Whitewater Mountain Resort

Forty feet of snow, deep glades and Nelson below.

Whitewater, about 30 minutes from Nelson, gets roughly 40 feet of snow a year on a small, five-lift mountain with big, easy-to-reach glades. This season it adds Short Side, about 190 acres and six new runs. Expect a local feel, from-scratch food in the lodge and no cell service on the hill.

The mountain

Vertical drop

1,420 ft

Summit

6,768 ft

Skiable terrain

1,557 acres

Trails

113

Lifts

5

Average snowfall

472″ a year

Longest run

2.7 mi

Terrain mix

• Beginner 9%
• Intermediate 27%
• Advanced 64%

What’s here besides skiing

• Cross-country
• Snowshoeing
• Fat biking
• Nightlife
• Kids programs

Holidays and events

2026–27 dates where they’re posted. “Usually” means the date follows past years. Confirm before you go.

• ChristmasDec 24 (annual)Usually

  Santa at Whitewater

  Santa skis Whitewater on Christmas Eve and spends the day by the Skier Services building chatting with guests.

• Opening dayFri, Dec 4

  Opening Day

  Whitewater’s published opening day for 2026-27.

• FestivalEarly February, Thu–Sun (annual)Usually

  Kootenay Coldsmoke Powderfest

  Grassroots ski and snowboard festival with clinics, competitions, backcountry education and arts events in Nelson and on the hill.

• Pond skimClosing day (annual)Usually

  Closing Day Beach Party & Slush Cup

  Costumes, a Slush Cup across the pond, live music and an on-snow beer garden.

Where to stay

• slopesideHummingbird Lodge Boutique Suite

  Whitewater’s only slopeside lodging: a two-bedroom suite for up to six with a full kitchen. There are also 10 winter RV sites.

  Slopeside
• hotelHume Hotel

  Historic boutique hotel in downtown Nelson with a pub, a lounge, a nightclub and a spa. On the ski shuttle route.

  30 min drive
• hotelAdventure Hotel

  Comfortable downtown Nelson hotel steps from Baker Street, with a guest lounge and a shuttle stop.

  30 min drive
• hotelPrestige Lakeside Resort

  Hotel on the Kootenay Lake waterfront at the edge of downtown Nelson; also a shuttle stop.

  30 min drive

Rates are typical winter lows before taxes and fees, and change constantly. Book on the property’s own site.

Things to do

• Baldface Lodge

  Renowned cat-skiing lodge in the Selkirks near Nelson, booked as multi-day trips.

• Stellar Heliskiing · ~1.5 hr drive

  Small-group heli-skiing based in Kaslo on Kootenay Lake.

• Ainsworth Hot Springs · ~1 hr from Nelson

  Hot pools and a horseshoe-shaped cave above Kootenay Lake.

• Nelson Nordic Ski Club · 15 min drive

  Groomed cross-country trails off Highway 6, on the way up to Whitewater.

• Nelson Brewing Company · 30 min drive

  Organic brewery and taproom in downtown Nelson.

• Nelson Museum, Archives & Gallery · 30 min drive

  Regional history, archives and art in a historic downtown building.

Après and nightlife

• Coal Oil Johnny’s Pub

  The pub in Whitewater’s day lodge, right at the base.

• Mike’s Place Pub

  Busy pub in Nelson’s Hume Hotel and home of Whitewater’s season kickoff party.

• Nelson Brewing Company

  Local organic beer; it also pours at the closing-day beer garden.

Getting there

• West Kootenay Regional (Castlegar) (YCG) · about 45 min drive
• Spokane · about 3.5 hr
• Vancouver · about 7.5 hr

Directions in Google Maps