Small Boots, Big Adventure

Words and photography by Clay Dolan

SilverStar Mountain Resort sets the stage for a family ski vacation filled with mountain adventure, village life and plenty of firsts.

When you ask most parents along the Escarpment why they put their kids in snow programs—whether ski racing, freestyle, snowboarding or simply lessons— the answer is usually the same: they want to enjoy ski vacations together as a family. No doubt, the skills kids develop on our local hills give them the confidence and ability to ski mountains anywhere in the world. For me, the dream has always been to rip powder turns with my boys. That thought makes the countless bunny-hill laps and the aching back and burning thighs from snowplowing with a child between my legs feel worthwhile.

I imagined a family ski trip was still years away. Then, last March, with our boys just four and seven, we set off on our first big-mountain vacation. The main questions buzzing in my head were: Is this too soon? Could our youngest actually make it down the runs? Would travelling with such young boys be stressful? Thankfully, SilverStar Mountain Resort in British Columbia’s Interior had the answers: no, yes, and a little—but it would be well worth it.

Travelling to SilverStar is about as easy as it gets for a ski trip. The resort is located just north of Vernon in the Okanagan Valley, about an hour and 20 minutes by car from Kelowna International Airport. Air Canada, Porter Airlines and WestJet all offer non-stop flights from Toronto to Kelowna, and with rental cars and shuttles available right at the terminal, travel is seamless. Once at the resort, there isn’t much need for a vehicle, making a shuttle the more economical choice.

We planned to visit my dad in Lake Country before continuing to SilverStar. This meant renting a vehicle, which gave us the added bonus of stopping for groceries in Vernon—not full meals, as this was a vacation, but some grab-and-go snacks and maybe a few treats. A pre planned click-and-collect order streamlined the process, and we were at the resort before anyone asked, “Are we there yet?”

We stayed at the Snowbird Lodge, located in the heart of the resort. When I say this place is ski-in, ski-out, I mean you could literally hit the gondola with a snowball from our patio. It was incredible: a three-bedroom unit with a full kitchen, laundry and a private hot tub. We barely had time to unpack before the boys were in the tub, scoping out the action in the village and marvelling at the rail slide freestyle competition underway just below our balcony.

SilverStar has a unique layout, with the village situated about halfway up the mountain—in fact, you can ski right through it on your way down to the base. The village is styled after the Klondike era, with a frontier mining-town appearance, colourful buildings and a small, intimate feel. My wife Haily and I had no worries about letting our boys explore while we enjoyed an après beverage or two at The Red Antler. Dining can also become an adventure of its own: guests can ride a snowcat to Paradise Camp for dinner or snowshoe to Ravenwood cabin for a raclette feast. Closer to home, there is a good selection of cafés, restaurants and pubs, with something to suit everyone’s taste—including a candy shop where our boys somehow always ended up.

Spring skiing in B.C. usually means sunny weather, soft snow and quiet runs. SilverStar didn’t disappoint. We arrived under bluebird skies, although the mornings were on the chilly side. While the off-piste terrain was a little firm, the groomers were excellent, with plenty of runs to choose from. As one of British Columbia’s largest ski areas, SilverStar has more than 3,300 skiable acres and a total vertical drop of 760 metres. With an annual snowfall of seven metres, the resort doesn’t require snowmaking and relies entirely on natural snow. Crews also groom and prepare the runs throughout the summer, helping make early-season coverage more reliable and allowing the resort to get the best possible surface from snow that is 100 per cent from the sky.

Our first day at the resort was the closing day for Putnam Creek, otherwise known as “The Backside.” On big powder days, this is where the locals play. Although we stuck primarily to the groomers, I kept a keen eye on all the terrain we passed. The area is full of steep, fall line runs and well-spaced glades. I took mental notes of the lines I want to ski, perhaps on a future visit with my boys—or maybe on a trip with just Haily.

