BOU AVENUE
Big White Mountain
Zosia Zgolak and I celebrated Canada Day (1 July 2026) by climbing Big White Mountain located at its namesake ski resort southeast of Kelowna, British Columbia.  This was the opening day of the resort's summer operation which mostly entails taking mountain bikers up the Bullet Express chairlift but also includes maintaining a small network of trails which allow hikers to climb to the summit of the mountain.  While hiking here is free, the resort asks hikers to stay on the designated trails in order to reduce conflicts with mountain bikers zooming down the mountain.  It is also possible for hikers to pay ($15 CDN per person as of this writing) for a single round-trip ride up the chairlift which would shave off at least 400 metres of elevation gain/loss, but this is subject to the resort's summer operation schedule (usually 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Thursday thru Sunday plus holidays).  Since we arrived at the resort so early, we did not feel like waiting two hours for the chairlift to open and opted to simply hike up the mountain on our own power.  Despite there being a "no parking" sign at the Village Centre's parking lot (49.72143, -118.92630), we were reassured by an employee that the sign only applied during winter.  Though we easily got a parking spot, space is limited here, but apparently most visitors simply park on the adjacent streets in the resort's village (see the resort's website for more details on parking).

From the Village Centre plaza, Zosia and I followed signs for "Rhonda Lake Trail" which runs eastward past the Bullet Express chairlift and numerous condominium complexes to the Black Forest Express chairlift (not in operation).  Signage is excellent throughout the trail network, and there are even orange spray-painted cairns that mark the designated trails.  Near the Black Forest Express chairlift, we began climbing in earnest up the resort's easternmost ski run ("Cliff Ski Out").  Other than having to tiptoe through some wet sections or detour around the odd deadfall, the ascent of the trail was very straightforward.  Arriving at "Rhonda Lake", we continued to follow the trail which circles around the north side of the basin before climbing gradually southward toward the Bullet Express chairlift's upper station.  By the time we arrived at the upper station, the chairlift was already in operation, and a steady stream of mountain bikers and hikers were disembarking.  From there, we briefly headed west along "Alpine Meadows" trail before turning right to ascend "Peak Trail".  The remainder of the ascent was also straightforward, and we were fortunate to have the summit all to ourselves while we were there.  We then took a break a short distance below the summit before commencing our descent.

For our return, Zosia and I turned off Peak Trail at the junction with "Falcon Ridge" trail and headed westward to the junction with "Jamieson Loop".  We chose to skip the loop, but we did go off-trail here for a short distance to tag a subsidiary high point.  Returning to Falcon Ridge trail, we easily followed it all the way down the mountain to the Village Centre plaza.  The only route-finding issue we had was losing the trail briefly near a bend in Porcupine Road at the village, but we managed to find the orange cairns again just a bit lower.  Upon completion of our hike, we stuck around to play some disc golf at the resort's 9-hole course and to eat dinner inside the Village Centre before departing for good.
Where's mommy? A couple of grizzly bear cubs are spotted on the side of the road to Big White Ski Resort.
If looks could kill... The cubs' mother is not too far away.
I guess the bear caution sign is warranted! Zosia follows signs for the resort's hiking trails.
I wonder who had the fun job of spray-painting all the rocks... Orange rock cairns help keep hikers on track.
Great place for bears! The "Rhonda Lake Trail" basically follows a ski run called "Cliff Ski Out".
Would be glorious to ski here in winter! Zosia breaks out of the forest into a big basin on the east side of Big White Mountain.  The summit is actually above Zosia's head.
Possibly the water supply for the ski resort? Zosia arrives at unofficially-named "Rhonda Lake".  The trail continues up the slope behind Zosia.
Nope, not bears! A curious ground squirrel pokes its head out of the ground.
A very pleasant climb! The trail climbs gradually to the top of the Bullet Express chairlift which is visible at left.
You mean we could've paid $15 to get here at the same time? Sonny arrives at the top of the Bullet Express chairlift which is now in operation.

Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
Guess where it leads? Above the Bullet Express chairlift, Zosia follows "Peak Trail".
Looks like a big swimming pool! Here is an aerial view of Rhonda Lake from the ridge above.
I guess we're still on the right track! Signs and orange cairns mark the way to the top.
O Canada! Sonny and Zosia celebrate Canada Day on the summit of Big White Mountain (2315 metres).

Still some unexpected climbing left!

Zosia follows "Falcon Ridge" trail across open meadows.

 

High point of "Falcon Ridge"? Zosia stands on a subsidiary high point (2272 metres) to the west of Big White Mountain's summit (left).
Another great place for bears! Zosia continues descending "Falcon Ridge" trail through more meadows.
Counter-clockwise is the best direction for the loop hike! Zosia has one more big open slope to descend before reaching the resort village.
Thank you, Big White Ski Resort, for allowing free hiking here in the summer! Total Distance:  11.1 kilometres
Round-Trip Time:  5 hours 59 minutes
Cumulative Elevation Gain:  612 metres

GPX Data

Playing this course added maybe another 100 metres of elevation gain to our day!

Zosia tees off on the third hole of Big White Ski Resort's 9-hole disc golf course.

 

We NEVER pay at all at Big White! Inside the Village Centre, Sonny prepares to dig into dinner (salad, strawberries and cherries).

Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak