Silver Star Ski Resort Review 2026
SilverStar is one of interior British Columbia's most underrated all round resorts, a mountain that quietly delivers light dry Okanagan powder, a genuinely ski in ski out Victorian themed village, and a serious black diamond backside that surprises strong skiers who arrive expecting a gentle family hill. For the off piste skier, the draw is the Putnam Creek side, a north facing pod of steep runs, bumps and gladed trees that holds cold snow well and asks real questions of your skiing. It works beautifully for mixed groups, with a sunny, gentle front side for families and intermediates and the steep backside for everyone else, and the honest caveats are simply that it is mid sized rather than huge, the powder is good but not Kootenay deep, and it sits a fair way from any major airport.
An underrated interior BC all rounder with light dry powder, a true ski in ski out village and a steep, gladed backside for strong skiers.
Scored honestly
SilverStar is a rare resort that genuinely serves both ends of a group. The front side, around the village, is sunny, gentle and beautifully groomed, with long greens and blues that make it one of the better family and intermediate mountains in the interior, and a famous cross country and Nordic network on top. Beginners and improving skiers can spend a happy week here without ever feeling out of their depth.
The surprise is the other side. Putnam Creek, the north facing backside, is almost entirely black and double black, a concentrated pod of steep fall line runs, mogul fields and tree skiing that holds the coldest, driest snow on the mountain and gives strong skiers a real reason to come. The honest weaknesses are scale and snow ceiling: this is a mid sized mountain, not a sprawling giant, and while the Okanagan powder is light and pleasant it is not the relentless depth of Revelstoke or the Kootenay resorts. Experts chasing the very deepest, biggest BC days should go further east. For a value, ski in ski out trip that keeps a whole group happy, SilverStar is one of the smartest picks in the province.
Terrain by ability
The mountain splits cleanly into two characters. The front side, falling toward the village, is the sunny, groomed, family friendly half, with rolling greens and blues, gentle pitches and easy navigation, ideal for learning, cruising and skiing with children. On top sits one of Canada's best Nordic and cross country trail networks, a genuine draw for the touring and skate skiing crowd.
For the off piste skier, the prize is Putnam Creek on the back. This is a north facing aspect that stays cold and dry, and it is loaded with steep blacks and double blacks, long bump runs and gladed tree skiing that hold soft snow days after a storm while the front side bakes in the sun. Runs through the trees here are the highlight, sheltered, consistent and genuinely challenging, and a strong skier can lap them all day. The in bounds terrain is patrolled and avalanche controlled, but the gladed pitches still demand respect for tree wells, which are a real and underrated hazard in cold dry snow, so ski the trees with a partner in sight and keep your speed in check. SilverStar is not a big sidecountry or touring resort off the lifts, so treat it as a contained mountain that punches above its size on the backside rather than a backcountry base.
Photos via Google. Contributed by Alaistair Jerrom-Smith, Andrew Wallis, Keith Harasymiw, SilverStar Mountain Resort, Simon G.
Charm, convenience and evenings
SilverStar's village is one of its biggest selling points and a real ski in ski out base, a compact, pedestrian friendly cluster of brightly painted Victorian style buildings right at the foot of the lifts. You can roll out of bed and onto the snow, which is rare and valuable, and the colorful, slightly theme park look is genuinely charming in the snow and especially good for families.
Evenings are relaxed and low key rather than a big apres ski scene, with a handful of restaurants, pubs and cafes in the village and a friendly, community feel. There is night skiing and tubing for variety, and the whole base is easy to get around on foot. Set expectations to cozy and convenient rather than glamorous, and the village does its job very well, particularly for groups who value walking everywhere over nightlife.
Chalets and easy access beds
The smart move at SilverStar is to stay in the village itself, where ski in ski out hotels, lodges and condos put you steps from the lifts and the restaurants, a real luxury for families and for first lifts on a powder day. Options run from simple condos to more comfortable lodges, and self catering apartments suit groups well. There is little reason to stay off the mountain given how convenient and reasonably priced the village beds are, though Vernon down the hill offers cheaper accommodation for those happy to drive up. Book ahead for holiday weeks.
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What a pass costs
SilverStar is good value by the standards of marquee North American resorts, with window day tickets typically well below the headline prices at the big names, often in the region of $90 to $110 in peak weeks. The mountain sits on one of the major multi resort season passes, and buying that pass or booking lift tickets ahead online is the cheapest way to ski here. Multi day tickets and accommodation packages bring the per day cost down further, and midweek is quieter and cheaper than weekends. Lock in passes, lessons and rentals early.
