Sun Peaks: 5 reasons why you need to shred here

Daily Hive Custom Content
Published on November 1, 2017

Winter is a matter of weeks away and it’s hard to contain the excitement.

Why? Because the colder temperatures now mean heaps of snow on the mountains. Think fresh, soft powder, total white outs, sun blazing, and mugs of hot chocolate mid-ski.

One resort where you’ll feel the biggest adrenaline rush of the season is Sun Peaks. Located in BC’s interior, just 45 minutes from Kamloops, the resort is home to Canada’s second largest ski area and you’re going to want to be there this winter.

There’s truly something for everyone here so we’ve compiled a list of the top five reasons that you need to visit Sun Peaks.

Ski terrain

There’s no shortage of terrain at this resort. Since 2014, more than 500 acres of skiable terrain has been added to the ski area boundary at Sun Peaks with the addition of both West Morrisey and Gil’s alpine zones.

Filled with deep steeps, long cruisers, gladed areas, powder stashes, and corduroy groomers, this resort stretches over a whopping 4,270 acres of skiable land. You can ski right through the village and easily access the three main skiable peaks from there. And you don’t have to worry about the kind of snow you’ll be skiing upon when you’re there because Sun Peaks receives six metres of light, dry, powder every single year. Oh and it gets more than 2,000 hours of sunshine annually too, so remember to wear sunscreen!

Take a free tour

Yep, you heard it right – all guests get a complimentary tour at Sun Peaks. It’s an idyllic way to see the mountain. Some of Canada’s finest outdoor enthusiasts choose to call Sun Peaks home and love sharing their local knowledge with you; from the best fresh baking to those fabled hidden stashes of snow. You can venture out on the tour to explore the vast terrain twice daily. All you have to do is meet the Sun Hosts slopeside (between the Sunburst chairlift and the Village Day Lodge) and look for the group which suits your ability level and terrain preferences.

Ski lessons

Whether you’re a complete skiing or snowboarding beginner, rusty around the edges, or an expert, there’s always room for improvement and honing your skills. You can easily book a lesson with the Sport School and All Mountain programs – regardless of your age. You’ll have a ton of fun when you do. And with 12 lifts, 135 trails, and 17 gladed areas, you’ll have plenty of terrain upon which to test out what you’ve learned. You can also take advanced ski lessons when you’re ready to take it to the next level.

Off-slope activities

Not everyone is a fan of downhill skiing or snowboarding, but they can still have an epic experience at Sun Peaks. There are more than 37 kilometres of groomed and track set Nordic trails if you’d prefer to take on those instead. Or you can go ice fishing, ride upon a horse-drawn sleigh, go shopping, go ice skating, snow biking, do a snowmobile tour, a dogsled tour, or tubing. You can also embark upon the Moonlight Snowshoe & S’mores tour, where you’ll do a one kilometre snowshoe tour and a guided trek through Sun Peaks’ enchanting forest trails. Simply magical.

Après ski

When it comes to après ski you’re spoiled for choice at Sun Peaks. You can join a campfire or dine at one of the resort’s 20 eateries including the Bella Italia Mediterranean Kitchen, Bolacco Café, Bottoms Bar + Grill and Vertical Café. There has also been a multi-million dollar investment in revitalizing The Sunburst and The Annex, (formerly Bento’s) at the resort. The Sunburst Bar + Eatery will feature a near doubling of capacity and a facelift in all aspects of service delivery and culinary diversity.

“The way it’s designed, with the village core right in the centre of it all, people feel kind of safe here. It feels cozy. I’ve never talked to anybody who’s visited for the first time and said they’re never coming back. Everybody who visits puts it on the return visit list,” said Jamie Tattersfield, Sun Peaks mountain lifer.