Famous ski village Whistler is located at the foot of two immense mountains: Whistler and Blackcomb. Together, the peaks form the largest winter sports area in North America, and the village offers direct access to some of the best skiing in the area. Whistler certainly had international cachet before it co-hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics with Vancouver, but the games only cemented the mountain resort’s fame as a recreation hotspot. Since the world comes to ski and visit, the village has a comfortable variety of tourist accommodations, from apartments to luxury hotels, all packed along the village walk, a pedestrian walkway lined with restaurants, shops and galleries.
Around the village, the rugged region is a mix of untamed rivers, blue-blue lakes, endless forests and volcanic peaks. Only one main road, Highway 99 (also known as the Sea-to-Sky Highway), connects the area’s attractions and communities. This scenic fare is one of Canada’s most spectacular road trips.
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1 Whistler Blackcomb
Whistler Mountain (2,182 metres) and Blackcomb Mountain (2,284 metres), the two peaks that rise above Whistler Village, offer some of the best skiing in North America. The Whistler Blackcomb resort’s combined skiable terrain sits at an elevation of 3,307 acres with more than 200 trails accessed by 37 lifts. Indeed, there is too much to do in one day, which is why many visitors plan to spend a week or so on the slopes. Thanks to summer skiing on Blackcomb’s Horstman Glacier , the Whistler Blackcomb resort also offers the longest ski season of any resort in Canada.
Some hotels offer ski-in access to the two mountains, and multiple restaurants and village eateries are within ski boot walking distance of the gondola base (with ski lockers outside the door and heated fireplaces inside). Snowmobile tours and heli-skiing are also popular winter evenings at the Whistler Blackcomb resort.
In addition to glacier skiing, in the summer the mountains are busy with hikers and mountain bikers, taking on the challenging trails of Whistler Mountain Bike Park . As you ride the chairlift, keep an eye out for bears strolling along the mountain trails in search of berries. Unique to Whistler, a gondola connects the two mountains, providing a spectacular warm-weather loop for non-skiers. At any time of year, visitors can enjoy breathtaking views from the mountain peaks above the valley and the village far below.
2 Peak 2 Peak Gondola
The Peak 2 Peak Gondola offers an elevated ride between the two mountains. Although the distance covered is a record-breaking 4.4 kilometers, the journey only takes 11 minutes. On a clear day the view is fantastic, looking out towards snow-capped mountains, alpine lakes and dense coniferous forests. A look down Fitzsimmons Creek is also awe-inspiring – at points the gondola is almost half a kilometer above the valley. From spring to autumn it is part of the Whistler-Blackcomb sightseeing experience, with guided alpine hikes and plenty of photo opportunities. At the summit, loop hiking trails introduce the alpine terrain. There is also a tea hut for warm-ups, as temperatures can be cooler at higher altitudes. In winter, skiers and snowboarders use the Peak 2 Peak gondola to hop between runs at Blackcomb and Whistler.
Opening hours: Daily from late spring to early autumn
Admission: Adults $53, Seniors & Youth (13-18) $46, Children (7-12) $28 (discounts for online purchases and shoulder season visits)
Location: Whistler-Blackcomb
Official site: https://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/events-and-activities/activities/?season=summer
3 Squamish-Lil’wat Cultural Center
Whistler’s beautiful and modern First Nations Museum is home to a collection of carvings, weavings and stories that introduce the history and culture of the local Squamish and Lil’wat peoples. Both countries include Whistler in their traditional territories and have lived on this land longer than memory. The hotel’s café serves an interesting menu of First Nations-inspired dishes, and the gift shop sells handmade souvenirs.
Opening hours: daily from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm
Admission: Adults $18, Senior and Students $13.50, Children (6-12) $8
Adres: 4584 Blackcomb Way, Whistler
Official site: https://slcc.ca/
4 extreme sports in Whistler
Mountain biking is certainly the most popular summer sport in Whistler Village, and all visitors will see legions of harness-clad bikers riding a chairlift up the slopes at Whistler Mountain Bike Park . But the region offers many adrenaline-fueled activities. Zip lining is one of the most exciting, and while it’s a fairly tame pursuit, zipliners reach highway speeds as they fly over forested valleys. Another high-speed option is the Whistler Sliding Center bobsled and skeleton. The center was built for the Olympic Games and is also open for guided tours. More local thrills are available in the form of bungee jumping above the Cheakamus River, ripping along logging trails on off-road vehicles, and rafting the high waters of the Spring River.
5 walking
British Columbia is known for its many hiking trails and Whistler is no different. Trails range from simple walks in Lost Lake nature to elevation-drenched mountain climbs. A well-visited network of hikes radiates from the viewpoints atop Whistler Mountain. Gondolas take hikers above treeline, where the trails are particularly scenic during the alpine season in summer. The mountains also border the mostly undisturbed terrain of Garibaldi Provincial Park . Five trailhead areas provide access to the provincial park from various points between Squamish and north of Whistler. Trails make excellent day trips to Garibaldi Lake, Cheakamus Lake and Wedgemount Lake.
