The leaves are just starting to turn, adding a splash of yellow and gold to Whistler’s lush, green mountainscape. And although there is a definite nip of fall in the air, there are many days when the sunshine still reigns supreme in September.
It’s a great time to hit up the Whistler Mountain Bike Park or the seemingly endless cross-country trails that weave their way throughout the Whistler Valley; the slightly cooler temperatures are also perfect for hiking, golfing and getting out for a paddle on the water.
Sightseeing and hiking on the PEAK 2 PEAK and Whistler Mountain finish on September 6, but you can access Blackcomb Mountain via the Blackcomb Gondola on September 11, 12, 18 and 19, and then it’s closed for hiking and sightseeing until the winter season. Read below for an alternative way to access Whistler Blackcomb in the fall.
If you are joining us in the mountains this month, please be patient. Businesses across the hospitality sector are working to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Many businesses are short-staffed, which may have an impact on available services and hours of operation. Thank you for being kind to employees who are working hard to deliver a positive guest experience.
Here’s what else is happenin’ in Whistler this September.
Outdoor Adventure
You’ll find us:
- Enjoying the cooler temps as we head up for a few laps in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park (open until October 11). September 6 is the last day for the Peak Zone, so get that iconic ride of the Top of the World trail in the bag asap!
- Hiking in the high alpine on Whistler Blackcomb before it closes for the season. Some of our favourite trails include the Decker Loop and High Note trail; read more in Hike in Whistler This Summer. FYI – face coverings are required in all indoor settings and on the gondolas. The last day for hiking on Whistler Mountain is September 6 and for Blackcomb Mountain, it’s September 19 (visit Mountain Hours for more information on what’s open).
- Loving and hating the 30 kilometres (with 1,800 metres of climbing) of The Back Forty, a grueling marathon, XC bike race happening on September 11. Keep an eye out on our blog for a post on all the upcoming races for the fall.
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Adventure Lite
You’ll find us:
- Renting a paddleboard and cruising out into Alta Lake for an incredible view of the mountains as the seasons begin to change.
- Teeing off on one of Whistler’s four championship greens while enjoying the cooler temperatures. Take a read of Signature Holes at Whistler’s Golf Courses and pick the green you want to tackle this September.
- Heading up Whistler Blackcomb on a 4×4 tour. The PEAK 2 PEAK’s last day for the summer sightseeing season is September 6, but you can still get up those mountain views on a guided tour with Canadian Wilderness Adventures in a 4X4 Jeep. Check out the sunset tour for a really spectacular way to end the day.
- Checking out the supercars at the Diamond Car Rally display in Creekside Village on Saturday, September 11 from 1 PM to 3 PM in the Upper Parking Lot (a fundraiser for the Make a Wish Foundation).
More ways to get outside.
Family Fun
You’ll find us:
- Feeling the wind in our hair on Ziptrek’s The Sasquatch ziplining tour (running on weekends in September). It’s one monster line spanning over two kilometres, which makes it the longest zipline in Canada and the US. If you’re visiting midweek, there are still ziplining adventures to be had with Superfly on Cougar Mountain, a few minutes north of Whistler Village.
- Seeing if the kids can help us escape from a gold mine or underwater lair, the two latest puzzle rooms by Escape! Whistler. This is a great pre or post-dinner activity for the whole family, or one to save for those rainy, fall days.
- Letting the monkeys be monkeys at The Core’s climbing sessions for kids (ages 5+). These are hour-long blocks and include all the gear and instruction. While the kids are busy monkeying around, maybe you could head to a nearby watering hole for some parent R&R? Check out some of our suggestions in Summer Sippers: The Insider’s Guide to Cocktails in Whistler.
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More family-friendly activities.
Arts & Culture
You’ll find us:
- Bidding on some unusual pieces of mountain art. The LIFTing the Community art project saw 18 local artists give paint lifts to retired ski chairs to raise money for Sea to Sky charities and non-profits. The live, online auction ends September 7 so make sure you get your bid in!
