Whistler Blackcomb is not just the largest ski resort in North America, it’s one of the best and on many skier and snowboarders bucket lists. Located in British Columbia and home to the 2010 Winter Olympics, this double mountain will make you want to come back again and a again.
I loved this mountain, particularly the Blackcomb side, because of its variety of terrain. There is just so much to explore here and this is all you need to know to plan your trip to this epic mountain.
How to get to Whistler
If you are coming into the Vancouver International airport, you can take either a bus or rent a car and follow the sea to sky highway for an hour and a half. Along the way you get beautiful mountain views as well as sea views (hence the name).
This highway is really the only way to get to Whistler and if something goes wrong on the highway it can take a very long time before you will arrive.
If you are coming from the United States and are in the Seattle area, or any area along the western seaboard, there is an amtrak train that will take you all the way to Vancouver, where you will then need to take the sky train only 3 stops to the pickup site for the Whistler buses.
You will need to get tickets to the bus in advance, as they only have so many seats and have very specific travel times, but if you are looking for a more sustainable way to travel taking the train and the bus is a great option.
Where to stay in Whistler
There are a lot of options within Whistler Village, and honestly, none of them are cheap. I would recommend staying within the heart of Whistler village, however, because it is within walking distance to the lifts and if it’s your first time visiting it’s worth it for the experience.
There are tons of shops and restaurants, as well as a couple grocery stores that aren’t overpriced like other mountains, so if you get a place with a kitchen you can still eat in to save money on your stay.
We stayed at the Bear Lodge, which was the perfect place for us. It was within walking distance to the gondola, right in the heart of the village, and had a full kitchen and plenty of space in our room. They do have gear lockers for each room, but if you have two snowboards, they will not both fit in the locker.
Many of the hotels will also have hot tubs, which I think is kind of a must after long day on the mountain, so that tends to be a given in the places available.
Best time to visit Whistler
I think most of us would agree that the winter season is the best time to visit. It’s like a winter wonderland up there with a ton of winter activities. Though we cannot overlook the incredible amount of mountain biking in the summer and the views from the gondola as the wildflowers are blooming.
But many view this mountain as a winter bucket list destination for the skiing and riding, skating, tubing, and cross country skiing. You don’t have to be a skier or snowboarder to visit, there’s a ton of shops and restaurants in the village and plenty of things to explore.
Whistler Blackcomb mountain info
As the name suggests, this is actually two mountains, and in my opinion (and the snow conditions may have played a role), Blackcomb is the better of the two.
There is a large peak to peak gondola that can be taken between the two mountains, so you can spend time at both easily. It is the longest continuous lift system in the world. However, it is very high and there is a glass window on the floor, so if you are afraid of heights, this might not be the best choice for you.
Lift tickets
Daily lift tickets are going to cost you over $300CAD. It does give you access to both mountains, but the cost of lift tickets has in recent years been getting out of control.
I would highly recommend purchasing an epic pass, because even if you only use it to visit this one mountain $700 is significantly more affordable and it gives you access to many other mountains.
The epic locals pass will give you 10 days at Whistler, Vail, and Beaver Creek (combined). You can spend the entire 10 days at Whistler if you want and that is a huge savings.
Parking
There are a ton of parking options within Whistler Village, with both underground and above ground lots. There are three different mountain bases to park at, so lots of options for day parking or multiday parking, but it can be confusing at first.
That’s why I recommend taking the bus from Vancouver to Whistler, that way you don’t have to worry about parking your car or paying for parking. You can park at Whistler Village, the base of Blackcomb Mountain, or Whistler Creekside.
Terrain
Combined the two mountains have over 200 marked runs, 8,171 acres of terrain, 16 alpine bowls and 3 glaciers. Incredible.
There is terrain for all skill levels with places like the enchanted forest, easy terrain perfect for families with kids just learning and the top of Whistler Mountain with it’s insane views and double black diamond terrain.
Lessons
If this is your first time on skis or a snowboard then you might want to consider taking lessons while you are there. They have plenty of options for group adult, kids, and private lessons.
Adult first time group lessons for either skiing or snowboarding will cost around $215CAD for a half day, but the instructors there are some of the best.
Best things to do when not skiing or riding
If skiing and snowboarding aren’t really your thing, at Whistler it’s ok because this place has so much going on it’s ridiculous. You can take Gondola rides to check out some of the mountain huts and see the views or you can spend your time at the base of the mountains shopping or trying different restaurants or head to the Scandinave spa Whistler for a massage. There’s even a library! However you like to spend your day it’s a great place to hang out.
Cross-country skiing
This is a great way to spend a day off the mountain. There are 3 nordic centers to choose from at Whistler, including a dog friendly option at Whistler Olympic Park. There are also options for beginners to experts based on the experience you are looking for.
For more on the different experiences check out this post on choosing the right nordic center for you.
