Big White
At Big White, great skiing and snowboarding is literally at your doorstep. The resort has been well designed such that the majority of
Big White accommodation offers the fabulous convenience of ski-in ski-out. The main street of the village is car-free and is half-way up the mountain. It includes shops, rental facilities, and cute bars and restaurants. Big White is ideal for families because it’s so easy to get around, and there are family-friendly facilities such as the award winning Kid’s centre. The resort is also loved just as much by those travelling child-free.
Where is Big White Ski Resort? Big White is in British Columbia, Canada, 56km from the city of Kelowna. Whilst in the Okanagan Valley, visitors sometimes combine Big White with a visit to
Silver Star ski resort. It is possible to drive from Calgary or Vancouver, but most people access the area by flying into Kelowna airport.
Skiing at Big WhiteThere’s plenty of snow at Big White, with an average of over 7.5 metres of the fluffy powder falling each year. Some harsh people unaffectionately call the resort “Big White Out” because there are sometimes visibility problems, particularly above the tree line. Once you descend to the tree line the visibility improves somewhat, but it is very eerie and you can understand why people may be haunted by the “snow ghosts” which are the snow covered trees that Big White is famous for. On foggy days there are plenty of tree runs where you may be rewarded with some powder stashes, and the terrain parks provide some refuge as well.
It was perhaps a little over-stated to call this resort “Big White”. It’s large, but it’s certainly not as big as many other Canadian resorts such as
Whistler,
Lake Louise,
Revelstoke ski resort and Sun Peaks. Nevertheless, at 2,765 acres of skiable terrain, the size is still pretty impressive and it offers plenty of variety.
Here are some more fast facts regarding the
ski and snowboard terrain at Big White:
- Vertical drop – 811 metres
- 118 runs
- 18% beginner
- 54% intermediate
- 22% expert
- 6% extreme
- Longest run 7.2km
A new lift provides easy access to the extreme bowl where there are some great steeps. You’ll be able to buy one of their souvenir t-shirts “I Skied The Cliff and Survived” - if that’s what takes your fancy!? Other than this bowl, there is not too much terrain for powderhounds or expert skiers. The resort is generally most suited to strong intermediate to advanced skiers and snowboarders.
Why Ski or Snowboard at Big White?Big White is a great ski holiday destination. It’s got a lot going for it including great snow and modern infrastructure. One of the major highlights was definitely the ski-in ski-out accommodation, and that many lodges have outdoor hot tubs (or spas as we like to call them). Soaking aching muscles in the hot spa whilst embellishing stories about the days skiing adventures, and enjoying the fantastic view of the sunset across the valley – absolutely awesome!
The Powderhounds team have awarded Big White with
"Best Family Ski Resort" in Canada.