Sun Peaks Resort may be known for its powdery ski slopes, this mountain gem in British Columbia transforms into a vibrant summer playground of festivals, wildflower hikes, outdoor concerts, and off-road adventures.
Craving a midsummer escape from the city, my 19-year-old son, Thomas, and I strike out for one of my old stomping grounds: Sun Peaks Resort. Called Tod Mountain Ski Resort when I skied there as a teen, it’s come a long way since it was home to just a few chairlifts and T-bar, a couple of day lodges and parking lots, and a smattering of slopeside cabins and A-frames.
Now a year-round destination complete with a European-style pedestrian village, Sun Peaks unveiled a new robust summer lineup this spring. Known more for its 4,270 acres of skiable terrain (the second largest in Canada), the resort now tempts with a full fair-weather roster of annual events and lots to do in between.
We arrive halfway through the season, stoked to sample Sun Peaks’ summer essence on a three-night mother-son getaway. Checking into the Residences at Sun Peaks Grand and our surprisingly spacious one-bedroom suite, we are soon happily indulging in the outdoor pool, in-room robes and panoramic balcony view.
A stay at the homey Residences at Sun Peaks Grand comes with mountain and village views. Photo: Sheila Hansen©
Sun Peak Resorts Summer Guide to Things to Do
Here’s what summer at Sun Peaks looks like now, from resort-wide events to leisurely side pursuits and a few adventures on the side.
1. Summersgiving Solstice In Sun Peaks: Movement, mindfulness and meals in the mountains
The first-ever Summersgiving Solstice In Sun Peaks wellness weekend (June 20-22) drew a sizeable crowd with a variety of yoga workshops (including one for golfers), numerology/tarot readings and a keynote speaker. Capping off the event, the sold-out Summersgiving long table dinner at Masa’s Bar + Grill served up tableside-carved spatchcocked BBQ turkey and summery sides to 40-plus diners — including newly elected Sun Peaks Mayor Rob O’Toole.
Guided alpine hiking tour
While we could join a midmountain yoga session during our July visit, we instead opted for a two-hour guided alpine hiking tour among vibrant wildflowers beneath a solid blue sky. Unloading from the Sunburst Express Chair, we set out along the moderate West Bowl Trail through tall-grass meadows and stands of Douglas fir, cedar and pine. Guide Anita Adams points out the brilliant blooms along the way: deep-orange tiger lilies, scarlet-red alpine paintbrush, purple subalpine daisies, blue arctic lupins and many more.
“The daisies come up earlier, the lupins come up later and more in September as well,” says Adams. “And the wild roses should be coming out soon. It’s a constant change. Right now, it’s the most intense, with the most variety at one time. It’s fun to watch the change of the landscape, it’s dynamic.”
Best things to do in Sun Peaks in the summer – Alpine hike with a scenic view. The alpine wildflower season peaks in late July to early August and continues into fall. Photo: Tourism Sun Peaks©
The best way to take in the wildflowers? On a guided alpine hike. Here, author Sheila Hansen and son Thomas trek past tiger lilies and daisies on Sun Peaks’ West Bowl Trail. Photo: Anita Adams©
Back at the Sun Peaks Grand and high on fresh mountain air, we sit down to a themed group dinner of a different sort: the Mantles Travel Series Part 1 at Mantles Restaurant & Lounge. Tonight marks the launch of Sun Peaks Resort executive chef Kartik Kumar’s three-part immersive dining journey, the first focusing on the hawker stands of Singapore. For someone who’s worked in kitchens around the world and cooked for the Dalai Lama and (then) Prince Charles, he brings both authentic dishes and insightful storytelling to the table.
“The most vibrant food in the world, in my opinion, comes from the hawker stands in Singapore,” says Kumar, who lived in the country for three years. “There’s Japanese, Taiwanese, Indian, Singaporean, Malaysian — you name it, it’s all available. I want you to enjoy the evening and transport yourselves in your minds to Singapore.”
What follows is a char kway teow appetizer of stir-fried flat rice noodles bursting with sweet, savoury and smoky flavours, and a Singapore laksa main course that wins everyone over with its rich, spicy broth packed with noodles, chicken, tofu and shrimp. Glasses of Monte Creek’s citrusy Living Land Riesling make for the perfect pairing, and the refreshing purple taro ice cream with jackfruit and mango dessert is the perfect finish.
