Outback Snowmobile Tours – Big White

For the fastest way into Big White's backcountry, meet Outback Snowmobile Tours at the snowmobile hut tucked behind the Happy Valley skating rink. The tours are built for people who have never sat on a sled: a guide sets the pace to the least experienced rider, the routes are chosen for scenery — forest, open meadows and long views over the Monashees — and there are photo stops along the way. The one-hour tour, departing late morning and again in the early evening, is the classic introduction; the two-hour tour, running three times a day, gets deeper into the pristine terrain and is the resort's pick for families and first-timers who want more. Ride your own machine or double up with a passenger, and if you have come without snow gear, adult-sized snowmobile clothing and helmets are provided. Drivers must be at least 16 with a valid driver's licence (and parental consent under 19), passengers just need to be taller than 91 cm, every rider signs a waiver, and each group leaves a credit-card damage deposit at the hut — an optional loss-waiver caps your liability. Book through Big White's Activities Desk in the Village Centre Mall (250-491-6111) or online, arrive thirty minutes before departure with your licence, goggles and a neck warmer, and be aware that tours are non-refundable inside 72 hours and go ahead in poor visibility. Hot food and heated washrooms are a short walk away in the Happy Valley Day Lodge.