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- More than a winter destination
While Whistler in the winter is magnificent, Whistler shines as a mountain playground in the summer. In fact, the area first gained notoriety as a summer resort in the 1920s with the opening of a hunting and fishing lodge on Alta Lake (at the time, it took three days to reach the resort from Vancouver via steamboat and pack horse!). It also surprises many to know that the majority of Whistler’s more than three million annual visitors come during the summer.
As the snow melts, rolling expanses explored by snowshoe enthusiasts reveal four championship golf courses designed by legendary players such as Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. Forested pathways that once housed groomed cross-country ski tracks transform into a network of family-friendly and single-track biking trails. Ski runs make way for alpine hiking and downhill-biking in the world famous Whistler Mountain Bike Park. And the five ice skating and hockey lakes are now a place for canoes, kayaks and standup paddleboards. Not to mention swimming and lakeside relaxing.
Winter made Whistler famous but its natural beauty, diverse residents and limitless year-round offerings make it an original and unforgettable place. The list of summer offerings continues: ziplining, treetop adventures, fly fishing, ATV and RZR tours, e-biking, rock climbing and white water rafting is just the beginning of what summer in Whistler looks like.
- A different perspective: Whistler’s Cultural Connector
Many are familiar with Whistler for its adventure, shopping and breathtaking views, but behind Whistler’s majestic mountain backdrop are captivating cultural stories of people who settled here and shaped the resort into what it is today. Following the Cultural Connector – a self-guided hiking and biking pathway that links six significant cultural institutions in Whistler - is one of the best ways to explore the arts, history and stories of Whistler.
Start by discovering the stories, crafts and traditions of our local First Nation’s people at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre. Learn about the people and events that shaped our mountain culture at the Whistler Museum. Visit by the Whistler Public Library, Whistler’s community hub for locals, visitors, and seasonal workers; discover the diverse talent of local artists at the Maury Young Arts Centre; and drop by Lost Lake Passivhaus, home base of Team Austria during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Whistler’s newest cultural hotspot - the Audain Art Museum - is an impressive architectural attraction in itself. It houses the world’s finest collection of First Nations’ masks, a superb collection of Emily Carr paintings, works by some of Canada’s most internationally regarded contemporary artists and rotating special exhibits.
There is also plenty of natural beauty and public art pieces as you meander. The Resort Municipality of Whistler's Public Art Committee - founded in 1996 - regularly commissions pieces by local, regional and national artists to be constructed and built into the Whistler environment. So far 55+ pieces have been installed, including everything from metal sculptures and wood carvings to murals and collaborative ceramics, with many of these pieces are scattered along the Cultural Connector route.
- Whistler welcomes solo travelers
It's very difficult to spend time in Whistler and not meet people. It's just that kind of place.
Whistler’s pedestrian-only village stroll is the hub for shopping, dining, après and ultimately - socializing. Skiers and snowboarders, hikers, bikers and sightseers all flow into the area after their on-mountain adventures, creating an energetic atmosphere unique to Whistler.
With solo travel on the rise, Whistler has stepped up its game to make sure those arriving with just their suitcase (and maybe a pair of skis or bike) are welcomed and accommodated. Cue the opening of Canada’s first pod hotel on August 9, 2018, Pangea Pod Hotel. Situated in the heart of the Village, Pangea features well designed boutique sleeping pods, secure equipment storage, and multiple social spaces – including a rooftop patio – where guests can meet other pod goers and share a craft beer or two.
Other solo-friendly options include the 55-bed youth hostel run by Hostelling International, located in the Cheakamus Crossing neighborhood, a 10-minute drive north of Whistler Village. Within walking distance you’ll find Whistler’s iconic Train Wreck hike, craft breweries, axe throwing, and boutique shopping, food and coffee options.
Although solo travelers in Whistler normally end up joining a likeminded crew, here are our top five year-round recommendations for those seeking some quality time on their own:
- Relax and recharge with hydrotherapy at the Scandinave Spa. Tip: BYO book or journal for the sauna and relaxation areas.
- Go sightseeing on the mountain and ride Whistler Blackcomb’s Peak 2 Peak Gondola and Cloudraker Skybridge.
- Get cultural. Take a tour at the Squamish Lil’Wat Cultural Centre and learn about the local first nations, and view the impressive collections and beautiful architecture at the Audain Art Museum.
