Whistler Blackcomb
3,307 hectares, 305 runs across two mountains near Vancouver. 2010 Olympic venue, PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola, Epic Pass.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
20 Nov 2026
Closes
16 May 2027
Days open
177
Annual snow
10.8m
The Overview
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
10.8m
Annual snow
Epic
Pass
The Terrain
305 runs across 8,172 acres skiable
Whistler Blackcomb is one resort in Sanity, covering 305 runs across roughly 3,307 hectares between a 675-metre base and the 2,284-metre summit. That is a 1,609-metre vertical spread over two mountains. The grading is 18% beginner, 40% intermediate, 35% advanced and 7% expert, so a third of the mountain is advanced, though huge areas of cruising terrain remain for intermediates, and expert-rated runs are relatively scarce. Roughly 10.8 metres of snow falls each winter, and the range of aspects and elevations offers something skiable in almost any conditions.
On Whistler, Harmony and Symphony bowls offer wide alpine skiing above the tree line, with Symphony the gentler of the two. Blackcomb's steeper terrain includes Spanky's Ladder and the Blackcomb Glacier, which is as close to backcountry freeriding as inbounds skiing gets. Couloir Extreme and Saudan Couloir are strictly for experts. The PEAK 2 PEAK gondola links the two mountains, making long mixed-ability days easy. It suits strong intermediates, advanced skiers and groups who want varied terrain without leaving the resort, and new visitors should expect to spend a day or two just learning the layout.
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 2026 - 2027
20 Nov 2026
Opens
16 May 2027
Closes
177
Days open
10.8 m
Annual snow
The record
Historical snowfall at Whistler Blackcomb
Daily snow reports at Whistler Blackcomb go back to 2025, 3 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.
52 cm
Snowiest day
23 Feb 2026
0 cm
This winter · 2026-27
so far
774 cm
Typical winter
average of complete seasons
Winter totals
cm
Past wintersThis winter
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
Mt Rose Aims to Open First in Tahoe on November 6
Mt Rose is going for the first-in-Tahoe title, with the Lakeview Express due to spin at 9 a.m. on Friday, November 6. One main lift, three runs and plenty of snowmaking, sitting on the highest base elevation in the region at 8,260 ft. Here is what is open, what is not (sorry, tubing fans), and how the early North American openings are stacking up.
4 Nov 2026
Europe Snow Forecast: Serre Chevalier Leads With 82 cm Over the Next 10 Days
Europe has had a quiet start to November, but our 10-day forecast has Serre Chevalier on 82 cm and Les 2 Alpes on 71 cm. Two pushes are lined up: a western Alps top-up from Friday, then a bigger, wider system on Thursday, November 12 and Friday, November 13 that reaches Italy and Switzerland. Full leaderboard inside.
4 Nov 2026
Mammoth Mountain Opens Early on November 5 With Up to 33 Inches of Snow in the Forecast
Mammoth just moved opening day forward to Thursday, November 5, eight days ahead of schedule. A snowy weekend and cold snowmaking nights did the work, and our forecast shows up to 33 inches more landing on November 13 and 14. Here is what opens, what the weather looks like and where Mammoth sits among the early Ikon Pass openers.
3 Nov 2026
Utah Snow Storm Builds Early-Season Base Ahead of November Openings
Rain down low, snow up high, and a snow report full of zeros that mostly means ‘not updated yet’. Utah’s first proper storm of 2026-27 is rolling through the Wasatch, Snowbird’s snow stake is closing in on 10 inches, and Brian Head is five days from opening day. Early November snow rarely looks like much, but it is the layer every November opening date is built on. Here is where it stands.
1 Nov 2026
Sierra Nevada Halloween Storm: Dodge Ridge Forecast to Lead With 19 Inches
Halloween weekend brings a wet, windy storm to the Sierra Nevada. Our five-day forecast has Dodge Ridge on top with 19 in, followed by Bear Valley at 15 in and Mammoth Mountain at 12 in, with most of it landing on Saturday. A winter weather advisory covers the Tahoe Basin and Mono County until 7 AM Sunday, gusts could reach 47 mph and the freezing level swings between 4,900 and 8,700 ft, so some bases will see rain. A dry spell follows from Monday.
31 Oct 2026
Lake Louise Opens Early on 1 November With Juniper Express and Easy Street
The Rockies get their first lift-served turns of the season early. Lake Louise opens Sunday 1 November, five days ahead of schedule, after a cold October and round-the-clock work from the snowmaking and mountain crews. Terrain is limited to Juniper Express Chair and Easy Street, with two small terrain parks and the beginner area for lessons. Opening-day tickets are over 60% off, with prices rising as more lifts open. First chair is at 9:30 am under the resort’s new lift hours.
31 Oct 2026
Kitzbüheler Horn Summit Cable Car to Be Replaced After 70 Years
A Tyrolean summit lift that has been carrying guests up the Kitzbüheler Horn since 1955 is on borrowed time. Its licence runs to 2045, but a new inspection rule has made refurbishment uneconomic, so Bergbahn AG Kitzbühel will spend around €15 million on a replacement on the same line. It should hold roughly 100 people and keep running in winds that would stop today’s lift. Building starts in autumn 2027, which makes this winter and next summer the last chances to ride the old one.
30 Oct 2026
What’s New in Japan Skiing This Winter: Niseko Gondola, a Private Resort and a Bigger Ikon Pass
Niseko Village is replacing a lift from the early 1980s with an eight-person gondola, Tsugaike gets a six-person chairlift, Madarao joins the Ikon Pass and Togari opens Asia’s first private ski resort. Here’s what is actually new in Japan skiing for 2026/27, plus what is still a year or two away.
30 Oct 2026
Whistler Blackcomb Trail Map
Downloadable Whistler Blackcomb trail map
Terrain split
305
runs
Beginner18%
Intermediate40%
Advanced35%
Expert7%
8,172 acres skiable3,307 hectares
Resort Stats
Elevation
Base675m
Summit2284m
Annual snowfall
10.8m
Season
2026 - 2027
20 Nov 2026 - 16 May 2027
Trail coverage
305 runs
8,172 acres (3,307 ha)
About Whistler Blackcomb's trail map
Explore Whistler Blackcomb's full trail map with 305 runs across the mountain, colour-coded by difficulty and shown alongside the terrain split. Use it to plan a day that matches your ability, find lift-served pockets of your favourite grade, and see how the resort links together. Download the piste map (PDF) ↗
More Whistler Blackcomb intelligence: snow report, lift system, webcams, resort overview.