Apex Mountain
450 hectares, 80 runs near Penticton. Intimate community-founded resort, balanced terrain, Indy Pass.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
12 Dec 2026
Closes
28 Mar 2027
Days open
106
Annual snow
5.4m
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Apex Mountain's summit reaches 2,193 metres, dropping 618 vertical metres to a base at 1,575 metres across 80 runs spread over roughly 450 hectares near Penticton, British Columbia. Terrain splits 48 per cent intermediate, 18 per cent each for advanced and expert, and 16 per cent beginner, with average annual snowfall of roughly 5.4 metres. The resort carries Indy Pass affiliation. Four lifts, including one double chair, one quad chair and one triple chair, serve the mountain alongside one surface lift.
Apex holds a genuinely distinctive place among Okanagan resorts as a compact, community-founded ski area on Beaconsfield Mountain, offering an intimate village atmosphere well away from the region's larger destinations. Its evenly balanced terrain across all ability levels has built Apex's reputation as an approachable, uncrowded alternative to the busier Okanagan resorts.
Local photographer Jack Stocks began leading Scout troop excursions into the Beaconsfield Mountain area from 1949, sparking local interest in skiing there. A short rope tow, relocated from a small hill in Summerland, was installed in 1960, before a group of local ski enthusiasts, including Don Buchanan, Jack Dalrymple and Harley Hatfield among others, raised 100,000 Canadian dollars through shares and debentures in 1961 to develop 20 acres of terrain.
Apex Alpine, as the resort was then known, officially opened on 10 December 1961. The resort is registered today as Apex Mountain Resort (1997) Ltd. Adult daily tickets run from 75 to 89 Canadian dollars.
618m
Vertical
80
Runs
1,112 acres
Skiable
5.4m
Annual snow
Indy
Pass
The Terrain
80 runs across 1,112 acres skiable
Apex Mountain is a fall-line skiers' hill west of Penticton, covering around 450 hectares with 80 runs and a 618-metre vertical beneath the 2,193-metre summit. The grading is more even than most Okanagan areas: 48% intermediate, 18% advanced, 18% expert and 16% beginner, so the steeper end of the mountain is a real part of the day. With only four lifts and modest crowds, laps come quickly, and the dry interior snow, averaging about 5.4 metres a season, tends to stay untracked for longer than it does at the larger neighbours.
Cruising blues run down the main face, while the upper mountain steepens into black runs and tree skiing that reward strong skiers who prefer pitch over polish. Beginners have gentle ground close to the base, served by a surface lift, and the layout is easy for families to read. Apex suits intermediates ready to step up, powder hunters who like quiet lines and anyone wanting a relaxed day away from the busier resorts. It is not a big-vertical destination, so skiers chasing long alpine descents should look further afield.
Terrain split
80
runs
80 runs across 4 grades
Beginner13 runs · 16%
Intermediate38 runs · 48%
Advanced14 runs · 18%
Expert14 runs · 18%
Time it right
When to visit Apex Mountain
The 2025-26 season at Apex Mountain ran from 6 December 2025 to 5 April 2026, a roughly seventeen-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 5.4 metres. Season dates can shift depending on early and late-season weather in the Okanagan.
Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions to Apex's evenly balanced terrain. As an Indy Pass resort, Apex draws value-focused skiers and pass holders alongside a strong contingent of local Penticton-area visitors.
Apex's intimate village and uncrowded slopes continue to draw visitors seeking a quieter alternative to the larger Okanagan resorts throughout the season. School holiday periods bring family visitation given the resort's approachable terrain mix across all ability levels.
Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. Apex continues to build on more than six decades of history since local ski enthusiasts raised the funds to develop the resort in 1961. The resort's community origins and intimate scale remain central to its enduring appeal near Penticton.
Season 2026 - 2027
12 Dec 2026
Opens
28 Mar 2027
Closes
106
Days open
5.4 m
Annual snow
The record
Historical snowfall at Apex Mountain
Daily snow reports at Apex Mountain go back to 2025, 2 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.
14 cm
Snowiest day
12 Mar 2026
0 cm
This winter · 2026-27
so far
108 cm
Typical winter
average of complete seasons
Winter totals
cm
Past wintersThis winter
Getting there
Getting to Apex Mountain, and where to stay
Apex Mountain sits on Beaconsfield Mountain near Penticton, British Columbia, with a base elevation of 1,575 metres and a summit at 2,193 metres across a 618-metre vertical drop over roughly 450 hectares. This setting places the resort in the Okanagan Valley, a region better known for orchards and vineyards than skiing.
