Big White
1,147 hectares, 119 runs near Kelowna. Family-owned since 1985, ski-in ski-out village, Okanagan snow.
Season 2025 - 2026
Opens
28 Nov 2025
Closes
5 Apr 2026
Days open
128
Annual snow
8m
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Big White's summit reaches 2,319 metres, dropping 811 vertical metres to a base at 1,508 metres across 119 runs spread over roughly 1,147 hectares near Kelowna, British Columbia. Terrain splits 54 per cent intermediate, 22 per cent advanced, 18 per cent beginner and 6 per cent expert, with average annual snowfall of roughly 7.5 metres. Fifteen lifts, including seven quad chairs and one six-person chair, serve the mountain alongside one double chair, two triple chairs, one gondola and three surface lifts.
Big White holds a genuinely distinctive place among British Columbia resorts as a family-owned, ski-in and ski-out village resort in the Okanagan Valley, known for its consistently light, dry snow. Its intermediate-weighted terrain and considerable on-mountain village have built Big White's reputation as one of the more family-oriented major resorts in the province.
Big White opened in 1963, developed to bring lift-served skiing to the Okanagan Valley above Kelowna. Ownership changed hands in 1985 when the Schumann family purchased the resort, and the family has continued to own and operate Big White ever since, a genuinely unusual arrangement given the scale of the province's larger, corporately owned resorts.
Big White's exact current pass affiliation is not confirmed in available resort information, though the resort has offered its own multi-day POWder Card products directly. Adult daily tickets run from 77 to 95 Canadian dollars.
811m
Vertical
119
Runs
2,834 acres
Skiable
8m
Annual snow
The Terrain
119 runs across 2,834 acres skiable
Big White spreads 119 runs across 2,834 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 54%, with 21 beginner runs to find your feet and 33 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
119
runs
119 runs across 4 grades
Beginner21 runs · 18%
Intermediate64 runs · 54%
Advanced26 runs · 22%
Expert7 runs · 6%
Time it right
When to visit Big White
The 2025-26 season at Big White ran from 28 November 2025 to 5 April 2026, a roughly eighteen-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 7.5 metres. Season dates can shift depending on early and late-season weather in the Okanagan Valley.
Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent, light and dry conditions to Big White's intermediate-weighted terrain. As a family-owned resort, Big White draws considerable family visitation from across the Okanagan and Western Canada, alongside destination travellers seeking its ski-in and ski-out village.
Big White's substantial on-mountain village and family-friendly terrain continue to support strong visitation throughout the season, particularly during school holiday periods. The resort's snow school and varied terrain across all ability levels draw a genuinely broad family visitor base.
Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. Since the Schumann family took ownership in 1985, Big White has continued building on six decades of history since its 1963 founding. The resort's family ownership and considerable village scale remain central to its enduring popularity in the Okanagan.
Season 2025 - 2026
28 Nov 2025
Opens
5 Apr 2026
Closes
128
Days open
8 m
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Big White, and where to stay
Big White sits near Kelowna, British Columbia, in the Okanagan Valley, with a base elevation of 1,508 metres and a summit at 2,319 metres across an 811-metre vertical drop over roughly 1,147 hectares. This setting places Big White within a comparatively short drive of Kelowna, a considerably larger city than most Canadian ski towns.
Kelowna, the Okanagan's largest city, offers extensive lodging, dining and services within a manageable drive of the resort, while Big White's own substantial on-mountain village provides considerable ski-in and ski-out accommodation directly at the base.
British Columbia Highway 33 provides direct access to the resort from Kelowna. Winter driving conditions on this route can include snow and ice, though the well-travelled road is regularly maintained given the resort's status as a major Okanagan destination.
Kelowna International Airport, roughly a one-hour drive away, is the primary gateway for visitors flying into the region, with Big White's considerable proximity to a well-served regional airport supporting substantial visitation from across Western Canada.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Big White, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
FIS Weighs Holding World Championships in Almost Every Winter, Starting 2032
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation is looking at a major shake-up to its title events calendar. From 2032, World Championships could run not just in odd-numbered years but in every non-Olympic winter too, effectively putting a global title event on the calendar almost every season. The FIS Council has approved the concept following a feasibility study, though an accelerated rollout as early as 2028 is also under consideration.
4 Sept 2026
Mount Buller Becomes Latest Australian Resort to Call Time Early on 2026
Mount Buller closes out its 2026 season this Sunday, joining Falls Creek, Hotham and Charlotte Pass in a cluster of closures landing almost simultaneously and roughly a month ahead of schedule. The culprit is stark: Spencers Creek's benchmark snow depth hit 31.2cm on 3 September, just 18% of the 73-year average and an all-time low for this point in the season. Six of Victoria and NSW's best-known resorts will have shut their lifts early within a span of about two and a half weeks.
4 Sept 2026
Tremblant to Add New Timber Summit Ski Sector for 2027/28 Season
Tremblant has confirmed a major expansion of its Quebec ski area, with a new Timber Summit sector adding 62 acres of terrain, eight trails and a high-speed quad chairlift for winter 2027/28. It's part of a CAD 42.5 million investment that also includes a new beginner learning zone at Versant Soleil opening this coming season. The project has grown considerably since it was first announced back in 2020, when it carried a far smaller budget and an opening date that never eventuated.
2 Sept 2026
Mount Hotham to Close for the 2026 Season on Sunday, September 6
We knew when the Bird Bath Pond Skim showed up on Hotham's Instagram that the season was on its way out. It's been a rough one - I only managed two days on snow all year, at Falls Creek - and now Baw Baw, Selwyn and Hotham have all called it, possibly the worst Australian season I've seen in a decade. Hotham's last day of lift operations is Sunday, 6 September, with a Retro Day, Father's Day après and closing sales before the lifts stop turning for good.
