Hiking Whistler Blackcomb: summer alpine trails

In winter, Whistler Mountain and Blackcomb Mountain make up a ski resort. In summer, the two mountains are hiked on foot: according to Whistler Blackcomb, the alpine trail network is more than 50 km long and can be walked or run.

Two mountains linked by the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola

The PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola connects Whistler Mountain and Blackcomb Mountain. The summer lifts include the Whistler Village Gondola, the Blackcomb Gondola, the Peak Express and the PEAK 2 PEAK. The Cloudraker Skybridge, a grated walkway, spans from the peak of Whistler Mountain to the West Ridge; the Raven's Eye platform is at the top of Whistler Peak.

Whistler Mountain

Several Whistler Mountain trails lead back to the Roundhouse Lodge. For the High Note Trail, the map recommends starting at the top of the Peak Express chairlift. The distances and elevation changes below come from the official summer 2026 trail map.

• High Note Trail: 9.4 km, 420 m elevation change. The map calls it the best experience on Whistler Mountain, with views of Black Tusk and Cheakamus Lake on the descent. To return to the Roundhouse Lodge, head north at the junction away from Flute Summit and Singing Pass.
• Half Note Trail: 3.2 km, 136 m. A shortcut from the High Note Trail that connects with Pika's Traverse Road (2.3 km), a mountain road, back to the Roundhouse Lodge.
• Spearhead Loop: 1 km, 20 m. An easy walk that connects to the Harmony Lake Loop, with views of Blackcomb Mountain, Garibaldi Provincial Park and the Spearhead Range.
• Harmony Lake Loop: 1.9 km, 120 m. The trail descends through alpine forest, heading away from the Roundhouse Lodge.
• Harmony Meadows: 1.6 km, 81 m. A steep trail linking the High Note Trail and the Harmony Lake Trail with the Roundhouse Lodge, with views of the Fitzsimmons Valley and Harmony Lake.
• Whistler Summit Trail: 0.8 km, 20 m. A single-track trail that winds around the summit of Whistler Mountain from the top of the Peak Express.
• Cloudraker Loop: 0.8 km, 30 m. After crossing the Cloudraker Skybridge, a gravel loop returns to the top of the Peak chair, with signs on the local First Nations history.

Blackcomb Mountain

The Alpine Loop starts at the Rendezvous Lodge. The Overlord Trail is the main connecting route to all of Blackcomb Mountain's hiking.

• Alpine Loop: 1.4 km, 72 m. A gentle walk to the Fitzsimmons Lookout, with alpine ecosystem storyboards.
• Overlord Trail: 3.7 km, 124 m. It stretches into Garibaldi Provincial Park, with alpine wildflowers, views of the Overlord Glacier and several alpine lakes fed by glacier runoff. The map recommends it as the way to reach the Lakeside Loop (intermediate hikers) and the Decker Loop (advanced to expert hikers).
• Lakeside Loop: 2.2 km, 72 m. A short climb leads to an area of alpine wildflowers, with Blackcomb Lake below the peak of Blackcomb. The loop must be hiked clockwise.
• Decker Loop: 3.3 km, 214 m. The map calls it the best hiking experience on Blackcomb Mountain. It is hiked clockwise, climbing into Garibaldi Provincial Park, with views of the Overlord Glacier and Decker Tarn, a glacial alpine lake.
• Marmot Trail: 2 km, 183 m. After a relatively hard climb, this narrow single track crosses the tree line and returns to the Rendezvous Lodge. The map recommends accessing it from the Overlord Trail.
• Kids' Adventure Trail: 0.325 km, 25 m. A rocky path with interpretive signs and interactive elements about local animals. It is reached from midway along the Alpine Loop.

The Blackcomb Ascent Trails, from the valley

Three interconnected trails climb from the bottom of Blackcomb Mountain to the alpine through old-growth coastal rainforest: 6.2 km and 1,200 m of elevation in all, according to the map. Hikers then continue on the alpine trails or ride the lifts down.

• Little Burn: 0.8 km, 74 m. A mellow start between ski runs up to Base 2 of Blackcomb.
• Big Burn: 2 km, 435 m. The second section climbs to the Blackcomb Gondola midstation.
• Heart Burn: 3.4 km, 667 m. The last section climbs to the Rendezvous Lodge through old-growth forest, with views close to the summit.

Hikers who plan to use the lifts with these trails must buy a Blackcomb Ascent lift ticket before hiking; tickets are not sold on the mountain. Hiking down on mountain roads or bike trails is not permitted; the map points to the designated routes or a ride down on the gondola.

Choosing by the time you have

• Walks of an hour or less: the Alpine Loop (Blackcomb) or the Whistler Summit Interpretive Walk (Whistler).
• Intermediate hikes, 2 to 3 hours: the Overlord Trail to the Lakeside Loop (Blackcomb), or the Spearhead Loop to the Harmony Lake Loop (Whistler).
• Advanced hikes, 3 to 4 hours: the Alpine Loop to the Overlord Trail to the Decker Loop (Blackcomb), or the High Note Trail to the Half Note Trail (Whistler).

Garibaldi Provincial Park

Whistler Blackcomb and BC Parks developed the High Note Trail on Whistler and the Overlord-Decker Trail on Blackcomb to give access to the high alpine of Garibaldi Provincial Park (194,650 hectares). In summer, valley access is by the Singing Pass Trail on Whistler Mountain and by the Ascent Trails to Overlord-Decker on Blackcomb. For hikers heading to Garibaldi, the Ascent Trails are the designated route between the valley and the mountain during the summer season.

Season and lifts

According to Whistler Blackcomb, snow still covers most trails in May and June, and warmer temperatures in July and August melt the majority of the snow. Wildflowers are seen for only two to three weeks in mid-summer; the map places their bloom from late July to August. Whistler Blackcomb presents September as one of its best summer hiking experiences and reminds visitors to watch lift operating times and dates as the season winds down.

In 2026, the PEAK 2 PEAK ran on weekends and Victoria Day from May 16 to June 12, then daily from June 13. The summer 1-day ticket, valid June 13 to September 7, cost $110 for an adult (19 to 64) and $60 for a child (7 to 12); the Summer Alpine Experience Pass cost $170 and $88. The 1-day ticket allowed one trip up Blackcomb on the Blackcomb Gondola, unlimited PEAK 2 PEAK crossings and one ride down on the Whistler Village Gondola or the Blackcomb Gondola. The PEAK 2 PEAK was closed September 8 to 20, 2026, the period of the fall ticket.

Before you go

• Dogs: pets are not allowed in the Whistler Blackcomb recreation area. Only accredited guide and service dogs are welcome; they may ride the gondolas but not the chairlifts.
• Temperature: it is usually at least 10 degrees cooler at the top of the lifts than at the bottom. Bring a raincoat and a sweater or fleece.
• Water: drinking water is available only at the mountain restaurants. Carry your own.
• Footwear: Whistler Blackcomb strongly recommends closed-toe, stable footwear on all trails.
• Storms: afternoon thunderstorms are common in the mountains. The advice is to seek shelter and keep off the ridgelines.
• Off the trails: hiking outside the designated trail system is dangerous (steep slopes, snow, avalanches, glaciers, crevasses, rockfall). Trail conditions are posted on the website, in the Trail Fork app and at Guest Services; alpine patrollers are at the top of the Whistler Village and Blackcomb gondolas. In an emergency, call 604-935-5555.
• Black bears: you may meet one while hiking. Stay at least 100 m from a bear and never feed it.
• Cloudraker Skybridge: minimum height 1 m (40 in); children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.