Whitewater Ski Resort
Whitewater Ski Resort
4.5
About
Whitewater Ski Resort, quietly legendary, is hard to describe to those who have not had the privilege to experience its true authenticity and abundance of snow. Over 12 meters (40 feet) of snow falls each season on 2044 vertical feet of uncrowded slopes of family-friendly groomers and bumps, remarkable steeps, top of the line tree-skiing, and endless backcountry. Some come for the legendary skiing, and some come for the legendary food. Whitewater serves up proper Kootenay hospitality with its internationally acclaimed menu that has inspired four National Best Selling cookbooks. Whitewater. Pure, simple and real…DEEP Ski & Stay and always catch the first tracks. Explore The Hummingbird Lodge & Campground, Whitewater's premier on-mountain lodging, offering a boutique suite and a serviced RV campground, available year-round.
Duration: More than 3 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
257 reviews
Excellent
184
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50
Average
9
Poor
3
Terrible
11
David C
Spokane, WA151 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
Just a quick review and some travel tips. We drove up from Spokane for the day. If heading through the Nelway border crossing please remember it opens at 8:00 AM so you will miss the opening runs at the resort. You can go up through Colville as well which is a 24 hour border crossing but adds time to the journey. We were there on a Sunday so the lines at the two lifts by the lodge got a little long, but not bad. The mountain has runs for everyone. If you want to hike in and drop into some impressive bowls that’s available too, just have to get back country clearance at the customer service booth. Also, my son had a binding issue as the boots were apparently not adjusted for correctly here in Spokane. The very helpful maintenance staff adjusted them for us right there and it took maybe 15 minutes. My son does have demo bindings so that did make the fix easier anyhow. Friendly staff from all over the world. Shout out to Emma from Aus for being patient with a gift card transaction issue! The exchange rate works in our favor as well. Lodge food was quite good, all be it a little slow, but most items are custom builds with quality ingredients. Whitewater is a really nice challenging mountain. Give a try.
Written January 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bikingmom
Cleveland, OH782 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
We only had 1 day to ski here because the weather had been so warm for 10 days, but really wanted to see the mountain. It is about a 25 minute drive from Nelson, parking is free and not too far from the lodge. We were there on a Saturday, so very busy with a race, ski school and the ski racing team. Most of the blue runs were icy and not groomed. I ended up on the 2 person chair my entire day. My husband went up the summit chair, but was not happy with the runs. The Glory ridge was basically unsuitable for skiing that day.
The lodge was nice and the food options were amazing. Really the best food I have ever had on a ski mountain. I even bought the cookbook! The lower level of the lodge is where you can get ready and leave your gear. Would only return if the snow conditions are better.
The lodge was nice and the food options were amazing. Really the best food I have ever had on a ski mountain. I even bought the cookbook! The lower level of the lodge is where you can get ready and leave your gear. Would only return if the snow conditions are better.
Written February 6, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joseph K
Nelson, Canada9 contributions
Jan 2024 • Family
We buy seasons passes every year. WE LOVE SKIING HERE! Usually lots of power (lacking this year lol) and they keep improving the lifts. Food is pretty decent for a ski lodge. We try and go as much as possible!
Written January 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeff P
4 contributions
Feb 2020
Planned a five day trip to Nelson with a plan to ski three days at Whitewater with family. First date of Skiing was great and we foolishly bought a three day ski pass. Next day we got a late start (.trying to a place to eat breakfast in Nelson was difficult, either closed or not open till 9) Got to the hill at 10:30 and parking lots were full- no parking and no skiing. No sign or notice at the bottom of the hill. We drove all the way up and around all the parking lots and were told that we were out of luck. Won’t be back again to this place. Love Nelson but not worth planning a ski holiday if you can’t ski.
Written February 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carolyn1950091
Vernon, Canada4 contributions
Jan 2021
The resort is doing a great job this trying year, even on a day with lousy conditions (after rain and 3 cm of new snow, it was like skiing the groomed runs on ball bearings).
If they can get foot rests on at least 1 chair, I would return. I thought my ankles were going to fall off with the weight of the skis and boots dangling from the chair. Maybe I'm slightly older and spoiled, but I really wanted to ski and if I'm in agony by 2 pm, it really puts a damper on the day. I ended up using the old fashioned ski pole straps on my skis and balancing the poles under the back rest. (My younger ski friend had never seen this done - we used to have to do it all the time before foot rests became standard on most chairs.)
