Whitewater Ski Resort: A Remote, Laid-back Resort with Deep Pow
Endless Backcountry terrain. No cell connection. Deep pow. Friendly atmosphere.
★★★★☆ Solitude: Locals have fought to keep cell towers off the mountain. We're glad—the lack of cell receptions is a rare treat.
★★★★★ Challenge: Not a lot of beginner terrain. Steep, deep, and epic. The backcountry possibilities are mind-blowing.
★★★★☆ Wonder: The view of Ymir peak from the lodge is nothing short of spectacular.
Know Before You Go
Nestled in the southern reaches of British Columbia’s Selkirk Mountains, Whitewater is the ski resort that time forgot. There’s no WIFI or cell reception. No ski-in ski-out-condos. No village with overpriced, pretentious shops. And yet Whitewater may just be one of the best resorts you’ll ever visit.
Snow, deep snow, is the first reason. With an average snowfall of 40 feet per season, a powder day at Whitewater makes skiers speak in hushed and reverent tones.
You’ll find big resort terrain at Whitewater—steep and sprawling—but in a small resort package. Ymir peak, fittingly named after the Norse frost giant, looms Alps-like over scenic Ymir bowl. Two basic chairs (no heated gondolas here) provide access to the bowl’s epic frontside terrain—a full 180 degrees of chutes and tree skiing galore. The Glory Ridge triple chair services the backside of the resort where you'll find acres of untouched glades.
The main lodge is famous for its incredibly good food, and it may be the only ski lodge cafeteria with a world class cookbook series (you haven’t lived until you've tasted the signature Glory Bowl).
Whitewater’s magic is due partly to nearby Nelson, a quirky town that oozes a laid-back counter-culture vibe. Long known as an escape for draft dodgers and misfits, Nelson is now known for its amazing food, friendly b&bs, and prolific art scene.
Nelson and Whitewater are no longer as secret as they once were (they are both consistently featured in blogs and film), but industry praise doesn’t change the fact that Nelson is remote, so crowds—even on a powder dump—are still manageable.
Coordinates and Notes
A few final thoughts: The small lodge on the backside offers awesome food as well as a sneaky-good parking alternative. Also, if you're heading into the backcountry, sign in at the main lodge and know what you're getting into—the terrain isn't for amateurs. And finally - don't forget to have fun and Get Lost!
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