Mountain Layout—Skiing

Just a warning: If you use lifts as meeting places, be aware that Sundance and Sunburst chairs unload at different points.

Here's a larger, more detailed trail map.

Expert/Advanced: Head to the top for bowls, chutes and headwalls. Hat Trick, to the right of the Crystal triple chair, dumps you unceremoniously into the woods. Challenger and Expo runs on the lower Burfield area are thigh-burning mogul monsters. Note: There's sometimes a fog line you should keep your eye on. It's pretty dicey up top when the sock is in, so think about sticking near the trees down a bit lower when the air is thick.

The six runs to the right of the Sunburst Express are big favorites for advanced skiers, but you'll have a fine ol' time in the Burfield Quad region. Off Juniper Ridge to the left are several challenging runs and Spillway down the upper east face always holds great snow. If there are intermediates in your group, you can head with them to Mt. Morrisey and play on four short trails that dump off Delta's Return. Spin Cycle makes you feel like you'll land on the village roofs below.

The new quad chair from the bottom of Cariboo allows quicker return to the Crystal Chair with entree to popular runs like Chute, Spillway, Green Door and the Headwalls. A name for this new lift is still being sought so go to the website with your suggestions and you may win a season pass.

Intermediate: The Sundance Express to the right gets you to the top of Sundance Ridge where three blue runs (Grannie Greene's, Sun Catcher and Sunrise) begin. If you take the Sunburst Express, you'll find four long, steep, cruising blue runs on the left. Higher up, in Crystal Bowl, there are lots of blue runs. The recently opened Mt. Morrisey is mostly easy intermediate terrain.

The new quad chair at the bottom of the Cariboo accesses blue runs Distributor and OSV as well as Cahilty and Crystal Lane, green runs down to the base. Four new intermediate runs on the lower part of Orient Ridge provide easier access to the East Village development.

Beginner: The beauty of Sun Peaks is that there are green runs descending from every lift, including the new quad. One of the most fun is the famous 4-mile run that starts at the top of the Burfield Quad and goes all the way down to the village. If you want to do it again, be sure to take the Burfield run-out to skier's right under the Sunburst Express and back to the bottom of the lift.

First-timer: The Village Platter area is right beside the village, yet out of the way of through traffic and it's all for fist-timers. Its Gentle Giant run is perfect for beginners. In fact, these three beginner runs—Sunbeam, Gentle Giant and Cowabunga—are all definitely smooth, safe and gentle, guaranteed. A new magic carpet lift and expansion of children's and beginner teaching terrain and facilities improve first-timer's experiences.