Everything You Need to Know About Big White
Big White is aptly named – its legendary powder has seen it win awards like “Best Powder” for good reason! Big White is also uniquely blessed with sunny weather and a mild average temperature of -5C (23 F). There’s a great selection of terrain for everyone with deep powder bowls, wide-open glades, and great fall-line cruising. This all blends seamlessly with the ski-in ski-out convenience of much of its accommodation offerings and even its car free mid-mountain village.
Insider Ski and Snowboard Tips
Whether you choose economy or luxury accommodation, you can ski right from your door to a chairlift! With 15 lifts and an uphill capacity of 28,000 skiers and riders per hour, you’re also not likely to wait more than a few minutes in a lift line – even at the busiest times.
Unfold the mountain trail map, and you’ll discover 118 runs, 15 lifts, 5 alpine bowls and TELUS Terrain Park. The vast terrain creates a natural thrill, with a huge variety of options on offer to suit everyone from beginners to expert skiers and snowboarders. Beginners – there’s a green run from the top of every chairlift, meaning you can confidently explore the mountain. Intermediates – 54% of terrain is geared towards you, with everything from perfectly groomed cruisers to moguls and tree runs. Advanced and expert riders – you’ll love areas such as The Cliff and the advanced runs over at Gem Lake. And let’s not forget about night skiing. With a night lift capacity of over 5000 people per hour, Big White has the longest vertical drop (596 meters) of all night skiing areas in North America!
Access
It’s so easy to get to Big White that you don’t have to worry about whether or not you’ll have a car. Big White is 56 km (35 miles) southeast of Kelowna, the largest city in the Okanagan Valley, making it easily accessible. You can fly into Kelowna’s International Airport and take a quick shuttle (55 minutes) to get you to the resort. Many of the major airlines have daily direct flights from many major cities so you have plenty of travelling options.
Accommodation
Big White has something to fit every taste and budget. Whether you are looking for a cozy economical suite or a large private chalet you can expect quality accommodation, friendly service and great value.
Restaurants and Après
With 20 on-mountain restaurants, cafes, delis, pubs and nightclubs, there is no shortage of places to relax or replenish your energy levels when it’s time for a break. Enjoy a luxurious lunch, sit for a social drink to warm your soul, have a ‘dinner date’, or treat the family to a wonderful meal. To thoroughly enjoy the BC Okanagan Valley’s offerings, be sure to savour some famous local wines. You can also order your groceries and have them delivered to your chalet before you arrive.
When it comes to Après, you can’t beat ‘Snowshoe Sam’s’, voted Canada’s #1 Ski Bar by Ski Canada Magazine and Best Après Ski Venue in North America by The Good Skiing and Snowboarding Guide, Sam’s has great pub atmosphere. Meals, après-ski, games, DJ’s and live bands — Sam’s is the place to go for a night of fun. The Gunbarrel Grill is located upstairs and features a big stone fireplace, superb food and don’t miss the famous “Gunbarrel Coffee” show. It’s a show and a drink all in one, featuring a double barrel Montgomery Ward & Co. shot gun from the early 1900’s and flames!! If You’re after a real party atmosphere, we also recommend ‘Sessions Taphouse & Grill’ which delivers some of the biggest parties and events on the mountain.
Non Skiing Activities
Skiing and riding are just the beginning. At Big White the activity offerings are vast. You can go skiing, ice climbing, and dog sledding all in one day and barely scratch the surface of what’s on the menu.
Looking for an authentic mountain experience without some Canadian flavour? Enjoy a horse drawn sleigh ride to a cosy cabin in the woods and enjoy a delicious full Canadian breakfast of bacon, eggs, pancakes, and real maple syrup prepared specially for you. Other popular activities include a sled dog tour, learning to ice climb on the impressive 60 ft. ice tower, ice skating or alternatively watching an ice hockey game, snowmobiling, snowshoeing or even fat biking. To say there’s something for everyone seems a little like an understatement.
If you like the sound of Big White and want to visit it yourself then click here to see our latest packages or here to make an enquiry for a quote.