(Right) Refreshing finish to a spicy start: purple taro ice cream with jack fruit and mango. (Left) Singapore laksa kicks off executive chef Kartik Kumar’s. Photo: Sheila Hansen©
2. Outdoor Concerts On High: Canadian bands in the spotlight
Opened only a year ago, the Sun Peaks Centre Stage is proving to be the perfect summer concert venue. A covered outdoor space for up to 1,700 guests, the entertainment hub fittingly welcomed Canadian supergroup Toque on Canada Day for a nostalgic night of rock anthem covers, original songs and plenty of long-hair tossing.
More Canadiana was on deck during Rockin’ In the Peaks (July 4-5) with Toronto blues rockers Big Sugar, long-time West Coast favourites 54”M40 and prairies-transplant blues rock duo Wide Mouth Mason.
Strolling by the impressive black-and-orange-framed rectangular structure at the top end of the village, we marvel at how it converts back into an open-air ice rink come winter.
Canadian supergroup Toque rocks the stage on Canada Day with blasts-from-the-past hits and a moving rendition of “O Canada.” Photo: Tourism Sun Peaks
3. Sun Peaks Speed Week: When luxury rolls into town
They came for the shiny hot rods, racers, collectibles and imports, but stayed for the food, drink and golf. The second annual Sun Peaks Speed Week (July 18-20) once again held a free car showcase, welcome BBQ (by donation), vendor village with beverages, group gravel bike ride, Speed Week Golf Day, and Speed Week House and dinner reception at Morrisey’s Public House. What’s more, the event raises funds for the Canucks Autism Network.
A luxury car showcase anchors the annual Speed Week gathering of cool wheels and car buffs. Photo: Zuzy Rocka©
Jeepers Creepers Jeep Tour at Sun Peaks Resort
With Speed Week now in the review mirror, we wind up going for a different kind of motoring on the newly launched Jeepers Creepers Jeep Tour. Picking us up at our accommodations’ front door, affable guide Joe Timms welcomes us aboard his shiny black four-door Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. The tunes are playing, the top is down and the new open-air tube doors — we’re the first tour guests to experience them — make us feel like we’ve jumped into some kind of midway ride.
Guide Joe Timms (a.k.a. Jeepin’ with Joe) expertly navigates the backroads of Mt. Morrisey while delivering insider knowledge, local history and colourful tales. Photo: Sheila Hansen
And what a ride it is. Switching into four-wheel drive, Timms deftly navigates the backcountry roads and trails on the backside of Mt. Morrisey. We splash through a giant puddle, dodge low-hanging branches and trundle out to three tranquil lakes. Throughout the 2.5-hour tour, the long-time Sun Peaks resident (a.k.a. Jeepin’ with Joe) doles out insider knowledge, colourful stories and the occasional jest.
“So we’re going to be going into Sheila Lake,” he deadpans as we near the first lake.
“Really?” I reply gullibly.
“Oh, I don’t know the name of the lake,” he laughs. “I’ve looked it up, I can’t find it, so I just usually name it after my guests… it makes them feel special.”
Disembarking at the second lake, named Amphitheater Lake (for real), Thomas exclaims: “Look, something is moving over there. I think it’s a moose!” And sure enough, we all take in the dark shape of a cow moose slowly rising from the water and clambering up the reed-lined bank on the lake’s far side.
A final stop at McGillivray Lake with its wood dock and warming hut, and we contentedly return to our home-away-from-home, sporting wild jeep hair and a thick layer of dust.
Jeep hair day: the new Jeepers Creepers Jeep Tour makes for the ideal mom-and-son backcountry adventure. Photo: Sheila Hansen©
The 2.5-hour Jeepers Creepers Jeep Tour stops at pristine lakes along the way, including pretty Amphitheater Lake (top) and the temporarily named Sheila Lake (below). Photo: Sheila Hansen©
Travel writer Sheila Hansen with her son Thomas in front of the temporarily named Sheila Lake, as they explore on their jeep tour. Photo: Joe Timms©
4. Endless Summer DJ festival, Chillin’ on the hill with DJ sets and sunny vibes
The season will keep on at the Endless Summer DJ Festival, debuting August 8-10. About 20 artists will showcase their work across multiple venues throughout the weekend. Music lovers can get beachy with the likes of Canadian house music staple Jon Delerious, ’90s house guru duo Mood II Swing and EDM darling Lisa Shaw. Meanwhile, the vendor village’s local businesses will keep everyone topped up between sets with hot food and bevies.
he hills will be alive with the sounds of DJ beats during Sun Peaks’ first Endless Summer festival weekend. Photo: Sam Egan©
5. Alpenglow Arts Festival: Celebrating homegrown talent
The inaugural Alpenglow Arts Festival (Sept. 5-7) will showcase local art and culture through live works-in-progress, creativity-sparking workshops, up-close-and-personal performances and a daily Art Exhibit.
