Outdoors · Whistler · Canada
8 best outdoor things to do in Whistler
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Start with Whistler Blackcomb ski resort, Whistler Mountain Bike Park and Cloudraker Skybridge and summer alpine trails. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 18–27 hours across 7 areas; 5 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 5
- Time to see them all
- 18–27 hours
- Areas
- Whistler Village, Whistler Blackcomb and Village North
Outdoors in Whistler
Nature · Whistler Village
1.Whistler Blackcomb ski resort
Head up early and ski the alpine before it gets tracked out, then move down to the trees if visibility drops.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- Active
- Outdoors
- Views
Experience · Whistler Village
2.Whistler Mountain Bike Park
Book a lesson for your first day; the beginner Fitzsimmons zone is the place to learn before tackling the main trails.
- Time needed
- Half or full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Active
- Outdoors
- Iconic
Viewpoint · Whistler Blackcomb
3.Cloudraker Skybridge and summer alpine trails
Go on a clear morning; cloud often builds over the peaks in the afternoon.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Views
- Outdoors
- Active
- Photo spot
- Nature
Park · Village North
4.Lost Lake Park
Walk the loop around the lake early on a summer morning, then swim from the dock.
- Time needed
- 1–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Kids
Park · Creekside
5.Alta Lake and Rainbow Park
Paddle the River of Golden Dreams from Alta Lake towards Green Lake on a guided or self-guided trip.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Views
- Couples
- Kids
Nature · Whistler Valley
6.Valley Trail
Rent a cruiser bike and ride a lake loop — Alta Lake to Rainbow Park and back is about an hour.
- Time needed
- 1–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Active
- Outdoors
- Kids
Nature · Function Junction
7.Train Wreck Trail
Combine it with a coffee and pastry in Function Junction, at the trailhead end of town.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
- Kids
Nature · Sea-to-Sky Highway
8.Brandywine Falls Provincial Park
Stop on the drive between Vancouver and Whistler; the walk takes only about 15 minutes each way.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Photo spot
- Views
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Whistler Village | Whistler Blackcomb ski resort and Whistler Mountain Bike Park | Full day + Half or full day |
| Whistler Blackcomb | Cloudraker Skybridge and summer alpine trails | Half a day |
| Village North | Lost Lake Park | 1–3 hours |
| Creekside | Alta Lake and Rainbow Park | 2–3 hours |
| Whistler Valley | Valley Trail | 1–3 hours |
| Function Junction | Train Wreck Trail | 1–1.5 hours |
| Sea-to-Sky Highway | Brandywine Falls Provincial Park | 45 minutes |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 5 free, 3 expensive. Book ahead for Whistler Blackcomb ski resort and Whistler Mountain Bike Park. The longest visit is Whistler Blackcomb ski resort; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- Whistler Blackcomb ski resort: Lift tickets and passes are cheaper bought online in advance than at the ticket window; ski school spots fill over holidays.
- Whistler Mountain Bike Park: Rentals and lessons sell out on summer weekends; reserve ahead.
How to fit them into 5 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Whistler Village): Whistler Blackcomb ski resort, at least 6 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Whistler Village): Whistler Mountain Bike Park, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Whistler Blackcomb): Cloudraker Skybridge and summer alpine trails, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Village North and Creekside): Lost Lake Park → Alta Lake and Rainbow Park, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 5 (Whistler Valley, Function Junction and Sea-to-Sky Highway): Valley Trail → Train Wreck Trail → Brandywine Falls Provincial Park, at least 3 hours.
The best months to be outside
- August: highs of 25°C (77°F), about 8 rainy days, very busy crowds. Peak summer; alpine wildflowers bloom and the High Note Trail is usually snow-free.
- July: highs of 26°C (79°F), about 8 rainy days, very busy crowds. Hot, dry and busy, with the Bike Park, lakes and alpine trails in full swing; wildfire smoke can affect some days.
- September: highs of 20°C (68°F), about 9 rainy days, moderate crowds. Warm, clear days and cool nights; fewer crowds and some of the best hiking and biking of the year.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Whistler Village — Pedestrian stroll of shops, bars and hotels at the base of both gondolas
- Village North — Newer extension with the Marketplace supermarket, condos and the Audain museum
- Creekside — Whistler's original 1960s base area, with its own gondola and a quieter village
More of Whistler
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Whistler?
Whistler Blackcomb ski resort. Two mountains with more than 200 marked runs, three glaciers, alpine bowls and long groomers, rising more than 1,500 vertical metres above the village.
+Which of these are free in Whistler?
Lost Lake Park, Alta Lake and Rainbow Park, Valley Trail, Train Wreck Trail and Brandywine Falls Provincial Park.