Sun Peaks, British Columbia
The Sun Peaks Guide

Sun Peaks

4,400 skiable acres across Tod, Sundance, and Morrisey — Canada's second-largest ski area, 45 minutes from Kamloops.

British ColumbiaRedAwning · Vol. 01
A Field Guide

What Sun Peaks actually feels like.

A BC Interior ski-and-summer resort 45 minutes northeast of Kamloops on Sun Peaks Road — 4,400 skiable acres fan out across three mountains (Tod, Sundance, Morrisey) above a 1,255-metre Tyrolean-style pedestrian village where the Sundance Express, Sunburst Express, and Morrisey Express all load within a two-minute walk of each other, the par-72 Graham Cooke golf course threads the valley floor in summer, and McGillivray Lake sits ten minutes up the access road for paddleboarding and trout.

Three mountains, two seasons

Activities at Sun Peaks

4,400 acres across Tod, Sundance, and Morrisey in winter, the Sun Peaks Bike Park and BC's highest 18-hole course in summer, and McGillivray Lake ten minutes up Heffley Lake Road for the off-mountain hours.

Skiing Canada's Second-Largest Ski Area
01

Skiing Canada's Second-Largest Ski Area

4,400 acres across three mountains: Tod (the steeps — Headwalls, Gil's, the Crystal Bowl off the Crystal Chairlift), Sundance (the cruisers — Three Bears, Sunbeam, Rambler off the Sundance Express), and Morrisey (the gladed Laundry Runs cluster off the Morrisey Express). 10% green / 58% blue / 32% black-and-double-black, with 16 gladed areas and the longest run — the 5 Mile / Five Mile descent off Tod — running 8 km top to village. Mountain Collective and Ikon partner.

02

The West Bowl Express and Crystal Chairlift

The West Bowl Express opened in 2022 — a high-speed quad climbing to 2,093 m on the back side of Tod, opening 280 acres of intermediate-to-expert alpine terrain that used to require a hike. Pair it with the Crystal Chairlift to lap Crystal Bowl's main face, Toilet Bowl, and Pink Flamingos on a powder day. The Burfield Chairlift hits the same Tod ridge from the east side and is the slow-fixed-grip historic option for the 5 Mile run.

03

Sun Peaks Bike Park (Summer)

Lift-served downhill on the Sundance Express and Sunburst Express from mid-June through late September, plus pedal-access cross-country on Morrisey curated by the Sun Peaks Recreational Trail Association on Trailforks. The flow line out of the Sunburst chair is the progression-friendly intro; further up, the Cahilty Glades and Bushwacker Glades drop technical fall-line through old-growth fir. McSporties and Freefall in the village rent demo bikes; Jardines stocks pads and lids.

04

Sun Peaks Golf Course — BC's Highest 18 Holes

Graham Cooke's par-72 mountain course threads the valley floor between Tod, Sundance, and Morrisey — greens at 1,200 m and the highest tee in BC at 1,333 m, open mid-May to late September. Hole 6 plays downhill across a creek to a green tucked under Tod; hole 13 is the postcard tee shot back toward the village. The Mountain Course Restaurant at the clubhouse pours BC wine on a patio that catches afternoon sun until 8 pm in July.

Hike to the Top of the World
05

Hike to the Top of the World

The Sunburst Chairlift runs from June through September for foot-passenger access to the Top of the World viewpoint at 1,850 m — 360-degree alpine views from the deck of Sunburst Bar & Eatery. From the top, the Top of the World Trail traverses the ridge to Mt. Tod's summit (2,152 m, an additional 1.5-hour push); the easier Sun Catcher Loop drops back to the chair through wildflower meadows of Indian paintbrush, lupine, and arnica in late July.

06

McGillivray Lake & Nordic Centre

McGillivray Lake sits ten minutes up the Heffley-Sun Peaks Road — paddleboard and kayak rentals from Sun Peaks Adventure in the village, rainbow trout fly fishing from shore, and a sandy swimming beach that warms to swimmable temperatures by mid-July. In winter the same access road serves the Sun Peaks Nordic Centre — 37 km of groomed and trackset cross-country trails plus 19 km of backcountry, all free with a day-use donation.

07

Snowmobiling, Dog-Sledding, and the Tube Park

Mountain Man Dog Sled Adventures runs from the upper village in winter — 90-minute Alaskan-husky tours through old-growth forest above Sundance. Sun Peaks Snowmobile Tours offers half-day rides into the Crystal Lakes basin behind Tod. For families, the Tube Time Carpet at the village base runs day and night until 7 pm, with the Village Platter conveyor-lift carrying tubes back to the top.

