Penticton’s Winter Playground is the Best for Snowy Adventures
Tucked between Okanagan Lake to the north and Skaha Lake to the south, Penticton provides a picturesque backdrop for all your cold-weather adventures. Just a scenic 400-kilometre drive from Vancouver in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, this laidback city is best known for its temperate climate.
But don’t be fooled by the milder winters—fresh powder is always within reach. Here’s your guide to making the most of this winter playground.
The Ski Hills Are Calling
Penticton is ideally located near two ski hills: Baldy Mountain and Apex Mountain Resort. Apex offers a mix of terrain with four ski lifts, 80 runs and 1,112 skiable acres across four terrain parks, making it a solid choice for downhill skiing and snowboarding. Plus, the lift lines are blissfully short, a refreshing change from the crowds at some of BC’s larger resorts. If you’re not here for skiing, Apex also has a tubing hill, a scenic one-kilometre skating loop through the forest and pick-up hockey games on the shinny pond.
Just beyond Apex, you’ll find Nickel Plate Nordic Centre, which boasts one of the longest Nordic ski seasons in Canada, thanks to its 1,850-metre elevation. Home to 45 kilometres of groomed trails for both classic and skate skiing, this Nordic ski destination welcomes all skill levels.
For non-skiers, Nickel Plate also has 22 kilometres of snowshoe trails, including the relatively flat 2.7-kilometre Gold Dust trail, which winds through open meadows and pine forests, and the more challenging 5.9-kilometre Prospector’s Point, which leads to stunning views of the Okanagan Valley. If you’re without gear, the centre offers a full range of rentals. After a day on the trails, warm up at the 4,000-square-foot day lodge, where you’ll find a kitchen, dining area and a cozy lounge to relax in.
The region’s weather, marked by large amounts of precipitation and low humidity, produces dry, champagne powder each season—light, fluffy snow that offers skiers and snowboarders the perfect balance of floatation and control to glide effortlessly across the surface instead of sinking in.
Lace Up Your Skates
For an outdoor skating experience, check out Activate Penticton, an outdoor rink that’s been welcoming skaters since March 2022 thanks to the efforts of the volunteer-led Activate Penticton Society. If you prefer indoor skating, McLaren Arena offers public skating sessions, including adult-only slots and Preschool Stick ‘N Puck for little skaters ages one through five. You can also join drop-in hockey games, with dedicated sessions for adults and the over-55 crowd. For a laidback, family-friendly option, try Family Shinny, a non-contact, all-ages game focused on fun.
Cheer on the Penticton Vees
The South Okanagan Events Centre is Penticton’s go-to venue for concerts, improv shows, major sporting events and everything in between. This 5,000-seat arena also doubles as home ice for the Penticton Vees, a junior A hockey team in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), with an impressive 14 Fred Page Cup championships to their name. Experience the city’s energetic sports culture by joining devoted fans as the Vees hit the ice.
Embrace Winter Magic at Frost Fest Winter Carnival
Following a successful debut in 2024, the Frost Fest Winter Carnival returns to Gyro Park this coming January for its second year. At this free outdoor celebration, little ones can look forward to craft stations while kids at heart can race down a mini snow sledding hill. One of the highlights of the event is the adrenaline-pumping Downtown Throwdown Rail Jam, where skiers and snowboarders perform their best tricks on a custom-built rail. In between, visit the beer garden and refuel at the food trucks. This three-day event has a hot air balloon glow up, a gala, family-friendly activities and kids stations.
Getting Here
The drive from Vancouver is about a 4.5-hour trip northeast along the Trans-Canada Highway, where you’ll pass through the Fraser Valley and stunning Cascade Mountains. You can also drive southeast on Highway 3 for a more scenic, but longer route. If you prefer to skip the road trip, Pacific Coastal Airlines offers two daily flights from Vancouver to Penticton Regional Airport, while WestJet operates a daily non-stop flight from Calgary, making getting to Penticton a breeze.
This article was sponsored by Visit Penticton
Penticton is a popular destination for all types of visitors. With our city’s deep roots of agriculture, Indigenous and craft culture and outdoor recreation, Penticton is an iconic destination that needs to be experienced multiple times throughout the year.
