Whistler
North America's biggest ski resort sits in a car-free alpine village, at the end of one of the world's great coastal mountain drives.
- Best time to go
- Mid-December to March for skiing; July to September for hiking, biking and the lakes
- Local time
- –
- Currency
- Canadian Dollar (CAD)
- Reading time
- 14 min
- Language
- English and French
Whistler lies in a narrow valley of the Coast Mountains about 120 km north of Vancouver, where two huge ski mountains, Whistler and Blackcomb, rise straight out of the forest above a string of lakes. Until the 1960s this was a sleepy fishing-lodge country around Alta Lake, reached by rail. Today it is one of the most famous mountain resorts in the world, with a pedestrian village at its heart, host to the alpine skiing and sliding events of the 2010 Winter Olympics.
The resort works in two seasons. In winter, the lifts carry skiers and snowboarders into more than 8,000 acres of terrain, from groomed cruisers to steep alpine bowls. In summer the same lifts serve one of the world's best-known mountain bike parks and high hiking trails, while the valley's lakes fill with swimmers and paddlers. The land belongs to the shared territory of the Squamish and Lil'wat Nations, whose culture is increasingly visible across the town.
Getting here is half the pleasure. The Sea-to-Sky Highway climbs from the fjord of Howe Sound past waterfalls, granite walls and lookouts, so this guide's route follows the road north from the coast, through Whistler, and on to the turquoise lakes beyond Pemberton. Give Whistler itself three or four days, and add a day for the drive.
The top 16 in Whistler
- 1
Britannia Mine Museum
The first major stop on the drive north from Vancouver is this former copper mine on the shore of Howe Sound, for decades one of the biggest copper producers in the British Empire. Its tall wooden concentrator mill, stepped down the hillside, is a National Historic Site. Tours take you into an old mining tunnel on a small train, and there is gold panning for children and a sound-and-light show inside the mill.
TipAllow about two hours. It makes a good wet-weather stop if the mountain views are hidden.
- 2
Shannon Falls
Just south of Squamish, Shannon Creek drops around 335 m over a series of granite ledges, making it one of the tallest waterfalls in the province. A short, mostly flat trail through the forest from the car park leads to a viewing area at the base of the falls. It is at its most powerful in late spring, when snowmelt swells the creek, and after autumn rain.
TipThe car park fills quickly on summer weekends. Arrive early or walk across from the Sea to Sky Gondola, which shares a connector trail.
- 3
Sea to Sky Gondola
A ten-minute gondola ride lifts you from the highway to a summit lodge high above Howe Sound, with a view down the fjord to the islands and up to the snowy peak of Mount Garibaldi. At the top, the Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge crosses a gully, short loop trails lead to viewing platforms, and longer routes head into the backcountry. In winter there are snowshoe trails and tubing when conditions allow.
TipOpening hours change with the season, and the top can be in cloud while the valley is clear; check the live webcam on the gondola's website before buying a ticket.
- 4
Stawamus Chief
This enormous granite dome, rising about 700 m above the town of Squamish, is one of the great climbing walls of North America, and on any dry day you can watch climbers inching up its faces. Hikers reach its three summits by a steep trail of stairs, roots and chains, with fixed ladders near the top. The Chief is sacred to the Squamish Nation and is protected in a provincial park.
TipThe hike is strenuous and slippery after rain. Allow three to five hours for the round trip to the first peak, and stay back from the cliff edges.
- 5
Garibaldi Lake
A day hike from the Rubble Creek trailhead climbs through forest to a vast glacier-fed lake of milky turquoise, held back by a natural lava dam called the Barrier. The reward for about 9 km of switchbacks each way, with around 800 m of ascent, is a shoreline framed by glaciers, with the dark spire of the Black Tusk above. Strong hikers continue to Panorama Ridge for one of the finest views in the Coast Mountains.
TipIn summer 2026, a free BC Parks day-use pass was needed for each vehicle at the Rubble Creek trailhead on Fridays, weekends, Mondays and holidays from June to mid-October. Passes are released online at 7am two days before your visit. Check the BC Parks page for next season's dates.
