Sovereign Lake / Silver Star, BC

This page was created in Dec. 2021 for our club's general membership meeting, but we are leaving it up for general information. You are invited to join our meeting:  (Zoom) meeting on Tuesday, December 14, 2021. Hope to see you then!

Sovereign Lake and Silver Star are two independent places. But their trail systems intersect and they cooperate on trail tickets. One can ski a grand tour around both areas! (see note about covid restrictions this year)

• Sovereign Lake is a dedicated Nordic ski are - with training facilities for the national team and a wide variety of Nordic trails (55 km) and snowshoe trails (14 km).
• Silver Star is a winter sports resort with its primary emphasis on downhill skiing, but with excellent Nordic and snowshoe trails. And Wikipedia says that Silver Star has an average of 23 feet of snow annually!
• Location: is 15 miles east of Vernon, BC; it's about 300 miles from Bellingham. Approximately 6 hours from Bellingham if all goes according to plan.
• Elevation: The Silver Star village is at 5280 feet. If you take the lift to the top, you get another 1000 feet (or you can ski up :) Sovereign Lake is listed in between at 5500 feet.
• Google Road map to ski area - map created while highways were closed due to flooding and washouts. It might or might not update itself.
• Driving: It's in the mountains and it's wintertime. Better be prepared! Snow tires are required by Canadian law. And bring chains.
• If traveling from further away, check out flying into Kelowna (click the International tab) If you take a shuttle to Silver Star, you won't need to rent a car.
• Type of skiing: Most trails are groomed nightly for classical and skating.
• Trail maps - Sovereign Lake; Silver Star; Avenza map is available
• Length of season: It looks like from late November until early April.
• Current weather conditions: Sovereign Lake; Silver Star
• Snowmaking:
• Expected Weather:
• When would I go?
• Places to stay / price range: Silver Star is a winter resort specializing in downhill skiing. There is a wide variety of rental options available that allow you to ski 'out the door' onto the Nordic trail system (and onto the downhill trails.) Others stay in traditional motels and hotels in Vernon, BC, 15 miles away.
• Places to eat: The resort has extensive choices. Sovereign Lake has a snack bar - and a lodge that is suitable for eating your sack lunch.
• Trail fees / passes needed: Sovereign Lake; Silver Star; Read the FAQs carefully - because of covid, the two ski areas are not sharing a common pass this year.  But you can still ski one day at one area, then the next day at the other.
• Nordic Ski Lessons: (both skate and classical) are available. Sovereign Lake; Silver Star
• Equipment rentals are available.
• Sovereign Lake has some dog-friendly trails.
• Special Events: There should be good skiing all season long. But a race/tour gives you a chance to be part of an event! Join others for specially marked trails, feed stations, and the fun of a race! Some to check out: Sovereign 2 SilverStar Ski Marathon, April 2-3, 2022;
• Other things to do: downhill skiing at Silver Star. Fat-tire biking, sleigh rides, bowling, tubing, etc.
• Want to talk about it? Want some stories? Want a suggested itinerary?  This is a forwarding email address, your questions will be sent to 'the 'experienced user' – questions@nooksacknordicskiclub.org

What I would do/ski:

• I'd start at Sovereign Lake and put in some k's.  But I'd reserve at least one day for Silver Star (see next note)
• One of the perks of the Nordic ticket is one free ride up the Des Schumann Summit Express chair lift. Which then gives you a *long* downhill ski (sort-of) out to the Alder Point Lookout, and then down to the bottom of the hill. While I might not 'approve' of downhill skiing when I'm on my Nordic skis, it was a pretty cool ski!!