It’s every skier and snowboarder’s dream: long, perfect slopes that you have all to yourself. And when you get to the bottom of the mountain, there’s not a lift line in sight.
In reality, that resort exists. It’s Sun Peaks Resort in British Columbia, Canada. And the locals might not want to spread the word – after all, they probably want the place to themselves – but we’re here to share because… well, it’s too good not to.
Get your gloves and goggles packed, this is why Sun Peaks is well worth a visit for your next snow holiday.
1. The terrain (of course)
When you’re venturing all the way over to Canada for a ski trip, you want to ensure you’re choosing a destination where you’re spoiled for choice with the slopes.
And bored is an emotion you won’t ever feel at Sun Peaks. There are over 4,270 acres of skiable area spread across three mountains – Tod, Sundance, and Mt. Morrisey – ensuring there’s always a new trail to conquer or a fresh tree run to try.
Those acres include 139 trails, two alpine bowls and a ten-acre terrain park, all serviced by 13 lifts. And the longest run is a whopping 8km, so make sure you have those ski legs ready.
The terrain split is 10% beginner, 58% intermediate and 32% advanced/expert, and there’s also a green, blue and black run from the top of every lift so you can choose your own adventure on the way down, even if you’re skiing with a group of varying abilities. Now that’s clever planning.
2. The investment in all things new
There’s more to look forward to beyond all that existing terrain – namely, a brand-new high speed detachable quad chairlift, set to open in the alpine for the 2024-25 winter season.
It’s the West Bowl Express in the West Bowl of Mt. Tod, and aims to service a popular area of the resort known for top-notch snow and incredible views, providing more trails and more vertical to explore.
It’s a $12m investment that’s off the back of some great recent resort upgrades, such as the new Orient Chairlift, a new run for the 2023/24 season (named Kia Ora as a nod to our Kiwi mates), and a secret kids ski area called The Bears Lair.
3. The quality and reliability of the snow
With an average annual snowfall of over 6 meters, powder lovers will be in their element. But as we all know, snow is best served with a side of sunshine for those perfect bluebird days – and Sun Peaks has its name for a reason, delivering over 2000 hours of sunshine every year on average.
The seasons runs from November through to early April every year, with plenty of snow still on the ground even for spring time skiing. And even in peak times of the season, you’ll be unlikely to wait in a lift line for longer than a few minutes.
4. The ski-in, ski-out accommodation
It’s not all about the mountain here. It’s also about the village – which, did we mention, is the most picturesque ski-through pedestrian village to be found?
There’s everything here, from luxury lodges to charming chalets and cozy condos, and plenty of ski-in, ski-out options. All the better to base yourself and explore your surroundings, including 20 on-mountain restaurants for your dining convenience, featuring everything from Japanese food to poutine and hot donuts.
Bonus: It’s easy to get to your mountain accommodation of choice, with the village being just a 45-minute drive from the town of Kamloops. Kamloops has an airport with connections to cities such as Vancouver, Seattle, Calgary and plenty more.
5. The unique experiences
Want to enjoy a delicious fondue on the mountain, then ski down after dark with only a headlight for company – lapping up the stars of the night sky on your way down?
Or ski straight into a candy store where there’s an entire wall of jellybeans to choose from?
Or ride in the snowcat at night to see how the mountain is groomed?
Or watch the kids from the local on-mountain school ski and snowboard their way to lessons each day?
Or spend an afternoon on a fully guided ice fishing adventure, where you get to try and catch a wild rainbow trout in a heated tent?
It’s all possible at Sun Peaks, which perfectly blends fun and new experiences with the cosiest village vibe. Plus there are all the usual experiences you might like to enjoy at a Canadian ski resort, including snowmobiling, dog sledding, horse sleigh rides, tubing, snowshoeing, ice skating and more.
Ready to book your holiday to beautiful Sun Peaks? Find out more about it by clicking here.
