Winter Vacations

There's so much to do here in the winter you may never want to leave! When the temperature falls, snow blankets the area surrounding Vernon.

If you plan your visit in early February, be sure and take part in our Moonlit Lantern Ski as part of the Vernon Winter Carnival. Every February there's a different theme with colourful festivities. The Hot Air Balloon Fiesta is on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Grab your cameras as you watch these gentle giants roll across the sky in a blaze of colour. Keep those cameras out for the BC Championship Snow Sculpture Competition. You'll be amazed by what these teams can do.

Head into the woods and be one of the Nordic tourers and telemarkers who make their way through 100 km (62 mi) of trails at Sovereign Lake and Silver Star. It's cross-country skiing that will take your breath away.

Try your hand at snowshoeing. It's easy and affordable and if you can walk, you can snowshoe. The trail system at Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre is perfect for novices and experts. Hikers can challenge themselves by snowshoeing the BX Creek & Falls Trail or the Longacre Trail. Need snowshoes? Not to worry - you can rent then at Sun Country Cycle.

Cyclists and mountain bikers no longer have to wait for spring to get on their bikes and ride. Silver Star now has fat biking! If you've never tried it, it's a bike made for riding in the snow. These bikes have fat tires and modified frames to make biking in the snow an adventure like no other.

Join a group snowmobile tour as you blast across frozen lakes, through open meadows and up and around snowy trails at Silver Star.

Of course, there's always skiing! Downhill and cross-country skiing are two of the best ways to enjoy our winter wonderland. Whether you love swooshing down the slopes through deep powder, or trekking through the forest with your family and friends, we have acres and acres of tamed wilderness for you to enjoy. As for the snowboarders, they love our winter sunshine and annual snowfall of 700cm/23ft.

For more great things to see and do, check out our Events Calendar, or email Tourism Vernon.