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Source:
Moon Handbooks
British Columbia,
7th Edition About this
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Highlights of
British Columbia
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Vancouver Island
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Whistler
As British Columbia's third-most popular tourist
destination (behind Vancouver and Victoria), the coverage of
Whistler in Moon Handbooks British Columbia is comprehensive--how
to get there, the best way to make the most of your time, where to stay,
where to eat, and more. Highlighted on this page is a small excerpt from
the printed version: what to do and see on a summer vacation to Whistler.
SUMMER RECREATION
Magnificent snowcapped peaks, dense
green forests, transparent lakes, sparkling rivers, and an upmarket,
cosmopolitan village right in the middle of it all: Welcome to Whistler
(pop. 9,000), one of the world's great resort towns, just 120 km
(75 miles) north of Vancouver along Highway 99.
Best-known among skiers and boarders, the town is built
around the base of one of North America's finest resorts, Whistler/Blackcomb,
which comprises almost 3,000 hectares on two mountains accessed by an
ultramodern lift system. A season stretching from November to May doesn't
leave much time for summer recreation, but in recent years, the "off
season" has become almost equally busy. Among the abundant summertime
recreation opportunities: lift-served hiking and glacier skiing and
boarding; biking through the valley and mountains; water activities on
five lakes; horseback riding; golfing on some of the world's best resort
courses; and fishing, rafting, and jet-boating on the rivers. The more
sedentary summer visitor can simply stay in bustling Whistler Village and
enjoy a plethora of outdoor cafes and
restaurants.
Whistler/Blackcomb
On the few months that they aren't covered in
snow, the slopes of the ski resort come alive with locals and tourists
alike enjoying hiking, guided naturalist walks, mountain biking, and
horseback riding, or just marveling at the mountainscape from the comfort
of the lifts. Die-hard skiers will even find glacier skiing here early in
the summer (see the special topic Summer Skiing). Over 50 km of hiking
trails wind around the mountains, including trails through the high alpine
to destinations such as beautiful Harmony Lake (two km from the top of the
gondola; Whistler Mountain) or to the toe of a small glacier (2.5 km from
the top of the gondola; Whistler Mountain). It's also possible to rent
snowshoes for $6 per hour to walk across areas of year-round snowpack. Or
for an adrenaline rush, take the gondola up then bicycle down the mountain
with Whistler Backroads Mountain Bike Adventures (604/932-3111).
Rates for the sightseeing lifts are adult $22, senior
$19, children free. Summer lift hours are mid-June to September daily 10
a.m.-5 p.m., during the first couple of weekends of June and October 11
a.m.-4 p.m. These dates vary between the mountains and are totally
dependent on snow cover, or the lack of it. Dining facilities are
available on both mountains, or grab a picnic basket lunch from any of the
delis down in the village. The best source of information is the Whistler
Activities and Information Centre (4010 Whistler
Way, 604/932-2394) or call the resort direct
(604/932-3434 or 800/766-0449).
Hiking
The easiest way to access the area's most
spectacular hiking country is to take a sightseeing lift up Whistler or
Blackcomb Mountain (see above). But many other options exist. Walking
around Whistler Valley you'll notice signposted trails all over the place.
Valley Trail is a paved walkway/bikeway in summer, a cross-country ski
trail in winter. It makes an almost complete tour of the valley, from
Whistler Village to Lost and Green Lakes, along the River of Golden
Dreams, and past three golf courses to Alta, Nita, and Alpha Lakes, and
finally to Highway 99 in the Whistler Creekside area. If you'd rather do a
short walk, head for Lost Lake via the two-km trail from Parking Lot East
at the back of Whistler Village, or via the free Whistler Transit System
bus from the middle of the village. Once at the beautiful lake, you can
saunter along the shore, picnic, swim, or, in winter, cross-country ski.
Between Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains, a gravel road
leads five km to the trailhead for the Singing Pass Trail. From the
parking lot, this trail follows the Fitzsimmons Creek watershed for 7.5 km
(allow 2.5 hours each way) to Singing Pass, gaining 600 meters in
elevation. From the pass, it's another two km (40 minutes) to beautiful
Russet Lake, where you'll find a backcountry campground.
On the opposite side of the valley, an eight-km trail
(three hours each way) leads from Alta Lake Road just north of the
Whistler hostel up Twenty One Mile Creek to Rainbow Lake. The elevation
gain is a strenuous 850 meters.