- 6
Brandywine Falls
About 20 minutes south of Whistler, Brandywine Creek plunges 70 m over a cliff of layered volcanic rock into a round basin. From the car park, an easy walk of about 1 km over a covered footbridge and across a railway line leads to a viewing platform perched on the canyon rim, with a second lookout over Daisy Lake and the Black Tusk. It is one of the easiest big sights on the highway.
TipIn the off-season the park gate is closed and you have to walk in from the highway. Keep behind the fences: the canyon is unstable and closed to visitors.
- 7
Alta Lake
The largest of Whistler's lakes lies just south-west of the village, and its shores hold the town's early history. Lodges such as Rainbow Lodge drew anglers and holidaymakers by train long before the ski lifts arrived. Rainbow Park on the west shore has a sandy beach, a dock, volleyball nets and the best views across the water to Whistler Mountain. Canoes, kayaks and paddleboards can be hired by the lake in summer, and the River of Golden Dreams flows out of the lake towards Green Lake for a gentle paddle.
TipThe water warms enough for swimming only in July and August, and even then it is bracing first thing in the morning.
- 8
Whistler Village
The resort's car-free heart is a winding pedestrian street, the Village Stroll, lined with lodges, shops, cafés, après-ski bars and restaurants. It was designed from scratch in the late 1970s, with corners that hide the next square and keep the mountain in view. Olympic Plaza, built for the 2010 medal ceremonies, has the Olympic rings, a lawn for summer concerts and a small skating rink in winter. Upper Village, at the foot of Blackcomb, is a quieter second hub.
TipEvenings in the village are the time to stroll, especially in December, when the lights are up and the ice rink is open.
- 9
Audain Art Museum
A long, dark building raised on stilts above the forest floor, this museum holds a remarkable collection of British Columbian art from the 18th century to the present. Highlights include a gallery of historic Northwest Coast masks and a large group of paintings by Emily Carr, alongside work by contemporary First Nations artists and photographers. It is a five-minute walk from the village.
- 10
Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre
This striking cedar and glass building, inspired by a traditional longhouse and pit house, is a joint project of the two Nations whose territories meet at Whistler. Indigenous guides lead tours through exhibits of carving, weaving and regalia, with songs and stories along the way, and you can try workshops such as cedar weaving. The Thunderbird Café serves bannock and other Indigenous-inspired dishes.
TipRegular hours are 10am to 5pm, Tuesday to Sunday. The centre is closed from 2 to 5 November 2026 for renovations and then opens Wednesday to Sunday until the end of the year, so check the website before you go.
- 11
Whistler Blackcomb and the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola
Whistler Blackcomb is the largest ski area in North America, with more than 200 marked runs over two mountains and over 1,500 m of vertical drop. Beginners stay on the gentle slopes around the mid-mountain stations, while experts head for the alpine bowls and glaciers. The resort is owned by Vail Resorts, so lift tickets and Epic Pass products are sold through the resort website. For the 2026/27 season, opening day was targeted for 20 November 2026, depending on snow.
Linking the two mountains is the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola, which opened in 2008 and runs 4.4 km between the Roundhouse Lodge on Whistler and the Rendezvous Lodge on Blackcomb. Its central span of about 3 km has no towers, and at its highest point the cabin hangs around 436 m above Fitzsimmons Creek. A few cabins have glass floors. In summer, a sightseeing ticket covers the village gondolas and PEAK 2 PEAK, with alpine trails to walk at both ends.
TipLift tickets are much cheaper bought online in advance than at the ticket window, and on a clear summer day the first gondola of the morning has the best light.
- 12
Whistler Mountain Bike Park
In summer, the lower slopes of Whistler Mountain become one of the largest lift-served bike parks in the world, with trails graded from smooth, flowing beginner routes to steep, rocky expert lines, plus the high alpine Top of the World trail. The park usually opens in mid-May and runs until mid-October, and every August the Crankworx festival brings the world's best riders for a week of racing and jumping. Bikes, full-face helmets and body armour can be rented in the village, and lessons are a good idea for first-timers.
