The 5 best times to ski at Sun Peaks, BC this season

Oct 17 2018, 12:46 am

The season you’ve been waiting for is almost here, Vancouverites.

Since you packed away your skis and those always-awkward-to-put-on boots, you’ve been dreaming about the moment you’ll get to shred fresh powder again. And soon you’ll be able to do that at Sun Peaks.

Tucked away in the BC interior, Sun Peaks has the earliest scheduled opening of all BC resorts with an expected date of Saturday, November 17. If you didn’t already know, the resort gets up to 2,000 hours of sun every single year, so you’ll likely get to catch some rays as you carve up the light, dry powder.

We know you’re probably stoked right now, so to intensify that feeling, here are the five best times to hit the slopes at Sun Peaks.

Opening day: November 17

Sun Peaks/Reuben Krabbe

Can you think of a better way to start the season than being one of the first winter sports enthusiasts to cover a massive amount of terrain at Canada’s second-largest ski area? Well, you can make this happen at Sun Peaks on opening day, Saturday, November 17. Be part of the exciting atmosphere as everyone is pumped to get on the ski hill.

Celebrate in style with the Après and Ales event taking place on November 17. Visit Masa’s Bar + Grill and enjoy a cold Lions Winter Ale while a DJ spins the soundtrack to your first weekend on the ski hill. If you want to find out more about this can’t-miss après session, check out photos of last year’s event here.

Holiday kick-off weekend: December 13 to 16

Sun Peaks/Kelly Funk

If you want to experience full on winter wonderland magic, check out Sun Peaks during the holiday kick-off weekend from December 13 to 16. Santa will be making an appearance, so you’ll have one last chance to get any special requests directly to the main man himself.

Attend an art auction at Morrisey’s Public House, see the magical tree lighting in the village, go shopping at the holiday artisan market, and hear the beautiful sounds of carol singers and live music at the Upper Plaza Stage. Get festive on a sleigh ride and warm up with a hot chocolate afterwards — it’s free in the Upper Plaza Village on Sunday from 11 am to 1 pm.

The best snow of the year: January

Sun Peaks/Reuben Krabbe

Wondering when the best snow of the year will fall at Sun Peaks? We can tell you that it’s going to be in January 2019 (only a matter of weeks away!). Sun Peaks has recorded an epic number of powder days in January with an average of just under 100 cm of new snow in the month of January.

It’s not just all snow at Sun Peaks in January. While you’re there, sample some of the best BC wines at the Sun Peaks Winter Okanagan Wine Festival with 17 fun-filled events taking place from January 11 to 20. Delight in gastronomic experiences with wine pairings at restaurants throughout the village. Remember to make reservations in advance to avoid missing out on these one-time events.

Local’s favourite time to ski: February

Sun Peaks/Reuben Krabbe

When you visit a new destination, you always want to try to live and do things like the locals, right? A good start would be to go skiing or snowboarding at the locals’ favourite time of year. Visiting Sun Peaks in February means you’ll get to enjoy warmer weather as the temperatures rise above the average  -6.1°C for winter.

The snow base will have already been built up from the winter so that’s another thing you don’t have to worry about. And you can also hang out with the locals at Sun Peaks’ annual Party in the Park event on February 10. You can register to take part in jam sessions and compete against other skiers and snowboarders, or take in all the action (and après) from the sidelines.

Spring skiing: Late March/early April

Sun Peaks/Reuben Krabbe

Okay, so we don’t want to talk too much about the end of the season just yet. But it’s worthwhile knowing that you can still get some seriously good spring ski runs in on the slopes at Sun Peaks in late March/early April.

The temperatures rise to an average of -3.9ºC for March and -1.1ºC for April and the sun will likely be beaming as you make your way down the mountain. If you visit Sun Peaks in March, test out some gear for the next season at the Demo Days on March 9 and 10. Then there’s the retro-themed Tod Mountain Days Spring Festival happening on April 13 and 14. You won’t want to miss this.


Visit Sun Peaks for more information and to start planning your trip during the best times to ski and snowboard.

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