Mountain Biking
The Whistler Valley is a perfect place to take a mountain bike--you'd
need months to ride all the trails here. Many of the locals have abandoned
their cars for bikes, which in some cases are worth much more than their
cars! You can see them scooting along Valley Trail, a paved walk/bikeway
that links the entire valley and is the resident bicyclists' freeway.
Another popular place for mountain bikers is beautiful Lost Lake, two km
northeast of Whistler Village. In the last few years, the resort itself
has developed a Mountain Bike Park for more adventurous riders. Using the
lifts to access a vertical drop of 1,200 meters, it features three "Skill
Centres," filled with obstacles for varying levels of skill; a Bikercross
Course; and a variety of trails to the valley floor. Run the courses by
yourself or join a group in a guided descent for $70 including bike
rental.
Water Sports
Sunbathers head for the public beaches along the shores of Alta
Lake--watching all the windsurfers whipping across the water or beginners
repeatedly taking a plunge is a good source of summer entertainment.
Wayside Park at the south end of the lake has a beach, a canoe launch, an
offshore pontoon, a grassy area with picnic tables, and hiking/biking
trails. At Lakeside Park, also on Alta Lake, Whistler Outdoor
Experience Co. (604/932-3389),
rents canoes for $18 an hour or $52 per half day, and kayaks for $15 an
hour. It also offers adventure tours, including a 3.5-hour white-water
rafting trip for $80 per person, a one-hour jet-boat trip for $75 per
person, and a three-hour horseback-riding trip for $65 per person. In
winter it offers cross-country ski, heli-ski, and snowshoe adventures.
For a little white-water excitement, try river rafting
with Whistler River Adventures (604/932-3532),
which provides guided scenic and white-water tours between the end of May
and early September. Outings range from an easy float down the Green River
for $65 per person to the white-water thrills of a full-day trip on the
Elaho River for $135.
Golf
Whistler boasts four world-class championship golf courses, each with its
own character and charm. The entire valley has gained a reputation as a
golfing destination, with many accommodations offering package deals that
include greens fees. Still, golfing at Whistler is as expensive as
anywhere in the country. All the courses below hold a golf shop with club
rentals ($30-40) and golfing apparel, and a clubhouse with dining
facilities. The golfing season runs mid-May to October, so in late spring
you can ski in the morning and golf in the afternoon.
Designed by Arnold Palmer, Whistler Golf Club,
between Whistler Village and Alta Lake (604/932-4544),
offers large greens and narrow wooded fairways over a challenging
6,676-yard par-72 layout. Greens fees are $149 (the twilight rate of $99
is offered after 4 p.m.), cart rental is $35, and club rental costs from
$35.
On the other side of the village is Chateau Whistler
Golf Club (Blackcomb Way, 604/938-2092).
Designed by renowned golf-course architect Robert Trent Jones Jr., this
6,635-yard course takes advantage of the rugged terrain of Blackcomb
Mountain's lower slopes through holes that rise and fall with the lay of
the land. Greens fees are $175, which includes the use of a cart equipped
with a computerized yardage meter. After 3 p.m., rates drop to $125.
Nicklaus North, just north of Whistler Village
(604/938-9898), is the only
course in the world that Jack Nicklaus, the architect, has lent his name
to. The open course holds numerous water hazards, boasts 360-degree
mountain vistas, and plays to a challenging 6,900 yards from the back
markers. Greens fees are $205, which includes use of a driving range;
twilight rate is $125 after 3 p.m.
Farther up the valley is Big Sky Golf and Country
Club (604/894-6106 or 800/668-7900),
a lengthy par-72 course of over 7,000 yards; $150 per round with cart
rental an additional $32.
Flightseeing
Nothing beats the spectacular sight of the Coast Mountains' majestic
peaks, glaciers, icy-blue lakes, and lush mountain meadows from an
unforgettable vantage point high in the sky. Whistler Air (604/932-6615_,
will take you aloft in a floatplane from Green Lake, three km north of
Whistler Village. A 30-minute flight over the glaciers of Garibaldi
Provincial Park costs $85; a 40-minute flight over the Pemberton Ice Cap
goes for $105; and a 70-minute flight landing on a high alpine lake runs
$150. You can also charter the whole plane (minimum four people) for a
remote backcountry adventure.
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