- Showing some love for our local, Sea to Sky artists at the We Heart Local Art exhibit, which is on display at the Maury Young Arts Centre from September 16 to the end of October.
- Taking in Indigenous artwork with a board-sport-inspired twist at the Boarder X exhibit, which is on at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre until September 22. And on September 30, National Truth and Reconciliation Day admission to the SLCC is free!
- Taking in the work of Itee Pootoogook and Louie Palu at the Audain Art Museum before their exhibits wrap up on September 6. However, if you’re visiting later in September the museum has a micro exhibit opening on September 9, Like a Bridge by Vancouver-based artist, Reese Terris.
- Looking over the schedule and buying tickets to the Whistler Writers Festival (October 14 to 17), and Cornucopia Whistler (November) – tickets for both events go on sale this month.
INSIDER TIP: If you’re into your Arts & Culture, take a look at Whistler.com’s fall lodging deal, which comes with a free culture pass giving you access to the Audain Art Museum and Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (available from September 1 to November 30).
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More arts and culture activities.
Eating, Drinking & Shopping
You’ll find us:
- Dining out at several Whistler hot spots all in one night. How do we manage that? With Whistler Tasting Tours. They offer three different tours, two for dinner and one for lunch, which all showcase some of Whistler’s hottest dining spots. Read more about this experience in Tasty Tours Dinner Edition: Whistler Tasting Tours.
- Trying to decide between ice cream or donuts for our afternoon sugar rush on the Sweet Treats self-guided tour, which you can access for free on the new Go Whistler Tour app.
- Checking out the new fall and winter fashions coming into stores like Peak Performance, Open Country and Bach & Co (located in Creekside). For the kiddos, take a look at The Circle Kids and Mountain Kids Outfitters.
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More on Village shopping, dining and arts and culture.
Save the Date
Whistler happenings to put in your calendar for the month ahead.
- Whistler Craft Beer Month | October 1-31
- Whistler Half-Marathon presented by Smartwool | October 9-11
- The Whistler Turkey Trot | October 11
- 20th Whistler Writers Festival | October 14-17
- Canadian National Enduro Series | October 16-17
- Whistler 50 Relay & Ultra | October 16
- 25th Annual Cornucopia, Whistler’s Celebration of Food + Drink | November
Find more event information on our events calendar.
Don’t Forget . . .
- Please remember that COVID-19 isn’t on vacation, stay home if you have any symptoms, however mild, and get tested if your symptoms are consistent with COVID-19
- Practise physical distancing
- Wear a mask in indoor public settings
- Wash your hands often
- September 30 is a federal statutory holiday in Canada called the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation. It’s a day intended to provide an opportunity to recognize, reflect on and commemorate the tragic history and ongoing legacy of residential schools, and to honour their survivors, their families and communities. Consider investing some time learning about Whistler’s Indigenous history and heritage at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre.
- Know that if you are paddleboarding, canoeing, kayaking, or using an inflatable boat, you are required by Canadian law to have the right safety gear. The Conservation Officer Service is actively doing patrols in Whistler to enforce this federal law and non-compliance may result in a $230 fine for each missing item (ouch). Find out more in Transport Canada’s Safe Boating Guide.
- Please make sure you are bear-aware and have your dog on a leash at all times unless you’re in a designated off-leash area.
- You can win a trip to Whistler this summer (enter now, travel later), by checking out the Adventure Deeper Contest, which includes round-trip airfare, six nights’ accommodation and a host of summer activity fun (contest closes September 21 at noon)
- Getting around Whistler – it’s now pay parking at Whistler’s most popular lakes. The RMOW has free shuttles running from the Village, transit is free on the weekends and on statutory holidays, or you can hop on a bike and get there via the Whistler Valley Trail. They also have a complimentary Bike Valet service running in Whistler Village at Olympic Park, Rainbow Park and Lost Lake Park. The schedules change this month, so be sure to check Whistler.com.
When you book to come to Whistler, you should know that the longer you stay, the more you save with room rates dropping as you book more nights (7 nights from $109 CAD per night). You will also receive a free adventure voucher, which gets you up to $100 off a Whistler activity.
