Silver Star

Silver Star is a Canadian mountain resort in British Columbia's Okanagan region. It is 22 km northeast of the town of Vernon. == Understand == One of the larger ski resorts in British Columbia, the mountain has 3,065 skiable acres and a vertical of 760 m and enjoys the dry, "champagne powder" snow of the Okanagan. SilverStar's snow season runs from late November to mid-April weather permitting. SilverStar provides summer lift access for mountain biking and hiking from the end of June through to September. Check weather conditions here. The resort spans over four mountain faces, giving it four distinct areas: 1 Vance Creek offers most of the beginner and intermediate runs on the mountain. Therefore it is usually the busiest face of the mountain and has mostly groomed runs along with intermediate and expert runs. Vance Creek is serviced by the "Comet Six-pack Express" which ferries skiers from below the Village base and Silver Woods areas to the summit at 1,915 m. The "Summit Chair" is a Mueller double chair that takes skiers directly from the Village to the summit as well. 2 Attridge is a small area beside Vance Creek which offers a wide variety of glade and groomed runs. The "Alpine Meadows" chair is a fixed grip quad and offers ski-in/ski-out access to the mountain from the developed area called Alpine Meadows. 3 Silver Woods is a part of a catchment below the Comet Express and is serviced by the "Silver Woods Express" which is a detachable high-speed quad. Silver Woods offers many intermediate treed and glade runs and is an access point to the hill from the "Knoll Residential Area". The Silver Woods, along with The Attridge and Vance Creek, make up the area known as 'The Frontside'. 4 Putnam Creek, often referred to as the Backside, introduces skiers to much more difficult terrain than the rest of the mountain and offers to the more experienced skier. Most of the runs in the Putnam Creek area are black diamond and double black diamond runs consisting of steep lines with moguls and tree skiing. The "Powder Gulch Express", a detachable high-speed quad gives lift access to the many runs and a way out with the "Home Run T-bar" back to the village. == Get in == === By car === Silver Star is approximately a 6-hour drive from Vancouver. Take the Trans-Canada Highway (#1) to Hope, Highway 5 to Kamloops, the Trans-Canada again to Monte Creek, Highway 97 to Silver Star Road (just before Vernon). === By plane === The nearest large airport is Kelowna International Airport (YLW IATA). See "By bus" below for an airport shuttle service. === By bus === Buses travel to Silver Star during ski season (November to April) North Okanagan Ski Bus, ☏ +1-250-558-6083, tickets@skisilverstar.com. Operates between Salmon Arm and Silver Star with stops in Enderby, Armstrong, and Vernon. Travel time is 1 hour 30 minutes to Silver Star from Salmon Arm and 30 minutes from Vernon. $20 one way or $32 round trip. (updated Apr 2022) Kelowna Concierge, ☏ +1-250-863-4213, info@kelownaconcierge.ca. Operates between Kelowna International Airport and Silver Star with a stop in Vernon (only stops when traveling toward the airport). Travel time is 1 hour to the airport to Silver Star. For adults: $90 one way or $120 round trip. For children: $45 one way or $60 round trip. (updated Apr 2022) == Do == === Winter season === Skiing and snowboarding: a one-day adult lift pass costs $109 (2020). SilverStar has 12 lifts: one 8 person gondola, one Six-Pack Express chairlift (Comet Six-Pack Express), two detachable high-speed quads (Silverwoods Express, Powder Gulch Express), two fixed-grip quads (Silver Queen Chair, Alpine Meadows Chair) one T-bar (Home Run T-bar), three beginner magic carpets, and two tube lifts, on 3,269 acres (1,323 hectares) (13 km²) of skiable terrain. Tubing, ice skating and mini-snowmobiles Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing: with access to nearby Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre, SilverStar