Ride Guide

The Whistler Bike Park is utilizes the gondola/chairlifts to bring you up on Whistler Mountain. Once up top you can choose your trails for your descent back down to the Village.

The Bike Park is set up for a wide range of abilities as the trails are marked much the same as a ski run, covering Green (Beginner), Blue (Intermediate), Black (Advanced) and Double Black (Expert). There are also some Pro-Lines that are designed for professional level riders. There are Bike Park maps available on the mountain to show you the rating and style of each trail.

Our staff will be able to help you with a recommended progression of trails to match your ability and interest. Be sure to warm up, ride within your ability and have a great time out there. You may also want to consider one of our Bike Park coaching sessions to help you navigate the Bike Park safely and to develop your skills to enjoy your ride further.

Our riding season in Whistler runs from mid April to mid November as a general rule. The higher alpine trails like Lord of the Squirrels and Top of the World are typically open between late July to late September due to snow/weather.

July and August are the peak riding months of the year as it’s the most consistent weather with basically all trails open. These two months are also the busiest riding months of the year as a result.

The Spring and Fall are also amazing times to ride in Whistler and much better in terms of avoiding the crowds. We typically get more rain in the Spring and Fall and this can lead to better trail conditions as the trails are quite dry in July and August. Overall there are benefits to each period of the season to ride and we are here to help with your planning and lining up the best possible experience for you.

There is a range of bus and shuttle services that go from Vancouver to Whistler multiple times a day. We would recommend checking out Whistler Connection or Epic Rides.

Whistler is home to an incredible network of trails and most of them are beyond the boundary of the Bike Park. The lift accessed Bike Park is amazing, but so are the trails outside the Bike Park. You can see the huge range of trails in the Whistler Valley on Trail Forks and we have some great recommended routes that you can check out here.

Benefits of the trails that are outside the Bike Park include: No lift ticket cost, no line-ups, the ability to explore a wider network of trails and exploring some of the absolute best trails around.

The trails outside the Bike Park are pedal accessed and can be very quickly reached from our Bike Shop as a number of trailheads are a very short ride away. We also have a large map in store to show you the whole area and help you plan your ride for the absolute best experience. You may also want to consider one of our guided singletrack rides where our guides will customize a ride to match your ability and interest and provide some very helpful coaching tips along the way.

Proper attire is key to an enjoyable and safe mountain biking experience. We recommend wearing comfortable, moisture-wicking clothing that allows for a full range of motion. It’s best to dress in layers as temperatures can vary throughout the day. Closed-toe shoes with a sturdy sole are also essential

When Mountain Biking, dress for the conditions, taking into account temperature, weather conditions, and the duration of your ride.

Here are some things you should pack before going for a mountain bike ride:

• A pair of riding shorts or pants: they should be comfortable and allow a full range of motion. If you are planning a long ride, a pair of chamois can be worn under your riding shoes or pants. 
• A moisture-wicking shirt: Look for a lightweight shirt made of moisture-wicking material that will keep you cool and dry during your ride.
• Sturdy shoes: Wear shoes with a good grip, ideally with flat soles that provide good traction on the pedals.
• Pads: Depending on your ride you should consider wearing knee pads (available to rent), elbow pads (available to rent), and chest protectors. 
• Eyewear: Protect your eyes from mud, dust, wind, and sun by wearing sunglasses while biking with riding glasses or goggles.
• Gloves: Provide a better grip on the handlebars and protect your hands in case of falls.
• Weather-appropriate clothing: If it’s chilly outside, wear a jacket or a long-sleeved shirt. If it’s hot outside, wear breathable and lightweight clothes.
• Water: a water bottle for smaller rides, hydro-packs, or hip-packs for the longer ones!

Included with all our Rentals and Tours:

• A suitable helmet is included at no charge with your rental, we offer Trail “open face” style helmets for all Scenic and Trail based rentals and tours. A DH “full face” style is included at no charge and is recommended for any lift-assist bike park trails.
• Knee & Elbow pads for lift-assist bike park use are available to rent for an additional charge.

• The closest and most affordable pricing to our shop is along Blackcomb Way directly across from Le Chamois Hotel. There is 2 hours paid parking along there.
• Public Paid parking is also available in the parkade under Le Chamois Hotel (Mid Week Only) and is accessed by the front entry loop.
• The Whistler Day Lots are the main parking area for Whistler to access both the Upper Village where our shop is located and the main Whistler Village. Refer to the parking regulations in the day lots as they do change during the year. From the Day Lots it’s a 5-minute walk to our Bike Shop

We recommend looking on Whistler.com for any accommodation deals. There are some great options that are walking distance to our shop including the ones below:

• Le Chamois Hotel – This is the same building that our shop is located in. Aside from being above our bike shop the hotel has great views of the mountains, and some fun restaurants/bars with RMU and Handlebar.
• Pangea Pod – This is your cost-effective option in the village. It’s a fun new spot that is kind of a hybrid between a hostel and hotel.
• Aava- Our top pick for Bike amenities and located centrally in Whistler. Best for groups wanting to experience the Whistler Vibe while keeping a focus on their riding.
• Fairmont – Our top pick for location and comfort. Best for groups wanting luxury facilities, close proximity to our store location and trails.
• Legends Lodge – Legends is located in Creekside so it’s the only one here that is not within walking distance to our shop, but it’s a great spot. Perfect for families, quiet location and all the key amenities are reasons why we love it.