Watch Kamloops multimedia artist Vaughn Warren transform chunks of wood into magnificent pieces of art, or learn how to get artsy with your smartphone. Then catch Juno-award-winning Canadian guitarist Jesse Cook delivering his unique blend of flamenco, jazz, classical and world music on the centre stage.
Festival aside, we spot plenty of local art during our stay, hanging from village shop walls and gracing hotel lobbies. With mountain flora still fresh on my mind, I’m drawn to the bold brushwork of Edit Pal’s Alpine in Bloom, the gorgeous swirls of Maria Davis‘ photo-turned-flow-painting Mixed Meadow and the crisp alpine tones of Cheryl Christian’s Tod Lake — each piece a nod to the lush surroundings that we’ve been fortunate to glimpse.
The walkable Sun Peaks village will set the stage for the first Alpenglow Arts Festival in late summer. Photo: Sheila Hansen©
6. Paws In the Peaks: The ultimate pack-your-pet weekend
Seeing doggos relaxing on the Bottoms Bar & Grill patio, where we savoured burgers and a brew for lunch on our last day, reminds me that we must come back for the second annual Paws In the Peaks weekend (Sept. 12-14). Our mini Aussie, Pearl, would love the treats on the pooch-friendly patios — doggie cones at Chez Joe Poutine, the Bark-uterie Board at Morrisey’s Public House — and a custom dog bed with turn-down service at one of Sun Peaks’ many pet-friendly hotels. She’d also look cute in the dress-up Pup Parade — complete with a best-dressed award. And we’d all like to check out the bundles of furry joy at the Mountain Man Adventure Tours Puppy Corral.
The annual Paws In the Peaks weekend returns in September with the popular Pup Parade, Puppy Corral and plenty of dog treats on pet-friendly patios. Photo: Catheryne Bossé
Honeyberry Farm Market
A mere 15 minutes down the road from Sun Peaks Resort, the family-run Honeyberry Farm Market sells farm-fresh produce, preserves, coffee and ice cream from its adorable shop. Clucking chickens and curious goats greet us as we wander by their pens on the perfectly manicured grounds, brimming with fruit trees, vegetable patches and some 900 haskap berry bushes—a must-stop on the way up to or down from Sun Peaks.
With roots dating back to 1962, Honeyberry Farm Market sells produce, preserves, ice cream and coffee just down the road from Sun Peaks. Photo: Sheila Hansen©
Chickens cluck their greetings at Honeyberry Farm Market, also home to goats, geese, fruit trees and some 900 haskap berry bushes. Photo: Sheila Hansen©
Plan your visit to Sun Peaks
Sun Peaks Resort is about a 60-kilometre (45-minute) drive northeast from Kamloops and a 410-km (4.5-hour) drive from Vancouver.
- Check back for more immersive dining events at Mantles Restaurant & Lounge.
- The Jeepers Creepers Jeep Tour runs till early October. Book tours here.
- Can’t make it to Sun Peaks this summer? Time your trip to coincide with a summer 2026 event:
- Summersgiving Solstice In Sun Peaks – June 19-21 (dinner on Sunday)
- Canada Day – Wednesday, July 1
- Rockin’ In the Peaks – July 3-4
- Speed Week – July 17-19
- Endless Summer – August 7-9
- Alpenglow Arts Festival – September 4-6
- Paws In the Peaks – September 11-13
For more information about nearby places to visit discover: Shuswap Lake summer fun ideas for the perfect getaway, Ultimate Guide to Mount Revelstoke National Park and Meadows in the Sky Parkway, and Road trip to discover 10 amazing things to do in Armstrong Spallumcheen.
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Travel writer Sheila Hansen participated in a press trip hosted by Tourism Sun Peaks, which did not review or approve this article before it was published.
