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    British Columbia, Canada · Epic

    Whistler Blackcomb

    3,307 hectares, 305 runs across two mountains near Vancouver. 2010 Olympic venue, PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola, Epic Pass.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    Opens
    22 Nov 2025
    Closes
    10 May 2026
    Days open
    169
    Annual snow
    11m
    The Overview
    MF
    Michael Fulton
    Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.

    Whistler Blackcomb's summit reaches 2,284 metres, dropping 1,609 vertical metres to a base at 675 metres across 305 runs spread over roughly 3,307 hectares near Whistler, British Columbia. Terrain splits 40 per cent intermediate, 35 per cent advanced, 18 per cent beginner and 7 per cent expert, with average annual snowfall of roughly 10.8 metres. The resort carries Epic Pass affiliation. Thirty-seven lifts, including eight quad chairs, four six-person chairs, one eight-person chair and nine gondolas, serve the two mountains alongside three triple chairs, ten surface lifts and two t-bars.

    Whistler Blackcomb holds a distinguished place as one of the largest ski resorts in North America, spanning two connected mountains linked by the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola, and served as a host venue for the alpine and freestyle events of the 2010 Winter Olympics. This considerable scale, combined with its purpose-built alpine village, has built the resort's international reputation as a genuine destination for skiers of every ability.

    Whistler Mountain was originally developed as part of a bid for the 1968 Winter Olympics, and although that bid failed, construction proceeded regardless, with the resort opening in January 1966. Blackcomb Mountain, initially a separate operation, opened in December 1980, and the two resorts spent the 1980s and 1990s locked in a rivalry of constant upgrades that pushed both ahead of most other North American resorts.

    Intrawest bought Blackcomb's assets in 1986, purchased Whistler in 1997, and fully merged operations in 2003, with the combined resort becoming the first in North America to record two million skier visits in a season by April 1999. Vail Resorts acquired Whistler Blackcomb Holdings for 1.39 billion US dollars in August 2016, while Nippon Cable has retained a 25 per cent minority interest throughout. Adult daily tickets run from 150 to 199 Canadian dollars.

    1609m
    Vertical
    305
    Runs
    8,172 acres
    Skiable
    11m
    Annual snow
    Epic
    Pass
    The Terrain

    305 runs across 8,172 acres skiable

    Whistler Blackcomb spreads 305 runs across 8,172 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 40%, with 55 beginner runs to find your feet and 128 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.

    Terrain split
    305
    runs
    305 runs across 4 grades
    Beginner55 runs · 18%
    Intermediate122 runs · 40%
    Advanced107 runs · 35%
    Expert21 runs · 7%
    Time it right

    When to visit Whistler Blackcomb

    The 2025-26 season at Whistler Blackcomb ran from 22 November 2025 to 10 May 2026, a roughly twenty-four-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 10.8 metres. This extended season is regularly cited among the longest in North America, reflecting Whistler Blackcomb's considerable elevation range and glacier-fed terrain.

    Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions across both mountains. As the flagship Canadian resort within the Epic Pass system, Whistler Blackcomb draws substantial international visitation from Epic Pass holders and destination travellers alike.

    Whistler Blackcomb's purpose-built alpine village continues to draw considerable visitation for its dining, shopping and nightlife alongside the skiing itself. School holiday periods and major weekends bring some of the heaviest crowds in Canada, reflecting the resort's status as one of the most internationally recognised ski destinations in the world.

    Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. Since hosting the alpine and freestyle events of the 2010 Winter Olympics, Whistler Blackcomb has continued building on six decades of history since Whistler Mountain's 1966 founding. The resort's considerable scale and Olympic heritage remain central to its enduring global reputation.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    22 Nov 2025
    Opens
    10 May 2026
    Closes
    169
    Days open
    11 m
    Annual snow
    Getting there

    Getting to Whistler Blackcomb, and where to stay

    Whistler Blackcomb sits near Whistler, British Columbia, with a base elevation of 675 metres and a summit at 2,284 metres across a 1,609-metre vertical drop over roughly 3,307 hectares spanning two connected mountains. This setting places the resort within the Coast Mountains, roughly two hours north of Vancouver.

    The town of Whistler itself, a purpose-built alpine village established alongside the resort's development, offers extensive lodging, dining, shopping and nightlife directly at the mountain's base.

    Highway 99, the Sea to Sky Highway, provides direct access to the resort from Vancouver, a scenic coastal route that has been substantially upgraded in recent decades. Winter driving conditions on this route can include snow and ice, particularly at higher elevations, though the well-maintained highway reflects the resort's status as a major international destination.

    Vancouver International Airport, roughly a two-hour drive away, is the primary gateway for visitors flying into the region, with dedicated shuttle and coach services connecting the airport directly to Whistler for travellers without a vehicle.

    Where to stay

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    Hotels and lodges near Whistler Blackcomb, powered by Stay22.

    Latest News

    From the SnowStash desk

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    23 Aug 2026

    Whistler Blackcomb Lift System

    Whistler Blackcomb runs thirty-seven lifts: eight quad chairs, four six-person chairs, one eight-person chair, three triple chairs and nine gondolas, serving 305 runs across roughly 3,307 hectares spanning two mountains, alongside ten surface lifts and two t-bars. This extensive network, among the largest in North America, connects Whistler and Blackcomb via the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola.

    The lift network has grown enormously since Whistler Mountain's January 1966 opening and Blackcomb's arrival as a separate operation in December 1980, with both resorts investing heavily in competing upgrades through the 1980s and 1990s.

    The nine gondolas and considerable chair-lift fleet now distribute skiers efficiently across both mountains, supporting the resort's status as the first in North America to reach two million skier visits in a single season, achieved in April 1999 under Intrawest management.

    Since Vail Resorts' 2016 acquisition, continued substantial investment has supported this thirty-seven-lift network as the flagship Canadian resort within the Epic Pass system. Specific recent individual lift replacement projects are not confirmed in available resort information. Whistler Blackcomb's two-mountain lift configuration remains one of the most extensive in the world.

    37lifts across 7 types
    9
    Gondolas
    1
    8-Person Chair
    4
    6-Person Chairs
    8
    Quad Chairs
    3
    Triple Chairs
    2
    T-Bars
    10
    Surface Lifts

    Whistler Blackcomb lift system

    Whistler Blackcomb is served by 37 lifts, listed here by type. Check which lifts are turning against the live conditions before you plan your first laps - early lifts and high-speed chairs get you to the best snow fastest.

    More Whistler Blackcomb intelligence: trail map, snow report, webcams, resort overview.