Whistler Blackcomb, twin peaks of Canada’s Coast Mountains
Published on 09/02/2026 at 23:01 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
High above the mountain town of Whistler in British Columbia, the ski resort known as Whistler Blackcomb spans two neighbouring peaks and an extensive sweep of alpine terrain. It combines Whistler Mountain, opened for skiing in 1966, and Blackcomb Mountain, which followed in 1980, into a single linked area that has become one of the major names in North American skiing.Whistler Mountain, opened in 1966
Two mountains, one sprawling ski area
Whistler Blackcomb is a ski resort in Canada’s Coast Mountains, overlooking the resort municipality of Whistler and reached from the valley by lifts that rise directly from the town.a ski resort located in Whistler, British Columbia The resort is built on two side?by?side mountains, Whistler Mountain and Blackcomb Mountain, whose upper slopes meet in a high alpine basin linked by the Peak 2 Peak Gondola.Whistler and Blackcomb are two side-by-side mountains The combined skiable area covers 8,171 acres (3,307 ha), giving Whistler Blackcomb one of the largest single lift?served terrains in North America.Skiable area 8,171 acres
Whistler Mountain’s peak reaches 2,182 m (7,160 ft), while Blackcomb’s summit rises higher, to 2,240 m (7,347 ft).Top elevation figures Between the village base and these summits, the resort offers a vertical descent of more than 1,500 m (around 5,000 ft), with runs such as Peak To Creek on Whistler and Green Road on Blackcomb stretching to about 11 km (6.8 mi) from top to bottom.11 km longest runs The layout means that from high alpine viewpoints skiers can drop back down towards Whistler Village in long, continuous descents.
From Olympic venue to four?season mountain resort
Whistler was developed as a planned mountain community alongside the growing ski area, and the combined resort later hosted alpine events for the 2010 Winter Olympics.Host of the 2010 Olympics The first lifts on Whistler Mountain opened for skiing in February 1966, built by Garibaldi Lifts Limited; Blackcomb Mountain then opened for skiing in December 1980, bringing a second peak and its own lift system into the valley above the newly established village.timeline of Whistler and Blackcomb openings
London Mountain, the original name for Whistler Mountain, was renamed after a local alpine marmot noted for its whistling calls, tying the resort’s identity to the surrounding ecology as well as to skiing culture.London Mountain renamed Whistler Mountain Over the decades, the lift network expanded from early gondolas and chairlifts to a modern system with multiple high?speed chairlifts, gondolas and surface lifts, giving Whistler Blackcomb one of the highest uphill capacities in North America.greatest uphill lift capacity The resort now presents itself as a four?season destination, with alpine skiing and snowboarding dominating the winter months and hiking, mountain biking and sightseeing forming part of its summer offer.
Peak 2 Peak and glacier terrain above Whistler
One of Whistler Blackcomb’s most distinctive features is the Peak 2 Peak Gondola, a high?level cableway that links the upper stations on Whistler Mountain and Blackcomb Mountain in a single span across the valley between them.PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola The line runs between the Roundhouse Lodge area on Whistler and the Rendezvous Lodge area on Blackcomb, allowing skiers and sightseers to cross from one mountain to the other at elevation without returning to the valley.
Above the treeline, Whistler Blackcomb includes a series of alpine bowls and glacier areas, with three named glaciers forming part of its lift?served terrain.16 alpine bowls and 3 glaciers Snowfall figures around 11.7 m (about 415 in) per year underline how much winter snow the Coast Mountains collect at these elevations.average annual snowfall 11.7 m Lower down, runs thread through dense forests on their way back to Whistler Village and Creekside, giving the resort a noticeable contrast between high alpine scenery and tree?lined pistes.
Visiting Whistler Blackcomb: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Whistler Blackcomb lies above the town of Whistler in British Columbia, Canada, in the Coast Mountains north of Vancouver, reached by road from the city and then valley lifts from Whistler.
- Much of the skiing takes place at elevations between around 675 m (2,214 ft) and over 2,200 m (7,200 ft), so visitors move between valley floors and high alpine terrain within a single day.
- The official language is English and the currency is the Canadian dollar.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Whistler Blackcomb
Where is Whistler Blackcomb?
Whistler Blackcomb is a ski resort in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, above the town of Whistler and north of Vancouver.
What should visitors expect on a winter visit?
Visitors encounter a large lift?served ski area spread across Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, with long descents from high alpine zones down to forested slopes above the valley.
What makes Whistler Blackcomb distinctive among ski resorts?
The scale of its skiable terrain, the linked twin?mountain layout, the presence of glacier skiing and the Peak 2 Peak Gondola together give Whistler Blackcomb a rare combination of features.