Whistler sliding centre
Another one of the truly fun things to do at Whistler is to go bobsledding at the Whistler sliding centre. This is a great option if you are looking to try something different. However, as with everything at these Vail owned mountains the experience is rather spendy with a 2 hour ride starting at $250CAD.
Whistler bungee
If you are a thrill seeker and not afraid of heights, like me, they also offer bungee jumping. It was voted the most extreme adventure at Whistler, so if your into that, this is the place to go. The jump is 160ft (50 meters) over the glacial fed Cheakamus River. One hour will cost you around $150CAD.
Go ice skating
If thrill seeking isn’t really your thing, then there is the option to go ice skating in Whistler Village. They have both outdoor and indoor options and hot chocolate too. To plan check out Whistler Tourism for more.
Backcountry skiing and snowboarding
There are several companies that offer ski touring and split boarding tours that get you away from the groomers and into nature. It’s another great way to explore the mountain. Some even offer multi-day tours, such as the Sea to Sky tour which is 4 days and $2,600CAD for intermediates or you can do a single day beginner tour for $750.00CAD.
Best places to eat
After a full day on the mountain the best part is getting some great food and there is a ton of places to choose from. There are several places that will give you a fine dining experience and are quite expensive, but there are also places that won’t break your budget.
I did not try any of the top rated fine dining restaurants because my budget does not allow that, so below are my top picks for those of us that are looking for good food at a decent cost.
*Tip: the grocery store in Whistler Village is well stocked and surprising not overpriced. So, if you are staying at a place with a kitchen you can stock up on groceries and spend less time eating out. We always made our own breakfasts (except that first day) and then ate out for dinner after spending the middle of the day on the mountain.
Longhorn Saloon and Grill
Great spot to sit outside when there is a DJ set up in the square or head inside for some tuna tartar and good beer. They even have an après ski song and dance the staff do close to the closing time on the mountain. It’s a super lively spot right at the base of Whistler Mountain near the gondolas.
El furniture warehouse
This was one of my favorite places (aside from the Crystal hut – see below). It has a dive bar feel with amazingly good food. I took our waitresses recommendation on the pasta and did not regret it.
It’s located in the heart of Whistler Village near the Cows Ice Cream, so you can easily walk over there for some dessert after.
Provisions
A good spot for breakfast if you haven’t had a chance to stock up on groceries when you arrive. They have delicious breakfast sandwiches but they are a bit pricey.
Mongolie Grill
This place is a very cool experience. Also in the heart of Whistler Village, you head upstairs and are given metal bowls (that honestly look like dog bowls) and head over to the buffet to pick out all your ingredients and sauces to be cooked on the grill in front of you.
*Tip: They charge you by weight, so be careful just how much you put in your bowl because it adds up surprisingly fast.
Hunter Gatherer
This was one of my other favorite spots. They have a great happy hour and the food was good. Nothing special, but the pulled pork sandwich was pretty delicious. It’s a bit of a walk from the center of the village, past the skating rink, but worth the walk.
Make sure you get a caesar here and I don’t mean the salad. The drink. Bloody Mary’s have nothing on the caesar. Made with Clamato juice (yes, that’s tomato juice with clam juice in it, trust me it doesn’t taste like clams it just makes the tomato juice salty) instead of plain old boring tomato juice, this is what Canadian’s (like me) drink instead.
Ohyama Ramen
Great ramen here. They do not take reservations and you put your name on the list when you arrive. There is not a ton of seating here and it feels like you just walked into an Asian market with the decor. It is the perfect meal after a cold day on the mountain (and boy does it get cold!).
Stinky’s on the Stoll
This is a dive bar. A small bar across from El Furniture Warehouse it’s a great place to grab a beer or two, a Halifax donair (I’m from Nova Scotia, so I was all over this one and it did not disappoint) and watch a hockey game. There’s hockey and ski paraphernalia covering the walls and a nothing fancy attitude.
Beacon Pub and Eatery
Delicious poutine. Enough said. Located in the center it was a good spot to do some people watching with optional indoor and outdoor seating and yes, delicious poutine.
Crystal Hut
This was one of my favorite things about Blackcomb (besides of course the amazing scenery and the great trails of course). It was the chance to stop for waffles. As soon as you exit the lift the smell of waffles hits you and your a goner.
We stopped here twice during our 5 days on the mountain (including on Valentine’s Day). There is just something about banana and nutella waffles with real maple syrup on the top of a mountain. An absolute must have, don’t skip it!
Concluding Thoughts
Whistler is an unforgettable experience and a bucket list mountain for so many (including my husband and I). It’s the perfect way to spend a week with so much to do. It doesn’t matter if you visit to snowboard in the winter or mountain bike in the summer, it is an adventure travelers dream.
Thinking about heading to Vail? Check out my guide to Vail, another epic pass destination.