- Take a tour. Get the adrenaline going with a ziplining tour or bungee jump, explore old growth forests on a TreeTrek Canopy Walk, or - for the foodies - eat at Whistler's best restaurants with Whistler Tasting Tours.
- Shop, eat, drink, and soak up the atmosphere on the Village Stroll.
We also think there are some perks to flying solo in Whistler: get in more laps on the mountain by taking the singles line; snap up that final seat at the bar and get local tips from your server; and people watch from one of the many year-round patios.
- Alpine experiences that will blow your mind
Ask any Whistler local if there’s one thing they should do when visiting the mountain town, and chances are they’ll tell you to make your way “up the mountain”.
Whistler Blackcomb is famed for its 3,000+ hectares of skiable terrain, mountain biking and hiking in summer, the Guinness World Record breaking Peak 2 Peak Gondola, and now – after it’s opening in summer 2018 - the Cloudraker Skybridge and Raven’s Eye Cliff Walk.
Located at the top of Whistler mountain, the Cloudraker Skybridge spans 130 metres from Whistler Peak to the West Ridge, high above the slopes of Whistler Bowl below. This is one for the thrill seekers; the bridge is formed by 101 steel modules that allow you to see beneath your feet. And if that doesn’t give you shaky knees, at the end of the bridge lies the Raven’s Eye Cliff Walk, a cantilevered walkway extending 12.5 metres out from West Ridge offering 360-degree views of the Coast Mountains, including Whistler’s iconic Black Tusk.
Connecting Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, engineering marvel the Peak 2 Peak Gondola offers a different but equally remarkable perspective of the coast mountain ranges and valley floor. Since its opening in 2008, visitors are wowed by its design and breath-taking views – also making it an experience not to be missed. The gondola shatters three world records, including: longest unsupported span, highest lift of its kind, and longest continuous lift system on the globe.
Before descending down the mountain, celebrate the day on Whistler’s most impressive patio. The Whiskey Jack Umbrella Bar opened in 2018 and sits alongside the Roundhouse Lodge on top of Whistler Mountain, serving crafty cocktails and beers on tap paired with… you got it… alpine views.
All experiences are doable with a Whistler Blackcomb sightseeing or ski pass and an appetite for altitude.
- Crankworx Whistler: the must-attend mountain biking festival
Mountain biking put down roots early in Whistler, British Columbia. In the 1980s – before there was a Crankworx - there was a vision for a man-made trail down dusty forest slopes, which was more commonly home to skiers. Riders in the Sea-to-Sky corridor slowly crafted trails, built jumps and used two wheels to cut lines along the steep camber of the forest. By the mid-’90s mountain biking was going mainstream, staking its claim in the 1996 Olympic Games, and diggers started work on the Whistler Mountain Bike Park. After the Park’s opening in summer 1999, the stage was set and the spark ignited. Crankworx officially launched onto the scene in 2004.
Since that first festival in Whistler, Crankworx has been ground zero for superhuman moments that’ve helped shape the sport of mountain biking, launching the careers of superstars, inspiring both recreational riders and up-and-coming pros, and relentlessly pushing the sport into the future.
Today the Crankworx World Tour has grown to four stops and, this August, the festival will once again culminate in Whistler for 10 days of going faster, further, higher, and bigger than humanly imaginable. Highlights include the Ultimate Pump Track Challenge, Whip-Off World Championships, and the marquee event of Crankworx Whistler - Red Bull Joyride Slopestyle. Film and photography events Deep Summer Photo Challenge and Dirt Diaries round out the sporting action and typify Crankworx’s more creative side.
The schedule of events is deep and colourful, and you don’t have to be a “mountain biker” to appreciate and enjoy the high energy festival. All the big contests and events are free to watch and there’s plenty of off- mountain parties and events to get amongst as well.
- Into the woods with Vallea Lumina
Every night this summer, Whistler’s Cougar Mountain comes alive at sundown in a unique and wondrous way. Your adventure is called Vallea Lumina, and it begins after dark at The Adventure Group’s base located about a 10-minute drive north of Whistler Village. As you embark on the 1.5 km hike through the old-growth forest at Cougar Mountain, you learn of two missing hikers. Be captivated by the interactive and emotive sounds and lights of the enchanted woods, as you search for clues along the way.