6 Whistler Olympic Park
Another facility built for the 2010 Winter Games, Whistler Olympic Park now offers easy access to winter cross-country ski trails. The unusual-looking ski jumps are still in place at the facility, as are a set of Olympic rings. In winter, cross-country skiers take to groomed trails while snowshoeers follow the route to Alexander Falls and other viewpoints.
Adres: 5 Callaghan Valley Rd, Whistler
Official site: https://www.whistlersportlegacies.com/
7 golf
Celebrity-designed courses add to the resort atmosphere in Whistler. These Pacific Northwest fairways are set amid a lush landscape of stately conifers, pocket lakes and a mountainous backdrop. Options for playing 18 holes include Arnold Palmer designed Whistler Golf Club and the Nicklaus North golf course , among others. Avid golfers are advised to book in advance during peak season.
8 Lost Lake
Lost Lake is a year-round destination for activities such as mountain biking and bird watching in the summer or snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the winter. Trails fan away from the lakeshore to explore quiet forests teeming with wildlife in British Columbia. The small lake offers a beach and is generally one of the busier spots on a hot summer day, especially as there is a shuttle service from the village. For more sandy, freshwater beaches near Whistler, check out Alpha Lake and Alta Lake.
9 Whistler Museum
This small but ambitious museum tells stories from Whistler’s early days. Exhibits introduce local characters including early settlers and lodge owners, quirky artists from the area, and world-class athletes who trained on the slopes. A few interactive exhibits let visitors dress up or touch parts of Whistler history, and there’s a lot of focus on Olympic memorabilia.
Opening hours: daily from 11am to 5pm
Admission: Adults $7.50, Senior and Students $6, Youth (7-18) $4
Adres: 4333 Main St, Whistler
Official site: https://www.whistlermuseum.org
Where to Stay in Whistler for Sightseeing
Whistler is spread out along the Sea to Sky Highway, with a number of different developments, but the best place to stay is in Whistler Village. The Village, as it is often called, is quite compact and there is no one best location. The closer you get to the main walkway through town, Village Stroll, the more lively the scene. Skiers will want to be close to the south end of the village to shorten the walking distance to the lifts. Below are some highly rated hotels in great locations:
- Luxury Hotels: In the center of the action, past Village Stroll, is the Pan Pacific, with large suites, full kitchens and gas fireplaces. A breakfast buffet and après-ski snacks are included in the room rate. Further downtown, and near the Blackcomb Mountain lifts, is the Four Seasons Resort, known for its top-notch service, luxurious rooms, and great amenities. The Sundial is a boutique hotel on the south side of the village, at the foot of the Whistler lifts. Just steps from the lively street scene, this hotel features a rooftop hot tub with stunning views.
- Mid-Range Hotels: In the north end of the village, near the Olympic Park, is the pet-friendly Summit Lodge. This boutique hotel offers spacious rooms, with balconies and full kitchens, and an outdoor pool. Just north of the Village Stroll is Delta Whistler Village Suites with a large indoor and outdoor pool and hot tub and a well-regarded steakhouse on site. Located on a slope on Blackcomb Mountain, approximately 1.5 miles from the village, Coast Blackcomb Suites at Whistler offers value-for-money suites with kitchens and balconies. A free deluxe breakfast is included in the room rate.
- Budget Hotels: The Pinnacle Hotel, near the Olympic Park, has large rooms with large bathtubs and full kitchens for a fair price. The Aava Whistler Hotel is adjacent to the Whistler Convention Center and is pet-friendly. Guests can also use GoPro Hero 4D video cameras for free. Located in the heart of the village, the Crystal Lodge Hotel offers high-quality rooms at reasonable prices. It is steps away from restaurants and nightlife.
Day trips from Whistler
10 squamish
In its spectacular setting at the head of Howe Sound, the old logging village of Squamish is now a destination for outdoor activities such as climbing, hiking and mountain biking. The city is located on the Sea-to-Sky Highway (Hwy 99), making it a natural stop on a road trip to Whistler. Shannon Falls Provincial Park is a favorite rest stop, with the third highest waterfalls in British Columbia (335 meters high), an awe-inspiring trek just a five-minute walk from the parking lot. The granite monolith at Stawamus Chief Provincial Park is a favorite (although very challenging) hike for its panoramic views. Gondola access hikes at the Sea-to-Sky Gondola offer more varied mountain routes.
11 Pemberton
Located northeast of Whistler, Pemberton is the next stop on Highway 99. The settlement offers a wealth of outdoor activities, from golfing and mountain biking in the summer to heli-skiing and snowmobiling in the winter. This area is largely uninhabited, with glacier-fed lakes and mountains surrounding the valleys. An easy road trip stop is Nairn Falls Provincial Park , where the Green River falls into a series of roaring waterfalls. Beautiful Joffre Lake Provincial Park is also worth photographing the teal hue of the lakes.
12 Lillooet
A winding drive further northeast on Highway 99 takes tourists to the small town of Lillooet. The community owes its existence to the Cariboo Gold Rush of 1858, where prospectors exchanged their canoes for ox carts and set out along the Cariboo Road. The Lillooet Museum is full of memorabilia from those golden days and a mile 0 stone forms the historic route.
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