8 Must-Do Activities in Sun Peaks, B.C.

You may think that Sun Peaks, B.C., is just a ski resort, but you’d be wrong. Sun Peaks is a resort municipality — akin to a Whistler in its early days. That means it’s not just a place where people show up to ski, then leave. No, it has its own community of year-round residents — a very active and connected community, in fact — and it’s perhaps the biggest draw of this alpine destination, any time of year.

Part of that is due to Olympic champion and former Canadian Senator, Nancy Green Raine, and her husband, Al Raine, who was the first mayor of Sun Peaks right up until the day before his passing in December 2024. After helping turn Whistler into a ski mecca, the couple has put Sun Peaks on the map as a world-class destination, and more importantly, as a welcoming community.

Located 45 minutes from Kamloops (a scenic seven-and-a-half-hour drive from Calgary), Sun Peaks has the second-largest ski area in Canada and is consistently recognized as one of the top ski resorts in North America.

Summer in Sun Peaks is also well worth checking out. The Sun Peaks Bike Park celebrated 25 years of providing lift-access riding to mountain bikers last summer. There’s also hiking, canoeing, dining options, a free concert series and more.

Here are eight things you definitely want to do in Sun Peaks (plus a notable nearby day trip).

Explore the village

The European-style ski-in/ski-out, pedestrian village features locally owned shops, restaurants and lodging. Wander through the village where you can buy or rent gear, browse boutiques for apparel, locally crafted jewellery and artwork, grab a latte and a tasty treat or even get a tattoo. You can also play a game of outdoor chess or ping pong. In summer, locals and visitors alike gather by the iconic clock tower for a free evening concert every first Friday of the month. The Village Stage also hosts free live music every Friday.

Sleep on the mountain

Stay in the heart of the village with ski-in, ski-out convenience and easy access to everything the village has to offer. There’s a variety of lodging options in the village including Top of the Mountain Accommodations, which has one of the largest inventories in Sun Peaks to choose from, ranging from studio to five-bedroom options with hot tubs and breathtaking views. Village hotels provide the perfect base for your mountain getaway.

Dine out, village style

 

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Start your day with a tasty breakfast at Vertical Café. Owned by newly elected mayor Rob O’Toole and his family, the café takes a farm-to-table approach with locally sourced ingredients for healthy and fresh breakfast and lunch options, all made with love. In summer, sit on the patio and enjoy organic coffee, breakfast sandwiches, homemade soups, freshly baked goods, smoothies, lattes and more.

Feel like pizza? Look no further than Mountain High Pizza. Follow your nose with the delicious aromas that fill the village. Choose from fresh pizza by the slice or by the pie with flavours like the five-cheese Ridge, the chicken pesto Challenger or the alfredo-based Hawaiian Sun Catcher Deluxe. Gluten-free crusts are available.

Chow down on classic comfort food with global flavours at Cahilty Creek Kitchen & Taproom located in Nancy Greene’s Cahilty Lodge. Choose from 16 taps of craft beer, plus cider and wine. It’s the perfect place to unwind with a satisfying meal.

For a sushi craving, Oya is the place. Offering a wide selection of sushi rolls, tableside-torched oshizushi and starters, not to mention a vast sake and Japanese whisky menu, Oya serves up delicious Japanese cuisine with friendly service.

Take a sky-high summer hike 

Go for the Top of the World hiking tour up Tod Mountain. A friendly and knowledgeable local guide can take you up the Sunburst Express chairlift and show you the sights, pointing out vivid wildflowers and sharing the rich history of the area, or you can hike it on your own. Top of the World is the highest lift-accessed point in Sun Peaks and offers sweeping 360-degree views of, well, everything, including B.C. landmarks like Shuswap Lake, Dunn Peak, and the Coast and Monashee Mountain ranges. (In winter, it’s the gateway to some challenging ski and snowboard terrain.) If you’re feeling extra limber, sign up for alpine yoga to mix in with your hike. Just be sure to bring bug spray and sunscreen.

Chill out at McGillivray Lake

Choose from canoes, kayaks or stand-up paddle boards (available to rent from the Sun Peaks Activities Desk), and make your way to McGillivray Lake, about a 10-minute drive away. All watercraft are stored at the lake so you don’t have to transport them. In summer, you can also bike over from Sun Peaks. The trail is fairly easy, even for beginners, and is about a 10-kilometre round trip with a low-grade, steady climb out to the lake and a quick descent on your return. This high-elevation lake offers a peaceful paddle, complete with lily pads, jumping fish and mountain views.

Get on two wheels 

 

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For die-hard mountain bikers (or aspiring ones), Sun Peaks Bike Park is the place to be all summer. It features two chairlifts, over 84 kilometres of trails and 595 metres of lift-accessed vertical across Tod and Sundance mountains. There’s also Progression Park, a bike skills zone that’s ideal for kids and beginners of all ages to practice core mountain biking skills. For those looking for a less intense biking experience, you can explore the pedal access trail network instead. Bring your own biking gear or rent from Elevation Bike, Ski & Board.

Hit some balls

 

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In summer, get your golf on at Sun Peaks’s 18-hole, par 72, Graham Cooke-designed golf course. It’s centred along the valley floor amongst the surrounding mountains for gorgeous scenery. And, with the greens located at 1,200 metres above sea level, Sun Peaks Golf Course is B.C.’s highest elevation course. Higher elevation means your ball can fly further, and the high alpine air makes for cooler days on the course.

Grab some pow

Sun Peaks is the ultimate winter playground with 4,270 acres of skiable terrain spread across three mountain peaks — Tod, Sundance and Morrisey. With an average of six metres of snowfall annually, Sun Peaks’s slopes are renowned for light, dry powder. Each mountain is easily accessible from the village, so you can ride all three in the same day or stick to one area. Other winter activities include dog sledding, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing — there’s even alpine fondue.

Take a day trip to Wells Gray Park

Known as Canada’s waterfall park with 41 named waterfalls and counting, Wells Gray Park is a 90-minute drive north from Sun Peaks via the Yellowhead Highway 5. First stop, Spahats Creek Falls. A stroll through the cool hemlock and cedar forest brings you to the viewing platform where you can see the falls plunge through a keyhole in the rock face into Clearwater River. Next, drive about 35 minutes to Helmcken Falls, which drops a whopping 141 metres, making it the fourth highest waterfall in Canada. Impressive no matter the season, Helmcken Falls also has an accessible viewing platform that provides a panoramic view of Murtle River.

Waterfalls aside, the park has hiking for many abilities, ranging from short walks to multi-day adventures as well as boating, canoeing, kayaking and birding. Plan for adequate driving and exploring time as the park is sizable. Stop in Clearwater for a bite or grab lunch to enjoy at the park. Try the Wild Flour Café and Bakery for sandwiches, baked goods and good coffee.

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