Vallea Lumina is the collaborative result of Whistler’s The Adventure Group and Quebec-based Moment Factory, a media company with specialization in immersive and special effect environments. Vallea Lumina uses a universal language, speaking to audiences of all ages and interests and bringing generations together using a clever combination of lights, videos, soundscape and scenography.
Vallea Lumina debuted in July 2018 and runs daily until mid-October. The illuminated 1.5 km long trail takes approximately 60 minutes to complete and the experience is suitable for explorers of all ages. A complimentary shuttle service is provided to transport visitors between Whistler Village and Cougar Mountain.
- Two wheels only: the rise of Whistler’s bike scene
Aerial maps of Whistler in summer look something like an ant farm; except those travelling dots are hikers, runners and - most of all - bikers. The valley and surrounding mountains are crisscrossed with trails - hundreds of kilometres of them - with options for just about everyone looking for a two-wheeled adventure.
As the number one lift-accessed downhill bike park in the world, the Whistler Mountain Bike Park lures downhill enthusiasts from all over the world, in search of dirt, adventure and earned tire tracks. The Park features 70 expertly-crafted trails spread throughout four mountain zones, including every downhill rider’s bucket list trail – Top of the World – dropping from the Peak of Whistler Mountain, and the addition of Creek Zone in 2018, which added five new trails and 15 km of trail inventory to the Bike Park.
New the downhill world? Do not fear. Whistler Blackcomb’s Bike Park 101 program gives novices the instruction and encouragement they need for their first time, including proper stance and body position, elementary downhill bike control, park etiquette and even how to load your bike onto a moving gondola.
Ladies looking to surround themselves with fellow female riders can sign up for the popular Women’s Nights which run twice a week and include equipment rentals, lift tickets and professional guides. Riders of all levels can find something in the park's extensive terrain, and it wouldn't be mountain biking at Whistler without an après drink at the Garibaldi Lift Co. (GLC) to compare stories when it's over. Not your typical night out with the girls.
You don’t have to be hitting the bike park to have fun on two wheels. Whistler boasts over 200 kilometres of networked cross-country trails and technical single tracks, such as local favourites “River Runs Through It” and the challenging “Comfortably Numb” – a trail which helped establish Whistler’s reputation as a mountain biking mecca. Comfortably Numb was named by the IMBA (International Mountain Bicycling Association) as an “Epic” ride – one of only a select number of trails around the world that demonstrate the best in mountain biking.
If more of a leisurely pace is more your style, the best way to explore Whistler and its surrounding lakes, parks and forests is along the Valley Trail system. And if you get lost somewhere along the 40 kilometres of paved paths, chances are there is a picturesque beach framed by mountain peaks waiting just around the corner.
- Whistler Presents: Outdoor Summer Concert Series
If there’s any excuse to get outdoors - making the most of the long daylight and balmy summer evenings - then Whistler will find it. In this case, it’s all about music.
Each year between July and September the Whistler Presents: Outdoor Concert Series hosts a number of outdoor performances, featuring a delightful smorgasbord of acts sure to get you singing, dancing and generally having a good time. Did we also mention they’re free to attend?
Concerts run most weekends over the summer and there’s typically something to suit everyone’s musical preferences, from rock and acoustic, to soul and reggae. With a picnic rug and summer snacks on hand, locals and visitors of all ages gather on the big green lawn at Whistler Olympic Plaza in the Whistler Village, with the majestic mountains towering behind the main stage.
The 2018 Whistler Presents Summer Concert Series welcomes a slate of celebrated Canadian and international artists. For the full calendar visit whistler.ca
- Whistler's love affair with barbeque
Summer is in full swing, bringing long days, outdoor fun and another reason to gather friends and family around the BBQ. Whistler restaurants make it easy to enjoy warm summer nights with barbeque options every night of the week - so grab those stretchy pants and start planning!
Tuesday and Sundays, the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre offer First Nations-inspired menu items such as cedar planked West Coast salmon and buffalo smokies during the Centre’s Feast and Tour: The Story of Hunters and Gatherers.
A wide selection of all-you-can-eat barbequed proteins, bright salads and satisfying sides are on offer at SIDECUT’s Thursday night “Beer” BQ’s, alongside rotating live local musicians and featured breweries.
