Okanagan. 
Know before you go
Advisories
Safety information
- Silver Star Park has both designated snowmobile and Nordic skiing trails. Use caution at all intersections.
Review the detailed guides under visit responsibly for more information on staying safe and preserving our natural spaces.
Visit responsibly
Follow these guides to ensure your activities are safe, respectful, and ecologically friendly:
Maps and location
- Location Map
- 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] (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.
Getting there
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.
Camping
Cabins and huts
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 four 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 only open during winter months.
Cabins and huts
Things to do
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 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.
Pets and domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in beach areas or park buildings. You are responsible for their behavior and must dispose of their excrement.
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 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 Park, provided they meet the definitions and criteria for e-bike use as outlined in the BC Parks cycling guidelines.
Horses and horseback riding are both permitted within the park. Please stay to designated ski and snowmobile trails.
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.
Anyone hunting in British Columbia must comply with BC hunting regulations. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
There are downhill skiing opportunities adjacent to the park. Silver Star Mountain Resort is located near Silver Star 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.
Facilities
Accessibility information is available for the Sovereign Lake area.
This park only has pit toilets and flush toilets are available at the Soverign Lake Nordic Centre Day Lodge during the winter only.
About this park
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.
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.
Being close to a large community Silver Star Park still provides home for many species of wildlife including black bear, moose, mule deer, white-tailed 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.
Contact
| General questions and feedback for BC Parks | We answer emails weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time. |
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