How to have the best 3 days in Whistler in the summer and spring!
The scenic mountain town of Whistler is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Canada. Attracting a whopping 2 million visitors every year. And for good reason – Whistler is drop-dead gorgeous with looming mountains and sparkling blue lakes to be seen everywhere you look! Plus, it’s only an hour’s drive from Vancouver making it easy to get to!
Would you believe, most tourists travel to Whistler in the summer? Yep, a huge 55% of tourists travel here in the summer months. And you’re here because you’re planning to spend 3 days in Whistler in the summer. Lucky you! I’ve lived in Whistler for a few years, and I look forward to every summer here. It’s for sure, my favorite season in Whistler!
There really is so much to do in Whistler in the summer from whitewater rafting to an epic off-road buggy adventure to searching for bears in the wild! But, you can also tick off some more relaxing activities in the warmer months like riding the famed Peak 2 Peak Gondola and relaxing at an outdoor Nordic-inspired Spa.
This blog post will introduce you to experiences that are not on most Whistler itineraries.
Day 1 – Peak 2 Peak Gondola, Ziplining, Scandinave Spa
Morning – Peak 2 Peak gondola and snow walls
Start your 3 days in Whistler on a high! Connecting both Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, the Peak 2 Peak Gondola is arguably the number one thing to do in Whistler in the summer. And would you believe this gondola ride is 4.4 kilometers long, so the journey will take you around 11 minutes in total. From this prime vantage point – 436 meters above the valley you can take in the lush Whistler landscapes. And if you do the ride in early summer you may even see snow on the top of both mountains.
What to do when you get off the Peak 2 Peak Gondola
For something truly unique albeit not for those who are afraid of heights, you can take the glass bottom gondola across. This is called the 360 experience. You can look down below your feet to the valley below. We saw a family of black bears when we did it last!
My favorite thing to do at the top is check out the snow walls on Whistler Mountain. You will need to get here in early summer though as late in the season the snow walls melt from the sun. These snow walls were formed thanks to the abundance of snow the mountain receives during the winter months. Some are well over 12 feet tall. The walls are located just above Pika Traverse.
The most popular attraction up here is the Skybridge which takes you out to a wow-worthy viewing platform of Blackcomb. If you’re a hiker, you’ll be in heaven up here as there are over 50 km of hiking trails between both mountains. However, we recommend getting one of the first gondolas up if you plan to hike today.
We recommend having lunch up here at the Rendezvous restaurant at the top of Blackcomb.
A Peak 2 Peak Gondola pass costs from $99 CAD for a day pass per adult.
Afternoon – Ziplining
If you’re craving a summer adrenaline rush, why not join a ziplining tour that starts from the top of Whistler Mountain this afternoon? You can go ziplining in every season, but it’s best to do it in summer because it’s warmer. Believe me, I’ve ziplined in the winter, and those ziplines go really fast, so it’s not so pleasant when the cold winter wind is blowing in your face as you speed through the course.
Ziptrek Ecotours offers the best ziplining experience in Whistler. It boasts 4 distinct zipline tours and the TreeTrek canopy walk. It’s also home of the Sasquatch – the longest zipline in Canada and the USA. The Sasquatch is 2km in length! There are several tours to choose from the Bear Tour (4 ziplines); the Eagle Tour (5 ziplines) and the Sasquatch.
Prices start from $147 CAD for the Sasquatch tour and you can BOOK it here! The tour is 1.5 hours long.
Dinner – Sushi Village
We recommend having a light-ish dinner this evening as after dinner we recommend heading to the gorgeous Scandinave Spa for an evening of relaxation. Sushi Village is one of the most popular restaurants in Whistler and yep you guessed right, it serves up the freshest and most flavorsome sushi in B.C.
Evening – Scandinave Spa
This evening is all about relaxation and Scandinave Spa allows you to relax in the heart of nature. This Nordic-inspired 20,000-square-foot outdoor spa is surrounded by cedar trees. And tonight you can soak in the outdoor hot tub and experience the beautiful vista of Whistler’s natural beauty.
There are steam baths, hot baths as well as a large sauna – which is how it’s recommended to start your time at Scandinave Spa. After, warming up you must brave the cold and plunge into one of their cold baths, or stand under the Nordic waterfall for a few minutes. After all that, relax in one of the relaxation rooms or on the hammock which has an incredible view.
Important to note that Scandinave Spa is a silent spa, meaning no talking is allowed.
If you really want to treat yourself, you can book a massage or other spa treatment at their award-winning on-site Spa. This is definitely one of the most luxurious things to do in Whistler!
Scandinave Spa is located on Mons Road, a 5-minute drive from Whistler Village.