For those craving alpine views, Whistler Blackcomb's Mountain Top Summer Feast is available every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings throughout summer at the Roundhouse Lodge on Whistler Mountain.With live music, a carving station, fresh seafood, mouthwatering salads, and a sweets station for those that have saved some room, dining at 1,800m (6,000ft) couldn’t get any more delicious.
Combining BBQ with adventure (hashtag #OnlyInWhistler) Canadian Wilderness Adventures offers a tour on top of Blackcomb Mountain, serving a Pacific Salmon feast with views of Horstman Glacier and Whistler Valley below. Simply choose if you would prefer to get there by ATV or 4x4 Jeep.
For some BBQ inspiration, the King of BBQ events take place the first weekend of August at The Bulleit Bourboun Canadian National BBQ Championships. From local legends to world champions, the BBQ Championships pit the best of the best against each other at Dusty's Bar & BBQ in Whistler’s Creekside. The best bit is - you get to enjoy their BBQ creations.
- Golf’s top course designers make Whistler much more than a winter destination
With two massive mountains, plentiful snowfall and wide variety of terrain, Whistler's reputation as a world-class ski destination is undeniable. Over the years Whistler's popularity as a summer destination has also grown, and tody more than half of Whistler's 3-million annual visitors come when the weather is warm and the lakes are swimmable.
Here's something else you might now know: Whistler is a must-play golf destination.
Featuring four award-winning courses - each offering a unique playing experience and breathtaking mountain views - Whistler's golf courses are nothing short of spectacular.
• Located steps from Whistler Village, the Arnold Palmer-designed Whistler Golf Club features spectacular mountain views, and a relaxed atmosphere with rolling fairways winding around lakes, creeks and old-growth forest, home to black bear, coyote, beaver and an abundance of bird life.
• The Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club offers mountain golf at its finest. Carved from the side of Blackcomb Mountain, this Robert Trent Jones Jr. design features an elevation change of more than 400 feet. Natural features such as exposed rock faces, mountain ledges, wildlife, ravines and waterfalls are the highlights of this classic mountain gem.
• Nicklaus North features a captivating location surrounded by mountains with impeccably manicured greens. Challenging par threes and distinctive Nicklaus bunkering are hallmarks of this par 71 championship course. This Jack Nicklaus Signature Design is the only golf course in the world to which Jack has been inspired to add his name.
• Big Sky Golf Club lies just 25 minutes north of Whistler at the base of the massive, snow-capped Mount Currie in the fertile Pemberton valley, offering a peaceful and serene setting for an outstanding round of golf. An award-winning design by Robert Cupp, Big Sky features bent grass from tee to green and Ravensdale sand bunkers to provide the finest in golf course conditioning.
Whistler's range of accommodations, restaurants and endless variety of activities makes it a summer destination for golfers and their families. In fact, juniors can tee up for free at all three village-based courses in Whistler (Nicklaus North, Fairmont Chateau Whistler, and the Whistler Golf Club) when accompanied by a paying adult. Grab the clubs and slather on the sunscreen...just don't forget it's BYOK (bring your own kids).
Whistler's golf season runs from when the snow has melted (early May) until mid-October.
- A different perspective: Whistler’s Cultural Connector
Many are familiar with Whistler for its adventure, shopping and breathtaking views, but behind Whistler’s majestic mountain backdrop are captivating cultural stories of people who settled here and shaped the resort into what it is today. Following the Cultural Connector – a self-guided hiking and biking pathway that links six significant cultural institutions in Whistler - is one of the best ways to explore the arts, history and stories of Whistler.
Start by discovering the stories, crafts and traditions of our local First Nation’s people at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre. Learn about the people and events that shaped our mountain culture at the Whistler Museum. Visit by the Whistler Public Library, Whistler’s community hub for locals, visitors, and seasonal workers; discover the diverse talent of local artists at the Maury Young Arts Centre; and drop by Lost Lake Passivhaus, home base of Team Austria during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Whistler’s newest cultural hotspot - the Audain Art Museum - is an impressive architectural attraction in itself. It houses the world’s finest collection of First Nations’ masks, a superb collection of Emily Carr paintings, works by some of Canada’s most internationally regarded contemporary artists and rotating special exhibits.
