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Nordic Skiing
Nordic (cross country) skiing is a popular winter activity at Silver Star Provincial Park, both inside the park at the Sovereign Lake Nordic Center, as well as at the ski resort, in the Controlled Recreation Area (CRA) that used to be part of Silver Star Provincial Park until 1992.
The Sovereign Lake Nordic Club (SLNC) maintains approximately 50 kilometers of cross country ski trails within the Provincial Park, and operates the Sovereign Lake Nordic Center. Most of the trails are groomed for classic and skate skiing. The club was formerly called the North Okanagan Cross Country Ski Club.
Silver Star Mountain Resort also maintains another 55 kilometers of cross country trails inside the CRA. The two trail systems are joined together, making a total of approximately 105 kilometers.
To view a map of the Sovereign Lake trail system, click the icon below.
Silver Star Mountain Resort's trail system joins to Sovereign Lake's system in 4 places. Trails joining the Sovereign Lake system are "Comin' Round the Mountain", "Paradise Trail", "Lars Taylor Way", and "Gold Mountain".
To view Silver Star Mountain Resort's trail system, click the icon below.
Sovereign Lake
The majority of local cross country skiers drive to the Sovereign Lake parking lot inside Silver Star Provincial Park, and ski from the Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre. This community ski area has been developed over the past 30 years as a joint effort between B.C. Parks and the North Okanagan Cross Country Club (now named Sovereign Lake Nordic Club). Club members have donated tens of thousands of volunteer hours over the years to build and maintain the ski trails and facilities. The Sovereign Lake lodge is a small, two-story structure, built in the early 1990's, mainly by volunteer labor supplied by nordic club members. The lodge is heated by wood stoves, and offers ski and snowshoe rentals, ski lessons, and snacks and beverages.
It wasn't that long ago that skiing at Sovereign Lake was actually free of charge. B.C. Parks maintained and operated the ski area, with no trail fees being charged. In 1989 however, a change in B.C. Parks policy meant that the ski area would have to be self-supporting on a user-pay basis. The North Okanagan Cross Country Club was offered the opportunity to operate the area, and in 1990, the club took over operations at Sovereign Lake. For a detailed acount of the development of the Sovereign Lake ski area, see the Park History section.
