Whistler Bike Park has long been considered the holy land for lap loving mountain bikers the world over. In fact, it’s hard to even imagine a time when it wasn’t the dream of every young rider to find themselves perched at the top of this hallowed bike park, ready to drop in for a lap of paradise. A pilgrimage we think is worth making now more than ever.
But long before bikes were belting through the lush forests of what is now known as Whistler, snow sports were king and pioneering was the key to success.
Where it all began
Some five decades ago, a team led by Vancouver businessman Franz Wilhelmson scoured the logging backroads of what’s now recognised as Whistler Mountain, charged with finding a suitable location for a forthcoming Winter Olympics bid. The team’s objective was ultimately unsuccessful, but the potential for the area as a ski resort was an enduring dream. In 1966, the mountain was opened as a snow resort, and the foundations for the tourism powerhouse were well and truly laid.
But even as Whistler skyrocketed in success as a ski resort, expanding rapidly across the valley floor with new hotels and restaurants, few would have conceived of a summer pursuit that could share the same mountain. Our bike riding ancestors stepped in with a point to prove though: this isn’t your ordinary summer hobby.
A trailblazing heavyweight of Whistler Mountain’s scene, Eric Wright began offering tours as a third-party operator as Backroads Whistler, in 1985. These early adventures took riders on what must have been a mind-bending blend of ski runs, breathtaking mountain roads and the earliest purpose built trails present on the steeps around Whistler. All on bone crunching, full-rigid bikes and denim cut-offs as the only real rider protection. Coinciding with a rapid up-take of mountain biking across the US and abroad, Whistler quickly established itself as a proving ground for the sport and the door was flung wide open for the development of bicycle specific infrastructure.
But without trails Whistler wouldn’t have ever become the epicentre of the sport, and Wright was joined by other trail-building stalwarts Dave Kelly and Rob Cocquyt throughout the early years. Their simple aim: exploit the area’s dizzying array of terrain, elevation and dreamlike dirt to conjure something magical. Evidently the bunch managed to do so, and by 1999 Whistler Bike Park became a rarified reality thanks to the efforts of Rob McSkimming, who advocated for the resort’s investment in lift-accessed biking — the Bike Park celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary last summer. So spare a thought for Rob and the rest of the crew when you’re scooting merrily up the hill on a shiny chairlift with your mates.
Through the early years of the park’s existence, management duties fell to Tom “Pro” Prochazka alongside Dave Wright, with yearly visitation exploding from 5,000 riders to 100,000 between 2001 and 2007. Proof enough, that mountain bikes were here to stay, and not only that, could outstrip the visitorship of snowsports in the fullness of time. Now flexing with over 100km of diverse trails ranging from simple and scenic greens, to hammer-down double blacks and pro jump lines. Getting to the top of world famous trails like A-Line and Dirt Merchant has also never been easier (or quicker), with the introduction of the revamped Fitzsimmons eight-person chairs for the 2024 season.
With bikes well and truly there to stay, the team at Whistler Bike Park looked to solidify their appeal to a wider audience, and for that a festival seemed the most viable option. Now widely seen as the Superbowl of mountain biking events, Crankworx was a mere apple in the eye of Rob McSkimming and Mark ‘Skip’ Taylor, who in 2004 would launch its very first iteration.
Where It’s All Going
With an official current population of just under 14,000 people, Whistler would seem well-established enough, but with tourism and visitation numbers up to around two million per year, it’s clear the resort is only gaining in popularity — and with good reason. There’s an absolute ton of stuff to do in and around the town, with some truly world class tourism offerings outside of laughing your way down some of the world’s best mountain biking trails.
Riders return year on year in droves, thanks to an extensive lift-accessed trail network, a continuous investment in new infrastructure and an incredible community and culture. Innovations in trail design have seen the construction of trails the envy of bike parks the world over thanks to now classics such as A-Line and B-Line, and more recent freeride heavy hitters like Dirt Merchant.
How is Whistler Bike Park organised?
There are four zones within Whistler Bike Park. Starting from the top, is Peak, served by the Peak Express and is for advanced riders only, and is a tech trail paradise.
Next is Garbanzo, which sees steep, rocky terrain and long descents. The terrain here is for intermediate and advanced riders, and sees a mix of freeride and tech trails.
Fitzsimmons is the OG zone within the bike park — and also the lowest on the hill. It features a variety of trails across every category for riders of all levels.
Creekside is all the loamy goodness and more hand cut feel the North Shore is known for, ideal for intermediate to expert riders looking for an adventure — more on this later.