Day 2 – Offroad Buggy, Strawberry Picking, Bear Spotting and Axe Throwing
Morning – Off-road buggy
This morning we have a very cool tour in mind. Learn how to drive your very own 4×4 offroad buggy and drive this high-powered vehicle through narrow wooded tracks and up steep backcountry mountain roads. Would you believe – the top speed this vehicle can go is 60 mph!
You will even get to power through creeks and rivers (don’t be afraid to get wet) and drive your vehicle over boulders if you’re confident enough. It’s easy to get carried away. I went hell-for-leather and managed to puncture my tire! You may even be lucky enough to spot native wildlife like deer and grouse on your drive. I’ve been living in Whistler for 4 years now, and I must admit, this is one of my favorite activities here!
Important information – drivers must be at least 19 years of age with a full, valid driver’s license equivalent to a BC Class 5 license.
You can BOOK the 3-hour Odyssey Tour here, prices start from $335 CAD per person! Which I think is pretty reasonable for this bucket-list-worthy experience!
Lunch – La Cantina
We recommend a casual lunch today as tonight we suggest heading to one of the best restaurants in Whistler for dinner. La Cantina is a casual Mexican eatery in Village Marketplace that serves up delicious burritos, tacos, quesadillas, and more. As for drinks, they serve up the yummiest frozen margaritas I’ve ever tasted!
Afternoon – Strawberry picking
It’s best if you have your own vehicle or a rental car for this afternoon’s activities (strawberry picking and bear spotting). As they’re a bit of a drive away from downtown Whistler and not easily reachable by public transport. We tend to always book our rental car through Discover Cars. This is a search engine for rental cars and allows you to filter by price if you’re on a budget or by vehicle type if there’s a specific car you’re after.
At North Arm Farm in Pemberton (a 30+ minute drive from Whistler), you can pick your own delicious strawberries during the summer months. They are typically available to pick for only four weeks of the year, and every year, these four weeks vary as it’s weather-dependent. FYI – it most often starts in mid-June.
Bring your own containers and pick your strawberries from your designated patch. You will pay at the end and the price is dependent on weight.
There’s also a great cafe here and a farm store where you can pick up some homegrown supplies.
Late afternoon – Go bear spotting
Whistler is certainly a hot spot for bear sightings. With its lush green landscapes and crisp mountain air, it is unusual not to spot a black bear here in the summer. That is if you look in the right places! Would you believe – both Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains are home to more than 100 black bears?
Here are the best places to go bear spotting in Whistler during the summer months –
- Callaghan Valley
- At the base of the mountain in Creekside
- Whistler Olympic Park
- Fairmont Chateau Golf Course
With so many bears in Whistler, it is so important to practice bear safety. Check out Bear Smart BC’s, Bear Smart brochure before going wild bear spotting in Whistler.
Dinner – Rimrock Cafe
My number one choice for dinner in Whistler is the award-winning Rimrock Cafe near Creekside Village. It is continually ranked as the top restaurant in Whistler. It provides both a unique dining experience and the best fish dishes in all of British Columbia!
Evening – Axe throwing
You’ve likely never heard of the sport of axe-throwing, it’s a very Canadian sport and a lot of fun, once you get the hang of it! You can try axe-throwing at Forge Axe Throwing out in Function Junction, a 15-minute drive from Whistler Village. And just 5 minutes from Rimrock Cafe.
During the hour-long session, you will be taught how to throw an axe correctly and participate in some fun axe-throwing games under the supervision of an experienced coach.
They also sell beer and other alcoholic beverages for you to enjoy after your session; in fact, this is a popular place for locals to hang out in the evenings.
Prices start at $37.99 CAD per person for an hour session.
Day 3 – Hiking, White Water Rafting, Bungee Jump
Morning – Go hiking
We’re not the most avid of hikers but we do love getting out on an easy hike to take in Whistler’s stunning scenery – especially in the summer. Two of my favorite hikes in Whistler are Brandywine Falls and the Trainwreck hike because they’re scenic, short, and relatively easy.
Brandywine Falls
Brandywine Falls is a spectacular 70-meter waterfall that can be seen from a viewpoint, a short walk from the car park. Or if you’re fit, you can do as the locals do and hike to the base of the falls.
To get to the base of Brandywine Falls from the viewing platform, you’ll need to pass the fence on the far left side. Walk straight through the forest, following the edge of the cliff until you reach a rocky area. Make your way down a makeshift set of steps. Continue on the trail until you come to a white rope you will need to use this to carefully climb down. Follow the track over the boulders until the track turns left into the forest. After this, the track is well-marked and follows through the forest until it meets the stream that goes into the falls.
