Whistler Tourist Attractions and Sightseeing

(Whistler, British Columbia - BC, Canada)

The draw and appeal of the Whistler ski resorts is quite unmistakable, although many further tourist attractions for compete for your attention, particularly outside of the winter months. Summer hiking and mountain biking are particularly popular attractions around Whistler and Blackcomb, as is whitewater rafting along either the Elaho-Squamish or Green Rivers.

Each year, more than two million tourists now visit Whistler, many of which are sure to enjoy a ride on the gondola, where the views en-route are quite jaw-dropping. Other attractions including the beaches around Alta Lake, the very family-orientated Adventure Zone, and for thrill seekers, even Bungee jumping is on offer.

Gondola Rides

Address: 1 - 4338 Main Street, Whistler, VON 1B4, British Columbia (BC), Canada, CA
Tel: +1 634 932 3111
A leading tourist attraction in operation virtually all through the year, the Whistler and Blackcomb Gondolas offer truly awe-inspiring views, which are really quite hard to better. In the summer months, many tourists choose to ride the gondola and ascend some 1,830 metres / 6,000 feet to the mountain peak, and then hike back down along the scene trail, to the village. Each gondola can transport around ten passengers, with the journey to the mountaintop lasting approximately 20 minutes in total. Don't forget to bring your camera!
Open hours: mid-November to September, daily - dawn to dusk
Admission: charge, discounts for children

Outdoor Activities / Hiking Trails and Mountain Biking

Address: Outdoor Adventures, 4205 Village Square, Whistler, V0N 1B0, British Columbia (BC), Canada, CA
Tel: +1 604 932 0647
Address: Backcountry Tours, 4010 Whistler Way, Whistler, British Columbia (BC), Canada, CA
Tel: +1 604 938 2769
***N.B. Outdoor Adventures is currently under investigation for cruelty to its huskies.***
The 'Great Outdoors' has long been the main draw card of the Whistler area, and apart from the endless skiing opportunities in the winter months, the mountain provide plenty of further recreational activities, which come in the form of trails suitable for both hiking and mountain biking. In the summer, you will still be able to ride the chair lifts to the top of the mountain, where various high-altitude hiking trails await. Mountain bikers are also permitted to take their bikes on the lifts, and then cycle back down. The Infocentres provide a useful map of all the hiking and biking trails, the most popular of which include the Singing Pass and the Rainbow Falls trails. Also of note is the trail to the Cheakamus Lake, while others Alpine trails lie alongside the Upper Gondola station on Whistler Mountain, or next to Blackcomb's Seventh Heaven Lift.
Open hours: daily - dawn to dusk
Admission: free, charge for tour companies

Flying Tours

Address: Aerial Sightseeing, 4010 Whistler Way, Whistler, V0N 1B4, British Columbia (BC), Canada, CA
Tel: +1 604 938 2769
Address: Whistler Air, Green Lake, Whistler, V0N 1B0, British Columbia (BC), Canada, CA
Tel: +1 604 932 6615
Those feeling a little adventurous may well be interested in taking to the skies, to see the mountain attractions of Whistler from a very different angle. Flying Tours are provided by a number of local companies, including both Aerial Sightseeing and Whistler Air, offering breathtaking views of mountain lakes, glaciers and the rather scenic western coastline. Whilst sightseeing flying tours are extremely memorable and for many, a true holiday highlight, they are rather expensive and may be as brief as just ten or 20 minutes.
Open hours: daily - 10:00 to 18:00
Admission: charge

Alta Lake / Beaches

Address: Alta Lake Road, Whistler, British Columbia (BC), Canada, CA
Alta Lake enjoys a particularly tranquil setting, with many related and extremely tempting beach attractions littered around its shoreline, such as Wayside Park, where picnic tables and kayaks are available. Tourists flock here in fine weather to swim, windsurf, sunbathe and simply to enjoy the fresh mountain air. Some of the best beaches around Whistler are to be found within Lakeside Park, and also Rainbow Park, close to the Valley Trail.
Open hours: daily - dawn to dusk
Admission: free

Adventure Zone

Address: Base of the Blackcomb Mountain, Whistler, V0N 1B4, British Columbia (BC), Canada, CA
Tel: +1 604 938 2769
One of the most family-friendly summer attractions in Whistler, the Adventure Zone is located at the very base of the Blackcomb Mountain and offers an array of enjoyable recreational activities. Highlights at the Adventure Zone include miniature golf, horse riding, Bungee trampolining, mountain biking and rock climbing. Slightly more unusual is the Human Gyroscope, the Spider Web, the Laser Skeet game and even the chance to swing on a trapeze. A number of eateries are on hand should you require sustenance after your exertions.
Open hours: mid-June to early September, Saturday - 10:00 to 20:00, Sunday to Friday - 10:00 to 18:00
Admission: charge for adventure passes, discounts for families, groups of three or more, and children under 12 years old

Whitewater Rafting

Address: Wedge Whitewater Rafting, Carleton Lodge, Whistler, V0N 1B0, British Columbia (BC), Canada, CA
Tel: +1 604 932 7171
Address: River Adventures, Whistler Mountain Gondola Building, Whistler, V0N 1B0, British Columbia (BC), Canada, CA
Tel: +1 604 932 3532
Address: Rafter C3 Adventure Ranch, 104-4319 Main Street, Whistler, V0N 1B2, British Columbia (BC), Canada, CA
Tel: +1 866 932 4040
Whitewater rafting has become an increasingly popular tourist attraction in recent years and the rapids next to the Whistler Village have become a leading spot for this daring adventure sport. Rafting tours last upwards of two and a half hours and depart from Base 5. Those embarking on a whitewater rafting expedition , down either the Elaho-Squamish River or the Green River, will be kitted out with wetsuits, to ensure that you are fully waterproofed! Experience guides steer the boat from the back, pointing out glaciers and sights as you splash your way through the rapids.
Open hours: daily - seasonal variations, weather dependent
Admission: charge, discounts for children

Bungee Jumping

Address: Function Junction / Forestry Road, Whistler, British Columbia (BC), Canada, CA
Tel: +1 604 938 9333
Thrill seekers from all over Canada have been known to descend upon the Whistler Bungee, to enjoy the undeniable adrenaline rush that this exciting attraction provides. Bungee jumping is currently only available at two sites within British Columbia, and in Whistler, Bungee jumping is available next to the Cheakamus Canyon, some 8 km / 5 miles to the south of the Function Junction, around 15 minutes' drive from the main village resort. The most adventurous and fool-hardy will experience a free-fall drop of more than 45 metres / 150 feet. Reservations are not necessary, and shuttle buses are available, collection potential Bungee jumpers from central hotels.
Open hours: daily, June to August - 12:00 to 17:00; September to May - pre-booking required at this time of the year
Admission: charge, discounts for additional jumps

Fly Fishing

Address: Whistler Fly Fishing Shop, 117-4368 Main Street, Whistler, V0N 1B4, British Columbia (BC), Canada, CA
Tel: +1 604 932 7221
Fly fishing has long been a popular attraction and pastime in the Whistler area, and many people come here to enjoy guided fishing trips, surprisingly all through the year. You can float down river containing steelhead (rainbow trout), head to a backcountry lake teeming with even more trout, or even climb aboard a helicopter and fish for Cutthroat salmon at a coastal creek estuary. Fishing equipment is available for hire or to purchase, at the local Fly Fishing Shop on Main Street.
Open hours: daily shop hours - 10:00 to 18:00
Admission: free, charge for equipment hire