I am lucky to have a view of Whistler Blackcomb from my house, which means I can watch the snowline creep its way down, a little lower every day, bit by bit. I can almost hear the swoosh of my skis on corduroy and feel that heart-pounding rush course through my veins as I push myself a bit farther, a bit faster.

Opening Day for Whistler Blackcomb has been set, so mark your calendar for Thursday, November 24. This is the beginning of one of the longest ski and ride seasons worldwide, as Whistler Blackcomb anticipates statying open to May 22, 2023.

Whistler is the place to connect with your inner thrill-seeker, the birthplace of go big or go home, and the countdown to winter fun has begun. Here's what to expect when you come to Whistler this winter season.

Be Prepared & Book Ahead

We would advise you to book accommodation, restaurants and activities ahead of time to avoid possible disappointment and to allow Whistler businesses time to plan and be ready for your arrival. With Whistler Blackcomb's new winter lift ticket limits, it's also a good idea to secure your days on the hill.

Bucket List Whistler Activities

Creating a bucket list is a highly personal thing, but there are some winter activities that are more popular than others. Snow school, dogsledding, ziplining and specialty snowmobile tours like Canadian's Mountain Top Fondue will sell out at peak times over the season, so again the advice is to book those must-do activities ahead of time.

For more ideas of what you might want to do off the slopes, take a read of Outdoor Activities Off the Slopes.

Whistler Winter Events

We're so pleased to see events like the Whistler Film Festival, Whistler Pride Ski & Snowboard Festival and World Ski and Snowboard Festival back on the calendar. As well as some of the weekly and smaller events that happen around the resort like Whistler Blackcomb's Fire & Ice Shows, comedy nights, art exhibitions, and races of all kinds on and off the slopes to name a few. Keep an eye on our events calendar as it starts to fill up for the winter season.

Responsible Travel

The Whistler community cares deeply for the environment and strives to preserve the area's natural beauty by taking meaningful steps toward the resort's vision of sustainability. Take a read of Whistler's environmental initiatives and how you can play your part while you're here on our Responsible Travel in Whistler page. 

If you need some new winter gear or want to give what you have some TLC, buying locally  from shops and utilizing local services enhances the Whistler community, connects us all socially, creates jobs and boosts the economy.

What's New at Whistler Blackcomb

Before we start with what's new, let's just recap what's not changed. Whistler Blackcomb is still North America's largest ski resort and with 200+ runs over 8,100 acres of terrain, it's proving grounds for both powder hounds and cruisey carvers.

Whistler enjoys reliable snowfall and moderate temperatures, thanks to its West Coast locale and has been voted Best Ski Resort in North America multiple times. It's a quality AND quantity kind of place.

Carve out time for some powder turns this winter. PHOTO BEN GIRARDI

What happens here is big mountain skiing, the kind of skiing and snowboarding you see in the movies. You know, powder in the face, graceful, arcing turns on long, vertical descents and cliff drops with pillowy landings. Not quite there yet?

Seventy-five per cent of Whistler Blackcomb's terrain is green and blue (beginner and intermediate), so you can work your way up to those powder turns, or cruise the corduroy at your own pace and take in the incredible views of the Coast Mountains.

New Creekside Gondola Upgrade

The new Creekside Gondola and Big Red Express upgrades are due to open for this year’s ski and ride season. Creekside Gondola (previously a six-person gondola) is being replaced with a new high-speed 10-person gondola and Big Red Express is going from a high-speed, four-person chair to a high-speed, six-person chair.

On-Mountain Dining

There’s good news for foodies as Whistler Blackcomb’s on-mountain restaurants will be offering more diverse food options than in the past two years. Japanese ramen, fresh grains and greens bowls, Indian curry, Thai and Mexican-inspired options will be on the menu alongside the staple burgers and fries. 

Steeps, one of two, premium, alpine, full-service restaurants serving unique, Canadian, contemporary, cuisine inspired by Vancouver, celebrity Chef David Hawksworth, is set to open this winter after a two-year hiatus. 

This is what we mean when we say Whistler is a place that pairs the rugged and the refined. There's nothing like savouring a glass of BC wine while you look out over the Coast Mountain range.

At its core, Whistler is about not just seeking out adrenaline-pumping activities but also finding opportunities for joy, quiet, connection and freedom. There’s magic in the mountains, come and find it this winter.