1 Sept 2026
Thredbo to Replace Ageing Gunbarrel Quad With New Six-Seat Chairlift for 2028
Thredbo Alpine Resort has confirmed plans to replace its 37-year-old Gunbarrel quad chairlift with a new six-seat Doppelmayr D-Line, targeting winter 2028. The AUD 35 million project will keep travel time roughly the same but lift capacity from 2,800 to 3,000 skiers per hour. It's part of a broader investment push that also includes doubled snowmaking capacity at Friday Flat for 2027, with the ageing Kosciuszko Express now flagged as the resort's next major lift replacement after Gunbarrel.
31 Aug 2026
Aerial Tram Collides With Crane at Alpe d'Huez: 23 Injured
An aerial tram carrying around fifty passengers struck the boom of a construction crane on the route to Pic Blanc at Alpe d'Huez on Wednesday morning, injuring 23 people, three seriously. The cabin tipped on impact before the operator reversed it to right the car. Most of the injured were treated on site, with five taken to hospital in Grenoble, including a pregnant woman assessed as a precaution.
28 Aug 2026
Why Glaciers Are Collapsing - And What Happens When They Do
A deadly flood on the Nepal-China border, a decade-old tragedy on Italy's Marmolada, and an unstable glacier right now above a village near Zermatt - three very different mountain ranges, the same underlying story. Warming ice is destabilising terrain that was considered settled for generations, and the results range from catastrophic floods to slow-motion monitoring situations that could go either way.
27 Aug 2026
Pitztal Glacier Set to Reopen for the 2026/27 Ski Season on 26 September
Tyrol's highest ski area is gearing up to open a full month ahead of most of the Alps. The Pitztal Glacier is scheduled to start its 2026/27 season on Saturday 26 September, running through to 2 May 2027, with the lower-altitude Rifflsee area following in December. High-altitude terrain up to 3,440 metres gives the glacier a head start on snow, though as always, the actual opening extent will depend on how September's weather plays out. Early online ski pass bookings can save up to 30%.
26 Aug 2026
Big White Webcams
8 live angles across the mountain. Tap any camera to go full-screen.
About Big White's live webcams
Check live conditions across Big White with 8 real-time webcams showing snow, weather, and lift operations, updated every 10 minutes. Check high-elevation cams for powder visibility and base-area cams for crowd levels before you head up.
Camera guide
- Gem Lake Top2222m
- Located at the summit of the Gem Lake Express, this Big White webcam showcases stunning panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. Get a bird's-eye perspective of the resort's highest terrain through this live cam that updates every 10 minutes.
- The Cliff2195m
- This Big White webcam offers a look at the resort's most challenging terrain. Positioned high above the resort at The Cliff area, this live cam gives advanced riders a preview of conditions on the expert runs.
- Snow Stake Cam1667m
- Monitor fresh snowfall through this Big White web cam focused on the official snow stake. Updated every 10 minutes, this live cam offers a clear view of snow accumulation, with the plot cleared daily at 4:00pm for accurate tracking.
- TELUS Park1820m
- Keep an eye on conditions at Big White's premier terrain park with this live webcam. Positioned for a perfect view of the TELUS Park features, this web cam lets you check the setup and riding conditions before heading out.
- Easy Street1765m
- Watch beginners perfect their skills through this Big White webcam overlooking the Easy Street learning area. This live cam provides a clear view of the gentle slope leading back to the village, perfect for checking conditions in the beginner zone.
- Snow Ghost1665m
- Get a great view of Big White's premium six-seater chair through this web cam. The Snow Ghost Express webcam lets you monitor lift operations and slope conditions around one of the resort's most popular lifts.
- Village Centre1775m
- Stay connected to the heart of the action with this Big White web cam overlooking the village center. This live camera captures the bustling atmosphere and current conditions in the main village area.
- Black Forest1720m
- Monitor conditions in Big White's famous intermediate zone through this webcam. The Black Forest live cam provides a view of both the lift and surrounding trails, perfect for checking out this popular corner of the resort.
Big White snow cams FAQ
How often do Big White snow cams update?
All Big White snow cams and webcams update every 10 minutes with fresh images showing current mountain conditions. This frequent update schedule ensures you have access to near real-time conditions for planning your ski day at Big White.
Which Big White webcam shows the best powder conditions?
The high-elevation Gem Lake Top webcam at 2,222m provides the clearest view of powder conditions and snowfall. These Big White webcams capture fresh snow accumulation and visibility better than base area cameras.
Can I see Big White lift queues on the webcams?
Yes. Multiple Big White snow cams specifically show lift queue areas and chairlift operations, helping you time your arrival and avoid peak queue periods.
When is the best time to check Big White snow cams?
Check Big White webcams early morning (7-8am) for overnight snowfall assessment, and mid-afternoon for current crowd levels and weather. The live cams are most useful after storm events to assess fresh powder.
How can I check current conditions before buying Big White lift tickets?
Use our Big White webcams alongside the live snow report to assess conditions before purchasing lift tickets. The webcams show real-time visibility, snow quality, and operational status.
Do Big White webcams work on mobile devices?
Yes. All Big White snow cams and webcams are optimized for mobile viewing, so you can check live conditions from anywhere using your phone or tablet.
More Big White intelligence: snow report, lift tickets, trail map, resort overview.