We would recommend any of the bikes from our Trail Bike category. These full-suspension bikes are amazing climbers and still give you the confidence to descend back down into the valley. Our Enduro bikes can also work, but they are more bike than you need for this ride.

1. Singletrack Trail Use: 
   Explore the vast network of Whistler’s Singletrack trails outside of the lift-accessed Bike Park: Find all the trail bikes we rent here. Check our premade routes on Trailforks here!
2. Bike park use and Enduro riding:
   our Enduro bikes are set up for the challenges of the Whistler Bike Park, but also climb so well to take on a full day of pedaling. Find all the enduro bikes we rent here. 
3. For cruising around town:
   Ride right from our bike shop to the Valley Trail system, which is a combination of crushed gravel and paved pathways that link the local lakes
   Find all the family bike rentals we rent here. 
4. Gravel:
   Explore the Whistler valley and beyond aboard our High-performance Cervelo road bike rentals. 
   Find more info about the gravel rentals we rent here. 
5. Mountain E-bikes:
   1. Our E-MTB bikes including the Specialized Levo and Yeti SB160e are set up to explore all the Whistler Singletrack trails.
   2. They are not suitable for Bike Park.
   3. Whistler’s Municipality has a few area restrictions. Therefore Ebikes are not permitted on these off-road trails:
      1. Mount Sproatt and Rainbow Mountain alpine trails (anything above Flank: Lord of the Squirrels, Into the Mystic, With a Twist, On the Rocks, Happy Hour, Pot of Gold, LESS & Don’t Look Back). This restriction supports environmental considerations, user safety, and grizzly bear management in the alpine terrain.
      2. Emerald Forest Conservation Area, except for the access road connecting Lorimer & Alta Lake roads
      3. Any hiking-only trails
6. Valley Trail Ebikes: 
   Take our Specialized Como e-bike rental to cruise the valley trail with see the most of the Whistler Valley. Explore the Whistler Valley with the power assist to get you up the hills and see more during your electric bike rental. Great for visiting all the lakes and seeing Whistler beyond the Village.

1. Whistler’s Singletrack mountain biking:
   Whistler has an array of singletrack mountain bike trails for intermediate and advanced riders outside of the lift-accessed Bike Park.
   Check out our favorite routes on Trailforks: From greens to double blacks, from Crosscountry to Downhill, there is a route for everyone! 
2. Whistler Bike Park:
   The ultimate gravity-fed downhill biking experience, drawing mountain bikers from across the world. All ability levels are catered to with four mountain zones, green trails, technical double blacks, & jump trails
   In order to enter the bike park and use the lifts, you will need to purchase your tickets from Whistler Mountain Bike Park.
   Day passes allow you to ride the park for the entirety of that particular day. A Sampler pass can be used for three laps. If you’re having a blast and want to keep going, you can upgrade your Sampler pass to a day ticket. An Extended Play ticket is usually valid from 3.30 PM – 8 PM between mid-May and early September, but check their hours of operation when you’re planning to visit.
3. Whistler’s Valley trail:
   Explore more than 46 km of trail. A car-free, paved trail, and boardwalk network connecting Whistler’s neighborhoods, lakes, viewpoints, and picnic spots. Our family rentals or our Specialized Comos are perfect
4. Mountain E-bikes restricted areas:
   Our E-MTB bikes including the Specialized Levo and Yeti SB160e are set up to explore all the Whistler Singletrack trails.
   However, Whistler’s Municipality has a few area restrictions. Therefore Ebikes are not permitted on these off-road trails:
   1. Mount Sproatt and Rainbow Mountain alpine trails (anything above Flank: Lord of the Squirrels, Into the Mystic, With a Twist, On the Rocks, Happy Hour, Pot of Gold, LESS & Don’t Look Back). This restriction supports environmental considerations, user safety, and grizzly bear management in the alpine terrain.
   2. Emerald Forest Conservation Area, except for the access road connecting Lorimer & Alta Lake roads
   3. Any hiking-only trails

All of our tours and coaching sessions are private in that it is just you and the group you are riding with. We don’t combine different groups of riders into one tour as we want to ensure the group is of similar ability and the ride can be customized to the specific needs and interests of that group.

As a result of small group private offerings we can tailor the ride to your fitness and technical ability. Each tour ends of being unique due to the customization that we do and your guide will work directly with you to find the ideal fit of trails. We believe this is the best way to experience the trails and the way to get the most from your ride.

Arbutus Routes’ Coaching:

Mountain bike coaching is geared toward enhancing the rider’s technical skills. Our coaches will work with your goals to give you the confidence to ride that specific feature on the trail that really challenges you or develop fundamental skills such as braking or cornering.
We offer both Bike Park Coaching sessions utilizing the lift-accessed trails as well as trail coaching using all the trails that are pedal accessed.

Arbutus Routes’ Tours:

Mountain biking tours are focused on exploring our amazing single-track trails. Our guides will craft an epic day of riding, picking trails to suit your skills and energy levels.
Head out on the world-class singletrack trails with our local guides to show you the goods in Whistler, Pemberton, and Squamish.