Know the mountain
SilverStar trail guide and ski-day planner
SilverStar has two very different faces: sunny, family-friendly Vance Creek above the village, and steep, tree-lined Putnam Creek on the back side. Here’s how it all connects, the best runs for every level, how to get home at the end of the day, and a planner that builds your day for you.
Updated September 2026 · by Sean Phillips, REALTOR®
Plan your day in 10 seconds. Pick your level, where you’re staying and the kind of day it is. Jump to the planner ↓
End of the day: “How do we get back to our place?” It’s the number-one question SilverStar’s Mountain Hosts hear. Find your way home ↓
The big picture
How SilverStar fits together
- The Village (1,609 m). Mid-mountain, with car-free Main Street, which is also a ski run. Most lifts start here or nearby.
- Vance Creek, the front side. The Des Schumann Summit Express gondola and the Comet Express six-pack climb to the 1,915 m summit. Wide, sunny blues, long greens and the terrain park.
- Attridge. The Attridge Chair above Alpine Meadows serves blues and a cluster of steeper blacks, plus Christmas Bowl.
- Silver Woods. Below the village. The Silver Woods Express climbs back up to The Knoll, with gladed blues such as Silver Meadows and Trinity Trees.
- Putnam Creek, the back side. The Putnam Express climbs from the 1,155 m base to Paradise Camp. It’s steep, long and mostly black and double black, with some great blues. The Home Run Tee Bar and Last Chance get you back to the front.
- Beginner areas. The Silver Queen chair, the Discovery Zone and the Adventure Centre carpets, right beside the Village.
Live
Lift status right now
Checking the lifts…
| Lift | Where it goes | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Des Schumann Summit Express (gondola) | Village to the summit | Everyone: the summit greens home (Bergerstrasse, Far Out, Main Street Skiway) and the steeps under the gondola |
| Comet Express (six-pack) | Below the Village to near the summit | Blue cruisers: Exhibition, the Dippers, Whiskey Jack, Sundance; the terrain park |
| Attridge Chair | Attridge / Alpine Meadows | Ridge Run, Split Decision and Solitude (blue); Outback, Fastback and Attridge Face (black) |
| Silver Woods Express | Silver Woods base up to The Knoll | Gladed blues: Silver Meadows, Shooting Star, Star Struck, Trinity Trees |
| Putnam Express | Putnam Creek base to Paradise Camp | The back side: long blacks, double blacks and blues such as Sunny Ridge and Eldorado |
| Home Run Tee Bar | Paradise Camp toward the summit | Getting back from the back side |
| Silver Queen | Beside the Village | Beginners: Silver Queen, Creekside and OP1; the START Park |
Lift and run names from SilverStar’s 2025–26 trail map and its public trail list. Live status comes from SilverStar’s own lift report. Check the resort’s grooming report on the day.
When things run
Hours and night skiing
- Lift hours change through the season, so the live lift status above shows each lift’s posted hours once the lifts are running.
- Night skiing is on the lit runs around the Des Schumann Summit Express and the Silver Queen area. Check SilverStar’s schedule for which nights.
- Getting around: Main Street is car-free, and a free ski shuttle links the village areas in winter.
Last run of the day
How do I get back to my accommodation?
Choose where you’re staying to see the easiest ski route home, a route for stronger skiers, and a backup if you’d rather not ski it.
The golden rule: when in doubt, ride the gondola to the summit and ski the greens home: Bergerstrasse to Far Out or Over the Hill, then Main Street Skiway into the Village. From the Village, the ski-ways and the free shuttle reach every area. On the back side late in the day? The Putnam Express is your only way back, so check when the last chair runs.
These routes are a planning guide. Homes on the same street can have different access, so confirm the route to your door with your host or property manager, or ask a Mountain Host.
Custom itinerary
Build your SilverStar ski day
Choose your group’s level (go with the least confident skier), where you’re staying and the conditions. Your plan appears below.
A suggestion, not a guarantee: runs, lifts and grooming change daily. Ski within your ability and follow the Alpine Responsibility Code. Ski Patrol: 250-558-6048.
On the hill
Where am I? Find your spot on the mountain
Turned around on SilverStar? Tap the button at a lift or when you’re stopped at the side of a run, not while you’re skiing. It uses your phone’s GPS once to name the closest run or lift, and your location stays on your phone: nothing is sent or saved. GPS can be off by 10–30 m in the trees, so treat it as a helper and check the signs.
Run and lift locations © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Beginner
A great day for green skiers
- Start beside the Village on the Silver Queen chair: Silver Queen, Creekside and OP1. First-timers begin on the Discovery Zone and Adventure Centre carpets.
- Ride the gondola to the summit and ski the long green home: Bergerstrasse to Far Out or Over the Hill, then Main Street Skiway into the Village.
