Whitewater Expands Its Inbounds Powder Playground

Whitewater is expanding its inbounds terrain for the 2026–27 ski season, adding 190 acres of new tree skiing between the Summit and Glory chairlifts.

Whitewater Mountain Resort in Nelson has long been one of Canada’s most laid back community-minded powder destinations. Located on B.C.’s Powder Highway, Whitewater has also been steadily investing in its mountain, with recent projects focused on improving lift access and opening more terrain. For 2026–27, that expansion continues.

Whitewater has released two Real Talk video updates outlining what skiers and riders can expect this winter, including infrastructure improvements, extensive summer trail work and, most importantly, another significant terrain expansion.

The biggest news is Shortside, a 190-acre — approximately 75-hectare — terrain expansion situated between the Summit and Glory chairlifts.

The area has historically been outside Whitewater’s controlled ski boundary. The expansion brings it into the resort’s terrain network and adds another substantial pod of the steep, gladed tree skiing Whitewater is known for.

Two skiways will provide access into and out of Shortside, while selective tree clearing has opened lines through the forest.

For powder skiers, that’s the headline: 190 more acres of lift-accessed Whitewater tree skiing.

Whitewater’s summer crews have also been working on existing terrain.

A spider excavator was used on Bonanza to remove troublesome rocks, allowing the run to be groomed with approximately 100 centimetres of settled snow rather than the roughly 120–150 centimetres previously required.

An excavator also created a new bootpack area on Upper Powder Keg, improving access toward Cache Basin and supporting avalanche-control operations.

Trail crews worked in Tailings, between Bonanza and Paydirt, as well as Monkey Trees, clearing vegetation and improving skiable lines.

Lift maintenance included improvements to the Glory Chair unload area, providing easier access from the top of the lift into surrounding terrain.

Whitewater has also made several less glamorous but useful improvements around the resort.

The base area is getting new washrooms and expanded generator coverage, while season passholders will receive additional benefits for 2026–27, including discounted buddy tickets.

Whitewater’s expansion strategy has increasingly focused on what matters most to skiers: more mountain.

Shortside continues that approach by bringing another piece of Whitewater’s surrounding forest into the controlled ski area and creating nearly 200 acres of new lift-accessed terrain.

At a resort already famous for deep Kootenay snow and tree skiing, that’s a pretty good reason to be looking forward to the first storm cycle of 2026–27.

Editor