There is also plenty of natural beauty and public art pieces as you meander. The Resort Municipality of Whistler's Public Art Committee - founded in 1996 - regularly commissions pieces by local, regional and national artists to be constructed and built into the Whistler environment. So far 55+ pieces have been installed, including everything from metal sculptures and wood carvings to murals and collaborative ceramics, with many of these pieces are scattered along the Cultural Connector route.
- Alpine experiences that will blow your mind
Ask any Whistler local if there’s one thing they should do when visiting the mountain town, and chances are they’ll tell you to make your way “up the mountain”.
Whistler Blackcomb is famed for its 3,000+ hectares of skiable terrain, mountain biking and hiking in summer, the Guinness World Record breaking Peak 2 Peak Gondola, and now – after it’s opening in summer 2018 - the Cloudraker Skybridge and Raven’s Eye Cliff Walk.
Located at the top of Whistler mountain, the Cloudraker Skybridge spans 130 metres from Whistler Peak to the West Ridge, high above the slopes of Whistler Bowl below. This is one for the thrill seekers; the bridge is formed by 101 steel modules that allow you to see beneath your feet. And if that doesn’t give you shaky knees, at the end of the bridge lies the Raven’s Eye Cliff Walk, a cantilevered walkway extending 12.5 metres out from West Ridge offering 360-degree views of the Coast Mountains, including Whistler’s iconic Black Tusk.
Connecting Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, engineering marvel the Peak 2 Peak Gondola offers a different but equally remarkable perspective of the coast mountain ranges and valley floor. Since its opening in 2008, visitors are wowed by its design and breath-taking views – also making it an experience not to be missed. The gondola shatters three world records, including: longest unsupported span, highest lift of its kind, and longest continuous lift system on the globe.
Before descending down the mountain, celebrate the day on Whistler’s most impressive patio. The Whiskey Jack Umbrella Bar opened in 2018 and sits alongside the Roundhouse Lodge on top of Whistler Mountain, serving crafty cocktails and beers on tap paired with… you got it… alpine views.
All experiences are doable with a Whistler Blackcomb sightseeing or ski pass and an appetite for altitude.
- Crankworx Whistler: the must-attend mountain biking festival
Mountain biking put down roots early in Whistler, British Columbia. In the 1980s – before there was a Crankworx - there was a vision for a man-made trail down dusty forest slopes, which was more commonly home to skiers. Riders in the Sea-to-Sky corridor slowly crafted trails, built jumps and used two wheels to cut lines along the steep camber of the forest. By the mid-’90s mountain biking was going mainstream, staking its claim in the 1996 Olympic Games, and diggers started work on the Whistler Mountain Bike Park. After the Park’s opening in summer 1999, the stage was set and the spark ignited. Crankworx officially launched onto the scene in 2004.
Since that first festival in Whistler, Crankworx has been ground zero for superhuman moments that’ve helped shape the sport of mountain biking, launching the careers of superstars, inspiring both recreational riders and up-and-coming pros, and relentlessly pushing the sport into the future.
Today the Crankworx World Tour has grown to four stops and, this August, the festival will once again culminate in Whistler for 10 days of going faster, further, higher, and bigger than humanly imaginable. Highlights include the Ultimate Pump Track Challenge, Whip-Off World Championships, and the marquee event of Crankworx Whistler - Red Bull Joyride Slopestyle. Film and photography events Deep Summer Photo Challenge and Dirt Diaries round out the sporting action and typify Crankworx’s more creative side.
The schedule of events is deep and colourful, and you don’t have to be a “mountain biker” to appreciate and enjoy the high energy festival. All the big contests and events are free to watch and there’s plenty of off- mountain parties and events to get amongst as well.
- Fall food and drink festival takes over Whistler: Cornucopia, presented by BlueShore Financial
It’s no secret Whistler has a crush on good food and wine, boasting a plethora of high-calibre restaurants, with extraordinary wine cellars to match. Bolstering Whistler’s culinary scene and recognized by Forbes Traveler as one of the Top 10 International Food and Wine Festivals - Cornucopia, presented by BlueShore Financial - is the resort's legendary 11-day festival of gourmet pleasures featuring gala tasting events, seminars, decadent after-parties and much more.
