Sun Peaks Resort Guide

We’ve been selling Sun Peaks for over 20 years and our team was there as recently as December 2023. It’s a resort we know inside out, and we can provide plenty of personal recommendations to help you get the most out of your time there.

Based on our decades of experience, we've put together our Sun Peaks Resort Guide covering where to ski, stay, eat and drink, plus the best activities, tips for families and options for learning and developing skills from complete beginners up to backcountry experts.

Sun Peaks' uncrowded ski area offers a mixture of open bowls, steeps and glades on Tod Mountain, beautifully groomed cruisers and a 10 acre terrain park on Sundance Mountain and intermediate glades and expert bump runs on Morrisey. The well-planned trail system means that all abilities can ski down from any lift - ideal for mixed-ability groups.

The 2018 expansion of new lifts and terrain on Mt Morrissey and in the Gil’s area of Mt Tod opened up a further 522 acres, taking the ski area to a grand total of 4,270 acres - second only to Whistler in Canada.

Sun Peaks’ ski area is set to become even more accessible in 2024 with the introduction of a new, high-speed, quad chairlift: the West Bowl Express. The exciting new lift will open up more cruisy groomers for intermediates to enjoy on Tod Mountain from the start of winter 2024/25. The lift capacity is now 14,000 skiers per hour, and with a bed base at just over 7,000, you can be confident of fresh tracks and virtually no lift lines across its three mountains.

If it’s your first time clicking into skis or strapping into a snowboard, you’ll start leaning at the base of Sundance. This ski area neighbours MT. Tod and the learner area, located next to the Sundance Express chairlift, is complete with a magic carpet and short platter lift. The runs at the base have been cherry-picked for beginners. However, it’s not all perfecting pizza turns here.

Sundance is also decorated with a number of cracking blue runs positioned neatly between the trees. The Sun Downer and Sundance are gorgeous groomers. We have a strong suspicion you’ll be lapping more than a few times as both of them lead straight back to the Sundance Express chairlift.

There’s a big theme of progression on Sundance, especially for intermediates. Turns are forced to become quick and efficient when whizzing through the vast stashes of powder nestled between the trees on ‘Peak-a-Boo’.

Sundance is also home to a whopping 10 acre terrain park, which is split into three distinctive areas and boasts 45 finely-tuned features. The best way for freestylers to reach the terrain park is to catch the Sundance Express quad chairlift. The 10 acre park is progressive and the further you go down from the ‘Basic Training’ area, you’ll reach ‘Flight School’ and eventually the ‘Drop Zone’ - the park's advanced section. This is a really fun park to spend all day lapping!

Tod is home to (quite literally) miles of quiet motorway greens, challenging double black diamond bowls and everything in between. Tod’s extensive network of runs can be daunting at first glance, but it’s an area that's easy to navigate. There are four quad chairlifts providing access to Tod’s terrain.

First up is the Sunburst Express quad chairlift, located at the heart of Sun Peaks outside the Village Day Lodge. The lift whisks you up to an area with a handful of broad blue runs to lap - perfect for intermediates finding their ski legs again.

Once you’re warmed up and in the swing of things again, we recommend peeling off in the opposite direction, where you’ll find many exhilarating black diamond runs for you to test your mettle. The Elevevation Quad chairlift is on hand to provide a swift ride back up if you find yourself hooked on these runs. To unlock more open bowls, steeps and glades, ski down Trans Canada and catch the Crystal quad chairlift.

The Crystal Chairlift is the lift you’ll need to take to access the ‘Top of the World’, Crystal Bowl and the legendary Gil’s Glades. If you’re a confident intermediate aiming to progress, you’ll have a blast in this steep section of Tod Mountain’s ski area. The Crystal chairlift is also a route to reach the top of the famous ‘5 Mile’ beginner run. This is the longest ski run in the resort and gently guides you from the top of Tod back down to the Village Day Lodge at the base of Sun Peaks. The iconic ‘5 Mile’ run is also accessible by taking the Burfield lift.

