here is a snowboarders dream.

Cross-Country Skiing There is 25 km 15.5 mi) of Nordic trails you can enjoy the day on.

Snowshoeing

Snowmobiling

Sleigh Rides

Dog Sled Tours

Snow Biking The newest and coolest sport to hit the ski hills. Ride across the Nordic trails on a K-track, ski-mountain-bike. There is full instructions included so that you get the most out of your ride.

Mega Snow Coaster Everyone will enjoy the fun at Canada's largest resort Tube park. Fly down the mountain on you inner tube and catch a quick ride back up to the top on purpose built lifts. What a blast!

Skating Rent some skates and play some hockey on an outdoor rink. Or go for a leisurely skate. There are actually two outdoor rinks so there is plenty of room for whatever activity you want to engage in on them.

Ice Climbing Tower Want to try something different? Check out the 60 foot ice tower. All the gear is supplied. The tower has a beginner side and three other sides for climbers who are more advanced. Great exercise for all fitness levels!

Kids MiniZ's The kids will love this one! These are miniature snowmobiles for kids under 40 kg (90 lbs).

SnowLimo Tours Check out Big White Resort in a different way. Very popular for the non-skiers and snowboarders to see this gorgeous mountain.

As you can see the activities are endless and will make it one your best family ski vacations ever.

Food And Entertainment

Whether you are hungry or thirsty when visiting Big White Resort there are plenty of choices for everyone.

There are 18 on-mountain restaurants, cafes, delis, pubs and nightclubs.

There are a variety of restaurants for everyone's tastes.

There is also a market in the village that one can shop for their own food. Many visitors take advantage of the Vacation Food Services that are offered at Big White.

Personal shoppers will shop for you and deliver the groceries to your accommodation unit. They will even unpack the groceries for you and stock the fridge and cupboards!

I for one would definitely use this service.

After a day on the slopes you might want to relax and unwind in one of 8 different bars and lounges in the village.

Snowshoe Sam's is one of the coolest bars you might ever visit. It was voted the #1 ski bar by Ski Canada Magazine and best après ski venue in North America by the Good Skiing and Snowboarding Guide.

Wherever you decide to go here you will enjoy your dining in a great atmosphere.

Big White Services

Big White Resort has everything you need to enjoy your ski vacation. Some of these services include:

Retail Shopping There are a variety of retail stores and selection of clothing to outfit everyone"s taste.
Rentals and Repairs You will find a wide selection of gear for all ages here. And they will look after all your tuning, repair and calibration requirements too.
Medical Clinic Located in the White Foot Lodge. Open 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Monday to Friday. They are also available on weekends and after hours for emergencies.
On-Mountain Shuttle Contact the resort for the times this shuttle runs.
Day Spas There are 2 spas here to pamper your every need.
Fitness Instruction While you are on your vacation you may want to keep up with your workouts. There are different fitness programs available through a Certified Fitness Trainer. She offers personal and group fitness training.
Shopping Shuttle This service commutes between Big White and Orchard Plaza in Kelowna. Very affordable at $10 per guest.

Complimentary Mountain Tours Very knowledgeable Snow Hosts will take you on a free mountain tour of Big White. A morning and an afternoon tour are available.
Mountain Reports Daily snow and grooming reports, lift status, park conditions, and weather forecast keep you informed before you head out onto the slopes.
Ski and Board School Many different options and programs available for skiers of all ages.
Kid's Centre The ultimate kids' playground that has everything a kid loves. You will feel secure in knowing that your child is in a safe, learning environment while you have some adult time on the ski hill. They can fuel up on some delicious food in the Centre and then head outdoors to participate in one of the programs that are offered. Ski Canada rates the centre as the “Best Resort Feature for Kids in Canada”.
Tot Town Daycare Centre A place to leave your pre-ski child with many fun activities that will keep them busy. Voted “Best Place to be Abandoned by Your Parents” by Ski Canada Magazine.

A Few Facts

Big White Resort opened in 1963.

The first snowboard riders came to Big White Resort in 1983.

There are 16 lifts on the mountain. They are one of the most modern and largest in all of Canada.

The Snow Ghost Express, a 6 person lift was opened in 2006. It ended the long line-ups the resort used to experience.

There are 118 designated trails and 27 unnamed trails.

The 2 tubing lifts can accommodate up to 28,000 people per hour.

The eastern side of Big White are where most of the lifts are located. Most of the tourists use this area.

Gem Lake is on the western side of the mountain and the locals from Kelowna and other Okanagan locations tend to take advantage of this less crowded section.

Snow Adventure is an excellent company that offers ski and snowboard improvement courses in collaboration with the Big White Ski and Board School.

Big White's main street is actually a ski run.

The resort has on-mountain accommodations for over 17,000 guests.

The night lift has a capacity to take over 5,000 people per hour to the top of the longest vertical drop of all the night skiing areas in North America.

How To Get Here

To get to Big White Resort take Hwy 97 from anywhere in the Okanagan Valley. Come into Kelowna and follow the highway until you get to Hwy 33.

Follow Hwy 33 for 32 km (20 mi) until you reach Big White Road. Take this road for another 24 km (15 mi) and in no time at all you will be in the main village.

Kelowna International Airport has many major airlines that come in with daily direct flights from many major cities in Canada and Seattle in the United States.

There is a quick shuttle available that will take you from the airport to Big White in about 55 minutes.

Check with Big White Resort for hot deals and special savings on airfares if you are planning on traveling from out of town.

Bus trips are offered from Vancouver and Seattle on most weekends during the ski season.

When you get here there is a variety of accommodation options available to you. There are:

3 Village Hotels 25 Condo/ Townhouse Complexes
244 Vacation Homes and Luxury Cabins
1 Ski-in Ski-out Youth Hostel

Big White Central Reservations will find something for you that will fit any budget and any taste.

Contact them at:

(250) 765-8888 or
Toll Free 1-800-663-2772

Big White Resort is usually open from Mid-November to Mid-April.

Most lifts are open from 8:45 AM to - 3:30 PM

Night skiing hours are 3:30 PM - 8:00 PM Tuesday through Saturday

Mega Snow Coaster hours of operation are:

4:00 - 9:00 PM Monday to Friday
2:00 PM - 9:00 PM Weekends

Make sure to check with Big White for times and days they are open as they do vary during their season.

The address at Big White is

Big White Ski Resort
5315 Big White Road
Kelowna, BC
Canada V1P 1P3

To contact the resort:

Phone - (250) 765-3101
Snow Phone - (250) 765-7619
Fax - (250) 491-6122

Big White is one of the family vacation resorts you will want to spend time at while you are in the Okanagan.

It provides everything you need for a great ski holiday.

Okanagan Valley Guide will be updated regularly. Please return often or bookmark this site. I will be adding more pages of exciting information for you.

Thanks for visiting.

See you soon!