In November 2025, Pacific Group Resorts (PGR) announced its acquisition of SilverStar, bringing the company’s portfolio to six resorts, including Jay Peak in Vermont and Powderhorn in Colorado, among others. SilverStar is PGR’s second Canadian resort; the other is Mount Washington Alpine Resort on Vancouver Island, where my brother Luke and his family ski. For the 2025/26 season, SilverStar offered reciprocal lift tickets to Mount Washington season-pass holders—the perfect excuse for Luke and his family to join us. For 2026/27, SilverStar has also joined the Ikon Pass network, offering five days of access with the Ikon Base Pass and seven days with the full Ikon Pass.

It turns out there were a few families visiting from the Island. We had a chance to catch up with the Friesens, whose daughter is a high-performance freestyle skier. They had spent the entire winter at the resort so she could train with the SilverStar Freestyle Club and make use of the world-class terrain park, dedicated big-air site and competition moguls course. With one of the best terrain park scenes in Canada—known for its creative rails and jumps of varying sizes for progression SilverStar provides a safe environment for the jibbers in your family.

After a quick chat, the Friesens traded their ski gear for fat bikes and set off on the resort’s 15-kilometre groomed trail network. At SilverStar, that kind of change of pace doesn’t require another ticket: the My1Pass bundles alpine skiing with tubing, skating, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and fat biking.

Of course, with young kids, our first detour was the tubing hill. The boys and their cousins had a blast sliding down the track but were just as entertained by riding the magic carpet back to the top. Admittedly, spinning down the hill on an inflatable put a smile on my face, but it was the cross-country skiing that really caught my eye. I had no idea SilverStar was such a Nordic mecca.

SilverStar itself has more than 55 kilometres of cross country trails, ranging from green to blue to black, as well as a lit nightskiing loop. The network criss-crosses the mountain and often intersects the alpine runs; it was wild to see Nordic skiers popping out of the forest as we skied past. Groomed for both classic and skate skiing, the trails allow skiers to climb the mountain or reach the upper terrain by gondola.

SilverStar’s trail network connects with the Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre. Together, the two areas make up a combined system of more than 105 kilometres, although a separate ticket or add-on is required to access the Sovereign Lake trails. With that scale, variety and change in elevation, it is no wonder the area attracts some of Canada’s best Nordic athletes. Given how lightweight the equipment is, I’ll be packing my cross country gear for my next visit.

Until this trip, ski vacations had always meant hard charging, fast runs—pounding bumps or searching out fresh powder lines. Having two young kids in tow changed the rules, but once I wrapped my head around that, I found myself enjoying the slower pace. We stuck to green and blue runs, and for the first little while, I was cautious about what might be around the next bend or over the next roller. We quickly got a feel for the place, as the mountain is easy to navigate.

Like moths to a flame, our boys were instantly drawn to the gladed runs. Their favourites were Toilet Trail and Peanut Trail. From there, it was down Sundance, Whisky Jack or Spruce Meadows to the Comet Express, which provides access to most of the front side. It took only a couple of laps on the perfectly groomed, long, sweeping runs before little legs started getting tired.

With the Snowbird Lodge right next to the Des Schumann Summit Express Gondola, our condo was the perfect stop for a mid-afternoon snack or a quick rest. Then it was out the door, skis back on and down to the gondola. Having never ridden one before, our boys  found the gondola exciting, and it provided the perfect respite for all of us.

I arrived at SilverStar wondering whether we had attempted a family ski trip too soon. By the end, the answer was clear. The boys had proved they were ready for the mountains, and Haily and I discovered that skiing at a slower pace could be just as rewarding. SilverStar’s blend of village life and mountain adventure made that first leap easier than expected.

We may not have been ripping epic powder turns together just yet, but the dream no longer feels so far away. My family absolutely loved the trip, and I was a hero in my wife’s eyes. If you’re looking to create family memories on a stress-free ski trip, put SilverStar on your list. E