Big White
1,147 hectares, 119 runs near Kelowna. Family-owned since 1985, ski-in ski-out village, Okanagan snow.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
26 Nov 2026
Closes
4 Apr 2027
Days open
129
Annual snow
7.5m
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
7.5m
Annual snow
The Terrain
119 runs across 2,834 acres skiable
Big White spreads 119 runs over roughly 1,147 hectares above Kelowna, dropping 811 metres from the 2,319-metre summit. This is an intermediate mountain first, with 54% of the terrain rated blue, 22% advanced, 18% beginner and just 6% expert. The result is wide, forgiving cruising, much of it among the heavily frosted trees known locally as snow ghosts, with about 7.5 metres of dry snow in a typical season. Skiers hunting extreme lines will find limited challenge, but families and mixed groups can stay together with very little effort.
The Cliff Chair side of the mountain holds the steeper pitches, with runs such as Exhibition delivering the more technical descents, while the alpine bowls above the Powder Chair open into wide, variable-snow skiing. Intermediates gravitate to the Black Forest zone, where blue runs like Serwa's and Kalina's make long, flowing laps. Beginners are well served close to the village, which sits directly on the slopes and keeps the walk to the lifts short. Big White suits families, progressing intermediates and groups of mixed ability who value ski-in access and consistent snow over big steeps.
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 2026 - 2027
26 Nov 2026
Opens
4 Apr 2027
Closes
129
Days open
7.5 m
Annual snow
The record
Historical snowfall at Big White
Daily snow reports at Big White go back to 2025, 2 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.
17 cm
Snowiest day
13 Mar 2026
38 cm
This winter · 2026-27
so far
169 cm
Typical winter
average of complete seasons
Winter totals
cm
Past wintersThis winter
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
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Hotels and lodges near Big White, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
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1 Nov 2026
Big White Snow Report
Snow Report
Updated 12 Nov 2026
2319m
summit
+0cm
new snow · last 24 hours
Overcast-2°C / 0°C · S 21km/h
Snowfall
24 hours
0cm
48 hours
3cm
7 days
9cm
Base depth
10cm
Season total
38cm
Typical winter 169cm
Total lifts15
Live open status isn’t available right now.
26 Nov 2026 - 4 Apr 2027
Hour by Hour
Next 44 hours· Updated Nov 12, 2026 at 6:32 AM
Scroll for the full outlook · Open-Meteo
7-Day Outlook
2,157 mUpdated Nov 12, 2026 at 6:32 AMOpen-Meteo
Days 1–7
7.4cm
Days 8–14
3.6cm
Thu, Nov 12
Overcast
Temp0° / -2°°C
Snow0.0cm
Wind21 km/h S
Live snow from the resort feed; forecast from Open-Meteo, via Supabase.
Understanding the Big White snow report
Track current conditions at Big White in British Columbia. This report covers snowfall totals, base and summit depth, and the forecast across 119 runs.
Snow measurements
Base depth, summit depth, and recent snowfall are the core numbers to watch. At Big White, summit conditions (2319m) can differ noticeably from the base, so we break both out separately rather than showing a single average.
Weather conditions
Snow quality tracks closely with temperature and wind. We surface both alongside the snowfall data so you can judge whether conditions at Big White are holding up or starting to soften.
Data sources
Snowfall and depth figures for Big White come from official mountain sources; weather and outlook data comes from independent forecasting services. The mountain is served by 15 lifts, including 7 quad chairlifts and a 6-person chairlift.
When to check
The biggest swings usually happen right after a storm. Check Big White's report in the morning for the freshest numbers, and again in the afternoon as conditions evolve.