Accessibility in Whistler
At Whistler Blackcomb, it is our mission to create wonderful memories for our guests, again and again. All guests deserve the very best mountain experience possible.
The following information is meant to assist individuals with disabilities to access the facilities and skiing/riding at Whistler Blackcomb.
MOUNTAIN ACCESSIBILITY & Operations
Winter Operations
Whistler Mountain is more accessible to wheelchair users than Blackcomb Mountain. The Village Gondola can accommodate a person in a wheelchair, with accompanying party members. Guests can ride to the top of Whistler on the gondola and easily access the Roundhouse Restaurant, through a wheelchair accessible door.
Wheelchair accessible washrooms and Pika's Restaurant are located on the first floor. An elevator exists to take you to the upper floor of the Roundhouse Restaurant and to Steep's Grill.
You can leave your wheelchair at the top of the gondola, asking the lift attendants to move it to one side for you, behind the roped off area. You can also request that the lift attendant send it back to the village or mid-station for you at the end of the ski day (and vice-versa). Guests can also utilize the "Rupert Rollers." More information about these devices is available below.
The Creekside Gondola can accomodate a sit skier, or a person in a wheelchair. However, there is no wheelchair storage at the top of the gondola, so guests should either have their chair sent back down to the bottom by the lift attendant, or leave their chair at the base and utilize the "Rupert Rollers" with their sit-ski.
The Blackcomb Gondola can accommodate guests in wheelchairs as well as sit-skiers. The Excalibur Gondola can accommodate sit-skiers but not wheelchairs. Sit skiers requires the use of the "Rupert Roller" and ramp with the assistance of staff to load.
The Rendezvous on Blackcomb can accommodate a wheelchair user in the restaurant, and has an accessible bathroom. Glacier Creek has an accessible bathroom, but no elevator to access the restaurant.
On Blackcomb, it is recommended that sit-skiers leave their wheelchairs in the secured storage areas at the base of Blackcomb and access the mountain via the Blackcomb Gondola.
The "Rupert Rollers" are a specially designed device to enable sit-skiers to remain in their sit-ski when transitioning from their wheelchair or the snow, onto the gondola, and back onto snow/wheelchair again. Guests can request assistance from the lift operator if they wish to use the "Rupert Roller", and then have their wheelchair stored by the lift operator.
These devices are available at the base station of the following gondolas:
- Blackcomb Gondola
- Village Gondola
- Creekside Gondola
For more information please call 604.967.8950
Summer Operations
For Summer 2023, all sightseeing and hiking guests will be directed to upload via the Blackcomb Gondola.
The Blackcomb Gondola can accommodate guests in wheelchairs. Guests can ride to the top of Blackcomb on the gondola and easily access the Rendezvous Restaurant, which also has an accessible bathroom. For access to Christine’s on Blackcomb, please speak with the host upon arrival.
The distance from the Rendezvous Lodge to the PEAK 2 PEAK terminal is approximately 78m with an average grade of 5.7 percent.
The Whistler Village Gondola can accommodate guests in a wheelchair. Guests can ride to the top of Whistler on the gondola and easily access the Roundhouse Lodge through a wheelchair accessible door.
Wheelchair accessible washrooms are located on the first floor, along with a retail shop and Pika’s Restaurant. There is an elevator to take you to the upper floor of the building to access the Roundhouse Restaurant, Umbrella Bar and Steep's Grill.
The Peak Express experience does not accommodate wheelchairs.
There is no hiking or sightseeing access via the Creekside Gondola
For more information please call 604.967.8950
AMTB Lift Loading Video
Bike Park Accessibility
Whistler Mountain Bike Park (WMBP) is committed to providing a great experience for all riders.
Whistler Mountain Bike Park uses an adaptive mountain bike trail rating system with considerations specifically tailored to the needs of those users. Pay special attention to the adaptive mountain bike (AMTB) specific rating as it may differ from the traditional trail rating. The rating system was created by the Kootenay Adaptive Sports Association, to learn more about the ratings, please visit kootenayadaptive.com.
- Link to Trail Rating Matrix
- Link to Orientation Guide. See page 9 for AMTB specific recommendations.
Arrival
We encourage Guests to purchase passes online, and collect them from the Express Lift Ticket location at the Whistler Village Gondola (WVG), or within Guest Services. Please note that most adaptive mountain bikes do not fit through the doors at Guest Services. If you require assistance please ask a staff member.
There is storage for wheelchairs inside of the Whistler Village Gondola building. For assistance, please speak with a guest service staff member or lift operator. You are welcome to leave your chair in this location for the day if you so choose.
There is a designated “Adaptive MTB” entrance and lineup on the left side of the Whistler Village Gondola building. This is directly adjacent to the wheelchair storage space within the building.
Upload
For 2023, upload access from Whistler Village will only be available via the Whistler Village Gondola. Most AMTB’s (Bowhead, Sport-On) can only fit in the cabins vertically.
