Season guide · Whistler · Canada
Whistler in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Ski season at its peak, with heavy alpine snowfall, holiday crowds and the highest prices of the year. Expect highs up to 3°C (37°F) and lows around -6°C (21°F), with about 51 rainy days across December–February. January–February are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- -6°C (21°F) to 3°C (37°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 51
- Crowds
- Very busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 0°C (32°F) | -6°C (21°F) | 18 | 8.5 h | 5/5 |
| February | 3°C (37°F) | -5°C (23°F) | 15 | 10 h | 5/5 |
| December | 0°C (32°F) | -6°C (21°F) | 18 | 8.1 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 1°C (34°F) against a yearly 12°C (54°F), and 51 of the year's roughly 166 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 5/5 and hotel prices 5/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: Whistler Pride and Ski Festival (usually late January)
- February: Family Day and Presidents' Day long weekends bring peak crowds (February)
- December: Whistler Film Festival (usually early December)
- December: Christmas and New Year celebrations in the village (late December)
Good choices for winter
Museum · Upper Village
Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre
Join a guided tour on arrival; the cultural ambassadors explain far more than the labels.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
- Kids
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
Day trips in winter
- 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.
- Britannia Mine Museum (About 1 hour by car) — A former copper mine on Howe Sound turned into a museum, with an underground train ride into the old tunnels, gold panning and a 20-storey concentrator building where the ore was processed.
What to pack
- A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers
- 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 winter a good time to visit Whistler?
Yes: January–February are among the best months. Ski season at its peak, with heavy alpine snowfall, holiday crowds and the highest prices of the year.
+What is the weather like in Whistler in winter?
Highs of up to 3°C (37°F) and lows around -6°C (21°F), with about 51 rainy days over the season.