Whistler Blackcomb’s target opening date is November 21, 2025, and there are a few changes for this season that you need to know about before you hit the slopes, but before we start with what’s new, let’s just recap what’s not.
Whistler Blackcomb is North America’s largest ski resort, with 200+ runs over 8,171 acres of terrain. It has reliable snowfall, moderate temperatures and a long snow season (November to May) thanks to its West Coast locale, and has been voted Best Ski Resort in North America multiple times.
It’s also Whistler Mountain’s big 6-0! So expect some more magic in the mountains this winter as Whistler Blackcomb celebrates six decades of slope-based fun.
Whistler, Where Winter Goes Big
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.
While that’s simply amazing, it’s worth noting that fifty-five percent 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.
Shared Territories: Lil’wat Nation and Squamish Nation
Whistler Blackcomb operates on the shared territories of the Lil’wat Nation and Squamish Nation, who have lived on these lands since time immemorial. We recommend a trip to the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre while you’re here to learn about the land, people and culture of the First Nations.
Day Passes for Whistler Blackcomb – Buy Yours Now
All Whistler Blackcomb Pass sales typically end at the start of December, including the Whistler Blackcomb Day Pass – these Passes offer some of the lowest rates to ski/ride this season. They aren’t date-specific and don’t have to be used consecutively. After this time, you will only be able to purchase date-specific lift tickets for the mountain, and the cost can be more than double (our advice: if you know you’re coming to ski or ride Whistler Blackcomb at some point this season, buy your passes now). Epic Passes also offer significant value, while Edge Cards, available for Canadians and Washington State residents, are another great money-saving option.
To prioritize the guest experience and Pass Holders, Whistler Blackcomb is limiting lift ticket sales during the season, yet again, another reason to buy your passes early! Read more in Secrets to Whistler Blackcomb Lift Ticket Savings.
Whistler’s Winter Weather
As we’re located in the Coast Mountain Range, Whistler Blackcomb consistently offers reliable snow conditions, with an average annual snowfall of 11 metres (36 feet/432 inches) per year. To put this in perspective, that’s the length of a bus or the height of a three-storey building.
This season, a La Niña weather pattern is expected to develop and hang on through the season, which means British Columbia might have a wet winter, and we know that means snow in the mountains!!!!
Opening Day
Whistler Blackcomb is due to open on Thursday, November 21, 2025. As always, this date depends on Mother Nature and all the operational checks that have to happen before the lifts start to turn.
The Roundhouse Lodge, Glacier Creek Lodge and Rendezvous Lodge are all set to be open from day one, as are the GLC, Dusty’s and Merlin’s. Already confirmed for this season are local-favourite band, The Hairfarmers, performing at Merlin’s Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and at Dusty’s on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
What’s New at Whistler Blackcomb?
NEW Wonder Routes
Explore Whistler Blackcomb’s Wonder Routes, a curated network of trails, waypoints, and stops designed to help you uncover the hidden gems of Whistler Blackcomb in the winter. Whether the goal is to take in the best mountain views, to find hidden powder stashes, enjoy mellow blue runs, visit the family-oriented runs, or hit every après spot, the seven Wonder Routes provide something for everyone. Each route follows a colour-coded path, guiding you through stunning viewpoints and landmarks.
View this post on Instagram
And just in time for an Olympic year, explore the Gold Medal Route. This intermediate-to-advanced trail traces the legacy of the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, from the Dave Murray Downhill to Whistler Creekside’s Timing Flats, where a sign honours the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games gold medalists, alongside the original Olympic rings.
New Carpool Parking at Whistler Blackcomb
Last winter, Whistler Blackcomb piloted a new carpool program, giving free priority parking to vehicles with four or more people. The program ran during weekends and peak periods, and spoiler alert: it worked. It’s part of WB’s ongoing efforts to improve the arrival and parking experience for guests and to continue to encourage more sustainable travel.
For this season, free, reservations-based carpooling and general parking are in Upper Lots 6,7 and 8, and Creekside Parkade. Starting November 12, guests can book their spots and hold up to two reservations at any given time. These changes are applicable from 6 to 11 AM on weekends, holiday Mondays and the core festive days of December 27 to 31, 2025. For more information and to reserve your spot, visit whistlerblackcombparking.com.
Here are the main points…
- All the Whistler Blackcomb lots remain free to park.
- Drop-off parking is prioritized for Snow School families.
- Whistler Blackcomb’s enhanced carpooling consists of a mix of free, first-come, first-served carpooling and reserved carpooling, available for vehicles with four or more occupants, and applies to Upper Lots 6, 7 and 8, and P1 of Creekside Parkade.
- Parking reservations start at 6 AM and end at 11 AM. You can cancel your reservation by 8 AM on the date of your reservation.
- After 11 AM, the lots open to all vehicles, no reservation needed and regardless of the number of passengers.
Epic Friend Tickets
Epic Friend Tickets offer a 50% discount on lift tickets at all 37 North American Vail Resorts for friends of Epic Pass holders. Introduced for the 2025/26 winter season, these tickets replace the old “Buddy Tickets” and allow the friend to apply the full cost of their discounted ticket toward a 2026/27 Epic Pass. The number of tickets received (6 or 10) depends on when the pass was purchased.
Skip the Ticket Line with a Mobile Pass
This year, you can buy your lift ticket or pass online and then activate it in the My Epic app. When you arrive at a Whistler Blackcomb chairlift or gondola, you’ll get scanned by Bluetooth ® technology designed for low-energy use. This gives you a hands-free, one-stop app for lift access, real-time resort updates, personalized stats and account info.
