WINTER WHAT’S NEW AT SILVER STAR, B.C.
Under the radar resort welcomes guests to live like locals and embark on snowy adventures from their slopeside village
SILVER STAR, B.C. October 5, 2023 - This winter, discover Silver Star, a quaint and colourful ski-in/ski-out village perched on the slopes of SilverStar Mountain Resort in British Columbia's Monashee Mountains. In addition to 3,200 acres of terrain blessed with over 700 centimetres (almost 23 feet) of natural snow on average per season, Silver Star offers snowy adventures galore. Explore the wilderness from Sovereign Lake, a world-class Nordic facility on the resort's doorstep, fat tire biking, snowshoeing, ice skating on a natural pond, snowcat adventures, and a roster of special events, athletic competitions and cultural celebrations throughout the entire winter season.
“Guests to Silver Star find friendly faces, warm-hearted welcomes, and stories as abundant as the snowflakes. What makes this place so memorable for our guests is the sense of belonging they feel when they immerse themselves in it,” says Cassandra Zebleski, Executive Director of Destination Silver Star. “Silver Star is a spectacular winter destination with much to explore on and off the slopes. There’s a reason Canadian ski pioneers, Olympians, and world champions across the globe call Silver Star home. And this winter, we have a lot of exciting updates to look forward to, not to mention a packed events calendar.”
Flurries of flights to Silver Star
National and international destination guests can easily travel to Silver Star this winter. Kelowna International Airport (YLW) is the gateway to this snowy paradise, located within an hour's drive from the lifts of Silver Star. YLW welcomes a flurry of flights daily throughout the winter, with lift offered daily through the winter from cities including Vancouver, Nanaimo, Seattle, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, and Montreal. See Kelowna International Airport's website's complete list of origin airports and carriers for more information. Once skiers and snowboarders touch down in Kelowna, a rental car or daily and frequent shuttles are options to get to Silver Star.
SilverStar Mountain Resort doubles gondola's uphill capacity
In 2017, SilverStar Mountain Resort replaced a fixed grip double chair with the Des Schumann Summit Express, a high-speed detachable eight-passenger gondola. The initial installation featured 21 cabins, and this winter, the resort will add 21 more cabins to double the uphill capacity - reaching the gondola's total capacity of 2,400 riders per hour.
Culinary what’s new
The Spice House is Silver Star’s newest restaurant, set to open this winter. This new eatery promises to warm the hearts and palates of locals and visitors this winter. This new Indian fusion restaurant is poised to add to the global flavours already found at the Bulldog Grand Cafe.
Silver Star’s mountainside restaurants and eateries take inspiration from the surrounding wine country and rich farmland to craft unique menus. Indulge in authentic European pastries at Bugaboos Bakery Cafe, a fresh, wood-fired sourdough slice from Pizza Gratta, lively family-friend après at Long John's Pub or sample signature cocktails and tasting plates at Black Pine Social. Meanwhile, SilverStar Mountain Resort’s culinary team will dream up innovative dishes for various restaurants, including The Den and Red Antler.
More grooming equipment
SilverStar Mountain Resort will welcome two groomers to its fleet. The new machines will support terrain park maintenance, enhance natural terrain features and create more flawless corduroy runs.
Perks of the pass
New Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) gates will scan all passes and tickets, eliminating the need to take out the ticket to get checked at the lifts.
SilverStar Mountain Resort's amazing MY1PASS is the industry's best all-inclusive ticket, providing access to seven activities: downhill skiing, cross-country skiing (XC), night skiing, tubing, snowshoeing, skating and fat biking. This all-inclusive access is included on the day ticket as well as the season pass, offering fantastic value for unlimited winter adventure.
SilverStar is also continuing its relationships with other mountains in the area - the pass will include two free ski days at Sun Peaks and Apex and Whitewater Ski Resort, 25% off lift tickets at additional partner resorts, mountain discounts including lessons and food and beverage, and access to seven mountain activities based in Silver Star. The included mountain activities are night skiing, tubing, ice skating, access to all cross-country, snowshow and fat bike trails as well as guided tours with mountain hosts.