The Burfield chairlift is another quad chairlift providing a swift and more direct route to the top of Tod Mountain from Burfield base. If 5 Mile sounds a bit tame for you, a range of heart-racing bowls, ridges and steeps are waiting for you up here as well.

From the village base, it’s a short walk or ski down the Nordic Ski Trails to the bottom of the East Village where you can hop on the Morrisey Express quad chair lift. However, the most popular choice for skiers is taking the Morrisey Platter lift and then skiing down Anticipation, which leads to the Morrissey Express.

Morrisey offers more diverse terrain. Budding beginners and apprehensive intermediates can progress and gain confidence quickly on The Sticks green run. It’s blissfully quiet and the length of it means you’ll have time to build your skills without abruptly reaching the end of the run and needing to catch a lift back to the top.

For those who are more confident, there is testing terrain to be found with long groomers and a handful of black diamonds and double black diamonds to be found on the east side of Morrisey.

Beginner - 5 Mile, The Sticks, Rambler

Intermediate - Still Smokin’, Mid-life Crisis, Cruiser

Advanced - Crystal Bowl, Spillway, Juniper Ridge

Expert - Offset, Chute, Main Face

Want to know more of our favourite runs in Sun Peaks? Discover our favourite runs in Sun Peaks.

If Canada’s second-largest ski area isn’t enough terrain for you, why not combine it with Canada’s largest ski area on our Whistler Peaks Ski Safari. On this, one of our longest-running ski safaris, you’ll have non-stop skiing entertainment across 13,021 acres of varied terrain and enjoy the contrast of a cosy ski village (Sun Peaks) and the mega resort of Whistler.

Alternatively, if you want to maximise your ski time and experience some of Canada’s best all-ability terrain, with family-friendly slopes, perfect powder and adventurous après activities, our Okanagan Explorer Ski Safari would be an excellent choice. This adventure combines Sun Peaks with Big White and Silver Star on one epic road trip, which is suitable for mixed-ability couples and groups.

One aspect that makes Sun Peaks such an appealing destination is its legendary ski-throug village. Starting from the upper village, you can slide past Sun Peaks’ shops, bars and restaurants until you reach the Sundance chairlift. The ski-through village becomes very handy when picking up and dropping off rental equipment at Elevation or Sun Peaks Rentals.

As well as its ski-through village, Sun Peaks is also renowned for its ski-in ski-out convenience. Our top recommendation for a more luxurious ski-in ski-out stay would be the 4* Sun Peaks Grand Hotel. Located in the heart of Sun Peaks, you’ll have a ski-in ski-out via the pedestrian village. The rooms are modern and large, plus you'll find everything you need on site, including a spa, hot tubs and heated pools that overlook the slopes.

If you’re working with a budget but still looking for doorstep skiing, you can’t go wrong with 3*+ Nancy Greene’s Cahilty Lodge. It’s a true skier's lodge and the property offers indoor and outdoor hot tubs for resting weary legs.

If you prefer the feeling of getting away from it all, the 3*+ Hearthstone Lodge is located at the base of Tod Mountain and you can ski back to them at the end of the day. This boutique-style ski lodge is a great value self-catering option and the three room types on offer are comfortable and cater to a range of group sizes.

With a ski-through village centre and a high percentage of ski-in ski-out accommodation, we think the best way to get around Sun Peaks is… to ski! The resort does provide a regular shuttle service around town. However, everything is easily walkable, so you should rarely need to use it. Bearing all this in mind, there’s no need to rent a car, unless you’ve opted for our Okanagan Explorer Ski Safari!

Sun Peaks has more than 20 diverse and unique bars and restaurants serving up authentic Canadian dishes. From grab-and-go poutine to elk wellington and bison burgers at the Voyageur Bistro, you will find something to satisfy any palette. Our top recommendations include Cahilty Creek Kitchen & Taproom with 16 taps and local craft beers or The Steakhouse at the Sun Peaks Lodge offering house cuts of 100% Canadian beef and the Mountain of Ribs!

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, even more important when you're fuelling up for a day on the slopes. Here are a couple of our favourites.

Bolacco Café - our favourite for a grab-and-go coffee and breakfast. Be sure to try the hot banana bread.