With an abundance of events on offer, the key to enjoying Cornucopia is finding what tempts your taste buds. Signature tasting events such as Crush, House Party and Poured offer lively atmospheres (cue DJ’s, tasting stations, mixing and mingling) with each having a different focus – wine, international flavours, spirits, beer, and the best of British Columbia.
Chefs Table Luncheons hosted in Whistler’s private mansions and Winery Dinners at the resort’s top restaurants, promise guests a truly memorable and intimate culinary experience and offer the opportunity to speak with the vitners, distillers and chefs as they move through a carefully crafted menu.
Pairing consumption with learning, events such as the Culinary Stage Series, drink seminars and Nourish Health + Wellness Series are presented to smaller groups, and involve education and interaction with the leaders.
The festival finale- presented by Bearfoot Bistro - is the World Oyster Invitational & Bloody Caesar Battle, where the best oyster shuckers, bartenders and mixologists from around the globe descend on Whistler to meet and compete.
Mark your calendars for this not-to-be-missed festival - Whistler’s Cornucopia happens annually in November.
- Golf’s top course designers make Whistler much more than a winter destination
With two massive mountains, plentiful snowfall and wide variety of terrain, Whistler's reputation as a world-class ski destination is undeniable. Over the years Whistler's popularity as a summer destination has also grown, and tody more than half of Whistler's 3-million annual visitors come when the weather is warm and the lakes are swimmable.
Here's something else you might now know: Whistler is a must-play golf destination.
Featuring four award-winning courses - each offering a unique playing experience and breathtaking mountain views - Whistler's golf courses are nothing short of spectacular.
• Located steps from Whistler Village, the Arnold Palmer-designed Whistler Golf Club features spectacular mountain views, and a relaxed atmosphere with rolling fairways winding around lakes, creeks and old-growth forest, home to black bear, coyote, beaver and an abundance of bird life.
• The Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club offers mountain golf at its finest. Carved from the side of Blackcomb Mountain, this Robert Trent Jones Jr. design features an elevation change of more than 400 feet. Natural features such as exposed rock faces, mountain ledges, wildlife, ravines and waterfalls are the highlights of this classic mountain gem.
• Nicklaus North features a captivating location surrounded by mountains with impeccably manicured greens. Challenging par threes and distinctive Nicklaus bunkering are hallmarks of this par 71 championship course. This Jack Nicklaus Signature Design is the only golf course in the world to which Jack has been inspired to add his name.
• Big Sky Golf Club lies just 25 minutes north of Whistler at the base of the massive, snow-capped Mount Currie in the fertile Pemberton valley, offering a peaceful and serene setting for an outstanding round of golf. An award-winning design by Robert Cupp, Big Sky features bent grass from tee to green and Ravensdale sand bunkers to provide the finest in golf course conditioning.
Whistler's range of accommodations, restaurants and endless variety of activities makes it a summer destination for golfers and their families. In fact, juniors can tee up for free at all three village-based courses in Whistler (Nicklaus North, Fairmont Chateau Whistler, and the Whistler Golf Club) when accompanied by a paying adult. Grab the clubs and slather on the sunscreen...just don't forget it's BYOK (bring your own kids).
Whistler's golf season runs from when the snow has melted (early May) until mid-October.
- Into the woods with Vallea Lumina
Every night this summer, Whistler’s Cougar Mountain comes alive at sundown in a unique and wondrous way. Your adventure is called Vallea Lumina, and it begins after dark at The Adventure Group’s base located about a 10-minute drive north of Whistler Village. As you embark on the 1.5 km hike through the old-growth forest at Cougar Mountain, you learn of two missing hikers. Be captivated by the interactive and emotive sounds and lights of the enchanted woods, as you search for clues along the way.
Vallea Lumina is the collaborative result of Whistler’s The Adventure Group and Quebec-based Moment Factory, a media company with specialization in immersive and special effect environments. Vallea Lumina uses a universal language, speaking to audiences of all ages and interests and bringing generations together using a clever combination of lights, videos, soundscape and scenography.
Vallea Lumina debuted in July 2018 and runs daily until mid-October. The illuminated 1.5 km long trail takes approximately 60 minutes to complete and the experience is suitable for explorers of all ages. A complimentary shuttle service is provided to transport visitors between Whistler Village and Cougar Mountain.
