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The Whistler Adaptive Sports Program is a nonprofit organization making snow sports accessible to people of all abilities. With the support of Whistler Blackcomb, our program caters to a full spectrum of skiers and snowboarders from beginner through advanced. Our trained and certified instructors, guides, and assistants will help you access the slopes of Whistler Blackcomb.
The Whistler Adaptive Sports Program is a non-profit society that provides year-round recreational programs for people of all ages with disabilities. We are a centre for learning and sports excellence that has a local, regional, national and international clientele and encourage independence, self-confidence and self-motivation for all of our athletes and participants through outdoor recreation. We currently offer skiing, snowboarding, Nordic skiing, hiking, biking, canoeing and kayaking programs.
Please join us to experience outdoor activity in a safe, friendly and FUN way. We tailor our lessons to suit your needs. For more information, please see our website or email us.
Please visit www.whistlerforthedisabled.com for Disabled Access and Information for Whistler. The site provides a Guide to Disabled Friendly Listings on Accessible Accommodations, Restaurants, Bars & Nightclubs, Recreation Guide, Tour Adventures Guide, News & Events and Assistance for the Disabled. In addition, the latest Village Access updates and mapping are broken down into a person's disability and access for each.
The following hotels provide wheelchair accessible rooms, complete with roll-in showers and wall assist handles/bars: The Delta Resort, The Westin, and Fairmont Chateau Whistler. Many hotels claim to be wheelchair accessible to varying degrees. It is best to check directly with them to find out the extent. The following accommodations are not wheelchair accessible: Alpine Lodge, Blackcomb Lodge, Mountainside Lodge, Shoestring Lodge, Timberline Lodge and Whistler Creek Lodge.
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 your at the end of your ski day. This also acts in reverse.
Blackcomb has limited facilities for a person using a wheelchair. There are no elevators on Blackcomb and the only on-mountain restaurant with a wheelchair accessible washroom is at Glacier Creek (first floor) . The Rendezvous on Blackcomb can accommodate a wheelchair user in the restaurant, however, there is no accessible washroom.
The Blackcomb Excalibur Gondola and the Whistler Creekside Gondola do not accommodate sit-skiers or wheelchairs. However, if an independent sit skier has help with them, they can pop off the ski and be lifted into the Gondola , in the bucket. On Blackcomb, it is recommended that sit-skiers leave their wheelchairs in the secured storage areas at the base of Blackcomb and access via the Wizard and Solar Coaster chair lifts.
Blackcomb Base II Options: drop off ski adjacent to "The Cabin" administration building then park in the accessible spot. There is an accessible washroom located in "The Cabin". You can leave your wheelchair with the staff there. Simply ski down to the Wizard and you are on your way.
The peak chair experience does not accommodate Wheelchairs.
Blackcomb Mountain:
Access to Blackcomb Mountain during spring/summer operations is limited and lifts in use do not accommodate wheel chairs.Designated disabled parking spaces are located at several locations in and around the Village. Please note that you must display a blue disabled permit in your vehicle. Refer to map (940K PDF) for locations.
The most convenient locations, in relation to mountain access, can be found at:
Please note: a permit is required to use these designated parking spots. It is suggested by the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) that you bring your home issued permit. A temporary permit can be obtained from the bylaw division located at Municipal Hall. The Municipal Offices can be reached at 604.932.5535. Application form (775K PDF)
The bus system is operated by the RMOW. They provide specially designed wheelchair accessible buses. These buses, however, are not on a specific route/schedule. You may call the transit in advance and request pick up from one of these buses, as long as your pick up location is on an existing bus route. The Transit number is 604.932.4020.
When you are being dropped off at the Village bus loop (closest drop-off location Whistler Village Gondola), the ramp is located around the west side, beside the Pan Pacific hotel. This ramp is a rather lengthy distance to travel from the drop off point (if the path is snow covered).
Blackcomb Taxi has one wheelchair accessible van with a drive-in ramp. Please be sure to specifically request that van when calling. The van can also be scheduled for airport pick-ups. For more information or to book, please call: 604.938.3333 or 604.932.3333 or 1.800.203.5322 or www.whistlertaxi.com.
In general, the local taxi system does not have special cabs/vans that can accommodate wheelchairs. However, they would be happy to assist with any special needs, on an individual basis. For more information please call 604.932.3333.