If they can get foot rests on at least 1 chair, I would return. I thought my ankles were going to fall off with the weight of the skis and boots dangling from the chair. Maybe I'm slightly older and spoiled, but I really wanted to ski and if I'm in agony by 2 pm, it really puts a damper on the day. I ended up using the old fashioned ski pole straps on my skis and balancing the poles under the back rest. (My younger ski friend had never seen this done - we used to have to do it all the time before foot rests became standard on most chairs.)
Written January 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kootenayjane
Canada9 contributions
Dec 2024 • Family
The customer service was really bad today on opening day, their system was broken so they had people waiting in lines for hours. They had no sense of urgency to help people. It’s pretty bad when the customer is proactive and does everything right only to show up and have to do it all over again and miss hours of skiing to stand in line for their failed system. With no compensation. The management of this resort is really disappointing season after season and this year was another disappointment from day one in how they manage it.
Written December 6, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sonia W
1 contribution
Dec 2024 • Family
It was a shortened day, I generally don’t find guest services very efficient and the mountain seems poorly managed. Today they closed early and a man was with his 2 kids his older kid had to ride the lift alone because he eas helping the littlest one. The older child got on the lift then it was us, but the lifty said it was closed early so we couldn’t go up it 3:01 they closed at 3. Ironically they open at 9am but it’s almost always a few minutes past 9 before they load and they don’t sweep the ice and snow off the chairs. Behind us the man with the child went to get on they refused him. He told them his daughter a child was by herself and on her way up planning to meet him at the top with the younger sibling. I was shocked and horrified that they refused to let him up. He had know way to get to his daughter. I could not believe they did that, but not totally surprised my experience there is that they don’t particularly care about service. The restaurant is the only place to get decent service. And not the cafeteria that’s a gong show, but the restaurant is ok. It’s a poorly managed mountain. Great snow and amazing skiing. Not well groomed if that’s what you want.
Written December 27, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bev h
1 contribution
Jan 2022 • Family
Nelson and WW have lost the vibe. So busy, long lineups for tracked out runs. People are snobby and don't smile anymore. Vaxxed and unvaxxed segregated. The artists that made this place cool seem to be gone.
Written January 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pt201858
Nelson, Canada6 contributions
Feb 2021
Feb. 26, first time up this weird season...was impressed with Covid protocols, felt safe. Had avoided due to Covid, but happy I went up. The snow, as usual, was great!
Written March 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Madshus
Canberra, Australia1,358 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
We were fortunate to strike this resort during a powder day. But so did everyone else from Nelson. It was busy on the lifts at the start of the day but given the extensive terrain there was no crowds. Being a Saturday it was hectic at the lodge but the food was terrific!
Written March 15, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anyone could advise me transportation option between Fernie and Whitewater in Jan 2022. Thanks
Written November 10, 2021
Is there many options for beginners to intermediates? I’m thinking of bringing my kids and wife and worried they will not have much choice of terrain to chose from?
Written February 10, 2020
I am an intermediate skier and really enjoyed Whitewater. I rode the Silverking Chair which has good Green and Blue options. There is also a small rope tow for absolute beginners. The summit chair has good challenging groomed blue runs "motherload" and "Bonanza" however you need ot be a confident intermediate for these.
Written March 11, 2020
Hi
Is there a place in a lodge for someone who prefers to bring their own food? If so, is there anything available like a microwave?
The on mountain food sounds fantastic but i have a very specific diet and to avoid any risks prefer to bring my own.
Thank you
Ruby
Written December 30, 2017
Yep - lower level of the lodge has Microwave and a smaller snack bar too. Bag lunches are ok there too ..
Written March 6, 2018
Anyone know of a better deal on Whitewater lift tickets other than direct or thru Liftopia? Going for just one day next week- midweek.
Thanks!
Written March 10, 2016
We got a deal when we stayed at The Best Western Baker Street in Nelson...included accommodation, full breakfast and lift ticket. It was a good deal.
Have fun at Whitewater, such terrific skiing!!...be sure to have lunch at Fresh Tracks. Amazing food.
Written March 12, 2016
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