The Okanagan Valley in southern British Columbia offers a unique blend of warm weather and deep, dry powder snow, making it an ideal destination for winter visitors. With good skiing conditions and sunny skies, plus the added bonus of world-renowned wineries, Kelowna provides the perfect mix of snow and après-ski wine tasting.
Fly into Kelowna International Airport from major cities like Seattle, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, or Vancouver, and you'll find yourself surrounded by six destination resorts within a short drive and over 90 vineyards.
All of the destination resorts in the region offer ski-in/ski-out accommodations, so you can just let the car get buried under snow in the parking lot. Small towns, such as Vernon and Penticton, scatter across the valley adding the full spectrum of lodging including B & Bs, motels, inns, lodges, and chain hotels.
Destination Ski Resorts Near Kelowna
Here's a look at some of the top ski resorts near Kelowna, each offering its unique charm and attractions:
Big White Ski Resort
Located just 55 minutes from downtown Kelowna, Big White Ski Resort features over 2,700 acres of skiable terrain, 119 runs, and one of Canada’s largest night-skiing areas. The resort is fully ski-in/ski-out, so you can step out your door and onto the slopes. Big White is home to Canada's longest high-speed six-pack lift.
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It also solves the problem of multi-skilled family members skiing together, for every lift has at least one green run down from the top. It is Western Canada's largest resort for night skiing.
SilverStar Mountain Resort
About an hour north of Kelowna, SilverStar Mountain Resort spans four distinct mountain faces and offers 3,282 acres of skiable terrain across 132 runs. Its colourful mid-mountain village is also ski-in/ski-out, making it easy to relax between laps or stay for a multi-day getaway.
Walk into Silver Star Village, and you'll think you're back in the Wild West. The village sports bright colored store facades and Victorian architecture akin to 19th century mining towns. But its slopes are much more modern, with high-speed lifts, and three magic carpets for beginners.
Apex Mountain Resort
A 90-minute drive south of Kelowna takes you to Apex, a slightly smaller resort that perches on the ridges above Penticton. The resort is designated as a National Training Centre for both aerials and moguls. But it also has a reputation for buffed out cruisers with nearly 50 percent of its terrain designated as intermediate.
Apex, being located in the heart of the Okanagan Valley, features the perfect mix of large amounts of precipitation (on average 500cm per season) and low humidity, which makes for the lightest champagne powder snow imaginable. In addition to some of the best skiing in BC, Apex Mountain Resort also offers a number of other fun activities to enjoy, and a great selection of restaurants to indulge in.
Sun Peaks Resort
Bump up the drive time to 2.5 hours from Kelowna, and you'll be at two of B.C.'s fastest growing resorts-Sun Peaks and Revelstoke.
Sun Peaks outside Kamloops gets its name from the 2,000 hours of sunshine that it sees each year. The resort, B.C.'s second largest, caters to beginner and intermediate skiers with a five-mile-long, top-to-bottom green run, and nearly 70 percent of the mountain map covered in groomers.
Revelstoke Mountain Resort
Revelstoke in the Selkirk Mountains made news with the launch of a $1 billion ski area development over 15 years. The resort sees enough annual snow to drown whole buildings with 40 to 60 feet of snowfall each year. Revelstoke runs two high-speed quads, a high-speed gondola, and a magic carpet and has plans to add more lifts. You can heli- and cat-ski right from the resort. It boasts the longest vertical lift-served descent in North America. That's 5,620 feet of turns.
Revelstoke Family Ski Trip - RMR is Amazing!
Red Mountain Resort
Stretch the car time to 3.5 hours to ski Red Mountain above Rossland. You can also catch a shuttle from the Kelowna airport to leave the driving to someone else. (Rossland is, however, a quicker drive from the Spokane, Wash., airport.) Red throws wide-open groomers and powder glades at skiers and boarders from its six lifts.
Guests love our unpretentious vibes and they also love the massive terrain-3,850 acres!- that puts us in the Top 10, size-wise, in North America. We have famous tree runs, pristine powder, glorious groomers, Ikon Pass access, a brand-new bike park, and claim to Canada’s #1 Ski Town two years in a row.
Other Ski Areas
Those looking for little hidden day-use nooks can also find them in this region. These little crannies crank up two or three lifts each. Find the smallest vertical at Crystal Mountain in Westbank. Both Mount Baldy east of Oliver, and Harper Mountain outside Kamloops, have lifts that climb around 1,400 vertical feet.
Family Activities in Kelowna
Looking for the ultimate family getaway filled with kid-friendly adventures? Whether you’re exploring the scenic beauty of Kelowna or embracing snowy thrills at Big White Ski Resort, the Okanagan region offers an abundance of activities that cater to all ages.
Kelowna is bursting with year-round family activities that make it a top choice for travelers with kids and a playground for all ages. Here are some of the must-visit attractions:
- EnergyPlex Family Recreation Centre: A local favorite with trampolines, jungle gyms, and climbing walls.
- H2O Adventure + Fitness Centre: The largest municipal water park in Canada with waterslides, a wave pool, and a surf simulator.
- Kangaroo Creek Farm: Get up close with kangaroos, capybaras, and emus.
- Don-O-Ray Farm Adventure: A petting zoo, hayrides, and mazes for seasonal fun.
Big White Ski Resort: A Winter Wonderland for Kids
Just under an hour’s drive from Kelowna, Big White Ski Resort transforms into a snow-covered paradise from late November through April. With a reputation for family-friendly skiing, the resort ensures every member of the family-regardless of skill level-has a memorable time.
- Tot Town Daycare and Ski School: Provides a fun and safe environment for younger children (18 months to 5 years) while parents hit the slopes.
- Tube Park: A no-skills-required snow activity perfect for kids and adults alike.
- Ice Skating and Horse-Drawn Sleigh Rides: Create unforgettable family memories with a glide around the outdoor skating rink or a magical horse-drawn sleigh ride through the forest.
Luxury Accommodation: Crescendo at Big White
For families looking for luxury, space, and convenience, there’s no better place to stay than Crescendo. This stunning, ski-in/ski-out vacation home is more than just accommodation-it’s an experience.
Crescendo boasts of the following features:
- Multiple bedrooms and bunk areas perfect for kids and teens
- A home theatre with family movies on demand
- An indoor/outdoor hot tub that can be safely sectioned off for younger kids
- A fully equipped kitchen and open-plan dining area for family meals
- Direct access to the slopes-no shuttles, no hassle!
Families love Crescendo not just for its high-end features, but for how thoughtfully it’s designed to accommodate children without sacrificing luxury. After a fun-filled day on the mountain or in town, there’s no better place to relax and reconnect.
Plan Your Winter Getaway
This British Columbia region around Kelowna lures skiers to its varied slopes. But don't forget to save some time to savor wine country. From kangaroo cuddles in Kelowna to snow tubing at Big White, the Okanagan offers an unbeatable mix of kid-approved fun and family comfort. And with Crescendo as your home base, your next family holiday will be as relaxing as it is exciting.