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    British Columbia, Canada

    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
    MF
    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

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    Hotels and lodges near Big White, powered by Stay22.

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    Trail map & terrain

    Big White trail map↓ Download PDF
    Terrain split
    119
    runs
    Beginner18%
    Intermediate54%
    Advanced22%
    Expert6%
    2,834 acres skiable1,147 hectares
    Resort Stats
    Elevation
    Base1508m
    Summit2319m
    Annual snowfall
    8m
    Season
    2025 - 2026
    28 Nov 2025 - 5 Apr 2026
    Trail coverage
    119 runs
    2,834 acres (1,147 ha)

    Big White ski trails

    Big White offers 119 runs across a mix of difficulties. The terrain split and trail map here show how the mountain breaks down so you can plan a day that suits your group.
    • • Match runs to your ability - the terrain split shows how much of Big White is beginner, intermediate and advanced.
    • • Check grooming and open-run status against the live conditions before committing to the upper mountain.
    • • Early season and after fresh snow, favour the lifts serving your preferred grade to make the most of the day.

    More Big White intelligence: trail map, lift system, resort overview.