Whistler, Canada

Peak 2 Peak Gondola

Whistler's engineering party piece links two mountains — Whistler and Blackcomb — with a single unsupported cable span of over three kilometres, sailing 436 metres above the valley floor.

Best forFamilies · Photographers · Skiers & snowboarders
In January-1°C · 21 rainy days
Ideal stay2–3 nights in Whistler
Approx. flying time~2h 40m from Los Angeles

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Peak 2 Peak Gondola, Whistler, Canada Open in Google Maps Powered by Geoapify · © OpenStreetMap contributors · © OpenMapTiles

CurrencyCADCanadian dollar
LanguageEnglish and French
Local time03:148h behind the UK
PlugsType A / BBring an adapter
Drive on theRightOpposite to the UK
Dialling code+1

Why go

The cable car crosses the valley between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains in a single span of just over three kilometres, at 436 metres above the floor, which makes the middle section unusually quiet and unusually exposed. The ride takes around eleven minutes each way. Below are old-growth forest, a river and, in summer, open meadow; ahead are the peaks of the Coast Mountains stacked into the distance.

The gondola runs in defined winter and summer seasons with a break between them, and a ticket usually covers the other lifts on both mountains, so it combines easily with alpine walking or a ski day. Whistler village sits at the base and is entirely walkable. Clear weather matters enormously here: in cloud you see very little, so keep the day flexible and go when the forecast is good.

Ideal stay: 2–3 nights in Whistler
The vibe: High, engineered, jaw-dropping in clear air

From our guides

In summer you glide above bear-grazed meadows; in winter, above one of North America's biggest ski areas, no skis required. Wait for one of the silver cabins with glass floors — they come round every few minutes and reward the patience. July brings wildflowers and the clearest sightlines.

Featured in Ten epic cable-car days with zero hiking required

Things to do

The glass-floor cabins

Two silver cabins have glass panels in the floor showing the full drop to the valley. They come around every few minutes and reward the wait.
Whistler alpine trails

The High Note and Half Note routes traverse open meadow and rock above the treeline, with lakes and glacier views. Snow lingers into July.
Horstman Glacier

Snow survives on Blackcomb's glacier well into the warm months, reached by chairlift from the top station and used for summer training.
Bear viewing

Black bears graze the ski runs and lower meadows in summer and are regularly visible from the lifts, which is the safest way to watch them.
Whistler Village

A pedestrian base area of restaurants, bike shops and hotels, with the lifts for both mountains leaving from the middle of it.
Winter skiing

Together the two mountains form one of the largest ski areas in North America, and the gondola lets you switch between them without descending.

Getting there

Fly to
Vancouver (YVR)

Nearest airport to Peak 2 Peak Gondola, about 101km away as the crow flies.
Then
To Whistler

About two hours by car or coach from Vancouver (YVR) up the Sea to Sky Highway, one of the finest airport transfers anywhere.
On the ground
Getting around

The Whistler Village and Blackcomb gondolas both start in the village and feed the Peak 2 Peak, so no driving is needed once you arrive.

Public transport: Frequent scheduled coaches run from Vancouver airport and downtown, and a local bus circles the Whistler valley.

Flights

Los Angeles Peak 2 Peak Gondola, Whistler, Canada

Flying from

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Roughly 2h 40m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.

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Flight times are estimates; prices open on Google Flights.

When to go

Daytime highs run from about -2°C in December to 22°C in August. Driest in July and August; wettest in January, with rain on about 21 days.

The year at a glance — pick a month for detail

January-1° · rain 21 daysCold and often wet.

Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis).

Where to stay

Condo-hotels and self-catering apartments dominate, alongside big resort hotels and a few lodges. Almost everything is ski-in or shuttle-served, and most rentals have kitchens.

Best base overall
Whistler Village

The pedestrian village sits at the base of both gondolas, so you walk to the lift with your coffee. It is the priciest bed in the valley and the busiest in every season.
Find stays in Whistler Village
Best for couples
Upper Village and Blackcomb Benchlands

A quieter cluster at the Blackcomb base, minutes from the main village on foot but calmer at night. Larger hotel rooms and easier parking, and a slight uphill walk home.
Find stays in Upper Village and Blackcomb Benchlands
Best with children
Creekside

Five minutes south with its own gondola, condos with kitchens and a lift queue a fraction of the village's. Fewer restaurants, so you cook or catch the shuttle.
Find stays in Creekside
Best value
Pemberton and Squamish

Half an hour either side of Whistler, with far cheaper rooms and their own outdoors. You drive in daily and pay for village parking, which eats some of the saving.
Find stays in Pemberton and Squamish

Worth knowing before you book: Christmas and February book out a year ahead, and most properties add a resort fee and paid parking. Summer weekends fill with Vancouver traffic, so avoid arriving on a Friday evening.

Search everything else in Whistler by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.

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Good to know

Timing: The gondola operates in winter and summer seasons with closures in spring and autumn. Check the operating calendar before planning a day around it.
Weather: In low cloud there is nothing to see. Look at the mountain webcams in the morning and go on the clearest day of your stay.
Getting there: Whistler is about two hours north of Vancouver on the Sea to Sky highway, with regular coach services from the airport and the city.
Pack this: It is considerably colder at the top stations than in the village, even in August. Bring a jacket and proper shoes for the alpine trails.
Wildlife: Bears are common on the mountains. Keep your distance, do not approach for photographs, and carry no food in the open.