Maps & Directions

Big White Ski Resort is 56 km (35 mi) South East of Kelowna, the largest city in the Okanagan Valley. From Kelowna, follow Highway 33 for 32 km (20 mi) until you reach Big White Road. Another 24 km (15 mi) and you will arrive in the main village where you’ll find Central Mountain Check-In and our hotels.

Fuel & Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

There are no fuel stations at Big White Ski Resort. Please ensure your vehicle has adequate fuel for your journey to and from the mountain. For E.V. owners, 100kW 200A rapid vehicle charging stations are available outside the Central Reservations building in the Happy Valley Parking area.

**Please note: Parking on village roads is prohibited by law. Tickets and towing can occur at any time

For road clearing, snow removal, inquiries and general feedback, please contact AIM Roads at: 1.866.222.4204

Drive BC & Road Conditions

When Do You Need Winter Tires or Snow Chains?

If you plan to travel British Columbia roadways when wintry conditions are a possibility, you should carry chains and be prepared to install them if needed. When you come to a posted sign on the highway stating “Winter Tires or Chains Are Required Beyond This Point”, you must be ready to install chains or have proper winter tread tires before proceeding.

Should you go beyond that point without the proper equipment, you may be subject to a fine. If road conditions worsen, be sure to install your chains before you reach an uphill grade.

Pay attention to whether approaching vehicles are using chains or having difficulty. If you have any doubts, chain up before proceeding.

When you encounter a sign or flashing amber lights with a message that indicates vehicles over a certain posted GVW (gross vehicle weight) must chain up, then carrying the chains is no longer sufficient.

The tire chains MUST be installed at that point. Failure to do so may result in a fine or other enforcement action. Proceeding without the proper equipment installed could also cause you to lose control of your vehicle, endangering your own life and the lives of others.

Winter Tires

Transport Canada recommends the use of a winter tire that has been rated for severe snow conditions. These tires have a pictograph of a mountain peak with snowflakes on the side. In section 208 (1) of B.C.’s Motor Vehicle Act there is a more specific definition of “winter tire.”

Tires marked with the pictograph of a peaked mountain with a snowflake meet specific snow traction performance requirements, and have been designed specifically for use in severe snow conditions.

Tips for the Road

Speed limits are for dry conditions. Keep in mind that it can take about three times as long, or as far, to stop on snow and ice than it does on dry pavement. Keep at least three times normal distance between you and the car in front.

• Be extra cautious in danger zones: intersections, lane changes, turns, stops.
• In snow, tires barely grab the road, so accelerate, turn and stop gently.
• Accelerate and brake on straight-aways where possible, gently in either case.
• If ice and bare patches alternate, brake in the bare spots and coast over the ice. Apply that same rationale to bridges, which freeze before roadways, and try to reach “bridge speed” before you get there.
• Use your lights on low beam and if you can’t see the edge of the road, use roadside reflectors to guide you.
• When descending a hill, your maximum safe speed should be at the crest.
• Four-wheel-drive owners: Even though your system is great for moving around in the snow, it doesn’t help you slow down! Word to the wise: slow down safely!
• A word about snowplow drivers. They’re up when you’re asleep, work in conditions you avoid in order to clear your way to the slopes. So be kind, give the plow plenty of room and keep your beams low. Above all, be like a tortoise and practice patience.

For up-to-date highway conditions, please see the BC Highways Ministry road report.