Park overview
Silver Star Provincial Park is a 5,573 hectare park lying 22 kilometres to the Northeast of the city of Vernon. This rounded mountain is typical feature of the Okanagan – Western Shuswap Highland regional landscape. A combination of slope and snow conditions make this an ideal area for winter recreation. Dependable snow depths and mild winter temperatures encourage activity throughout the winter in a variety of activities including cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling.
With its elevation change from the valley floor, Silver Star Provincial Park offers a refreshing break from the summer heat that is typical of the Okanagan. Hiking on wide, moderate grade trails offer both views
of the Okanagan Valley as well as the Monashee Mountain Range to the east and provides an easy access to hike into some sub alpine meadows awash with wildflowers.
Established Date: March 21, 1989
Park Size: 5,573 hectares
Advisories
Dates of operation
Open to public access year-round
Current status:
Open to public access
- Facility type
- Cabins and huts
- Number of campsites
- Cabins: 1
- Main camping season dates
- 2023: Year-round
- Facility type
- Cabins and huts
- Number of campsites
- Cabins: 1
- Main camping season dates
- 2023: Year-round
Safety info
Stay Safe
- Silver Star Park has both designated snowmobile and nordic skiing trails; use caution at all intersections.
Camping
- Total number of campsites
- Total cabins: 2
There are two day-use only cabins in Silver Star Park and both are based on winter recreation. The Black Prince cabin is located within the Sovereign Lake Nordic Center and has a wood stove and 4 picnic tables. The second is the Snowmobile Chalet located on Ganzeveld Trail, which is maintained as a warming hut by the Vernon Snowmobile Club and includes wood stoves, tables and untreated water.
The Sovereign Lake Nordic Center has a large day lodge with Nordic ski rentals, ski school and more. This lodge is open during winter months, only.
Facilities
Accessibility information is available for the Sovereign Lake area.
Activities
For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure.
Silver Star Provincial Park has over 50km of ski trails as well as 50km of snowmobile trails. In summer these trails are open to hiking opportunities but park trails will not lead to the top of the ski hill as it is outside the park boundary.
Cycling is permitted.
Mountain bike opportunities exist on both the nordic and snowmobile trails, as well as on a network of single track maintained by the North Okanagan Cycling Society (NOCS). Trails are often inaccessible until early summer due to snow, and may be quite wet for some time after snow-melt. Lift access mountain biking and additional cross country trails are located at Silver Star Mountain Resort.
For details on e-biking within Silver Star Provincial Park, see the e-biking section.
Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are permitted on signed or designated trails within Silver Star Provincial Park, provided they meet the definitions and criteria for e-bike use as outlined in the BC Parks cycling guidelines.
Hunting is permitted in a portion of Silver Star Park and no vehicle access is permitted. Please refer to the BC Hunting & Trapping Regulations Synopsis for a map of the no hunting areas.
There are downhill skiing opportunities adjacent to the park. Silver Star Mountain Resort is located near Silver Star Provincial Park and features a full Downhill Ski Resort services and facilities.
World class Nordic ski facilities can be found at the Sovereign Lake Nordic Center. The center has a day lodge, ski school, rentals, 50km of groomed trails and more. For more information, please visit the Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre website.
Developed snowshoe trails exist within the Sovereign Lake Nordic Center. The remainder of Silver Star Park is also open to public that want to snowshoe on their own accord. For your safety please do not travel on ski or snowmobile trails.
The Park has approximately 50km of maintained snowmobile trails. Snowmobiles must remain on designated snowmobile trails, off-trail use is not permitted. The trails are maintained by the Vernon Snowmobile Association and users are required to purchase day-use passes or have a valid club membership to use the trail system. Day-use passes can be purchased at the snowmobile parking lot.
Maps and location
Silver Star is accessed by turning off of Highway 97 onto 48th Avenue. Continue up 48th and it will turn into Silver Star Road. The park is 22 kilometres up Silver Star Road. Vernon is the closest community.
Park and activity maps
- Park Map [PDF] (October 9, 2019)
- Snowshoe Trails Map [PDF] (October 9, 2019)
- Snowshoe Trails Map – Georeferenced for use with mapping software such as Avenza [PDF 13.5MB] (December 9, 2019)
Disclaimer: Georeferenced maps are not be used as a sole source for navigation purposes. Ensure you are equipped with additional navigational aids, including GPS, hard copy topographical maps and a compass. - Park Brochure [PDF] (October 9, 2019)
- Visit the Sovereign Lake Nordic Center website to view up to date maps of Nordic ski trails.
Learn more about this park
Park details
- Date established: March 21, 1989
- Size: 5573 hectares
Nature and culture
- History: In the early 1900s mineral claims were registered (Prince of Wales, aberdeen, Silver Star etc.) and extensive mining exploration and operation took place. Although active for a number of years and reassessed periodically, there has been no interest or activity since the late 1940s.
- Cultural Heritage: Silver Star Park has a history of use for hunting and berry picking by the indigenous people of the region. Evidence of overnight camps used during berry picking season were evident at the time of the park being classified.
- Wildlife: Being close to a large community Silver Star Park still provides home for many species of wildlife including; black bear, moose, mule deer, whitetailed deer, cougar, lynx as well as populations of grouse, crossbills, owls and raptors.
Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories. This park webpage may not adequately represent the full history of this park and the connection of Indigenous Peoples to this land. We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to update our websites so that they better reflect the history and cultures of these special places.