FREESKIER On Location: Sun Peaks

FREESKIER goes north of the border to scope out one of British Columbia’s biggest and best kept secrets

One of Canada’s largest ski areas is hiding in plain sight. Sun Peaks Resort boasts the second most terrain in the country, but is oft overlooked for other stops on the iconic Powder Highway. In mid-January, FREESKIER made the trip North to see, first-hand, what this low-key resort had to offer. We found a bounty of terrain, a quaint, snow-covered base area, an assortment of hotels, bars and restaurants, and welcoming locals. Our local guide, Jan Glowcyzski, showed us the goods in Gil’s, led us to some of his favorite stashes in the trees and even hit the jump line in the top-to-bottom terrain park alongside Icelantic’s Scotty VerMerris. But the most important thing we learned about Sun Peaks wasn’t that is offers epic terrain or that it’s marked by a quaint, European-style base village—it was that this place is worth a visit.

If you’re keen on planning a trip to Sun Peaks Resort this season, here are a few things to keep in mind…

For folks traveling from the United States to Canada, there are still additional travel protocols. Yes, the borders are open, but make sure you get a Covid test scheduled and results back in the allotted timeframe to ensure smooth sailing into British Columbia.

At Sun Peaks you’ll find a European-style base village with snow covered streets. For the easiest access to the chairlift every morning, consider staying right in the village at one of the six hotels, or choose from an array of condos, chalets and suites if you’re feeling a bit fancy.

Sun Peaks is the second largest ski area in Canada. If you’re willing to hike for your turns, hit up Gil’s—the highest point on the mountain—with access to sweeping bowl skiing and epic views. Once you take a lap (or two) there, explore the rest of Sun Peaks’ 4,290 acres of terrain that features a bounty of glades, groomers and a top-to-bottom terrain park.

Don’t be alarmed if you see a bunch of youngins’ romping around the mountain without parental supervision. At Sun Peaks, kids in Kindergarten through 9th Grade go to school on the mountain. The daily commute to class even involves a chairlift ride to mid-mountain.

Need a coffee break? Hit up the Bolacco Café for your early morning caffeine fix and Polish pastries. Once you’re done skiing and want to grab a cold one, head over to Bottoms Bar & Grill for a selection of pub fare and frothy Canadian lagers.

With its quaint base village that lets you ski straight from the lift to your hotel, a bounty of terrain to explore and a laid-back local vibe, Sun Peaks is an ideal getaway set away from the rest of the mainstays on the Powder Highway. Shake things up on your next Canadian adventure with a trip to Sun Peaks and enjoy a side of British Columbia you didn’t even know existed.