Flow’s Juicy Whistler Trail Picks
Every bike park has its classics, and Whistler is home to some of the most infamous and understandably hyped trails. Here are the hits in heavy rotation on Flow’s Whistler playlist.
A-Line
The iconic black-diamond trail with what feel like infinite huge jumps and berms. A-Line is very much for advanced pilots keen to collect air miles on one of the most impressively constructed trails on earth.
Crank It Up
A fast and flowy intermediate trail with smooth berms, tabletop jumps, and rollers. Hit Crank It Up before thinking about heading to more advanced jump trails to get your eye in.
Dirt Merchant
An instant classic, packed with massive tabletops, floaty step-ups, and monumental berms. Like A-Line this one’s for the advanced, jump-centric rider.
Top of the World
Starting at Whistler’s tippy top, this trail offers breathtaking alpine views and a challenging descent down to the Creekside Zone.
What about the quieter zones of the bike park and nearby trails?
But for every Greatest Hits list, there’s always a hidden gem or two – and Whistler is no different:
Creekside Zone
This area provides a 30-kilometre network of flow trails and singletrack descending through the loamy backwoods, often with fewer crowds and a more honed, singletrack feel in comparison to the wider bike park trails.
Blackcomb
Blackcomb offers a genuinely amazing pedalling experience for those who enjoy earning their turns. It’s also an absolute dream zone for those with an e-MTB.
Head up from the valley floor on a beautiful sub-alpine climb, which includes a brand new section weaving upwards through the giant pines. Options at the first pad include the sublime Hey Bud or lock-in for another couple hundred metres of elevation for the pièce de résistance of the Blackcomb zone, Dark Crystal. Think 2.4km and 531m of chocolate brown loam, mind-bending rock rolls and rooty wrangling.
If you’re keen to find out more about the lay of the land outside the bike park, big backcountry adventures and more hidden gems around Whistler, we’re working on a feature covering all of this and more. Watch this space!
Adaptive Mountain Biking Opportunities
Whistler also offers adaptive riding experiences with tailormade sessions and exclusive events for riders of any ability.
EZ Does It is a great starting place for new adaptive mountain bikers, and once feeling more confident B-Line and Del Bocca Vista have all received an adaptive rating. While other trails in the bike park may be adaptive friendly, unless they have sign, they have not yet been aMTB rated.
What events are on at Whistler?
Summer Concert Series is also a must-do if visiting Whistler this year. July, August and September are packed with live shows featuring big-name Canadian and international artists. Expect exquisite summer festival vibes at the grassy Whistler Olympic Plaza, so don’t forget to pack ya picnic blanket! Check the site for details to line up your trip with one or more of these for great, absolutely free evening fun.
Crankworx Whistler will be celebrating its twentieth birthday from August 8-17, 2025. Beyond the racing, there will also be workshops, entertainment, athlete activations and more.
2025 will also see the return of Phat Wednesdays, Phat Kids and the popular Toonie races. There’s also the not-a-gravel-race XFONDO Whistler and Nourish Whistler Wellness Series in June, and the RBC GranFondo Whistler and the Whistler Village Beer Festival in September.
You can find a full event calendar here.
How to get to Whistler and where to say?
Prices for flights are constantly fluctuating as ever, but at the time of writing, the cost per person for return flights are detailed here. We recommend flying Air Canada, particularly given their leniency for flying with bikes — or indeed multiple bikes.
At the time of writing, you can fly from Melbourne via Brisbane with only one stop, landing in Vancouver with only 18 hours travel time. The cost per person is in the region of $2,400 AUD to do so, and depending on the age of children flying with you, it may be cheaper for each.
Naturally, if you’re a Brisbane local, you can fly directly to Vancouver in only 13 hours! That’s a crazy short journey to be within driving distance of Whistler within a day. That said, this won’t save you heaps in terms of flight fares.
Hotels in the town of Whistler range in affordability, but for the three-star Aava Whistler Hotel accommodating two adults and two children you’d be expecting to pay around $2,200 AUD for one week in June. Not bad for a three star spot right in the middle of the resort. We recommend checking the website for seasonal deals as well as your usual holiday comparison sites, as there are heaps of accommodation options right at the foot of the bike park, complete with secure bike storage.
Daily lift costs run at $99CAD for adults, and $89CAD for children. You can also easily tack on an unlimited pass which gets you to the Top of the World — the highest lift in the bike park, giving you access to the Top of the World trail, straight off the peak of the mountain with insane views all around, and one of the longest descents going with over 1500m of downhill to get your teeth into.
When should you head to Whistler?
The Whistler Mountain Bike Park is usually open from May through to September, depending on weather and snowpack. Fitzsimons opens first, with the other zones usually following in early June.