TipEven if you do not ride, sit by the finish area at the base in the late afternoon to watch riders flying over the last jumps.
- 13
Lost Lake
A short walk or cycle from the village along the Valley Trail, this small lake ringed by forest is Whistler's favourite summer playground, with a grassy beach, a floating dock and a quiet clothing-optional corner. A network of trails circles the lake through the trees and doubles as cross-country ski trails in winter, when there is a warming hut and the loops are lit for night skiing.
TipThe Valley Trail, a paved path of over 40 km, links Lost Lake with Alta, Alpha, Nita and Green lakes. Hiring a bike is the best way to explore it.
- 15
Nairn Falls
North of Whistler, on the way to Pemberton, the Green River forces its way through a narrow granite gorge in a thundering two-stage waterfall. An easy trail of about 1.5 km each way follows the river to a viewpoint above the falls. The park also has a forested campground.
- 16
Joffre Lakes
Beyond Pemberton, the road climbs into the mountains to Pipi7íyekw/Joffre Lakes Park, where three lakes of startling turquoise sit beneath the hanging glaciers of Matier and Joffre peaks. The lower lake is a few minutes from the car park. The trail then climbs steeply for about 5 km to the middle lake, with its famous fallen log, and the upper lake beneath the ice. The park lies on the unceded land of the Lil'wat Nation and N'Quatqua, and it is now co-managed with them.
In 2026, free day-use trail passes were required for every visitor from 11 May to 25 October; children aged 12 and under with a pass-holding adult did not need one. Passes are released online at 7am two days before your visit, numbers are capped at 500 visitors a day, and the park also closes completely on certain dates for the Nations' cultural use. If you arrive without a pass in season, you will be turned away.
TipThere is no cell service in the park, so download your pass beforehand. The trail is about 1.5 hours' drive from Whistler.
When to go
Whistler has two high seasons. The ski season runs from late November to late May, but the most reliable snow and the best atmosphere come between mid-December and March. Christmas, New Year, February half-term and Presidents' Day are the busiest and most expensive weeks. In spring, longer days bring sunny ski days and the World Ski and Snowboard Festival in April, while Blackcomb often keeps lifts turning into May.
July to September is the time for hiking, biking, lakes and alpine wildflowers. The high trails are usually free of snow only from mid-July, and late August and September offer warm days, fewer crowds and, sometimes, smoke from regional wildfires. October and November are the quietest months: many trails are muddy or snowbound, some lifts and restaurants close, and prices drop. Winter temperatures in the village usually sit around freezing, which means heavy, wet coastal snow and occasional rain at the base.
Getting around
From Vancouver, the drive up the Sea-to-Sky Highway (Highway 99) takes about two hours in good conditions. Several coach companies run scheduled buses between Vancouver International Airport, downtown Vancouver and Whistler, which is often easier than driving in winter. From 1 October to 31 March, vehicles on the Sea-to-Sky Highway must carry winter tyres (marked with the mountain and snowflake symbol or M+S); rental companies in Vancouver can supply them. There is no passenger rail service.
In Whistler you rarely need a car. The village is pedestrian-only, and the Valley Trail links neighbourhoods, lakes and parks for walkers and cyclists. BC Transit runs local buses through the valley, including routes to Creekside, Lost Lake and the outlying neighbourhoods. Village parking lots charge daily fees, and spaces fill early on powder days. For Joffre Lakes, Garibaldi Lake and the stops further south, you will need a car, a tour or the seasonal hiker shuttle buses.
Local tips
- Book lift tickets, ski hire and lessons online before you arrive; prices at the window are much higher.
- Prices in British Columbia exclude sales tax, which is added at the till, and tips of 18 to 20% are expected in restaurants and bars.
- Black bears are common in the valley from spring to autumn. Never feed them, keep a distance, and carry bear spray on remote trails.
- The weather at the summits can be very different from the village. Pack warm layers even in summer for the alpine.
