Whistler

North America's largest ski resort and a 2010 Winter Olympics venue, with the Peak 2 Peak Gondola, a walkable resort village and summer mountain biking, reached from Vancouver along the Sea to Sky Highway.

Whistler lies in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, about 120 km north of Vancouver, roughly a 2-hour drive along Highway 99, the Sea to Sky Highway. It was the main venue for the snow events at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and is home to Whistler Blackcomb, the largest ski resort in North America. You can visit year-round: the ski season runs from late November to May, with the best snow in January–March; from June to September you can sightsee on the Peak 2 Peak Gondola, go downhill mountain biking, swim in the lakes and hike, and alpine wildflowers bloom in July–August; autumn has fewer visitors and is a good time to drive the Sea to Sky Highway for fall colours. Sightseeing falls into three parts: Whistler Village and the two mountains (skiing, gondolas, mountain biking, museums, lakes); the Sea to Sky Highway to the south, including Porteau Cove, the Britannia Mine Museum, Shannon Falls, the Sea to Sky Gondola and the Stawamus Chief, as well as the hike to Garibaldi Lake; and the area north through Pemberton to Nairn Falls and the Joffre Lakes. Getting there: buses run directly from downtown Vancouver or the airport, or you can rent a car; from October to March, winter tires are required on the Sea to Sky Highway. The village is walkable, and local transit in the area is free. Plan on 2–4 nights. Notes: accommodation and lift tickets are expensive in peak season, so book early; popular provincial parks require a day-use pass reserved through BC Parks in summer; black bears live in the mountains, so don't leave food outside your vehicle; and the weather at the summit changes quickly, so bring a windproof jacket.

Top sights

• Whistler Blackcomb – The largest ski resort in North America, with two mountains, more than 200 runs, a vertical drop of about 1,600 metres, and the venue of th…
• Peak 2 Peak Gondola – A gondola linking the summits of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. Its longest span is 3 km, reaching 436 metres above the ground, and some…
• Whistler Village & Olympic Plaza – A car-free mountain resort village. The Village Stroll is lined with restaurants, bars and outdoor gear shops, and the Olympic Rings are a…
• Joffre Lakes – Three glacial lakes arranged from low to high, with turquoise water and the Matier Glacier behind them. It is the most photogenic hiking tr…
• Whistler – Venue of the 2010 Winter Olympics and North America’s largest ski resort. The Peak 2 Peak gondola between two mountains, the car-free resor…
• Garibaldi Lake – A glacial lake in Garibaldi Provincial Park, with turquoise water surrounded by snowy peaks and glaciers. It is one of BC’s most popular hi…
• Brandywine Falls – A waterfall that drops 70 m over a basalt columnar-jointed cliff. The viewing platform is about a 10-minute walk away.
• Nairn Falls – A waterfall where the Green River drops in two stages through a granite canyon. A 1.5 km forest trail along the river leads to it.
• Lost Lake Park – A forest lake within walking distance of Whistler Village. It offers swimming, cycling and picnicking in summer, and turns into a cross-cou…
• Alta Lake & Rainbow Park – The largest lake in Whistler Valley. Rainbow Park’s shore faces Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, making it a good spot for stand-up paddli…
• Green Lake – A glacial lake north of Whistler Village. Its milky green color comes from glacial flour, and seaplanes often take off and land on it.
• Audain Art Museum – A modern building in the forest. Its collection includes Indigenous masks from BC’s west coast and works by Canadian painters such as Emily…
• Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre – A cultural centre jointly established by two Indigenous nations, introducing local Indigenous culture through exhibits, guided tours and cr…
• Scandinave Spa Whistler – A Nordic-style outdoor spa in the forest, cycling through hot and cold pools, saunas and steam rooms, with silence required throughout.
• Whistler Olympic Park – The 2010 Winter Olympics venue for ski jumping, cross-country skiing and biathlon. Cross-country ski and snowshoe trails are open in winter.
• Whistler Train Wreck – Seven freight cars that derailed in 1956 lie scattered through the forest, covered in graffiti as outdoor art. The trail crosses a suspensi…
• Cloudraker Skybridge – A 130 m suspension bridge spanning a gorge near the summit of Whistler Mountain, with a glass viewing platform hanging over the cliff at it…
• Whistler Mountain Bike Park – The world’s most famous gondola-accessed mountain bike downhill park, with more than 70 trails from gentle beginner slopes to professional…

Where to eat

• Araxi Restaurant & Oyster Bar – A Whistler Village landmark for more than forty years, known for farm-to-table cooking, oysters and its wine list.
• Rimrock Cafe – A longtime fireplace restaurant in the Creekside area, famous for its seafood and game dishes and consistently ranked n…
• Splitz Grill – Whistler's only dedicated burger restaurant, voted the town's most popular burger for many years, offering good value a…
• Purebread Bakery (Whistler Village) – A locally run family bakery in Whistler, where scones and croissant sandwiches are loved by residents and visitors alik…

Itineraries

• Vancouver Neighborhoods, Museums and Whistler – Historic neighborhoods, the UBC museum, seawall cycling, and a day on the Sea to Sky Highway to Whistler. Take five day…
• BC & Canadian Rockies Grand Loop – A round-trip loop from Vancouver, passing through Whistler, Wells Gray, Jasper, Banff, and wine country.
• Vancouver, Victoria and Whistler – Use Vancouver as your base. Take a ferry to Victoria for one night, then drive the Sea to Sky Highway for a day trip to…
• Sea to Sky Highway, Whistler & Joffre Lakes – Head north from Vancouver along the Sea to Sky Highway, connecting Squamish, Whistler, and Joffre Lakes.