Sean Phillips, REALTOR® · Coldwell Banker Executives Realty, Vernon BC · Know the mountain
Big White trail guide and ski-day planner
Big White is big: 119 named runs, 16 lifts and about 2,800 acres. Here’s how the mountain fits together, the best runs for every level (including Sean’s in-between Special Tours), how to get back to your accommodation, and a planner that builds a day around your family.
Updated September 2026 · by Sean Phillips, REALTOR®
Plan your day in 10 seconds. Pick your level, where you’re staying and the kind of day it is. The planner builds a morning-to-last-run plan with lifts, runs and a lunch stop. Jump to the planner ↓
End of the day: “How do we get back to our place?” It’s the number-one question mountain hosts hear. Find your accommodation’s way home ↓
The big picture
How Big White fits together
Think of Big White as five zones spread across one wide mountain, with the ski-in/ski-out village in the middle.
- The front side (Ridge Rocket and Snow Ghost Express). Two high-speed chairs from the Ridge Day Lodge, next to Snow Pines. Lots of blue cruisers, a few steep blacks, and easy ways back to the village.
- The village lifts (Bullet Express, Plaza Chair, TELUS Park). Right out of the Village Centre. Sun Run and the gentle lower runs are here, and so is most of the night skiing.
- The east side (Black Forest Express). Rolling blue runs and long greens above Feathertop and the Black Forest Day Lodge. A favourite for cruising.
- The alpine (Alpine T-Bar and Cliff Chair). Above the trees near the 2,319 m summit. Big views and Highway 33 for greens; the Cliff Chair serves the resort’s steepest terrain.
- The west side (Powder Chair, Falcon Chair and Gem Lake Express). The most varied terrain on the mountain: glades, long blacks and wide blues, with the Gem Lake Warming Hut at the bottom. Gem Lake is a trip, so leave time to get home.
Families starting out use the Happy Valley learning area, with its own beginner lifts (Tiny Tracks, Moose Mover, Frosty Flyer and the new covered Polar Passage). Lara’s Gondola links Happy Valley and the Village, including into the evening.
Lift cheat sheet
Which lift goes where
| Lift | Where it starts | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Bullet Express | Village Centre | Greens and blues: Sun Run, Kyle’s, Spruce Trail, Ally Oop, International |
| Plaza Chair | Below the Village, near Ridge Day Lodge | First real runs: Hummingbird, Whoop Dee Doo, Loose Moose Lodge; night skiing |
| Ridge Rocket Express | Ridge Day Lodge | Blue cruisers and greens (Serwa’s, Sleepy Hollow, Rocket Easy Out) |
| Snow Ghost Express | Ridge Day Lodge | Blues and blacks on the front side: Exhibition, Paradise, Dragon’s Tongue |
| Black Forest Express | Black Forest Day Lodge / Feathertop | Long greens (Millie’s Mile, Sundance) and east-side blues |
| Alpine T-Bar | Mid-mountain | Near-summit access: Highway 33 (green), Camel’s Back (black) |
| Cliff Chair | Near Rhonda Lake, below the summit | Experts only: The Cliff, Pegasus, Parachute Bowl |
| Powder Chair | West side, by the lake | Blacks and glades: The General, Flagpole, Shakey Knees; blue Powder Keg |
| Falcon Chair | West side | Upper west blues and the way over to Gem Lake |
| Gem Lake Express | Gem Lake Warming Hut | Big west-side vertical: long blues and blacks, glades |
| TELUS Park Chair | Above the Village | Terrain park laps |
| Lara’s Gondola | Happy Valley | Getting between Happy Valley and the Village |
Lift and run names from Big White’s 2026–27 trail map. Lifts open and close with weather and season; check the resort’s lift and grooming reports on the day.
When things run
Season dates, lift hours and night skiing
- 2026–27 season: opens Thursday, November 26, 2026, and closes Sunday, April 4, 2027.
- Night skiing: on the Bullet Express and Plaza Chair, plus the TELUS Park.
- Getting around the village for free: Lara’s Gondola (Happy Valley to the Village) and the on-mountain shuttle are both free.
- Daily lift, gondola and shuttle times: Big White posts these by lift and day once the season starts. Check its hours of operation page before you plan your last run, especially if you’re skiing out at Gem Lake.
Resort Services: 250-491-6111 or 1-888-663-6882.
Last run of the day
How do I get back to my accommodation?
Choose where you’re staying to see the easiest ski route home, a quicker route for stronger skiers, and a backup if you’d rather not ski it.
The golden rule: when in doubt, ski green runs back to the Village Centre. From there, the on-mountain shuttle, the three walking trails (to Snow Pines, Happy Valley and Feathertop) and Lara’s Gondola (Village to Happy Valley) connect every area. Out at Gem Lake late in the day? The Gem Lake Express is your only way back, so check when the last chair runs.