- Joffre Lakes and Garibaldi passes are released at 7am Pacific time two days ahead and can go in minutes in July and August; set an alarm.
- Parking at waterfalls and trailheads along Highway 99 fills by mid-morning on sunny weekends, so start early.
- The legal drinking age in British Columbia is 19, and bars check ID.
The Sea-to-Sky drive
Highway 99 between Horseshoe Bay and Whistler is a destination in itself. It was widened and rebuilt before the 2010 Olympics, but it still clings to the cliffs above Howe Sound, the southernmost fjord in North America, before turning inland into the mountains. Beyond the stops listed above, Porteau Cove Provincial Park has a pier and beach right on the water, and the town of Squamish, the self-styled outdoor recreation capital of Canada, is a good place for coffee, brewery lunches and, from November to January, watching wintering bald eagles along the rivers at Brackendale.
North of Whistler, the highway continues through the farming valley of Pemberton and then climbs as the Duffey Lake Road over Cayoosh Pass to Lillooet, a dramatic route with steep grades and few services. Check DriveBC for road conditions and closures before setting out at any time of year.
Eat and drink
Whistler's dining scene is surprisingly sophisticated for a mountain town. In the village you can find everything from slopeside burgers and poutine to tasting menus built around British Columbian produce, such as wild salmon, spot prawns, Fraser Valley meats and Okanagan wines. Several restaurants specialise in sushi and Japanese cooking, reflecting Whistler's many Japanese visitors and staff.
Après-ski is a ritual. Bars at the base of the Whistler Village Gondola and in Creekside fill up from 3pm, often with live music. Whistler and Squamish both have craft breweries, and the region's distillers produce gin and vodka from local ingredients. For a cheaper meal, grocery stores in the village and Creekside have ready-made food, and many lodgings have kitchens.
Where to stay
Whistler Village puts you within walking distance of the main gondolas, restaurants and nightlife, but it can be noisy on weekends. Upper Village, at the foot of Blackcomb, is a little quieter and more upmarket. Creekside, at the south end of the valley, has its own gondola up Whistler Mountain, an easy-going feel and slightly lower prices. Condos and chalets in neighbourhoods such as Alpine Meadows, Alta Vista and Whistler Cay suit families and groups with a car or bus pass. Book well ahead for the holidays and summer, and check whether parking is included, as it often costs extra.
For a cheaper base, Squamish and Pemberton have more modest hotels and campsites within 45 minutes' drive. BC Parks also runs campgrounds at Alice Lake, Brandywine Falls and Nairn Falls, which need reserving in summer.
A short history
The Squamish and Lil'wat peoples have travelled, hunted and gathered in this valley for thousands of years, and it lay on a trading route between the coast and the interior. Trappers and prospectors came in the late 19th century, and in 1914 the Pacific Great Eastern Railway reached Alta Lake, bringing visitors to small fishing lodges.
Skiing began in earnest when the lifts opened on Whistler Mountain in 1966, as part of a bid to host the Winter Olympics. Blackcomb followed in 1980, and the purpose-built village opened in the same era, after the area became Canada's first resort municipality in 1975. The two mountains, long fierce rivals, merged in 1997, and Vail Resorts bought the combined resort in 2016. The 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, co-hosted with Vancouver, brought the alpine events to Whistler Creekside, the bobsleigh and luge events to the Whistler Sliding Centre and Nordic skiing to Whistler Olympic Park in the Callaghan Valley.
Responsible travel
Some of the most famous places around Whistler, including Joffre Lakes and Garibaldi, have become so crowded that day-use passes now limit visitor numbers; respect the closures and booking systems, which protect fragile alpine meadows and honour the wishes of the First Nations whose land this is. Stay on marked trails, carry out all rubbish, and never feed or approach bears. Use coaches, local buses and the Valley Trail instead of driving where you can, and avoid swimming close to nesting loons on the lakes in early summer. Visiting the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre and buying art from Indigenous artists directly supports the region's original communities.
For more of western Canada, combine Whistler with the city and coastline of Vancouver, or cross the Rockies to the lakes and peaks of Banff.