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Ski runs cut through the forest on Whistler Blackcomb, with a gondola line climbing toward the snow

Whistler Blackcomb

Ski resort · British Columbia
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Ski resort  ·  Whistler, Canada 675 to 2,284 m

The mountain at a glance

Two mountains, linked at the top by the Peak 2 Peak

Top
2,284 mHighest lift-served point
Base
675 mWhistler Village
Vertical
1,609 mVillage to the top lift
Runs
200+Across two mountains
Lifts
26On the map, carpets apart
Season
Late Nov to MayBest snow in February
Lift pass
Buy aheadBefore you arrive
Beginners

Is Whistler Blackcomb good for beginners?

Yes. Both mountains have learning areas and plenty of gentle slopes, and first-timers can start at the foot of Blackcomb without riding to the top.

Which mountain

Should you start on Whistler or Blackcomb?

On a busy morning, start on Blackcomb from the Upper Village: the Blackcomb Gondola often moves faster than the Whistler Village Gondola.

Weather

What if it is raining in the village?

Go up anyway. Rain in the village is common and often means snow higher up. On a powder day the alpine often opens in the afternoon, after avalanche control.

Queues

How do you skip the lift lines?

Book a group lesson: ski school groups skip the lift lines all day.

Either mountain on its own would rank among the five biggest ski areas in North America, and the Peak 2 Peak gondola lets you ski both in a day, crossing three kilometres of open air with no tower in between.

The mountain

The main lifts by area, highest first
  1. 2,171 mfrom 1,772
    Peak Express
    Chairlift · 936 m · +399 m
  2. 2,104 mfrom 1,585
    Harmony 6 Express Chairlift
    Chairlift · 1,630 m · +519 m
  3. 2,028 mfrom 1,529
    Symphony Express
    Chairlift · 2,058 m · +499 m
  4. 1,962 mfrom 1,786
    T-Bar 2
    T-bar · 696 m · +176 m
  5. 1,847 mfrom 1,579
    Franz's Chair
    Chairlift · 1,155 m · +268 m
  6. 1,846 mfrom 1,302
    Big Red Express
    Chairlift · 2,407 m · +544 m
  7. 1,834 mfrom 1,413
    Emerald 6 Express
    Chairlift · 1,776 m · +421 m
  8. 1,826 mfrom 1,021
    Whistler Village Gondola Upper
    Gondola · 3,342 m · +805 m
  9. 1,676 mfrom 1,023
    Garbanzo Express
    Chairlift · 2,049 m · +653 m
  10. 1,301 mfrom 659
    Creekside Gondola
    Gondola · 1,955 m · +642 m
  11. 1,144 mfrom 1,021
    Olympic Chair
    Chairlift · 752 m · +123 m
  12. 1,021 mfrom 683
    Whistler Village Gondola Lower
    Gondola · 1,479 m · +338 m
  13. 1,020 mfrom 688
    Fitzsimmons Express
    Chairlift · 1,729 m · +332 m
  14. 2,263 mfrom 2,096
    Showcase Quad
    Chairlift · 701 m · +167 m
  15. 2,248 mfrom 1,657
    7th Heaven Express
    Chairlift · 1,684 m · +591 m
  16. 2,141 mfrom 1,549
    Glacier Express
    Chairlift · 1,771 m · +592 m
  17. 1,911 mfrom 1,545
    Jersey Cream Express
    Chairlift · 1,349 m · +366 m
  18. 1,859 mfrom 1,167
    Blackcomb Gondola Upper
    Gondola · 2,011 m · +692 m
  19. 1,858 mfrom 1,543
    Catskinner Express
    Chairlift · 1,122 m · +315 m
  20. 1,821 mfrom 1,290
    Crystal Ridge Express
    Chairlift · 1,641 m · +531 m
  21. 1,635 mfrom 1,133
    Excelerator Express
    Chairlift · 1,566 m · +502 m
  22. 1,167 mfrom 687
    Blackcomb Gondola Lower
    Gondola · 1,919 m · +480 m
  23. 1,130 mfrom 767
    Excalibur Gondola Upper
    Gondola · 1,432 m · +363 m
  24. 775 mfrom 687
    Magic Chair
    Chairlift · 606 m · +88 m
  25. 767 mfrom 684
    Excalibur Gondola Lower
    Gondola · 723 m · +83 m
  26. 1,878 mfrom 1,824
    Peak 2 Peak Gondola
    Gondola · 4,410 m · +54 m
The terrain by levelShare of mapped run length
Easy 23%The Magic Chair at the foot of Blackcomb and Olympic Station, halfway up the Whistler Village Gondola.
Intermediate 36%The Harmony and Symphony chairs on Whistler Mountain, best on a clear day.
Advanced 29%Bowls and steeper runs off the alpine lifts on both mountains.
Off-piste and expert 12%The Couloir and the glacier terrain off Blackcomb's Glacier Express, open only when ski patrol opens it.

Map data: OpenStreetMap.

Two mountains, one pass

Whistler Blackcomb is two ski mountains side by side, each with its own lifts from the valley, on one pass.

Whistler Mountain

Lifts leave from Whistler Village and from Creekside, the quieter base to the south. The Peak Express climbs to the top of the mountain.

Blackcomb Mountain

Lifts leave from Whistler Village by the Excalibur Gondola and from the Upper Village by the Blackcomb Gondola. The Glacier Express reaches the high terrain.

What makes it special

Above the trees, both mountains open into wide alpine bowls and glaciers, and Blackcomb holds the Couloir, one of the steepest marked runs anywhere.

The village at the foot of the lifts is built for walking, with free village shuttles and local buses for everything further out.

When to go

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Opening or closingOpenThe best snowOpen, and the busiest weeks

The lifts open in late November and the season runs into May. January, once the New Year crowd has left, is the quiet month, and spring brings longer, sunnier days with fewer people on the hill.

Before you go

Fly in
Vancouver, Seattle or Bellingham.
By shuttle
Book a shared or private shuttle from Vancouver.
By car
About two hours from Vancouver on the Sea to Sky Highway, Highway 99.
Between bases
Creekside is a ten-minute drive or bus ride south of the village.

Watch for

  • Ski midweek: Saturday brings the drive-up crowd from Vancouver and Seattle.
  • The gondola queues peak at opening time, when lessons start. Be there early, or go up late in the morning.
  • Mountain restaurants fill between noon and 1.30pm. Eat before 11.30am or after.
  • Some Epic Passes carry blackout days at Whistler. Check yours before you book the dates.
  • Highway 99 is slowest northbound on Friday evening and southbound on Sunday afternoon.
A red Peak 2 Peak gondola cabin crossing between towers, with the runs of Blackcomb Mountain behind
The Peak 2 Peak, between the two mountains
Snow-covered alpine slopes and peaks above the clouds at Whistler under a clear blue sky
Above the tree line on a clear day

Nearby

Where to base yourself, and a day off the slopes

Whistler
Town guide · the base

Whistler

The pedestrian village at the foot of both mountains, and the lakes and trails around it.
Audain Art Museum
Museum · in the village

Audain Art Museum

British Columbia art in a building among the cedars. Go on a rainy day.
Brandywine Falls
Waterfall · south of town

Brandywine Falls

A tall drop over a lava cliff, a short walk from the car park beside the highway.