Tod Mountain Café -  another great option for bagels, muffins and wraps. We recommended a cup of 'tighten your boots', a coffee bean created exclusively for Tod Mountain Café.

Sunburst Bar + Eatery - located at mid-mountain near the top of the Sunburst Express chairlift. The cinnamon buns are well renowned and baked fresh daily!

Oya Restaurant - for all the sushi lovers, fantastic Japanese cuisine

Joe Poutine - a Canadian staple, also serving hot dogs and ice cream. Gluten free, vegetarian and vegan options are available.

Mountain High Pizza - it’s possible to grab pizza by the slice here, but most opt for getting a whole one to take away as it’s that good! Delivery is also available here.

Bottoms Bar & Grill - a Ski Safari favourite and dubbed as ‘the locals living room’ with good food, excellent beer and a lively atmosphere.

Morrisey’s Public House - an Irish bar that is always popular with the locals.

The Cahilty Creek Kitchen & Tap Room - the perfect place to stop for a slopeside drink on the way home.

Mantles Restaurant & Lounge - great for happy hour with discounted drinks

If clubbing is high on your priority list on a skiing holiday, we would suggest you steer clear of Sun Peaks. That being said, there’s a lively atmosphere throughout the evening in the previously mentioned Bottoms Bar & Grill. For a fantastic choice of beer and drinks, we have a couple of suggestions.

Cahilty Creek Kitchen & Taproom - Featuring 16 taps of great tasting craft beer and a classic food menu for every time of day.

Masa’s Bar and Grill - provides the largest draft beer selection in Sun Peaks with 20 drafts on tap. The daily specials here are also excellent.

For a full list of places to eat and drink, please see the Sun Peaks Dining Guide.

Bluebird Market in the Sun Peaks Grand Residences is the main grocery store in the resort and has everything you could need. Alternatively, you can use Sun Peaks Cargo Grocery Delivery Service, giving you the chance to enjoy your holiday without the hassle of having to shop. They'll pick up your shopping from Kamloops and deliver it to your door.

Sun Peaks offers an abundance of winter activities and there’s plenty of choice to keep the family entertained. Don’t forget to check out one of their signature events while you’re there: the annual Sun Peaks Winter Okanagan Wine Festival, Skiing with Santa, and the New Year's Eve fireworks are some of our favourites.

With so many popular activities going on each week, which are accessible from the village, we recommend booking these in advance, something we can help you with at the time of booking.

Sun Peaks Spa - the ultimate way to relax and it’s in the heart of the village nestled in the Sun Peaks Residents. Nothing beats a massage after a solid day of skiing!

Dog sled tours - view the breathtaking Canadian backcountry with your new furry best friends pulling you through the snow.

Alpine fondue dinner and starlight descent - after the slopes have quieted and the mountain in the evening, you’ll ride the Sunburst Express chairlift to the Sunburst Bar + Eatery where you then feast on fondue.

Ice skating - located just a short walk from the village centre is the NHL-sized ice rink.

Kamloops Blazers hockey games - a truly unique experience that’s available on select Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Yoga - offering a wide range of classes including Yin, Nidra, Hatha, Vinyasa, Pain Care, Prenatal, Baby and Me and Kids Yoga

Guided ice fishing tours - enjoy the winter sunrise, some mid-day blue skies or a stunning sunset out on the hard water on a fully guided ice fishing adventure.

Snowmobile tours - drive your own snowmobile into the enchanting Sun Peaks backcountry, where you'll conquer an array of exhilarating trails.

Heli-skiing - If you’re a confident skier or boarder, this is the experience of a lifetime as you discover some of the most pristine and breathtaking mountain terrain in the world.

Scenic helicopter tours - take a 12-minute flight with spectacular bird-eye views of Sun Peaks’ beautiful backcountry.

Snowshoe rental and tours - explore the extensive snowshoe trail system on foot. If hiking in the UK is one of your pastimes, this will be like nothing you’ve experienced before.

Tube park - accessed via the carpet lift located beside the Village Platter Lift, this is enormous amounts of fun for adults and children aged 3+.