The resort's own small village provides lodging and dining directly at the base, while the city of Penticton offers more extensive services within a manageable drive.
Apex Mountain Road provides direct access to the resort from Penticton. Winter driving conditions on this route can include snow and ice, and travellers should carry appropriate equipment given the mountain access road's elevation gain.
Kelowna International Airport, roughly a one-hour drive away, is the primary gateway for visitors flying into the region, with Apex's Okanagan Valley setting supporting a mix of local Penticton visitation and travellers combining skiing with the region's wine country.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Apex Mountain, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
What’s New in Japan Skiing This Winter: Niseko Gondola, a Private Resort and a Bigger Ikon Pass
Niseko Village is replacing a lift from the early 1980s with an eight-person gondola, Tsugaike gets a six-person chairlift, Madarao joins the Ikon Pass and Togari opens Asia’s first private ski resort. Here’s what is actually new in Japan skiing for 2026/27, plus what is still a year or two away.
30 Oct 2026
Wolf Creek Opens on Halloween Weekend as Colorado’s Early Season Gathers Pace
Colorado’s early-season dominoes keep falling. Arapahoe Basin opened on Wednesday, Keystone follows on Friday, and now Wolf Creek is joining in on Saturday 31 October, just in time for Halloween. A storm on 23 and 24 October left 20 inches of natural snow in the San Juans, and three lifts will turn from 9:00 am, covering about 30% of the mountain. Expect rocks, unmarked obstacles and open water, but also Local Appreciation lift tickets at $73 for adults.
30 Oct 2026
Keystone Resort Opens for 2026/27 With More Than Two Miles of Skiing
Keystone is next. After Arapahoe Basin claimed the first chairlift skiing of the season on Wednesday, Keystone opens on Friday 30 October at 9:00 am with more than two miles of snowmaking-built terrain on Schoolmarm and Silver Spoon, plus free donuts, coffee and a live DJ. Last year the order was reversed, when Keystone squeezed in a three-hour afternoon session to beat A-Basin by a day. Snowmaking has been running since 15 October.
29 Oct 2026
Beaver Creek Installs 16 Automated Snow Guns on Birds of Prey Ahead of Record World Cup
Beaver Creek is getting ready for the biggest Birds of Prey ever, and this time it is not leaving the snow to chance. Crews started making snow on 27 October with 16 newly installed automated guns on the lower third of the course, after last December’s warm spell forced a downhill off the schedule. Seven races across two weekends run from 3 to 13 December, the most the course has hosted since its 1997 debut, and the guns start themselves whenever the weather allows.
29 Oct 2026
Arapahoe Basin Opens First for North America’s 2026/27 Ski Season
Winter has officially started in North America, and it is one blue run long. On Wednesday 28 October, Arapahoe Basin fired up the Black Mountain Express at around 10:30 am after a surprise announcement just hours earlier, becoming the first major North American resort open for 2026/27. Cold nights, a dusting of natural snow and a lot of snowmaking made it happen in the resort’s 80th winter. More terrain is promised as the snow guns keep running.
28 Oct 2026
Sulden am Ortler Pushes Its Season Start Back a Week to 7 November
Sulden am Ortler has called off its 31 October opening. The South Tyrol ski area has pushed its 2026/27 start back to Saturday 7 November, citing current weather and snow conditions and saying it will use the extra week to get the slopes in the best possible shape. The season is still scheduled to run through 2 May 2027. Elsewhere in Europe, around a dozen areas are already open, led by Sölden’s 30 kilometres of groomed runs.
28 Oct 2026
Pinheiro Braathen Wins Sölden Giant Slalom Opener by 0.48 Seconds
Two days at Sölden, two races decided by a hundredth somewhere on the podium, and one very quick Brazilian. Lucas Pinheiro Braathen led from the first run to win the men’s World Cup opener by 0.48 seconds, with Loïc Meillard second and Marco Odermatt third. River Radamus charged from 15th to fourth on a rutted course, and Britain’s Freddy Carrick-Smith banked his first World Cup points. Braathen still hasn’t lost a giant slalom since Olympic gold.