Explore North America’s most expansive cross-country trail network
Discover 105km of Nordic trails connecting the top of SilverStar Mountain Resort to Sovereign Lake in the subalpine below. Nordic skiers can progress skills while exploring the largest continuous groomed cross-country trail network and rub shoulders with elite athletes at these two industry-leading Nordic venues. The area has a reputation for being one of North America’s top Nordic skiing destinations on the international circuit and is the most expansive cross-country trail network on the continent.
A dream destination for family fun
Silver Star is a dream for family ski vacations. From the colourful storybook village to an easygoing vibe on the mountain with fewer crowds and mellow frontside terrain, families can explore at their own pace. Once the lifts stop spinning, the adventure continues into the evening with tubing at Tube Town, skating on Brewer’s Pond (a 2.5-acre natural ice rink), s’mores around the community fire pit and mini snowmobiling. Silver Star is home to uniquely themed family-friendly dining establishments, ranging from grab-and-go eateries to sit-down meals with kids’ menus. Plus, ski-in/ski-out accommodation makes getting on and off the slopes a dream for parents.
Four-legged family members welcome
Silver Star is proud to be pet-friendly with a variety of accommodation options and trails that let dogs get outside to play in the snow with their family. Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre offers 16km of multi-use, dog-friendly trails on Zuma’s while some free, dog-friendly snowshoeing trails can be found in Silver Star Provincial Park.
Silver Star Winter Events Highlights:
November TBD, 2023 - SilverStar Mountain Resort’s Official Opening Day
The season will kick off with an early-as-possible opening scheduled for November, contingent on Mother Nature!
December 9 - Silver Star Light Up
Kick off winter with an illuminating and festive celebration at the annual Silver Star Light Up. This year's event features fireworks, fire dancers, the Polson Artisan Christmas market and more.
January 13-14, 2024 - Silver Star Arts & Culture Festival
Discover the depth and talents of Silver Star’s creative community with a festival to showcase and celebrate their art, all inspired by the place they call home.
February 2-11 - Winter Carnival
Celebrate winter in the heart of the season with a variety of festivities, special events and activations, including Canada’s longest-standing recreational downhill event, the Over The Hill Downhill (Feb 2-3), the BC Snow Sculpture Competition (Feb 3-5) and the Fat Shoe Duathlon, an evening Fat Bike/Snowshoe race at Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre (Feb TBA).
March TBA - SEISMIC Festival
March is for celebrating sport, mountain culture, and community. The SEISMIC Festival brings the community together to experience unforgettable moments on the slopes before the winter ski season ends in mid-April.
March TBA - Pride Celebrations
Pride events will be announced to celebrate supportive and inclusive environments, on and off the snow, in partnership with the Vernon Pride Society.
March 30 - Skijoring Event
In partnership with Pooch Partners, Sovereign Lake Nordic Club will host a skijoring event for dog/human teams. As the first event, 25 teams will test their mettle and teamwork on Sovereign Lake's iconic trails.
April 6-7 - Sovereign2SilverStar Ski Marathon
Sovereign Lake Nordic Club and SilverStar Mountain Resort have teamed up again to present the Sovereign2SilverStar Ski Marathon, now in its third season. With over 600 participants and 800 entries over the event’s two days, this is Canada’s third largest loppet and the biggest in B.C. This point-to-party event has two of everything: two days (classic and skate), two distances each day (40km and 21km), and two ski areas (starting at Sovereign Lake and finishing at Silver Star).
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Centrally located in the heart of B.C.’s Okanagan Valley rests Silver Star Mountain in the Monashee Mountain Range. The vibrant village is a beacon for adventure in the mountains, and the people are its heart and soul. Big ideas and boundless energy inspired by the “Silver Queen” mine and the first ski turns in the early 1930s. Nearly a century later, the same spirit is championing a thriving destination resort on the cusp of its next chapter. Founded in 2021, Destination Silver Star is a not-for-profit, membership-based organization representing accommodations, attractions, restaurants, retail, and homeowners.
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