- More than a winter destination
While Whistler in the winter is magnificent, Whistler shines as a mountain playground in the summer. In fact, the area first gained notoriety as a summer resort in the 1920s with the opening of a hunting and fishing lodge on Alta Lake (at the time, it took three days to reach the resort from Vancouver via steamboat and pack horse!). It also surprises many to know that the majority of Whistler’s more than three million annual visitors come during the summer.
As the snow melts, rolling expanses explored by snowshoe enthusiasts reveal four championship golf courses designed by legendary players such as Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. Forested pathways that once housed groomed cross-country ski tracks transform into a network of family-friendly and single-track biking trails. Ski runs make way for alpine hiking and downhill-biking in the world famous Whistler Mountain Bike Park. And the five ice skating and hockey lakes are now a place for canoes, kayaks and standup paddleboards. Not to mention swimming and lakeside relaxing.
Winter made Whistler famous but its natural beauty, diverse residents and limitless year-round offerings make it an original and unforgettable place. The list of summer offerings continues: ziplining, treetop adventures, fly fishing, ATV and RZR tours, e-biking, rock climbing and white water rafting is just the beginning of what summer in Whistler looks like.
- Two wheels only: the rise of Whistler’s bike scene
Aerial maps of Whistler in summer look something like an ant farm; except those travelling dots are hikers, runners and - most of all - bikers. The valley and surrounding mountains are crisscrossed with trails - hundreds of kilometres of them - with options for just about everyone looking for a two-wheeled adventure.
As the number one lift-accessed downhill bike park in the world, the Whistler Mountain Bike Park lures downhill enthusiasts from all over the world, in search of dirt, adventure and earned tire tracks. The Park features 70 expertly-crafted trails spread throughout four mountain zones, including every downhill rider’s bucket list trail – Top of the World – dropping from the Peak of Whistler Mountain, and the addition of Creek Zone in 2018, which added five new trails and 15 km of trail inventory to the Bike Park.
New the downhill world? Do not fear. Whistler Blackcomb’s Bike Park 101 program gives novices the instruction and encouragement they need for their first time, including proper stance and body position, elementary downhill bike control, park etiquette and even how to load your bike onto a moving gondola.
Ladies looking to surround themselves with fellow female riders can sign up for the popular Women’s Nights which run twice a week and include equipment rentals, lift tickets and professional guides. Riders of all levels can find something in the park's extensive terrain, and it wouldn't be mountain biking at Whistler without an après drink at the Garibaldi Lift Co. (GLC) to compare stories when it's over. Not your typical night out with the girls.
You don’t have to be hitting the bike park to have fun on two wheels. Whistler boasts over 200 kilometres of networked cross-country trails and technical single tracks, such as local favourites “River Runs Through It” and the challenging “Comfortably Numb” – a trail which helped establish Whistler’s reputation as a mountain biking mecca. Comfortably Numb was named by the IMBA (International Mountain Bicycling Association) as an “Epic” ride – one of only a select number of trails around the world that demonstrate the best in mountain biking.
If more of a leisurely pace is more your style, the best way to explore Whistler and its surrounding lakes, parks and forests is along the Valley Trail system. And if you get lost somewhere along the 40 kilometres of paved paths, chances are there is a picturesque beach framed by mountain peaks waiting just around the corner.
- Whistler Presents: Outdoor Summer Concert Series
If there’s any excuse to get outdoors - making the most of the long daylight and balmy summer evenings - then Whistler will find it. In this case, it’s all about music.
Each year between July and September the Whistler Presents: Outdoor Concert Series hosts a number of outdoor performances, featuring a delightful smorgasbord of acts sure to get you singing, dancing and generally having a good time. Did we also mention they’re free to attend?
Concerts run most weekends over the summer and there’s typically something to suit everyone’s musical preferences, from rock and acoustic, to soul and reggae. With a picnic rug and summer snacks on hand, locals and visitors of all ages gather on the big green lawn at Whistler Olympic Plaza in the Whistler Village, with the majestic mountains towering behind the main stage.