Fat biking - enjoy the fresh mountain air and beautiful surroundings on two (chunky) wheels. Roll through easy routes such as the Valley Trail network or for a longer ride, pedal along the designated fat bike loop.

Snow Limo tours - you just need to sit and your personal ‘chauffeur’ does the rest. This gliding experience is accessible to everyone and it’s an excellent option for non-skiers to enjoy all the mountain has to offer.

Axe throwing - hop on a short shuttle ride from Sun Peaks village and learn how to hurl some axes! Once you’ve mastered the basics, your instructor will organise a variety of fun games!

Horse drawn sleigh rides - experience a fairytale moment of being whisked through a winter wonderland on a horse drawn sleigh. A true family favourite.

Tod Mountain Home Leisure indoor golf - golfers can scratch their golfing itch even on a ski holiday with an indoor golf simulator!

Toboggan area - complimentary and lit through the evening, the area gives families a place to get together and let the kids expend their last bits of energy from the day.

Murder mystery games - step into the role of either suspect or murderer in this unique murder-mystery roleplaying game. Games start daily from 7pm.

We can book many of these activities directly for you - speak to your tour coordinator or call us on 01273 224063.

Sun Peaks is a fantastic choice for families. Not only does the compact layout of the village mean it’s easy to get around with little ones, but it also plays host to a childcare centre and lots of family-friendly activities.

Sundance Kids Centre - It can be a challenge to ski and explore Sun Peaks’ vast amount of terrain with a little one with you. So, whilst you spend a few hours swooshing down the more challenging pistes or perfecting your technique at your ski lesson, the Sundance Kids Centre can look after and entertain your child with a mixture of indoor play and outdoor activities. The kids centre offers daily childcare for children from 3-5 years old from 8.30am to 3.30pm. Childminding can also be combined with a one or two-hour long ski lesson throughout the day - this lesson is called ‘Tots Private Lesson with Daycare’.

Kids’ ski lessons - the Sun Peaks Sports School offers private ski and snowboard lessons for kids from three years, with group lessons for skiing from age six and snowboarding from age eight. As previously mentioned, this can be worked in with childminding, if not, children will need to be picked up for lunch. Adults will need to check their children into the Sports School located in the Village Day Lodge at the base of the Sunburst and Sundance lifts. Following check-in, the meeting area for all lessons is just around the corner from the Sports School office and right at the base of the beginner area.

Children from the age of six upwards have the option of full or half day lessons. If it’s your child’s first time or they’re still getting used to the slopes, we recommend the ‘Kids Learn to Ski/Snowboard Lessons - First Timers & Next Step’ lessons which run daily. There’s even the option of freestyle lessons in Sun Peaks’ terrain park. This is called the Park Posse private freestyle lesson.

Teens’ ski lessons - If your child is between the ages of 13 and 15, Sun Peaks offers the option of a Teen Holiday Programme. These are two-hour lessons for intermediate and advanced ability teens which are spread over five days to improve technique in a fun, social environment. 

With such a wide variety of private and group lessons available, we recommend checking out Sun Peaks’ lessons, camps & programs or consulting with one of our team for the best option.

Whether the skiing doesn’t work out or you need more on-slope fun, Sun Peaks has a huge range of child-focused activities to up the excitement. Here are some of the most popular options for families:

• Dog sled tours
• Nordic Skiing
• Guided ice fishing
• Horse drawn sleigh ride
• Ice Skating
• Snowshoe tours

A skiing lesson doesn't just help you improve your technique, it's also a great way to find secret stashes of powder on the mountain with experienced instructors.

Sun Peaks offers a wide range of private and group lessons for all ages and abilities with the Sun Peaks Sports School. We always suggest a lesson, whether you’re learning your first turns, brushing up on your carving skills or perfecting your powder technique.

All lessons require you to check in at the Snow Sports School, located in the Village Day Lodge at the base of the Sunburst and Sundance chairlifts. This is also where you pick up your rental equipment. Once checked in, the lessons meet around the corner from the Village Day Lodge in the beginner area.

