The cross-country ski trails on Silver Star Mountain have been a bit of a mecca for cross-country skiers for a number of reasons.   First, the road goes to the Village, which is at a higher altitude, access to early and late snow.   Second, the mountain and the nordic club have invested in infrastructure for cross-country skiers – lots of trails, a biathlon system, trail grooming, lights, signage, huts, and support services.   Third, the mountain has targeted cross-country skiers for early season bookings, camps, and training, using the High Altitude Training Center as a base.   For many years, we all skied at Silver Star for up to a month before we skied anywhere else, then  returned in the late season for some more tracked skiing.   Now Sun Peaks opens its trails early and continues to track late so we travel south less.

There are two separate areas.   The upper area starts at the Village.   Skiers can do the loops around the knoll and beyond the biathlon range, or they can ski up mountain to the trail system on top.

The trail to the top is a good long uphill, but the mountain also allows nordic passes to be used for a ride to the top on the old chair.

Once on top, there is a good trail network with crisp, higher altitude snow.   Recommended trails are Comin Round the Mountain and Alder Point.

There are also trails (Aberdeen or Lars Taylor) connecting the upper mountain to the Sovereign Lake system.   These are long downhills so if you can work a two-vehicle system, it is a good choice.   It is also possible to ski over the top of the mountain, down to Sovereign Lakes, back past the parking lot, and back up on the Gold Mountain Trail (4.5km) to the Village.   If you try this, you had better be in good shape (24km).

Alternately, you can go straight to the Sovereign Lakes system and ski on their trails (a post to follow).

silver star (pdf of the ski network)