Silver Star lands fifth in Condé Nast Traveller’s North American ski rankings

Silver Star in British Columbia was ranked fifth in Condé Nast Traveller’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards for the best ski resorts in North America. The result puts two British Columbia resorts in the top five and arrives ahead of the 2026/27 winter season.

Why it matters: - Silver Star’s top-five finish boosts the resort’s profile heading into the 2026/27 winter season. - British Columbia now has two resorts in the North American top five, with Whistler Blackcomb also on the list. - The ranking can influence travel demand, bookings and regional visibility for Vernon and the North Okanagan.

What happened: - Condé Nast Traveller ranked Silver Star fifth among the best ski resorts in North America in its 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards. - Silver Star received a score of 93.26 out of 100. - The North American list includes 15 resorts. - Deer Valley in Utah took first place with a score of 97.78. - Sun Valley in Idaho, Vail in Colorado and Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia placed second through fourth. - Mount Washington on Vancouver Island ranked ninth, giving British Columbia three resorts on the list.

The details: - Silver Star’s alpine terrain includes 3,303 skiable acres and 133 runs. - The resort has 760 metres of vertical drop. - The village sits at 1,609 metres and offers ski-in, ski-out access. - Silver Star’s pedestrian village has year-round residents. - The Nordic trail system connects with Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre to create 105 kilometres of groomed cross-country and skate ski trails. - Silver Star and Sovereign Lake together form one of the largest combined alpine and Nordic networks in North America. - The mountain averages 700 cm of snow each year. - Silver Star is 22 kilometres from downtown Vernon in the North Okanagan. - The ranking was announced weeks before the 2026/27 winter season. - Snow is already on the ground. - Accommodation, events and trip-planning information is available at Destination Silver Star.

Between the lines: - Destination Silver Star framed the ranking as a reflection of the on-mountain experience rather than marketing. - Michael Benedek, executive director of Destination Silver Star, pointed to the village’s year-round community, alpine runs and Nordic trails as the resort’s differentiators. - Benedek also said the recognition sets a higher expectation for the winter season.

What’s next: - Destination Silver Star is positioning the award to drive winter visitation. - The resort will lean on its village, alpine terrain and Nordic network as the season gets underway. - Destination Silver Star says visitors can use its website for planning and trip information.

The bottom line: - Silver Star is entering the winter season with a major national endorsement and a stronger competitive position in the Canadian Rockies and Okanagan tourism market.