These routes are a planning guide. Buildings in the same area can have different access, so confirm the route to your door with your property manager or a Snow Host.
Custom itinerary
Build your Big White ski day
Choose your group’s level (go with the least confident skier), where you’re staying and the conditions. Your plan appears below.
A suggestion, not a guarantee: runs, lifts and grooming change daily. Ski within your ability and follow the Alpine Responsibility Code. Ski Patrol: 250-491-6160.
Beginner
A great day for green skiers
First day ever? Start in the Happy Valley learning area on Tiny Tracks, Moose Mover and the covered Polar Passage, then move up to the Plaza Chair.
- Warm up on the Plaza Chair: Hummingbird and Whoop Dee Doo are short and gentle, and kids love the Loose Moose Lodge adventure trail.
- Bullet Express to Sun Run: a long, easy cruiser back to the Village. Kyle’s is another green nearby.
- Black Forest Express: Millie’s Mile and Sundance are long, wide and quiet, with Shortcut linking back across.
- Ridge Rocket Express: Serwa’s and Sleepy Hollow wind down to the Ridge Day Lodge.
- The big finish: once you’re steady, take the Alpine T-Bar and ski Highway 33 from near the summit, a green with alpine views. (T-bars take a little practice, so ask a liftie if it’s your first.)
Watch for: the “Easy Out” runs (Rocket, Powder, T-Bar and Falcon Easy Out) are your green escape routes from higher lifts.
Between levels
Sean’s Special Tours: for skiers between levels
Trail colours jump in big steps, and most skiers spend a season or two between them: confident on one colour but not quite ready for the next. These two tours are for that stage.
Baby blue: strong greens and first blues
For skiers who’ve mastered the greens and want a little more pitch without surprises.
- Warm up on Sun Run off the Bullet Express, then Millie’s Mile and Sundance off the Black Forest Express.
- Ski the long green from the top: take the Alpine T-Bar and ski Highway 33. The length builds stamina.
- Try your first blues: Black Forest cruisers such as Cougar Alley and Bear’s Paw, early in the day while they’re freshly groomed.
- In the afternoon, repeat your favourite blue rather than trying a new one. Tired legs are when falls happen.
Navy blue: strong blues and first blacks
For skiers who cruise every blue and are eyeing the black diamonds.
- Warm up on Ridge Rocket blues: Upper Distributor into Roller Coaster or Speculation.
- Step up the pitch on Powder Keg and Powder Gulch off the Powder Chair, and International and Mervyn’s off the Bullet.
- For your first black, pick one that was groomed overnight (check the grooming report). A groomed black is the gentlest introduction.
- Finish at Gem Lake on blues such as Blue Sapphire and Kalina’s Rainbow, which give you long, sustained runs.
Sean’s Special Tours are self-guided suggestions. Grooming and conditions change daily, so ski within your ability.
Intermediate
A big day for blue skiers
- Warm up on the Bullet Express: Spruce Trail, Ally Oop and Secret.
- Cruise the Black Forest Express: Cougar Alley, Whiskey Jack, Herbert’s Hollow, Bear’s Paw and Cliff Ski Out are some of the most enjoyable blues on the mountain.
- Lap the Ridge Rocket Express: Upper Distributor into Kangaroo, Roller Coaster, Speculation, Perfection or Born to Run.
- Afternoon at Gem Lake: head west through the Powder or Falcon area, drop down Blue Sapphire or Kalina’s Rainbow, then lap the Gem Lake Express on Blue Ribbon, Moonlight Run, Mustang Sally, Snowy and Blue Moon. Grab something at the Gem Lake Warming Hut.
- Getting home: leave plenty of time to get back from Gem Lake, and check when the last chair runs.
Ready to test yourself? Powder Keg and Powder Gulch off the Powder Chair are good stepping stones, and the Ogopogo Trail off the Bullet is a fun blue for kids.
Advanced
Black runs and glades
- Warm up on Ridge Rocket blues.
- Snow Ghost Express: Dragon’s Tongue, Goat’s Kick and Piece of Cake, plus Paradise Glades between them.
- Powder Chair: The General, Flagpole, Shakey Knees and Surprise, with Flagpole, Corkscrew and Powder Glades in the trees.
- Gem Lake: the longest fall lines on the hill. Fourth Ace, Cann Cann, Talon’s Grip, Black Magic, Black Jack, Pot of Gold and Black Thunder, plus Talon, Thunder and Lightning Glades.
- From the T-Bar: Camel’s Back when the alpine is open and visibility is good.
Expert
Double blacks: the Cliff and beyond
The Cliff Chair serves Big White’s steepest in-bounds terrain: The Cliff, Pegasus and Parachute Bowl, plus the Easter Chutes nearby. Out west, Black Bear Glades is waiting near the top of the Gem Lake Express.