Book the extras and save
Lift passes, transfers, lessons, ski hire and insurance are where a trip quietly leaks money. Booking ahead almost always beats the resort window price.
Compare lift passesBook a transferFind lessonsReserve ski hireTravel insuranceSchools and guiding
SilverStar runs a friendly, well regarded ski and snowboard school that is strong for children and beginners on the gentle front side and good for intermediates wanting to step onto the steeper backside with confidence. A lesson is the fastest way to learn to ski the Putnam Creek bumps and trees in control. The mountain also has an excellent Nordic and cross country program for anyone wanting to try the famous trail network. Reserve rentals and lessons ahead for the busy holiday weeks.
Lessons and ski hire
Book lessons, guiding and kit ahead for the best instructors and the lowest rates.
Find lessonsReserve ski hireThe journey
Kelowna international airport is the closest gateway, around 1 hour 15 minutes by road and an easy connection from Vancouver and other Canadian cities. Vernon sits at the foot of the access road, a short climb below the village. The drive up is straightforward by interior BC standards but can be snowy, so allow time and consider winter tires or a booked transfer. A car is useful for flexibility but not essential once you are in the ski in ski out village, since everything is on foot from there.
Airport transfers
Pre booked shared and private transfers from Kelowna are usually cheaper and smoother than arranging it on arrival.
Book a transferTiming your trip
January and February are the coldest and driest months, the prime window for the light Okanagan powder and for skiing the Putnam Creek trees at their best. The cold, dry interior climate means the backside holds soft snow longer than coastal resorts, and tree wells are a real hazard in this snow, so ski the glades with care. March brings longer days, softer afternoons on the sunny front side and excellent spring conditions on the Nordic trails. Midweek is quieter and cheaper than weekends. Whenever you come, the front side is the morning sun trap and the back is where the cold snow lasts.
SilverStar FAQs
Is SilverStar good for advanced skiers?
Yes, more than its reputation suggests. The Putnam Creek backside is a concentrated pod of steep blacks and double blacks, bump runs and gladed tree skiing that holds cold dry snow and challenges strong skiers. It is not the biggest BC mountain, but the backside genuinely punches above its size.
Is SilverStar good for families and beginners?
Yes, it is one of the better family resorts in the interior. The sunny front side has long, gentle greens and blues, the village is true ski in ski out so children are steps from the snow, and there is night skiing and tubing for variety.
What is the snow like at SilverStar?
It is light, dry interior Okanagan powder, cold and pleasant, with the north facing Putnam Creek backside holding it best. Totals are good but not as deep as Revelstoke or the Kootenays, so expect quality cold snow rather than relentless depth.
Does SilverStar have a ski in ski out village?
Yes, and it is a highlight. The compact, colorful Victorian style village sits right at the foot of the lifts, so you can ski straight from your accommodation and walk to the restaurants, which is a real advantage for families and groups.
How much does a SilverStar lift pass cost?
It is good value, with window day tickets often around 90 to 110 US dollars in peak weeks, below the big name resorts. SilverStar sits on one of the major multi resort season passes, and multi day tickets and packages bring the per day cost down further.
How do I get to SilverStar?
Kelowna airport is around 1 hour 15 minutes away and the closest gateway, with Vernon at the foot of the access road. The drive up is straightforward but can be snowy, so allow time, and once in the ski in ski out village you can manage on foot.
If SilverStar is not quite right
These three sit within reach in interior British Columbia, each offering a different character, from a fellow Okanagan all rounder to a powder giant.
Big White
The larger Okanagan neighbor with a bigger ski in ski out village, famous snow ghosts and more terrain, a natural step up in size from SilverStar for families and groups.
Sun Peaks
The big three village interior resort near Kamloops, with extensive cruising, a charming pedestrian base and more lift served terrain across three mountains.
Revelstoke
The serious powder and steeps giant a few hours east, with the biggest lift served vertical in North America and deep Kootenay snow for strong skiers who want more.
See the full British Columbia region guide or the wider Canada guide for more options, or compare picks in our best ski resorts in Canada and best powder ski resorts in the world lists.
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By the Ski Resorts for Kings editorial team · Last reviewed July 2026. We update season dates and prices each year.