- Comet Express: Comet Trail and Easy Street.
- Attridge Chair: Criss Cross and the Attridge Run Out.
Between levels
Sean’s Special Tours: for skiers between levels
Trail colours jump in big steps, and most skiers spend a season or two between them. These two tours are for that stage.
Baby blue: strong greens and first blues
- Warm up on Comet Trail and Easy Street.
- Ski the summit greens for stamina: Bergerstrasse to Far Out.
- Try your first blues: Sundance and Whiskey Jack on the Comet side, early in the day while they’re freshly groomed.
- Afternoon: Christmas Bowl by the Attridge Chair, then repeat your favourite blue rather than trying a new one.
Navy blue: strong blues and first blacks
- Warm up on Exhibition and Big Dipper.
- Attridge blues: Ridge Run, Split Decision, Solitude and Abbott’s Gulch.
- Back-side blues: Sunny High, 25 North, Eldorado and Gypsy Queen off the Putnam Express.
- For your first black, pick one that was groomed overnight. The live list above shows what’s groomed today in season.
Intermediate
A big day for blue skiers
- Comet Express: Exhibition, Little Dipper, Middle Dipper, Big Dipper, Whiskey Jack and Sundance.
- Silver Woods Express: Silver Meadows, Shooting Star, Star Struck, Sherwood Forest and Simple Pleasure, plus Trinity Trees if you like gentle glades.
- Afternoon on the back side: take the Putnam Express for Sunny Ridge, Eldorado, Robson Street, Gypsy Queen, Fearn Gully and Dandy Glades.
- Getting back: from Paradise Camp, take Last Chance (green) back to the front side, and leave time before the last Putnam chair.
Advanced
Black runs and glades
- Attridge: Outback, Fastback, Soreback, Busback, Ridgeback and Attridge Face.
- Under the gondola: Face, Chute, Show Off and Hot Dog, plus Moonbeam, Bib’s Bumps and Southern Cross for moguls.
- Silver Woods: Mine Shaft, Chaos and Glade Runner.
- Putnam Creek: Caliper Ridge, Normania, Nirvana, Judd’s Run, Northern Lights, Holy Smokes, Black Pine and Robilliard’s Rush, with Sunny Glades and Paradise Glades in the trees.
Expert
Double blacks on the back side
Putnam Creek holds SilverStar’s steepest terrain: Gong Show, Monte’s Matrix, Three Wise Men, Head Wall, Kassanova and Chute 5 on one side, and Kirkenheimer, Where’s Bob, Free Fall, Stardust and Spirit Bowl on the other. Alder Point is a limited-access area, so follow the posted signs.
- Ski with a partner, and know where the Putnam Express is.
- Beyond the boundary is uncontrolled backcountry with no cell coverage. Don’t go without training and gear.
Free local guides
Ski with a Mountain Host on your first day
SilverStar’s volunteer Mountain Hosts have years of experience on this mountain. They’ll show you how the lifts and areas connect, the best (and worst) parts of each area, where to eat, and how to get home at the end of the day. The tours are free and tailored to your group’s ability.
- When: tours leave at 9:30 a.m. daily in winter. Meet between 9:15 and 9:30 in front of Town Hall, by the village grooming map.
- Ski with Sean: Sean Phillips is a Friday Mountain Host. Come out on a Friday and he’ll show you around himself.
Quick answers
How big is SilverStar?
SilverStar’s own trail list names more than 130 alpine runs and sections, from the 1,915 m summit down to the 1,155 m Putnam Creek base. By count, about 11% are green, 41% blue, 36% black and 12% double black.
Can a green skier get to the top?
Yes. Ride the gondola to the summit and ski Bergerstrasse to Far Out or Over the Hill, then Main Street Skiway into the Village.
Is the back side only for experts?
Mostly, but not entirely. Strong blue skiers will love Sunny Ridge, Eldorado and Gypsy Queen. Greens should stay on the front side.
Where’s the night skiing?
Around the Des Schumann Summit Express and the Silver Queen area. Check SilverStar’s schedule for nights and hours.
Sources: SilverStar trail maps (2025–26); village map; SilverStar’s public lift and trail report. Day plans are Sean’s own suggestions.
Questions? Call or text
Ask a local before you commit to a mountain property
Sean Phillips lives full time in Okanagan Landing, down in the valley below the mountain, and works SilverStar and Vernon every week. Ask him about a street, a strata, a rental rule or what your place might sell for. Straight answers, no pressure.
Info Hotline: Sarah, our AI assistant, 24/7
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Sarah is an AI assistant who can answer questions about the resorts, current listings and other public information any time. When you’re ready for real estate advice (how to list, pricing, negotiating), talk to Sean. You can reach him any time, but do your research, get your questions answered, and then let’s get together.