- Ski it with a partner and check it’s open: alpine terrain depends on wind and visibility.
- Big White is famous for fog and snow ghosts. When the alpine is socked in, drop into the trees lower down.
- The dashed boundary on the map is real. Beyond it you’re in uncontrolled avalanche terrain, and the ecological reserve above the resort is closed to skiing.
Free local guides
Ski with a mountain host on your first day
The best way to learn a new mountain is to ski it with someone who knows it. Mountain hosts are volunteers with years of resort experience. They’ll show you how the lifts and areas connect, the best (and worst) parts of each area, and how to get home at the end of the day.
- At Big White: free Snow Host mountain tours run daily through the winter at 10:15 a.m., from the Snow Host meeting place across from the Village Centre Mall. Tours last about 90 minutes. You’ll need a valid lift ticket and should be comfortable on greens and blues. See Big White’s tour details.
- Visiting SilverStar? SilverStar’s free Mountain Host tours leave at 9:30 a.m. daily from in front of Town Hall, and Sean is one of the Friday hosts, so come out on a Friday to ski with him. See the SilverStar trail guide.
For buyers
Ski-in/ski-out: which runs bring you home
At Big White, “ski-in/ski-out” can mean anything from skiing right to your door to a short walk to a green trail. Here’s how each area connects. For any specific property, ask Sean to show you the actual route.
- Village Centre: the Bullet Express and Plaza Chair are steps away. Easy Street and Bullet Alley bring you back in, and Mogul Track and Ridge Connector (blue) come across from the Ridge Rocket side.
- Happy Valley: Lara’s Gondola takes you up to the Village. Coming home, Hummingbird, Whoop Dee Doo, Woodcutter and Happy Valley Way (all greens) lead down, and Gondola Way comes over from the Black Forest side.
- Snow Pines: a green trail above Snow Pine Estates links to the Ridge Rocket and Snow Ghost Express at the Ridge Day Lodge. Serwa’s (green) and Red Hawk and Whitetail (blue) run down on the Snow Pines side, and walking trail 1 connects to the Village.
- Feathertop, Black Forest and Sundance: Shortcut (green) links toward the Black Forest Express base, and Millie’s Mile and Sundance come down from above. Freeway and Woodpecker drop to the Bullet Express base, and walking trail 3 connects to the Village.
Our featured Raven Ridge townhome is a good example of true ski-in/ski-out near the Bullet Express. See what ski-in/ski-out really means before you buy.
Want to see it on snow? Sean can ski a property’s route with you, or send a video. Text Sean at 778-363-0542, or call the Info Line at 604‑227‑4810 (Sarah, our AI assistant, can answer general run and resort questions 24/7).
Quick answers
How big is Big White?
About 2,800 acres with 119 named runs, a 777 m (2,550 ft) vertical drop and a summit of 2,319 m. Big White’s terrain is roughly 18% beginner, 54% intermediate, 22% advanced and 6% expert.
Where are the easiest runs?
The Happy Valley learning area for first-timers, then the Plaza Chair (Hummingbird, Whoop Dee Doo), Sun Run off the Bullet Express, and Millie’s Mile and Sundance off the Black Forest Express.
Can a green skier get to the top?
Yes. Highway 33 is a green from the top of the Alpine T-Bar, near the summit.
Where’s the night skiing?
Night skiing runs on the Bullet Express and Plaza Chair (including Sun Run, Hummingbird and Whoop Dee Doo) and in the TELUS Park. Big White calls it Western Canada’s largest night-skiing area. Check the resort for nights and hours.
What about foggy days?
Stay low and in the trees, where there’s more definition: the Black Forest runs and the lower front side are good bets.
Sources: Big White trail, village and Nordic maps (2026–27 alpine trail map); Big White mountain statistics. Run descriptions and day plans are Sean’s own suggestions. For the official map, download Big White’s trail map (PDF).
Questions? Call or text
Ask a local before you commit to a mountain property
Sean Phillips sells ski-resort homes at Big White, SilverStar and Sun Peaks, and has REALTOR® friends who live and ski at resorts right across B.C. Tell him how your family skis and what you want from a mountain home, and he’ll help you narrow it down to the right home at the right resort. Straight answers, no pressure.
- Start with Sarah, our AI assistant, 24/7. Call the Info Line and Sarah can answer questions about the resorts, current listings, and anything else that’s public information, any time of day.
- Then talk to Sean. When you’re ready for real estate advice, like how to list, pricing, or negotiating the best deal, get in touch with Sean directly.
You can reach Sean any time, of course. Our advice: do your research, get your questions answered, and then let’s get together.
Info Line: Sarah, our AI assistant, 24/7
Text Sean for real estate advice