Sun Peaks is Canada’s second-largest ski area and the only one of my three resorts that is a town in its own right. It is about 55 km northeast of Kamloops, sunny, family friendly and busy year round.
| Skiable terrain | 4,400 acres on three mountains |
|---|---|
| Vertical drop | 896 m (2,940 ft) |
| Summit / base | 2,080 m / 1,255 m |
| Runs | 144 trails, 16 gladed areas |
| Lifts | 13 |
| Average snowfall | About 6 m a year |
| Nearest city | Kamloops, about 55 km |
| Pass 2026–27 | Ikon Pass |
Mountain figures: Sun Peaks Resort, trail maps and stats; community figures: Sun Peaks, B.C. (Wikipedia), 2021 census.
The mountain
Skiing spreads across three mountains: Tod, Sundance and Morrisey. There are 144 trails and 16 gladed areas on 4,400 acres. About 58% of the terrain is intermediate, so the long, rolling cruisers (some up to 8 km) are the signature, but Tod Mountain’s upper slopes have plenty of steep, advanced skiing. The resort reports more than 2,000 hours of sunshine a year and about 6 m of snow.
Cross-country skiers get about 37 km of groomed track, plus backcountry trails.
A real village, with its own council
Sun Peaks became the Mountain Resort Municipality of Sun Peaks in 2010. The 2021 census counted about 1,400 permanent residents, and more than 900 more owners live elsewhere and come up for holidays. The village is walkable, with ski-in/ski-out hotels, condos and chalets close to the lifts, and a growing number of families live there full time.
Summer
In summer the lifts serve a bike park and alpine hiking, and the village has a golf course. Many owners use their place as much in July as in January.
Getting there
Most people drive from Kamloops in about 45 minutes. Kamloops Airport is the nearest airport; from Vernon it is roughly a two-hour drive.
Owning a home at Sun Peaks
- Rentals: exempt from B.C.’s principal-residence rule for short-term rentals, with registration required.
- Buyers from outside Canada: Sun Peaks is inside the areas covered by the federal ban on non-Canadian buyers.
- Local government: because Sun Peaks is its own municipality, property tax, bylaws and services are set by the village council.
Foreign-buyer and rental information per BCREA and the Association of Interior REALTORS® (2026). The federal ban currently runs to January 1, 2027. Rules change; confirm with a lawyer before you buy.
How I help at Sun Peaks
I cover Sun Peaks myself, alongside Big White and SilverStar. If you are not sure which resort fits, tell me how your family skis and where you fly from, and I will give you an honest comparison.
Search Sun Peaks homes for saleAsk Sean
Also see the Big White and SilverStar profiles.