Sun Peaks is the only ski-through pedestrian village in Canada — every accommodation in the core sits on a run, you click in at your door and click out at the lift. That's not a marketing line, it's the village layout. The whole place was master-planned that way.
Marcus Reilly, RedAwning Mountain Markets Lead (15+ years in alpine hospitality)
Sun Peaks
Beyond the lifts

Things to Do at Sun Peaks

The Sun Peaks Centre Stage covered concert venue, day trips to Kamloops for the BC Wildlife Park, and the Tube Time Carpet that runs after the lifts close.

Live music

01 · 1 spot
  • 01

    Sun Peaks Centre Stage

    BC's largest covered outdoor live music venue, hosting summer flagships like Rockin' in the Peaks and Sun Peaks Music Festival in July. Built into the village pedestrian core, the stage has the Sundance run as a backdrop and a covered roof rated for shoulder-season weather — concerts run regardless of conditions.

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Family

02 · 2 spots
  • 01

    BC Wildlife Park (Kamloops)

    45 minutes back down Sun Peaks Road in Kamloops — 200+ rescued and rehabilitated BC species (grizzly, lynx, bald eagle, burrowing owl) on a 49-hectare site, plus a miniature train and a wetland boardwalk. The classic Sun Peaks rainout day; open year-round, 9:30 am to 4 pm.

    Address
    9077 Dallas Drive, Kamloops, BC
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  • 02

    Tube Time at the Village Carpet

    Lift-served snow tubing at the village base — the Village Carpet conveyor-lift carries tubes back up between runs, kids and adults welcome, no ski experience needed. Open daily 8:30 am to 7 pm in winter (until 5 pm at season's end), with the lights-on evening session being the easiest after-dinner family activity in the resort.

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Wellness

03 · 1 spot
  • 01

    Mantles Spa at Sun Peaks Grand

    Slope-side massage and facials in the Sun Peaks Grand Hotel & Conference Centre (Marriott Delta) at the base of the Morrisey Express. Same building as Mantles Restaurant for the dinner-after pairing. Bookings strongly recommended on weekends.

    Address
    3240 Village Way, Sun Peaks, BC
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Outdoors

04 · 1 spot
  • 01

    Valley Trail Walking & Cycling Network

    A 12 km paved-and-gravel network connects the village core to the Sun Peaks Golf Course, McGillivray Creek, and the Lookout viewpoint above the Sun Peaks Grand. Open year-round (snowshoes and fat bikes welcome in winter), free, and the easiest way to get oriented on day one.

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Casual dining

05 · 1 spot
  • 01

    Voyageur Bistro Crêpes

    Quebecois savory and sweet crêpes, French-press coffee, and breakfast poutine in the village core under the Sundance Express loading area. The locals' weekend breakfast spot — expect 20 minutes on a powder Saturday, half that on Tuesdays.

    Address
    3270 Village Way, Sun Peaks, BC
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Village core, all walkable

Dining at Sun Peaks

Mantles inside the Sun Peaks Grand for a wine-pairing dinner, Bottoms Bar & Grill for the locals' après, and Masa's Bar + Grill in the Village Day Lodge for 20 BC craft taps.

Upscale

01 · 1 spot
  • 01

    Mantles Restaurant & Lounge

    The Sun Peaks Grand's signature dining room — chef-driven mountain cuisine on locally sourced BC ingredients, an all-BC wine list, and the Raclette Après tableside-grill experience daily 3-5 pm in winter ($75 pp, two-person minimum). Reservations recommended on weekends; the Harvest Table monthly wine dinners feature a single Okanagan or Similkameen winery.

    Address
    3240 Village Way, Sun Peaks, BC
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Après / pub

02 · 1 spot
  • 01

    Bottoms Bar & Grill

    The locals' living room — a classic ski-hill saloon in the village core, craft beer, big cocktails, the bell that rings when someone buys a round. Kitchen open until 9 pm every day, bar to 1 am Mon-Sat. The single most reliable après-ski room in Sun Peaks; 4 pm on a powder day is loud, in a good way.

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Casual / pub

03 · 1 spot
  • 01

    Masa's Bar + Grill

    Located in the Village Day Lodge with the largest draft selection at Sun Peaks — 20 BC and international beers on tap, a fireplace and pool table, dog-friendly patio. Country Nights every Friday from 9 pm, Music Bingo on Wednesdays, $18 wings during every Vancouver Canucks game. Family-friendly until 9 pm, 19+ later.

