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Skiable Terrain: 8,171 acres
Resort Features:
Whether you have skied for years or are a complete beginner, Whistler is the perfect choice for your ski holiday for 2023/2024. Whistler is North America’s leading ski resort and its attractions are obvious – two massive mountains, both with extensive slopes and plenty of varied terrain, rising high above a village packed with great restaurants, bars, clubs, a wide range of lodging and plenty of other off slope entertainment. A ski holiday to Whistler definitely has something for everyone.
The twin peaks of Whistler and Blackcomb are linked by the awe-inspiring Peak 2 Peak gondola, (look out for the pods with a glass bottom to see the valley below) and are covered in a vast array of trails, with everything from beginner areas to tough tree runs. The resort’s annual average snowfall of over 37ft is definitely in the ‘epic’ category, pretty much guaranteeing great snow all season.
With over 8,100 acres of terrain, of which up to 1,500 acres are groomed each night, there is plenty of variety on offer. Novices will find plenty of interest, Burnt Stew Trail which leads down the side of Whistler is a particularly beautiful run. Intermediates are spoilt for choice, with wide blue runs and lots of challenging single black diamond trails. There are thrills aplenty for the more advanced, with bowls, bumps, glades, steeps and much more available on both mountains. Whistler Blackcomb also has five terrain parks, a snow cross track and a superpipe. Great for snowboarding and skiing too! Should that not be enough, Whistler day heli-skiing trips are a great way to experience heli-skiing from a resort location.
Recently two brand new lifts were added on Whistler Mountain; a new six-person Emerald Express chair which has made life in the Family Ski Zone easier, while a high-speed, four-person Catskinner chair adds laps to your day on Blackcomb Mountain. Access to Blackcomb is also now faster, warmer and dryer; with the 10-person gondola, from the Upper Village to the Peak 2 Peak connection, which opened the first fully-sheltered route up Blackcomb.
In Creekside (Whistlers orginal base located around 5 minutes from the main village) there is a new high-speed 10-person gondola, replacing the existing 6-person gondola. There has also been an upgrade to Big Red Express which has been replaced with a six-pack chair lift increasing uphill capacity and getting you up from Creekside quicker than ever.
Whistler is made up of three main base areas Whistler, Blackcomb and Creekside each with their own access to the slopes and their own unique features and atmosphere. Please read below to find out about each area to see which is the most suitable for your ski holiday to Whistler.
Whistler
This is the main village with three lifts up the mountains and the fully pedestrianised village stroll with lot of restaurants, bars and shopping opportunities. The Whistler Village Gondola & The Fitzsimmons Express Chairlift take you up Whistler Mountain with the Blackcomb Excalibur Gondola taking you up Blackcomb Mountain which gives you three great options to start your ski day. There are a number of hotels around this main base area including The Pan Pacific Mountainside, The Hilton and The Westin. This is also the location of the famous free Fire & Ice Show on Sunday evenings. Throughout most of the season watch fire spinners, fireworks, and some of Whistler’s best skiers and riders showing their skills as they hit big air jumps through a blazing ring of fire.
For dinner in Whistlers main village head to The Dubh Linn Gate (we love the wings and fries) or Earls Kitchen and Bar for delicious pub grub, Fine dining can be found at The Bearfoot Bistro and Araxi’s with plenty of other options available in this bustling pedestrianised village.
For drinks head to The GLC, Blacks or The Longhorn Saloon all offering great après after a day on the slopes.
For those wanting a more lively and later evening you could venture to Garfinkle’s or Buffalo Bills to dance away any energy you have left.
Blackcomb
A more laidback affair, located just a ten minute serene stroll from the Whistler base, it has the Wizard Express Gondola to access the mountain along with the Magic Chair to access the learner terrain. Blackcomb is home to the stunning Fairmont Chateau Whistler, with the equally impressive Four Season’s being a short walk away.
Plenty of bars and restaurants to be found here with Milestones, Fitzsimmons Pub (we like the craft beers here) and The Mallard Lounge at The Fairmont being some of our personal favourites.
Some fantastic dining options can be found in Blackcomb including Sidecut (amazing steaks) at The Four Seasons and The Wildflower at The Fairmont along with Handlebar Pizza for the more casual diner. If you want to party the night away then Whistler village is only a short walk away.
Creekside.
Only 5 minutes away by car, bus ($2.50 single fare) or taxi (around $10) you will find Whistler’s original base Creekside. Almost a resort in it’s own right with the Creekside Gondola taking you up Whistler mountain and over 20 restaurants. There are also plenty of shops and some lovely self-catering accommodations such as the slope side First Tracks Lodge, the nearby Evolution and the beautiful Nita Lake Lodge which is just a short walk away.
Worth noting that beginners will have to download via the Gondola as there are no green runs down, but with so much on offer in Creekside and still with access to the world class terrain of Whistler it is ideal for families or those seeking a quiet base for their ski holiday to Whistler.
Lovely coffee and baked goods can be found at Rockit in Creekside (we really enjoyed the comfy sofas surrounded by retro rock ‘n’ roll décor). Locals favourite Dusty’s is located right at the base with fine dining at The Den in Nita Lake Lodge and The Rimrock Café to name a few.
Other activities
There are a huge array of off slope activities on offer in Whistler, including snowmobiling, sleigh rides, tubing, tobogganing, zip trekking and bungee jumping to name a few. There is also the Whistler sliding centre, home to the fastest ice track in the world, where you can don a helmet and try bob-sleigh and skeleton!
There are also plenty of laidback activities too, such as a romantic horse drawn sleigh ride, combined with a fondue, snowshoeing and a number of delightful spas. There is even a cinema in Whistler Village! Each winter the Whistler Olympic Plaza is transformed into an outdoor skating rink with the most spectacular views.
Whistler Blackcomb is a 2 hour transfer along the stunning Sea to Sky Highway from Vancouver; ask us about adding a city stay at the end of your ski holiday. Vancouver has fantastic harbour-side hotels, colourful markets, lively shopping and plenty of entertainment; perfect for a relaxing city break.
Ski facts |
Whistler Mountain | Blackcomb Mountain |
Base elevation | 2,215 feet | 2,215 feet |
Top elevation | 7,160 feet | 7,494 feet |
Vertical drop | 3,267 feet | 4,406 feet |
Number of runs | 100+ | 100+ |
Advanced | 25% | 30% |
Inter | 55% | 50% |
Novice | 20% | 20% |
Lifts | 19 including 2 gondola’s, 2 high -speed 6 packs, 5 high-speed quads, 2 triple chairs, 8 surface lifts | 12 including 2 high-speed gondola’s, 1 high speed 6-pack lift, 6 high-speed , 1 triple chair, 3 surface lifts. |
Lift capacity | 36,148 skiers per hour | 33,791 skiers per hour |
Terrain Park | 2 parks | 3 parks, 1 superpipe & 1 snow cross track |
Average annual snowfall | 448 inches | 448 inches |
Skiable terrain | 4,757 acres | 3,414 acres |
Ski season | Nov 25 -Apr 18 | Nov 25 – May 23 |
“Whistler Village is such a lively place; I love the Garibaldi Lift Company (GLC) with its great beers and live music.
Everytime I go visit Whistler I find a new reason to return, from the wealth of terrain to the great accommodation and dining options there really is something for everyone in Whistler”
Jeremy Timms,
Frontier Ski
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Frontier Travel Ltd (Trading as Frontier Ski, Frontier Canada and Frontier America) will use this information to be in touch about tailor-made holidays to America and Canada, and with special offers.
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