Trainwreck hike
Head out to Cheakamus Crossing to do one of Whistler’s most famous short hikes to the Train Wreck – a set of abandoned rail cars turned art installation. It’s a very easy, mostly flat walk, and the main feature is, of course, the brightly colored graffiti train cars, but you will also be treated to gorgeous views of the Cheakamus River.
The track is approximately 1 km each way and starts from Jane Lakes Road car park near Cheakamus Crossing.
Afternoon – White water rafting
Before you head on to your next adrenalin-pumping activity refuel with a coffee and cake from a Whistler gem – Purebread. You won’t miss it in Olympic Square, as there is usually a long winding queue out this small Cafe’s door. Their tantalizing display of sweets has everything from Sticky Toffee Pudding to Raspberry Cheesecake Brownies. Pure mouth-watering bliss.
Other great Cafes in Whistler include local favorite Mount Currie Coffee Company on Main Street and Lift Coffee Company in Mountain Square.
This afternoon’s suggested activity is one of the most unique things to do in Whistler in the summer. Yep, today. we recommend joining a river rafting tour. The reason the water moves so fast in the rivers here is that the snow from the mountains is melting at rapid speed during the warmer months and filling the rivers below. On the tour, you will be joined by an experienced guide who will expertly guide your group through the rapids. You will get wet though, and may even topple into the freezing-cold water, but you are provided with a wetsuit that will keep you warm.
There are numerous tours to choose from on the Green River, Cheakamus River, Elaho River, and Squamish River. One of the most popular tours is the Green River Rafting Tour, which is suitable for first-timers and has several fun, bouncy rapids.
This tour costs from $154 CAD per person and you can BOOK IT HERE.
Late afternoon – Bungee jump
Regularly voted as one of the most adrenaline-pumping activities available in Whistler. Jumping from 160 feet over the bright blue waters of the Cheakamus River is certain to get your blood pumping. In fact, this has to be one of the most scenic spots in Canada for a bungee – there’s a giant Black Tusk mountain in the background, as well as native bush and basalt cliffs all around.
Whistler Bungee is located at Calcheak Service Forest Road, about a 20-minute drive from Whistler Village. Prices start from $140 CAD per person.
Dinner – Bearfoot Bistro
Bearfoot Bistro with its famed wine cellar is our suggested luxury spot in Whistler for your final dinner – it has one of the most extensive wine cellars in all of Canada. With no less than 20,000 bottles of wine. So, if you’re a wine-lover this is the place for you. As for their food – their butter poached Atlantic Salmon is amazing.
Evening – Watch the sunset
End your 3 days in Whistler by catching the sunset in one of my favorite sunset-watching spots. Whistler is one of the best places in the world to watch the sunset, thanks to a phenomenon called ‘alpenglow’, which is when the sunlight illuminates the mountain peaks in shades of pink and orange.
Lost Lake is one of the best places to watch the sunset in Whistler. It’s a 20-minute easy walk from Whistler’s upper village to Lost Lake, the entrance to the walking track is opposite the Four Seasons Hotel. Here, at Lost Lake, there’s a gorgeous view of Blackcomb Mountain, so when the sun hits the snow-covered peak, it lights up in an alpenglow! If it’s a calm day, the pink and orange hues of the sunset are reflected on the lake’s surface, making for a perfect photo opportunity.
Another great sunset spot in Whistler Village itself is from the large patio at Garibaldi Lift Company. It’s the highest patio in Whistler, and you will be able to spot the last light of the day hitting Blackcomb, Whistler, Sproatt, and Rainbow mountains from here.
Where to Stay in Whistler
Fairmont Chateau Whistler – my absolute favorite hotel in town (although I may be biased as I worked here for two years). Boasting 500+ rooms but with all the ambiance and personality of a small hotel – the Fairmont is the best address in
Hilton Whistler Resort and Spa – right in the center of Whistler Village and very close to the gondola, this large hotel is very popular with families
Nita Lake Lodge – located in Creekside, a 10 minute drive from Whistler Village and looking onto stunning Nita Lake this is one of my favorite hotels in Whistler
The Westin – is a nice luxury option in Whistler’s lower village, it’s right next to the gondola and the rooms are spacious with great views
Four Seasons Resort – this is probably the most luxurious hotel in Whistler, located in Whistler’s Upper Village and close to Blackcomb Gondola this hotel is frequented by celebrities
There are also lots of awesome hostels in Whistler for those travelers on a budget!
Thanks for Reading!
I hope you enjoyed reading my guide to 3 days in Whistler in the summer! 3 days is the perfect amount of time to spend in this gorgeous mountain town!
Why not read next –
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What It’s Really Like to Live in Whistler for a Ski Season
Where to Stop on the Drive from Lake Louise to Jasper
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Last Updated on July 5, 2024 by snaphappytravel