 *** If you have an Adaptive eMTB, it will be carefully transported in its own cabin with no occupants. ***
In order to upload, guests must use the following procedure:
- Ask the Lift Operator to stop the gondola.
- Move next to the gondola, and transfer from your bike onto one of 3 options;
- Personal wheelchair
- Whistler Blackcomb supplied transfer benches
- Whistler Blackcomb supplied wheelchairs**
- The Lift Operators will load your bike into a cabin.
- Ride up in either your wheelchair, or on the cabin bench.
- The Lift Operator will stop the gondola when you reach the top.
- The Lift Operator will unload your bike and can assist you in exiting the cabin too.
- Transfer to your bike.
If you choose to ride up in your wheelchair, they will then send your chair back down to the base area where it will be waiting for you in the same storage location.
Upload access from Creekside is only available via the Creekside Gondola. Most AMTB’s (Bowhead, Sport-On) can only fit in the cabins vertically.
*** If you have an Adaptive eMTB, it will be carefully transported in its own cabin with no occupants. ***
In order to upload, guests must use the following procedure:
- Ask the Lift Operator to stop the gondola.
- Move next to the gondola, and transfer from your bike onto one of 3 options;
- Personal wheelchair
- Whistler Blackcomb supplied transfer benches
- Whistler Blackcomb supplied wheelchairs**
- The Lift Operators will load your bike into a cabin.
- Ride up in either your wheelchair, or on the cabin bench.
- The Lift Operator will stop the gondola when you reach the top.
- The Lift Operator will unload your bike and can assist you in exiting the cabin too.
- Transfer to your bike.
If you choose to ride up in your wheelchair, they will then send your chair back down to the base area where it will be waiting for you in the same storage location.
This is an open air 4 person chairlift which can accommodate 1 AMTB and rider at a time. In order to load, use the following steps:
- Ask the Lift Operator to stop the chair.
- Move next to the chair, and transfer from your bike onto the chairlift seat.
- The Lift Operator will hook your bike over the backrest.
- Ride with your bike to the top station.
- The Lift Operator will stop the chair.
- The Lift Operator will unload your bike and position it for you on the ground.
- Transfer to your bike from the chairlift seat.
Accessible Parking Lots
Photo: Parking Lots 6, 7 & 8 accessible parking stalls on Blackcomb Mountain.
View Creekside Parking log accessible stalls here >
Whistler Adaptive
Whistler Adaptive is a nonprofit organization making year-round recreation accessible to people with disabilities. Whistler Adaptive is a centre for learning and sports excellence that has local, regional, national and international clientele—encouraging independence, self-confidence and self-motivation for all of our athletes and participants through outdoor recreation.
Whistler Adaptive currently offers skiing, snowboarding, Nordic skiing, hiking, biking, canoeing and kayaking programs.
The Whistler Adaptive Ski & Scotiabank Learn to Ride Program
During winter, Whistler Adaptive operates in partnership with Whistler Blackcomb to deliver skiing and snowboarding lessons to children and adults with special needs through the Whistler Adaptive Ski and Scotiabank Learn to Ride Program.
This program caters to a full spectrum of skiers and snowboarders from beginner through advanced. Our trained and certified instructors, guides and assistants will help those with both physical and cognitive disabilities access the slopes of Whistler Blackcomb.
Please join us to experience outdoor activity in a safe, friendly, therapeutic and fun way. We tailor our lessons to suit your needs.
For more information, please visit the Whistler Adaptive Ski & Ride Program.
Parking
For people with disabilities, designated accessible parking spaces are located at several locations in and around the Village, Upper Village and Village North. Maps showing the location of all available accessible parking spaces can be viewed at RMOW Accessibility Map.
Please note a disabled parking permit is required for use of these designated accessible parking spaces. Permits issued by any jurisdiction are acceptable. If a temporary permit is needed, one can be issued from the Bylaw Office located at Municipal Hall.
The Municipal Offices can be reached at 604.932.5535
Buses
The bus system is operated by the RMOW. They provide specially designed wheelchair accessible buses. All of the Whistler Transit buses have a lower floor with kneeling capabilities, which make all buses accessible. However, many of the bus stops are not currently fully accessible with a sidewalk to deploy onto.
For more info, the transit number is 604.932.4020
When you are being dropped off at the Village bus loop (closest drop-off location to the Whistler Village Gondola), the ramp is located around the west side, beside the Pan Pacific Hotel. Please note, this ramp is a rather lengthy distance to travel from the drop-off point (if the path is snow covered).
Taxis
Resort Cabs have the only wheelchair accessible taxis in Whistler. Please be sure to specifically request when calling. Resort Cabs can be contacted at 604.932.1515
In general, the local taxi system does not have special cabs or vans that can accommodate wheelchairs. However, they will be happy to assist with any special needs on an individual basis. For more information please call 604.932.3333
Tickets
There are no ticket discounts for people with disabilities. However, his or her accompanying "ski buddy" can receive a free ticket. Ticket collection must be done in person, at any outside ticket window location or inside, at any Guest Relations location. Tickets must be collected on a daily basis.