
Elevation
1,390m–2,060m
Ski area
50 km
Lifts
5
Nearest airport
West Kootenay Regional Airport (YCG)
Schools
0 listed
Key stats
Editorial suitability scores from the Find a Ski School team on a 1–5 scale. These are not visitor reviews.
Skiing
Resort
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Ski piste data from OpenSnowMap.org (CC-BY-SA)
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Whitewater is an outdoor ski area in British Columbia, Canada. The available data lists terrain from 1390 m to 2060 m elevation, 50 km of recorded slopes and 5 lifts.
The lifts run between 1,390m and 2,060m, a vertical drop of 670m. 50 km of marked pistes are served by 5 lifts. The nearest airport is West Kootenay Regional Airport (YCG).
Whitewater is a cult powder resort renowned for its no-frills, unpretentious atmosphere. It receives an impressive average of 12 metres (40 feet) of dry Kootenay powder per season. The resort features 4 lifts that service 2,367 acres of skiable terrain. Unlike many commercial resorts, Whitewater foregoes a traditional resort village and luxury hotels, focusing instead on its exceptional skiing and a lodge famous for legendary chilli and fresh-baked goods.
For intermediate skiers, Whitewater offers excellent groomed runs, primarily accessed from the Summit Chair. These pistes weave through stunning old-growth forest, providing a scenic skiing experience. Confident intermediates can also venture into the widely spaced trees to explore more challenging natural terrain.
Beginner terrain at Whitewater is very limited. The mountain is generally not recommended for first-time skiers due to the lack of extensive easy slopes.
Advanced skiers will discover an abundance of steep, deep powder across Whitewater's terrain. Key areas include the challenging Backside, Glory Ridge, and extensive dense tree skiing. For genuine alpine thrills, Ymir Bowl offers hike-to access to even more demanding runs. Hiring a powder guide is recommended to fully explore the deep snow and varied expert terrain.
The nearby town of Nelson is a vibrant hub and serves as the primary base for visitors to Whitewater. Known as one of British Columbia's most interesting towns, Nelson boasts a rich arts and music scene, alongside a thriving craft beer culture, offering plenty to do off the slopes.
Whitewater is an independently owned resort. It is important to note that it is not included on any multi-resort passes.
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Listed ski areas nearby include Kootenay (27 km), Salmo (31 km), Stellar Heliskiing (55 km), Red Mountain Resort – Rossland (61 km), Retallack Alpine Adventures – New Denver (63 km), and Zincton Mountain Village (planned) (66 km).