There are no ticket discounts for people with disabilities. However, their 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 (open daily from 8-5). Tickets must be collected on a daily basis.
Sit-skiers are permitted to use the Ski School line-ups without the need of a special pass. At the moment, no other disabled persons are given automatic lift line priority unless they are in our Ski School or Adaptive program. Guest Relations can produce a priority pass, on special request, to other disabled skiers who's disability makes it extremely difficult to stand in line. This will be assessed on an individual basis. Please see the Guest Relations Senior Host on duty.
Complimentary mountain orientation tours are provided daily at 11:30am on both Whistler and Blackcomb, for all of our guests who are intermediate skiers and higher. Please call our Mountain Host Department, in advance of your visit, and they can arrange a mountain tour geared specifically for you. They can be reached at 1.800.766.0449 or 604.932.3434. Simply ask for the Mountain Host Department.
There is one on-hill wheelchair, provided free of charge, at each of the following restaurant locations: Glacier Creek (Blackcomb), Rendezvous (Blackcomb), Chic Pea (Whistler), Roundhouse (Whistler). These chairs are secured and must be signed out with approximate time of return so that other disabled guests may know when they can expect to utilize the chair.
The Village Host is a Resort Municipality of Whistler program with 3 staff and 73 volunteers. As resort ambassadors, Village Host volunteers help guests with easy directions, quick answers and friendly advice. They have a booth centrally located close to the Village Square attended daily from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. If you need any assistance getting around while you are in Whistler or have any questions prior to your arrival, please do not hesitate to contact their office phone (listed below). There are also copies of the Whistler accessibility maps on site. Look for the Village Host volunteers wearing red on the Village Stroll. They are here to help. For more information contact the Village Host Program (604) 935-8478, ihost@whistler.ca Hours of operation are Monday – Sunday Office: 9:00am to 5:00, Kiosk: 10:00am to 4:00pm
There are wheelchair accessible washrooms at (or near) the following locations.
Whistler:
Blackcomb:
The following restaurants do not have wheelchair accessible washrooms:
Blackcomb
Whistler
Please note that only the BC Eatery or outside patio can be accessed at Glacier Creek as the main restaurant, located on the second floor, has no elevator. Staff are more than happy to bring food down from the upstairs cafeteria upon request (more selection and less expensive). They will also assist you with menu choices. To ensure the BC Eatery is opening, before venturing up, it is best to call the Glacier Creek Guest Relations desk at (604) 938-7423
In all restaurants, the rows of tables can be narrow and end tables are recommended. If you are unable to find end table, seat-seekers (in black/white stripped shirts) can assist in arranging seating. As well, please feel free to ask any restaurant Supervisor for assistant in their restaurants.
On Whistler, you may use the Employee Services Building (Springs Building, located between Whistler Kids and the Westin Hotel) to change in privacy. This location has a wheelchair accessible washroom on the first floor and is open daily from 6:00am to 6:00pm.
On Blackcomb, you may use the wheelchair accessible washroom inside Merlin's. The staff at the Wizard Grill will be happy to assist you with gaining access from 8:00am to 4:30pm.
There are several on-hill secure storage locations for your gear. Equipment can be stored, free of charge, for any disabled guest. Wheelchairs and equipment can be stored at the base of Whistler in the Gondola building or inside Guest Relations. At Creekside, chairs and equipment can be stored at Guest Relations. On Blackcomb, wheelchair storage is located in the Guest Relations area, at the base of the Wizard Chair (in the Daylodge). There is an outside door the Guest Relations Host can open to the Daylodge Guest Relations office, allowing for dry, inside storage. Please knock before entering and the Guest Relations Host will be happy to serve you.
The Whistler Adaptive Ski Program and Access Sea To Sky Adventures can assist in the rental of specialized equipment. Access Sea to Sky Adventures can also be reached by phone: 604.905.2570.
There is an adaptive equipment hut, located at mid-station on the Whistler Village Gondola (it is ramped). This hut is generally locked. Should emergency repairs be required for your sit-skis, please call the Program Coordinator of the Whistler Adaptive Ski Program at 604.905.2071 and they will provide you with information to access this building. As well, special arrangements can be made with the Coordinator, to store your gear in this building (depending on availability of space).
Guide dogs are permitted to access the Whistler Village Gondola and accompany a disabled person in our restaurants.