The 2018 Whistler Presents Summer Concert Series welcomes a slate of celebrated Canadian and international artists. For the full calendar visit whistler.ca
- Whistler Village Beer Festival
Beer in the mountains – it just feels right. The first annual Whistler Village Beer Festival launched in September 2013 when two like-minded locals saw that the time had come for beer - the
primary ingredient of every après-ski, après-bike, and après-fun - to
have its mountaintop shout-out. The festival runs for 6 days with interesting seminars, unique cask nights, food pairing dinners, great parties and a main tasting event that spans two days! The Whistler Village Beer Festival showcases 70 breweries, (which means 140+ beers need to be sampled) and boasts a full music lineup, food trucks, plus interactive games and activities. This is one that ale enthusiasts will not want to miss!
- Whistler welcomes solo travelers
It's very difficult to spend time in Whistler and not meet people. It's just that kind of place.
Whistler’s pedestrian-only village stroll is the hub for shopping, dining, après and ultimately - socializing. Skiers and snowboarders, hikers, bikers and sightseers all flow into the area after their on-mountain adventures, creating an energetic atmosphere unique to Whistler.
With solo travel on the rise, Whistler has stepped up its game to make sure those arriving with just their suitcase (and maybe a pair of skis or bike) are welcomed and accommodated. Cue the opening of Canada’s first pod hotel on August 9, 2018, Pangea Pod Hotel. Situated in the heart of the Village, Pangea features well designed boutique sleeping pods, secure equipment storage, and multiple social spaces – including a rooftop patio – where guests can meet other pod goers and share a craft beer or two.
Other solo-friendly options include the 55-bed youth hostel run by Hostelling International, located in the Cheakamus Crossing neighborhood, a 10-minute drive north of Whistler Village. Within walking distance you’ll find Whistler’s iconic Train Wreck hike, craft breweries, axe throwing, and boutique shopping, food and coffee options.
Although solo travelers in Whistler normally end up joining a likeminded crew, here are our top five year-round recommendations for those seeking some quality time on their own:
- Relax and recharge with hydrotherapy at the Scandinave Spa. Tip: BYO book or journal for the sauna and relaxation areas.
- Go sightseeing on the mountain and ride Whistler Blackcomb’s Peak 2 Peak Gondola and Cloudraker Skybridge.
- Get cultural. Take a tour at the Squamish Lil’Wat Cultural Centre and learn about the local first nations, and view the impressive collections and beautiful architecture at the Audain Art Museum.
- Take a tour. Get the adrenaline going with a ziplining tour or bungee jump, explore old growth forests on a TreeTrek Canopy Walk, or - for the foodies - eat at Whistler's best restaurants with Whistler Tasting Tours.
- Shop, eat, drink, and soak up the atmosphere on the Village Stroll.
We also think there are some perks to flying solo in Whistler: get in more laps on the mountain by taking the singles line; snap up that final seat at the bar and get local tips from your server; and people watch from one of the many year-round patios.
- Whistler's love affair with barbeque
Summer is in full swing, bringing long days, outdoor fun and another reason to gather friends and family around the BBQ. Whistler restaurants make it easy to enjoy warm summer nights with barbeque options every night of the week - so grab those stretchy pants and start planning!
Tuesday and Sundays, the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre offer First Nations-inspired menu items such as cedar planked West Coast salmon and buffalo smokies during the Centre’s Feast and Tour: The Story of Hunters and Gatherers.
A wide selection of all-you-can-eat barbequed proteins, bright salads and satisfying sides are on offer at SIDECUT’s Thursday night “Beer” BQ’s, alongside rotating live local musicians and featured breweries.
For those craving alpine views, Whistler Blackcomb's Mountain Top Summer Feast is available every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings throughout summer at the Roundhouse Lodge on Whistler Mountain.With live music, a carving station, fresh seafood, mouthwatering salads, and a sweets station for those that have saved some room, dining at 1,800m (6,000ft) couldn’t get any more delicious.
Combining BBQ with adventure (hashtag #OnlyInWhistler) Canadian Wilderness Adventures offers a tour on top of Blackcomb Mountain, serving a Pacific Salmon feast with views of Horstman Glacier and Whistler Valley below. Simply choose if you would prefer to get there by ATV or 4x4 Jeep.
For some BBQ inspiration, the King of BBQ events take place the first weekend of August at The Bulleit Bourboun Canadian National BBQ Championships. From local legends to world champions, the BBQ Championships pit the best of the best against each other at Dusty's Bar & BBQ in Whistler’s Creekside. The best bit is - you get to enjoy their BBQ creations.