Big White Ski Resort has been around for more than 40 years, but it’s been only in the last decade that it’s grown into full resort status.

Big White is big and getting bigger. The newly built Snow Ghost Express, paralleling the current Ridge Rocket Express, services Big White's most popular runs and terrain from the main base near the Ridge Day lodge. A free gondola carries guests down from the main village plaza to Happy Valley, home to a day lodge, rental shop, high-end gift shop, a skating trail and rink, Nordic center, beginner's learning center and a humongous tubing park. The resort's real estate development promises 22,000 beds at build-out within the next few years. Several luxury condominium projects have recently been completed, including The Timbers, Perfection Ridge, The Crescent and The Aspens Phase 2.

The Okanagan Valley in interior British Columbia is the hot winter destination in the West and many advise getting here soon while it’s still relatively affordable. For Australians, Big White is the second-biggest destination ski resort in B.C., behind Whistler Blackcomb. Big White says, "We use only dry, natural Okanagan Powder." The village sits at 5,706 feet (B.C.'s highest base area) and lifts carry skiers up to 7,606 feet. That's about the same elevation as Whistler Blackcomb but conditions differ as the air and snow are considerably dryer this far inland. One of Big White's signature features is its tree skiing. Night skiing with 1,600 vertical feet is open Tuesday through Saturday, the largest in the West. The terrain park is lighted as well.

Big White and nearby Silver Star Mountain Resort are under the same ownership and with one lift ticket, skiers and snowboarders have access to almost 6,000 acres of skiable terrain.

Photo courtesy of Big WhiteSki Resort

Dining: +++
Apres-ski/nightlife: +++
Other activities: ++

Address: Box 2039, Station R, Kelowna, BC, Canada V1X 4K5
Area code: 250
Ski area phone: 765-3101
Snow report: 765-7669
Toll-free reservations: (800) 663-2772
Fax: 765-1822
E-mail: bigwhite@bigwhite.com (information); cenres@bigwhite.com (reservations)
Internet: www.bigwhite.com

Number and types of lifts: 17—1 8-passenger high-speed gondola, 1 high-speed 6-pack, 4 high-speed quads, 1 quad, 1 triple, 3 doubles, 1 T-bar, 2 moving carpets, 1 handle tow, 2 tube lifts
Skiable Acreage: 2,765 acres
Snowmaking: No
Uphill capacity: 28,000 per hour
Parks & pipes: 2 parks, 2 pipes
Bed base: 17,000
Nearest lodging: Slopeside lodging, all ski-in/ski-out
Resort child care: 18 months and older
Adult ticket, per day: C$68 (07/08, without tax)