Private lessons - available to book in 6-hour, 4-hour and 2-hour slots, all running from 9am onwards. This is the quickest way to level up your skiing or snowboarding ability. Confident intermediate and advanced skiers will want to take advantage of the first tracks private lesson for fresh tracks!

Group lessons - if you’re just starting out your skiing or snowboarding journey for the first time, the learn to ski/snowboard lessons are an excellent choice. These can be half or full-day lessons and run daily.

If you’re a bit more advanced than a complete beginner, the next step group lessons are for you. These are either 2 or 4-hour lessons and also run daily.

For confident skiers, cruise the blues and performance lessons are perfect for taking your skiing and riding to the next level.

With such a wide variety of private and group lessons available, including a ladies clinic and a Nifty Fifty group (skiing for those 50+), we recommend checking out Sun Peaks’ lessons, camps & programs or consulting with one of our team for the best option to suit your ability.

Former Olympic champion Nancy Greene is great company and you'll get both a great orientation of the mountains and learn more about Sun Peaks from a local celebrity. It's free and suitable for all skill levels. Tours usually depart Sunday, Monday and Wednesday from the top of the Sunburst chairlift at 1pm. It's free and suitable for confident skiers.

Take advantage of the superb terrain and ski like a local, with a local! Complimentary tours hosted by volunteers who call Sun Peaks home run twice daily at 9.15am and 1pm from the slopeside between the Sunburst chairlift and the Village Day Lodge. Skiers and boarders wishing to take part must at least be able to ski or ride green runs with confidence, making strong parallel turns. These tours are a fantastic introduction to skiing in the resort, complete with invaluable local knowledge.

Sun Peaks has a legendary backcountry. Why not explore it with a professional guide? Intermediate and advanced skiers and snowboarders can learn the safest routes, best lines and pick up local secrets while improving their technique.

Where is Sun Peaks?

Sun Peaks is located in the south east of British Columbia, a 45 minute drive from Kamloops Airport.

How to get there from the UK?

The easiest route to fly to Vancouver is from London Heathrow (approx. 9 hours 30 mins), then you’ll need to catch a connecting flight from Vancouver into Kamloops (approx. 45 minutes). From Kamloops you could rent a car, but it's worth noting Sun Peaks offers a great shuttle service which will get you into the resort in around 45 minutes and allows the whole party to soak up the scenery upon arrival. This can be booked in advance.

What is the closest airport to Sun Peaks?

Kamloops is the closest airport. However, there aren’t direct flights from the UK. The closest international airport is Vancouver.

How do you get to Sun Peaks from Kamloops?

The drive time from Kamloops to Sun Peaks is only 45-minutes and there’s some stunning scenery to take in whilst you travel. You can hire a car at Kamloops airport, but the shared transfer is so easy and cost-effective, it’s much more enjoyable to take this option.

When does Sun Peaks open for skiing?

Sun Peaks usually opens around mid to late November depending on the snowfall, but early season conditions can carry into mid December.

When does the ski season end in Sun Peaks?

The resort usually closes at the end of April in preparation for their upcoming summer mountain biking season.

What is there to do in Sun Peaks if you don’t ski?

Some would see Sun Peaks as a relatively small town, but the main village centre is packed with shops and restaurants. Couple this with the cosy European ski resort vibe and it’s easy to wander around and fill your days if you aren’t skiing. 

The resort also boasts plenty of activities to take part in; from axe throwing to ice skating, there is something for everyone in Sun Peaks.

How high is Sun Peaks?

The highest summit is located on Tod Mountain at 7,060 ft. Next up is Sundance, which peaks at 5,676 ft and then Morrisey sits at the lowest elevation of 5,495 ft. The village is based at 4,117 ft which gives you a good idea of the amount of vertical at the resort given that most of the hotels are ski in ski out.

Time zone?

Sun Peaks sits in British Columbia, so it operates on PST/PDT, eight hours behind the UK.

Do you need a car?

A car is definitely not essential. Sun Peaks offers a great airport transfer service and has some complimentary, reliable, regular shuttles that ferry you around the village. It's worth noting that the service is split into two shifts; 8am to 4.10pm and 5.40pm to 9.40pm (December to April).