GUEST SERVICES

Information for Travelers with a Disability

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.

• Whistler Adaptive
• Accessibility Map
• RMOW
• Guide and Service Dog Policy

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.

View Website

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.

Mountain Accessibility (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).

Blackcomb has limited facilities for wheelchair users. There are no elevators on Blackcomb, and the only on-mountain restaurant with a wheelchair accessible washroom is at Glacier Creek (on the 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 the mountain via the Wizard and Solar Coaster chairlifts.

Drop off you ski adjacent to "The Cabin" administration building, then park in the accessible spot. There is an accessible washroom located in The Cabin as well. You can leave your wheelchair with the staff there. Simply ski down to the Wizard and you are on your way.

Sit-skiers are permitted to use the Ski School line-ups without 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 skiers whose disabilities makes it difficult to stand in line. This will be assessed on an individual basis.

For more information please call 604.967.8950

Mountain Accessibility (Summer 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.

The peak chair experience does not accommodate wheelchairs.

Access to Blackcomb Mountain during spring/summer operations is limited and lifts in use do not accommodate wheelchairs.

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

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).

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

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 (open daily from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.). Tickets must be collected on a daily basis.

Complimentary mountain orientation tours are provided daily at 11:30 a.m. on both Whistler and Blackcomb, for all guests who are intermediate skiers and higher. Please call our Mountain Host Department, prior to your visit, and they can arrange a mountain tour geared specifically for you.

Dog-friendly Activities

Whistler is a leash law community, which means dogs must be on-leash for parks and trails. There are a number of off-leash areas available for dogs at Whistler's lakes, so that pets can cool off. Alta Lake, Lost Lake and Alpha Lake all have designated off-leash areas. Some parks allow pets off-leash early in the morning and in the evening.

Dogs are welcome to explore the Village with you, but must be on a leash. Some shops are dog-friendly—please inquire before entering.

Some trails around Whistler can be enjoyed with your canine friend. Note that dogs are not allowed on some trails—please respect these areas and obey signs at trail heads. Suggested hikes include:

• Whistler Valley Trail
• The Sea-to-Sky Trail
• Brandywine Falls
• Whistler Interpretive Forest
• Ancient Cedars Walk
• Nairn Falls

For more information, please call the Whistler Visitor Center at 1.877.991.9988 or 1.604.935.3357 for local and international calls.

Dogs love to play in the snow as much as humans do. Bring your friend along and explore the snow-covered mountains together.

Here are a couple of dog-friendly winter activities:

• Dogs, cross country skiers, hikers and snowshoers are welcome on the groomed section of Valley Trail from Meadow Park to Rainbow Park.
• Dogs are welcome on the multi-use trail at Green Lake.
• Whistler Olympic Park has designated dog-friendly ski and snowshoe trails

For more information, please call the Whistler Visitor Center at 1.877.991.9988 or 1.604.935.3357 for local and international calls.

As if you needed more proof that Whistler is dog crazy, Whistler has special events for canines and their companions all year long (some of which even sell out).

Every year since 1997, Whistlerites and visitors attending the World Ski & Snowboard Festival in late April have been treated to a fun and exciting day of canine-related events and activities.

Since 1998, canines of all stripes have been invited to lead their owners (in their finest frockery) in the 200-strong Dog Parade.

Exhibitions, demos and competitions, organized by Canine Energy, guarantee some quality master-canine bonding. All proceeds go directly to the WAG Animal Shelter.

WAG hosts this annual, black tie fundraiser with a dinner for canines and their escorts. It is a fun-filled evening that includes a fabulous dinner for dogs and owners, wonderful BC wine and a charity auction. Reserve tickets well in advance as this event sells out every year.

WAG hosts other activities throughout the year, such as Mother's Day Brunch, Father's Day Brunch, dog washes, Halloween parties, bake sales and photos with Santa during the holiday season.

Whistler offers a whole lot for all its gay and lesbian visitors—from adventures to romance and sheer relaxation. You'll find dozens of reasons to choose Whistler for your next getaway.

• Whistler Pride and Ski Festival: Celebrating over 25 years with the evolution of the annual Gay & Lesbian Ski & Snowboard Festival.
• Breathtaking Scenery: In addition to the gay-welcoming attitude, the scenery is spectacular every season of the year.
• Top Ski Resort in North America: Greatest vertical/usable terrain for skiing, riding and other winter sports. Consistently ranked in the top five for North American resorts selected by industry magazines such as SKI, SKIING, Powder, TransWorld Snowboarding and more.
• Activities: Get close to nature and fill a week or longer with skiing, snowmobiling, heli-skiing, sleigh rides and snowshoeing (and those are just a few ideas).
• People: You'll meet visitors from all over the world as you stroll around the pedestrian-only village, while browsing the many galleries and eclectic shops.
• Après: Whether it's location, music, food or atmosphere that's important, there's an après spot in Whistler to suit any skier or snowboarder's fancy.
• Dining Out: When it's time for dinner, your choice runs the gamut—from restaurants with an international flavor, to luxury fine dining, and even casual sandwich shops.
• Romance: Consider a romantic getaway in a log house nestled in the woods, or a luxurious hotel featuring the finest amenities.
• Spas: Whistler is home to several world-class spas, so go ahead and indulge in an afternoon of massage and relaxation.

• Enforce non-discriminatory policies including "sexual orientation."
• Treat heterosexual and domestic partners equally in personnel policies.
• Provide diversity and sensitivity training for employees.
• Employ staff that reflects the diversity of the community, including gay and lesbian employees in all levels of employment.
• Empower customers and employees to be "watchdogs" of its gay and lesbian business practices.

Since British Columbia made same-sex marriage legal in 2003, the welcome sign has been out for gays and lesbians to exchange vows and begin their lives together in an open environment. Whistler provides an ideal BC location with its beauty, tranquility and variety of wedding venues.

GayWhistler.com is a year-round promoter of Whistler to the gay and lesbian community, producing and promoting GayWhistler ski week, Whistler Pride and Ski Festival every year.

The GayWhistler/Alpenglow Team, in partnership, is dedicated to bringing alternative vacation options to the gay and lesbian community worldwide. Alpenglow Productions Corporation (APC) is a gay and lesbian travel and event company creating gay-welcoming destinations and events at partner resorts.