25 Oct 2026
Alps Snow Forecast: Up to 64 cm Headed for the High Glaciers as the Snow Line Drops
The Alps are about to swap mild, sunny October weather for something far more wintry. A cold front arrives Tuesday, and SnowStash forecasts have Monterosa Ski out in front with 64 cm over 14 days, ahead of Blatten Belalp (55 cm) and Verbier (43 cm). The snow line should fall below 2000 metres by Wednesday night, and glaciers across Switzerland, Italy and Austria are in line for the best of it. The wind will have a say too.
20 Oct 2026
Apex Mountain Lift Tickets
Apex Mountain lift tickets & passes
Opening day for the winter 2026 - 2027 season is scheduled for Dec 12, 2026 (subject to change). Lift tickets at Apex Mountain typically go on sale well before the start of the ski season.
Our lift ticket pricing was last updated on Sep 26, 2026.
Day passes start from CA$78, with peak rates up to CA$128.
Indy7 pass options
Single-day passes
Adult 19–64
Adult Full Day Lift Ticket
CA$128
Full day access to all 80 trails at Apex Mountain Resort for the 2026/27 season. Located just west of Penticton in the South Okanagan, Apex offers excellent powder conditions, family-friendly terrain, and a genuine low-crowd, small-resort feel.
Buy passYouth 13–18
Teen Full Day Lift Ticket
CA$106
Teen skiing at Apex Mountain Resort for ages 13-18, valid for the 2026/27 season. Perfect for teenage skiers and snowboarders exploring Apex's diverse terrain, from beginner-friendly slopes to challenging advanced runs.
Buy passChild 8–12
Junior Full Day Lift Ticket
CA$78
Junior lift tickets for Apex Mountain Resort ages 8-12, valid for the 2026/27 season. Apex offers excellent beginner terrain and ski school programs - kids love the Magic Carpet lift and gentle learning slopes. Free for children 7 and under.
Buy passSenior 65–69
Senior Full Day Lift Ticket
CA$106
Discounted full day skiing at Apex Mountain Resort for seniors 65-69 for the 2026/27 season. Enjoy 1,112 acres of skiable terrain and stunning Okanagan Valley views, with shorter lift lines and an authentic mountain experience.
Buy passSeason passes
Adult 19–64
Adult Season Pass (Early Bird)
CA$1,055up to CA$1,755 peak
Unlimited skiing at Apex Mountain Resort for the entire 2026/27 season. Early Bird pricing is available for purchase from August 7, 2026 through October 18, before rates rise to the full-price rate. Season pass holders enjoy unlimited access to all 80 trails.
Buy passChild 8–12
Junior Season Pass (Early Bird)
CA$535up to CA$875 peak
Unlimited season access for kids 8-12 at Apex Mountain Resort for 2026/27, at Early Bird pricing available until October 18, 2026.
Buy passSenior 65–69
Senior Season Pass (Early Bird)
CA$747up to CA$1,235 peak
Unlimited season access for skiers 65-69 at Apex Mountain Resort for 2026/27, at Early Bird pricing available until October 18, 2026.
Buy passLift tickets FAQ
How much does a Apex Mountain day pass cost?
Apex Mountain day passes range from CA$78 to CA$128 depending on the date and advance booking.
Can I buy Apex Mountain lift tickets online?
Yes, you can purchase tickets directly from the resort website or at the resort ticket office.
Are there discounts for multi-day passes?
Yes, multi-day packages typically offer significant savings compared to individual day passes. The per-day cost decreases with longer stays.
What is included with a Apex Mountain lift ticket?
Full access to all lifts and trails at Apex Mountain, including mountain safety and patrol services.
What is the difference between Apex Mountain lift tickets and ski passes?
"Lift tickets" and "ski passes" refer to the same thing at Apex Mountain - your access to the mountain's lifts and trails for your chosen duration.
When should I buy Apex Mountain lift tickets for the best price?
Purchase tickets at least 7 days in advance for the best rates, and consider weekday visits for further savings over weekend rates.
Does Apex Mountain offer group discounts on lift tickets?
Group discounts are typically available for parties of 10 or more. Contact Apex Mountain directly for group booking information and rates.
How can I check current conditions before buying tickets?
Before purchasing, check the live snow report and mountain webcams to see current weather, snow conditions, and lift operations at Apex Mountain.
More Apex Mountain intelligence: snow report, webcams, resort overview.