    Address
    Village Day Lodge, Sun Peaks, BC
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Casual

04 · 1 spot
  • 01

    Morrisey's Public House

    The Sun Peaks Grand's casual sister to Mantles — comfort food, BC craft beer, handcrafted cocktails, and a fire on cold nights. Quieter than Bottoms after the lifts close, kitchen runs later than Mantles.

    Address
    3240 Village Way, Sun Peaks, BC
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Coffee / breakfast

05 · 1 spot
  • 01

    Sundance Lodge & Bottoms

    Sundance Lodge's lobby-level coffee bar opens at 6:30 am for the first-chair crowd — espresso, almond croissants, and a small breakfast menu. Bottoms Bar & Grill is just downstairs in the same building, which is the locals' route from coffee → ski day → après without ever leaving the property.

    Address
    3160 Creekside Way, Sun Peaks, BC
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Casual / breakfast

06 · 1 spot
  • 01

    Voyageur Bistro

    Quebecois crêpes (savoury Saint-Hubert with smoked ham and cheese; sweet with maple butter), traditional poutine, and French-press coffee in a tight village storefront. The line is 20 minutes long on a Saturday morning — locals know to come Tuesday-Thursday or after 11 am.

    Address
    3270 Village Way, Sun Peaks, BC
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Coffee / takeout

07 · 1 spot
  • 01

    Grand Mornings

    Quick takeaway breakfast counter inside the Sun Peaks Grand — almond croissants, fruit galettes, breakfast sandwiches, and the strongest espresso in the resort. The 7 am stop on a hike-the-Sunburst-summit morning.

    Address
    3240 Village Way, Sun Peaks, BC
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Booking, getting there, weather

Sun Peaks Trip FAQ

The questions that come up before a first trip to Sun Peaks — flying in via Kamloops, ski-in/ski-out logic in the village, and what changes between January and March.

How do I get to Sun Peaks from Vancouver or Calgary?
Fly into Kamloops Airport (YKA) — direct from Vancouver (1 hr) and Calgary (1.25 hr) via WestJet and Air Canada — then 45 minutes by rental car or the Sun Peaks Shuttle / Kamloops Airporter on Sun Peaks Road. From Vancouver by car it's roughly 4 hours via the Coquihalla (Highway 5) — winter tires legally required Oct 1 to Apr 30. Vancouver International (YVR) is 4.5 hours by car if you can't get a YKA flight.
Is Sun Peaks really ski-in/ski-out from every property?
From every property in the village core (Cahilty, Hearthstone, Fireside, Sundance, Coast Sundance) — yes. Sun Peaks is master-planned as Canada's only ski-through pedestrian village. You click in at your door, ski to the lift, and the run-outs deliver you back to your building at end of day. Off-village properties at Heffley Lake and McGillivray Lake aren't ski-in but are 5-10 minutes by car.
When does Sun Peaks open and close for skiing?
The 2025-26 season runs November 27, 2025 to April 6, 2026 (typical window — late November to early April). Best snow conditions are mid-January through mid-March, with December skewing colder and drier and late-March-into-April delivering the spring slush and patio days. The Bike Park flips on June 14 and runs to late September; golf opens mid-May.
Do I need to book the Mountain Collective or Ikon Pass?
Sun Peaks is a Mountain Collective and Ikon Pass partner — 2 days of access on the Mountain Collective, 5-7 days on the Ikon Pass depending on tier. Without a multi-resort pass, single-day lift tickets run roughly CAD 159-189 in peak season; multi-day windows are cheaper. Buy online at sunpeaksresort.com — same-day window prices are roughly 15% higher.
What's the actual currency situation?
Sun Peaks is in Canada — every price on-mountain (lifts, lodging, dining) is quoted in Canadian dollars. RedAwning lets you switch the displayed currency in the top-right (USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, etc.) but the underlying booking is CAD; you'll see your home-currency total at checkout based on the day's exchange rate. American credit cards work everywhere; some smaller merchants take USD cash but at a poor conversion rate.
How crowded does it get?
Lift lines are the genuinely uncrowded story Sun Peaks tells — 4,400 acres and only 15,800 riders/hour of lift capacity means even Christmas-week Saturdays rarely see a 10-minute wait at the Sundance or Sunburst Express. The exceptions: BC Family Day weekend (mid-Feb) and the third week of March when Vancouver and Calgary spring breaks overlap. Mid-January and mid-March weekdays you'll often have a chair to yourself.
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