Biking and Hiking
The 40-km (25-mile) paved, car-free Valley Trail links the village to lakeside beaches and scenic picnic areas. For more challenging routes, ski lifts whisk hikers and bikers up to the alpine, where marked trails are graded by difficulty. The Peak Chair operates in summer to take hikers to the top of 7,160-foot-high peak of Whistler. Among the most popular routes in the high alpine-trail network is the High Note Trail, an intermediate, 9.5-km (6-mile) route with an elevation change of 1,132 feet and fabulous coastal mountain views. Trails are clearly marked—you take the lift up and choose whichever way you want to come down, just as if you were skiing. The casual stroller can also experience the top of the mountain on the Peak2Peak Gondola, the largest free-span gondola expanse in the world: it crosses Fitzsimmons Valley, connecting Whistler and Blackcomb mountains in just 11 minutes. Free trail maps are available from Tourism Whistler and the Whistler Activity Center.
Fanatyk Co. Ski and Cycle. This outfit rents bikes, arranges for repairs, and books bike tours. The staff is passionate and knowledgeable about pedals and wheels. It's also a ski shop in the winter. 6–4433 Sundial Pl., Whistler Village, Whistler, British Columbia, V0N 1 B4. 604/938–9455; www.fanatykco.com.
G1 Rentals. G1 is where biking enthusiasts, novice or expert, can get rentals. Inside the gondola building and next to the access point for Whistler Mountain Bike Park, here's where to find out about lessons, equipment, safety gear, and park passes. They also rent skis and snowboards in the winter. Whistler Gondola Base, Whistler Village, Whistler, British Columbia, V0N 1B4. 604/905–2252; bike.whistlerblackcomb.com.
Mountain Skills Academy & Adventures. This year-round outfitter offers everything from avalanche safety courses in winter to mountaineering in summer. Among its signature activities is a hike named Via Ferrata, Italian for "Iron Way," so named because it's straight up a vertical pathway using fixed cables and metal-rung ladders. This thrilling activity is not reserved for seasoned mountain climbers—any reasonably fit hiker can do it. Even older children can tackle it. Besides, it's great for bragging rights. In the winter, these expert mountain guides also offer group tours, instructional clinics, and customized one-on-one trips to get you shredding untouched backcountry powder. Ice climbing, glacier walks, and backcountry overnights add to the roster of activities. 207B--4368 Main St., Whistler, British Columbia, V0N 1B4. 604/938–9242; www.mountainskillsacademy.com.
Whistler Mountain Bike Park. There's something for riders of every skill level at the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, from gentle rides that satisfy novices to steep rock faces that will challenge the experts. High-season rates range from C$62 for a day to C$180 for a three-day pass. The park is open from mid-May to early October, and rentals are available. The park is accessed from the Whistler Village Gondola or Fitzsimmons Express. Whistler Mountain, Whistler, British Columbia, V0N 1B4. 604/967–8950; bike.whistlerblackcomb.com.
