By: Sammi Bushman | Last Updated: March 21st, 2024
Whistler sees more visitors in the summer than it does in the winter - but how can that be possible? What’s the draw for folks when the snow is gone? The answer: mountain biking. The Whistler Mountain Bike Park is legendary. Known as one of the best downhill destinations in the world, riders from all corners of the globe dream of making their pilgrimage to this dirt church. What makes Whistler so special? From the quality of the dirt to the sheer number of trails, Whistler is certainly well deserving of its reputation. One of the greatest parts about mountain biking in Whistler is the overwhelming variety. It’s not just a mountain for the pros, though there are certainly many professional mountain bikers that call it home. Whistler is also well known for playing host to Crankworx, one of the largest mountain bike festivals in the world. There are mountain bike trails for riders of all ability levels, making Whistler a wonderful destination as well as a great place to learn and progress. The huge variety of Whistler mountain bike trails can be overwhelming, so read along and we will help to break down the must-hit trails and how to take full advantage of your mountain bike trip to Whistler.
Whistler Village Directions | Trailforks | MTB Project
While there are great mountain bike trails all over the Whistler Valley, the scene revolves around the bike park, and it certainly does not disappoint. 5 ski lifts service the 68 total trails in the Whistler Bike Park that descend over the nearly 5,000’ of vertical drop. This may be overwhelming at first, but they make it very easy to navigate and to choose which trails to ride. The Whistler Bike Park trail difficulty ratings follow the usual Green Circle through Double Black Diamond system, and also designate each trail “freeride” or “tech.” This means that there are no surprises and you know exactly what to expect when you drop in. Freeride trails have a smooth flowy surface along with jumps and machine-built features, while tech trails are more raw and natural, filled with roots and rocks. It’s always a good idea to warm up on some easier trails at any downhill mountain bike park, but especially at Whistler. It’s worth noting that the trails here are long and physical, often harder than their difficulty level equivalent trails in other areas.
There are four main area within the Whistler Bike Park: Fitzsimmons, Garbanzo, Peak, and Creekside. Each of the trails in the Whistler Bike Park has its merits, which means the best way to explore is often just going out and riding what you stumble upon. The great signage allows you to do this without getting in over your head, too. That said, there are certainly some crowd-favorite trails, and it's easy to progress with fun at every skill level
A bucket list trail for many, Top of The World is one of the newer trails in Whistler Bike Park, accessible from the Peak Zone. Experience every type of terrain BC has to offer, from high alpine riding to switchbacks, single track, and manicured berms. While many of the tougher parts of this trail can be walked or ridden around, it is recommended that riders feel comfortable on most trails within the bike park and know how to handle chunky granite and steeper tech.
Hop on the Creekside Gondola and head straight to Earth Circus. One of the new additions to this zone, it is a modern flow trail with fast rollers, berms, and plenty of room to test your form and speed. This trail is Designed and built by Gravity Logic.
Accessed from the Whistler Gondola, Original Sin is a scenic single-track filled with big rocks and jumps that appear as if they just fall off the earth (they don't, but your photo ops will fool people.)
While many folks visit to ride the chairlifts, there are some world-class MTB trails in the Whistler Valley accessed by pedal power. Ranging from huge climbs into the alpine, to quick loops close to town, trails outside the bike park are a great option for riders on trail bikes, or those who enjoy the uphill in addition to the down. Valley trails are just a good option for folks looking to avoid the crowds and want to explore all British Columbia has to offer.
Up to 17 Miles | Advanced | 4,800’ Climb
The Whistler Mountain Bike Park is located in the Whistler Blackcomb ski area, a 90-minute drive from Vancouver and the Vancouver Airport. Since Whistler is such a popular international destination, there are plenty of transportation options to get mountain bikers to and from the bike park, even without renting a car. Since the bike park can be tough on your gear, and not everyone owns a downhill bike, renting can be a good idea. evo operates five retail locations throughout the Village, making it easy to gear up and get out on the trails. With the addition of the Creekside trails, there are now two main base areas for the chairlifts that access the bike park, Whistler Village and Creekside.
Visit evo WhistlerThe Whistler Bike Park season is typically from May through October, and the surrounding pedal trails follow a similar timeline, depending on the weather. The lower trails in the Fitzsimmons zone are the first to open, followed by the upper trails as the snow melts The lifts open at 10 am every morning and run to 5 pm or 8 pm depending on the season. Trail conditions are best early and late in the season, when there is more moisture in the dirt. In the drier middle portions of the summer, the trails can get pretty dusty resulting in more braking bumps in the bike park. Whistler works constantly to maintain and rebuild trails throughout the summer and has even installed irrigation on popular trails like A Line. This means you’re almost guaranteed to have fresh trails to ride no matter when you visit.