To ensure a smooth transition, Whistler Blackcomb will continue to provide and activate physical cards for passes and lift tickets during the 2025/26 season, as requested.
7 On-Mountain Dining Must-Dos
Whistler Blackcomb has 14 on-mountain dining locations, so we thought we’d give you a hit list of some of our favourite things to munch on while we’re on the slopes.
- Japanese ramen, fish ‘n’ chips, and Indian curry at Glacier Creek Lodge, Rendezvous and Roundhouse
- Loaded, buttermilk waffles at the Crystal Hut
- Cinnamon buns at Chic Pea
- Indigenous-inspired cuisine at Raven’s
- Flight of BC wines at Christine’s or Steeps
- Caesar at the Umbrella Bar
- The Horstman Hut (top of 7th Heaven) has a European-style selection of sausages, sauerkraut, pretzels and mustards
BONUS: Watching The Hairfarmer’s play at Merlin’s while working on a mountain of nachos (okay, not on-mountain, but worth the shout-out)
View this post on Instagram
Whistler Blackcomb Ski and Snowboard School
Ski and snowboard school is available for adults and children aged three and up of all skill levels. Lessons are the best way to get ahead on the slopes, whether you’re on them for the first time, the first time in a while, or you’re looking to enhance the skills you already have. One of the big benefits is lift line priority, so you get to skip any queues!
The adult, four-day program called The Camp is a good option, and for the kiddos, there are the Kids 3 and 5 Day Adventure Camps (there’s consistency in them having the same instructor for the 5-day camp). Read what it’s like to join one of the all-women camps in Confidence Boost: Women’s Ski Camps in Whistler.
We strongly recommend making a booking well in advance of your lesson date to ensure availability. Making advance bookings during peak periods, like the festive season and school holidays, is a must to guarantee your preferred lesson type and time.
Whistler Blackcomb First Tracks
Want to get on the slopes before the majority of other riders? Grab yourself some First Tracks tickets. These tickets allow holders up the mountain early, but that does mean you’ve got to be at the Whistler Village Gondola at 7:30 AM and one of the first 600 people to make it up there.
Your ticket also includes a $17 voucher to be spent at Whistler Blackcomb on-mountain locations that day. Take a coffee for the initial lineup and then reward yourself after those fresh laps with a gooey cinnamon bun or waffle breakfast!
Family Certified Zones on Whistler Blackcomb
The Family Certified Zones include the Magic Castle and Tree Fort. Check the Whistler Blackcomb website for updates throughout the season.
Sightseeing on Whistler Blackcomb
You don’t need to be on skis or a snowboard to enjoy the incredible alpine views. The PEAK 2 PEAK 360 Experience will be open for sightseeing daily, beginning on opening day, November 21. Find out more about this experience in our blog, Mountain Sightseeing for Non-Skiers.
Whistler Blackcomb Fire & Ice Show
The Fire & Ice Show returns once again this season to the base of Whistler Mountain on Sunday nights. This spectacular display of pyrotechnics, music, live entertainment, and world-class freestyle skiing and riding happens on Sunday nights during the winter season.
Learn about the legend of Spo7ez, a village shared by the Squamish Nation and the Lil’wat Nation and see a performance by world champion hoop dancer, Alex Wells. Dress warmly, grab a hot chocolate and prepare to be amazed.
Fire & Ice is presented by Whistler Blackcomb, in partnership with the Resort Municipality of Whistler and Tourism Whistler.
Whistler Heli-Skiing Celebrates 45 Years
Whistler Heli-Skiing is celebrating its 45th year of operation, which typically kicks off in early December (weather dependent). Their exclusive tenure consists of 432,000 acres of classic, big mountain terrain. This includes 173 glaciers and 475 runs in an area 50 times the size of Whistler Blackcomb. If heli-skiing is on your bucket list, book in and make it happen!
Dawn Patrol
If guests of Whistler Heli Ski can’t fly, they offer Dawn Patrol, where guests meet their guide and load ahead of the regular opening, being the first to access Blackcomb Mountain for the day! The group is led by experienced guides, skiing and riding runs before anyone else. Once the crowds arrive, guests enjoy lift line priority for the rest of the tour – a great opportunity to learn favourite local stashes, improve technique ahead of heli-skiing, and have a unique and elevated experience on Whistler Blackcomb.
bubly Tube Park
The family-favourite bubly Tube Park (opening TBD) is accessible by taking the Excalibur Gondola out of Whistler Village (it’s free for foot passengers) or by driving and parking in Lot 8. There’s 1,000 feet of sliding bliss to be had on the multiple lanes, and there’s no slogging it back to the top thanks to the handy conveyor belt.
It’s typically open nightly to around 8 PM (always check times) and is a great après ski or evening activity. The ride is family-friendly, although children must be three years old and taller than 36 inches (91 centimetres) to partake. We advise wearing your snow boots!
Events on Whistler Blackcomb
Mark your calendars for Whistler Blackcomb’s classic events like the 40th Peak to Valley Race, Whistler Cup, Creekside Classic, and the 30th World Ski and Snowboard Festival. Keep an eye on our Local’s Lists for smaller, on-mountain events that are happening in the month.
If you want help navigating some of this information, connect with the locally-based team at Whistler.com or use the Ask Whistler live chat service for quick questions.
Winter lives longer here – we’ll see you soon!
