9 Tips to Beat the Whistler Crowds

Whistler is probably one of the world’s worst kept secrets. Frankly, we don’t blame people for wanting to come here – it’s a pretty special place. But this time of year, things can start to feel a little crowded. It’s not fun waiting in lines and battling out for a spot – but luckily, if you know the right tricks, you won’t need to.

Listen up: here are some of our best-kept secrets for beating out the Whistler crowds.

Head up Blackcomb

Maybe it’s because people associate Whistler Mountain with Whistler, but for whatever reason, Whistler is often slightly more crowded than Blackcomb. The snow is just as great on Blackcomb, and there are plenty of fun spots to check out. If the lift lines are long, hop on the Peak to Peak and spend the rest of the day exploring Blackcomb.

Skip Lunch

Stop by any of the on-mountain lodges between 11 and 1, and you’ll have a tough time finding seating for the whole family. Instead, fill up on a hearty breakfast and ski while everyone else is eating lunch. Ski out a little early and grab the best patio spot for a well earned apres session.

Mid-Week is Best

Weekends are almost always crowded – many locals don’t even bother heading up on Saturdays and Sundays. Spend weekends checking out other activities, like zip lining or snowmobiling. These activities have a cap on group sizes, so they’ll never be too busy.

Book Ahead

Always make reservations for your must-try activities far in advanced. This will ensure that you get the time slot that you want the most, and it’ll also let you plan the rest of your trip around the scheduled events.

Reserve Your Dinner

Making dinner reservations is always a great idea. If you’re staying in a hotel, just talk to your concierge – they’ll likely be able to make the call on your behalf. Don’t be late, or your reservation might not be honoured!

Meet the Wizard

When the gondola lift lines are snaking far into the Village, make the short walk to the Upper Village. The Wizard chair will zoom you right up to the base of Solar Coaster. It’s often a shorter wait than the gondolas.

Hop Over to Main Street

Main Street is just slightly off the Village Stroll, but it’s still walking distance from everything in the Village. It’s a great option if you’re hungry now and don’t want to wait. Check out Dup’s Burritos, Peaked Pies, and Pasta Lupino for some tasty eats with minimal wait times.

Embrace Creekside

There are plenty of beautiful accommodations in Whistler’s Creekside neighbourhood – and there’s a gondola, too! Skip the crowds altogether by staying in Creekside. There’s a market, a liquor store, a Starbucks, rental shops, and a few delicious spots to eat. You can’t beat apres at Dusty’s, and dinner at Creekbread will change the way you see pizza.

Arrive Early

If you’re heading to a show, a concert, a festival, or some other event, arrive as early as possible. You know the saying: the early bird gets the worm. In this case, it’s true!