offers more than 105 km (60 miles) of daily groomed trails – the largest daily groomed trail network in Canada. === Summer season === Lift Access Mountain Biking: more than 50 km of downhill bike trails and more than 30 km of XC trail. The bike park features a 4-bike carrier lift system that uses a bike carrier on every second chair so you hardly ever wait in line. Biking terrain (XC and DH combined) consists of roughly 23% beginner green trails, 43% intermediate blue trails and 34% advanced and expert trails. Hiking, wildflower and nature tours == Buy == 1 Evolve, Main St, ☏ +1 250-558-6010. A large selection of mountain bike specific product from brands such as Fox Head, Troy Lee Designs, Dakine, Smith and Oakley. We also have a variety of summer fashions from brands like Rip Curl, Burton and Volcom. Souvenirs, logowear,and candy and other treats from The Goody Box. (updated May 2018) 2 Coldstream Dry Goods, Vance Creek Boardwalk on Main St, ☏ +1 250-558-5583. An eclectic collection of gifts, home decor, souvenirs, jewellery, artwork, sportswear, SilverStar logo goods, high-end jewellery from Canadian designers. (updated May 2018) 3 Lord Aberdeen Market, Main St in the Lord Aberdeen Hotel, ☏ +1 250-503-1992. Full-service grocery and liquor store with fresh produce, meat and fish, locally baked goods, gifts such as Canadian maple syrup, locally made condiments and preserves, basic groceries, health and beauty products, stamps, phone cards, movie rentals, and a large selection of local wines, beer and liquor. Home delivery available. (updated May 2018) 4 Village Ski Shop, Vance Creek Boardwalk on Main St, ☏ +1 250-558-4292, info@villageskishop.ca. Downhill and Nordic skiwear and accessories offering a wide variety of the latest technical fabric and insulation systems from first layer to outerwear, and the latest in Nordic lines for both skate and classic including Rossignol, Salomon, Noeway, Toko and Swix. (updated May 2018) == Eat == 1 Pizza Gratta (Lord Aberdeen boardwalk, in the main village), ☏ +1 250-542-5150. $18-22 for a pizza. 2 D'Argento (Town Hall lower level), ☏ +1 250-558-6070. Fine dining restaurant. 3 The Den Bar and Bistro (Town Hall lower level), ☏ +1 250-558-6032. Daily from 10AM. Wings, Nachos, Soups, etc. Easy ski access. (updated Mar 2023) == Drink == == Sleep == A range of on-mountain accommodations is available. 1 Bulldog Hotel, ☏ +1 250 542-2459, toll-free: +1-800-489-0599. Non-smoking, cable TV, small pets in some rooms (nightly fee applies), ski storage - supply your own lock, ski-in/ski-out, Bulldog Grand Café, DeVine Cellar, shared outdoor hot tub, free wi-fi. These hotel rooms consist of a king bed and a sleeper sofa, or two queen beds, or one queen bed and a set of double/single bunk beds. Each room features a private bathroom with a bathtub and rain shower head. The rooms are also equipped with a TV, coffee maker, and mini fridge. Some rooms are wheelchair-accessible. (updated Jun 2022) 2 Vance Creek Hotel & Conference Centre, ☏ +1 250 549-5191, toll-free: +1-800-610-0805. 3 Snowbird Lodge, toll-free: +1-800-663-4431, snowbirdlodge@skisilverstar.com. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 11AM. Free wireless internet access, private laundry facility (all suites except studios, 24-seat theatre, family lounge, cable TV, personal hot tub (all suites except studios), fitness room, kids play area, pets in some units, non-smoking. (updated May 2018) 4 Lord Aberdeen Hotel, ☏ +1 250-558-6083, toll-free: +1-800-663-4431. One- to three-bedroom apartment style suites in the centre of the village. Home to H.B. Pizza, Long John’s Pub, the Aberdeen Market & Liquor Store, and Out of Bounds Cafe. Bike storage, non-smoking, cable TV, DVD, fireplace (most units), balcony, wireless internet access, shared hot tub (winter only), shared sauna, shared coin laundry facility, ride-in/ride-out, some pet friendly apartments (fee applies). (updated May 2018) == Connect == == Go next ==