Christie Hampton gives SnowsBest her guide to Sun Peaks.
Like ants on a dropped ice cream cone, British Columbia in Canada’s west is crawling with world-class ski resorts. Sun Peaks, which is in the province’s South Central Interior, is still relatively unknown but there are many reasons why this resort should stand out from the crowd.
What’s to love
Sun Peaks’ strengths are found in its intermediate terrain. A plethora of long, wide, beautifully machined runs ribbon their way down the mountain making it the perfect place to cruise or practice your GS turns. It’s also a haven for families who will appreciate the ski in, ski out village, which means easy access to cafes, restaurants and off-mountain entertainment.
In 2014 Sun Peaks expanded to include Gil’s, a popular, wide-open bowl that was just outside the resort’s boundary. While it’s still only accessible by hiking, Gils is now patrolled and avalanche controlled. This makes it the perfect ‘side country’ adventure for those who like to leave the groomed piste behind.
Where to eat
Visitors to Sun Peaks are spoilt for choice when it comes to dining options, and the deal is made even sweeter by the fact that the resort’s village is located on-mountain so restaurants are easily accessible from your door step.
A few favourites include Balacco Café, which offers delectable bagels, perfect before a day on the hill. For dinner try Voyageur Bistro, a relaxed, friendly restaurant that serves up traditional Canadian fare such as bison and locally caught fish. If you want to keep it simple and kid friendly there’s Mountain High Pizza, famous for its thin crust pizzas and fresh toppings.
Things to do
A ski holiday doesn’t have to be all about shushing your merry way down the slopes. At Sun Peaks you can enjoy the snow from a four-legged perspective by booking a dog sled tour or horse drawn sleigh ride.
Get the kids off the slopes and into the air by taking them bungee trampolining. Go for a slide of a different kind in a tube or on ice skates. Get an adrenaline fix on a snowmobile or satisfy your shopping habit by jumping on the shuttle to near by Kamloops.
Where to stash the kids
The Sundance Kids Centre is the ideal way to provide guilt-free entertainment for your 18 month to five-year-old kids. You can book them in for either a half or full day and they’ll be treated to fun and games in a safe, supervised environment. If they are over three, you can combine a day at the Centre with ski lessons so they can improve their skills with qualified, child-friendly instructors.
FOUR THINGS YOU DON’T KNOW ABOUT SUN PEAKS BUT SHOULD
- Up until 1993, Sun Peaks was called ‘Tod Mountain,’ which is the resort’s highest peak. The word ‘Tod’ means ‘death’ in German. We can imagine this would have made it very hard to market the resort in Europe!
- Sun Peaks’ Director of Skiing is Nancy Greene, a Canadian skiing legend who won gold and silver at the 1968 Winter Olympics. She was also voted Canada’s Female Athlete of the 20th Century. She’s also a Canadian Senator for British Columbia. Nancy lives in the resort during winter and hosts regular tours for visitors.
- Sun Peaks lives up to its name. On average the resort receives over 2,000 hours of sunshine per year.
- The Burfield Chairlift, which takes skiers and snowboarders to the top of Mt Tod, is notoriously slow (back when the resort first started riders would be given a blanket to warm their legs for the journey). It takes 22 minutes to reach the top, which is the length of an average TV sitcom. However, despite this, it is still the easiest way to the resort’s highest point and gives access to all the upper mountain runs.
The Cold Hard Facts
Skiable Area 4,270 acres of terrain
Mt. Tod Summit Elevation 2,152m
Village Base Elevation 1,255m
Skiable Vertical 882m
Bowls 2 alpine bowls
Longest Run Up to 8km long
Trails & Glades 133
Novice Terrain 10%
Intermediate Terrain 58%
Expert Terrain 32%
Number of lifts 11
Annual Snowfall 6 meters
How to get there
Sun Peaks is easily accessible via Kamloops Airport or Kelowna Airport. Airport Shuttles are available from both airports. The resort is 45 minutes drive from Kamloops, 2.75 hours from Kelowna or 4.5 hours from Vancouver.
SKIMAX HOLIDAYS DEAL TO SUN PEAKS
Stay at Nancy Greene’s Cahilty Lodge for seven nights from $765 per person twin share including a 6 day lift pass. Valid for travel January 2 – 31. Book and pay before August 31. Conditions apply. Visit www.skimax.com.au for more details.
