Season guide · Whistler · Canada
Whistler in autumn
September–November: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Golden September hiking and biking, then a wet, quiet shoulder season with closures until the lifts reopen for skiing in late November. Expect highs up to 20°C (68°F) and lows around -2°C (28°F), with about 43 rainy days across September–November. September is among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- September–November
- Temperatures
- -2°C (28°F) to 20°C (68°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 43
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in autumn
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | 20°C (68°F) | 6°C (43°F) | 9 | 12.5 h | 3/5 |
| October | 11°C (52°F) | 2°C (36°F) | 15 | 10.6 h | 2/5 |
| November | 4°C (39°F) | -2°C (28°F) | 19 | 8.9 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 12°C (54°F) against a yearly 12°C (54°F), and 43 of the year's roughly 166 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 2/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in autumn
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- October: Whistler Mountain Bike Park closes for the season (usually October)
- November: Cornucopia food and drink festival (usually November)
- November: Ski season opening day (usually late November)
Good choices for autumn
Gallery · Village North
Audain Art Museum
A dark, elongated building raised on stilts in the forest, designed by Patkau Architects and opened in 2016, holds a collection of British Columbia art from historic Northwest Coast masks to Emily Carr, E.J.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Experience · Lost Lake
Scandinave Spa Whistler
Follow the hot–cold–rest cycle three or four times; the cold plunge feels best on a snowy day.
- Time needed
- 2–4 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Couples
- Rainy day
- Nature
Museum · Upper Village
Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre
Shared by the Squamish and Lil'wat Nations, whose territories meet at Whistler, the centre's longhouse-inspired building holds carvings, weaving, canoes and a reconstructed pit house.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
- Kids
Day trips in autumn
- Joffre Lakes Provincial Park (About 1 hour by car) — Three glacier-fed lakes of startling turquoise lie below the Matier Glacier, reached by a steep trail of about 5 km each way.
- Garibaldi Lake (About 35 minutes by car, then a 9 km hike) — A long, steady hike climbs about 900 metres through forest to Garibaldi Lake, a vast turquoise lake beneath the Sphinx Glacier, with the volcanic Black Tusk above.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is autumn a good time to visit Whistler?
Yes: September is among the best months. Golden September hiking and biking, then a wet, quiet shoulder season with closures until the lifts reopen for skiing in late November.
+What is the weather like in Whistler in autumn?
Highs of up to 20°C (68°F) and lows around -2°C (28°F), with about 43 rainy days over the season.