Peak times usually coincide with big events like Crankworx in August, and it’s often a bit quieter in early June and September. With that said, trail status and conditions can vary. In Spring and Fall, the dirt is traditionally a bit wetter, leading to tackier trails, while the latter part of the season, it tends to get dry and dusty. Regardless of when you come, the trails will be firing.
Flow’s week-long Whistler vacay
With so much to do in Whistler, it can be challenging to work out what to do on and off the bike. If we were headed over with the family in tow, here’s how we would spend a week riding in Whistler.
Day 1: Arrival and Settling In
- Morning: Arrive in Vancouver International Airport (YVR). Rent a car or take a shuttle to Whistler (approx. 2-hour drive).
- Afternoon: Check in to your accommodation (family friendly options: Aava Whistler Hotel, Evolution Whistler, or a rental condo).
- Evening: Explore Whistler Village, grab dinner at The Old Spaghetti Factory
- Optional: Visit the Whistler Olympic Plaza (kids playground and open space).
Day 2: Bike Park Warm-Up and Skills Training
- Morning: Rent bikes and gear if you didn’t travel with your personal ones (Evolution, Summit Sport, or Garbanzo Bike & Bean all rent bikes).
Private or group lesson at Whistler Bike Park’s Dirt School, run bike lessons for those wanting to sharpen skills. - Afternoon: Ride Fitzsimmons Zone (beginner / intermediate trails) perfect for getting your eye in. Try EZ Does It or B-Line for a warm-up.
- Evening: Dinner at El Furniture Warehouse (affordable + fun vibes).
Day 3: Full Day of Riding
- Morning: Ride more beginner / intermediate trails: Crank It Up (flowy with intermediate jumps), Del Boca Vista (techy but fun for families), A-Line (for advanced riders in the family)
- Afternoon: Lunch at Garibaldi Lift Co overlooking the bike park. Keep riding or take a break at Lost Lake (great for a cooling dip!).
- Evening: Dinner at Mexican Corner.
Day 4: Adventure Day (Non-Biking Activities)
- Morning: Ziplining (epic views + family-friendly).
- Afternoon: Whitewater rafting (Green River is great for beginners).
- Evening: Chill evening with dinner at Caramba! For casual family dining.
Day 5: Whistler Bike Park – Exploring Garbanzo Zone
- Morning: Take the Gondola or the Fitzsimmons Chair and then the Garbanzo Chair to the Garbanzo Zone (for more experienced riders). Trails like Blue Velvet (flow) or No Joke (techy).
- Afternoon: Take a break, grab lunch at The Beacon Pub & Eatery, then ride more!
- Evening: Dinner at Handlebar for delicious New York style pizza, then stroll through the village. Cow’s Ice Cream for dessert.
Day 6: Peak Adventure and More Riding
- Morning: Ride the Top of the World Trail if everyone is comfortable with high-alpine riding. Otherwise, explore more intermediate trails.
- Afternoon: Scenic Peak 2 Peak Gondola Ride + short alpine hike.
- Evening: Farewell dinner at 21 Steps (nice but kid-friendly).
Day 7: Departure and Last-Minute Fun
- Morning: Rent e-Bikes and explore the Valley Track Network, work on your swing at the Whistler Driving range or embrace some local culture at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, Audain Art Museum or Whistler Museum
- Afternoon: Jump on the shuttle bus back to Vancouver for your flight home.
Extras/Alternative Activities
- Rest day at Scandinave Spa (adults only) or Meadow Park Sports Centre (pool and hot tub).
- Family-friendly hiking trails like Train Wreck Trail.
- Bear-watching tour for wildlife lovers.
- Have a lake day at one of the many swimming holes, or rent a SUP, Canoe or Kayak and head out for a paddle.
It’s worth mentioning that for the most part, Whistler is easily accessed by bike or there’s a fantastic bus service. While it does make a few things easier, you definitely don’t need a car to get around Whistler.
To start planning your trip or to learn more head over to the Whistler Bike website.
This project was made possible by Tourism Whistler.
Photos: Justa Jeskova, Clint Trahan, Robin O’Neill, Christie Fitzpatrick, Mike Crane, Mark Mackay.
Editorial Guidelines
At Flow Mountain Bike, we’re committed to delivering engaging and trustworthy content, from product reviews to destination showcases, news, interviews, and features. While many of the brands and destinations we cover may advertise with us, our editorial team operates independently, ensuring our content is guided by expertise and passion—not commercial influence. Sponsored content is always clearly disclosed, and we remain dedicated to providing honest and unbiased coverage across everything we publish. For more details, see our Transparency Report.