Visiting Whistler in Winter For Non-Skiers

Whistler in the winter is basically Disneyland for skiers – a huge world-class resort with seemingly endless terrain. But there is so much more to Whistler in winter than skiing – there are tons of things to do in Whistler in winter for non-skiers.

I live just up the road from Whistler in Squamish so I’ve been going to Whistler for day trips and weekend getaways for decades… and I’m not a skier!

In this list of things to do in Whistler in winter for non-skiers I’ve got something for everyone:

• Non-skiing ways to have fun in the snow from snowshoeing to sledding and more
• Winter sightseeing and tours: gondola rides, walking tours, and a unique multi-media experience
• Things to do in Whistler Village: Shopping, spas, skating, and more
• Indoor things to do: Museums, indoor sports, and nightclubs
• Extreme winter sports: ziplining, bungee jumping, and bobsleigh rides
• Eating and drinking: Amazing food and craft beer
• Whistler FAQ: Let me answer all your questions about planning a trip to Whistler in winter: What is the weather like? When is the ski hill open? What to pack? What month is best to visit Whistler? And lots more.

Psst: Looking to save money? Check out my list of free and cheap things to do in Whistler.

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

Non-Skier Ways to Have Fun in the Snow

If you don’t ski, you can still have fun in the snow in Whistler in the winter. Here are my picks for non-skiing snow adventures. The best part: all of these options are beginner-friendly – no experience required.

Snowshoeing

Snowshoeing is my go-to snow sport, and the reason I end up in Whistler a few times each winter. There are lots of great snowshoe trails in Whistler, ranging from beginner to expert, and most of them are free. You can even snowshoe to frozen waterfalls!

In my opinion, snowshoeing is the best outdoor activity to do in Whistler in winter for non-skiers since you can get out into the snow and don’t need any skills or experience to try easy trails.

Use my guide to Whistler snowshoe trails to plan your adventure or book a guided snowshoe tour.

Dogsledding

Let a team of adorable dogs pull you through the snowy landscape. Whistler is home to two different dog sledding companies: Blackcomb Dog Sled and Canadian Wilderness Adventures. Both offer tours through the wilderness outside of town.

Settle into the cozy sled and enjoy the ride, or step on to the runners and learn how to drive. This is definitely one of the most unique winter activities in Whistler.

Check dogsledding tour prices.

Snowmobiling

Drive yourself through a winter wonderland. If you’ve never driven a snowmobile before, there are scenic tour options for beginners and families. Experienced riders can opt for extreme backcountry tours into the mountains.

There are a few different snowmobile tour companies in Whistler. Book a Wilderness Snowmobile Tour or a Family Snowmobile Tour

Sledding and Snow Tubing

Nothing says winter quite like a day of sledding. Head to the bubly Tube Park at Whistler Blackcomb and rent a tube. You’ll slide down the curving lanes, then ride the conveyor belt back to the top. Buy tickets on-site.

For some low tech (and free) fun, bring your own sled to the gentle hill at Whistler Olympic Plaza in the village.

Play in the Snow

You don’t have to be a little kid to head outside and play in the snow. Build a snowman, make snow angels, or have a snowball fight. Popular places to play in the snow in Whistler are Whistler Olympic Plaza in the village, Rebagliati Park near Blackcomb Base, or anywhere along the Valley Trail.

Sightseeing and Tours in Whistler in Winter

Peak 2 Peak Gondola

Even if you’re not a skier, it’s worth riding the gondola up into the mountains. The views from the top are spectacular. Your lift ticket includes the Peak 2 Peak Experience.

This spectacular gondola connects Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains with a cable that is 436 meters above the valley floor – a world record. Gaze out the windows at the gorgeous mountain views, or ride a special glass-bottomed gondola for an adrenaline-pumping bird’s-eye view.

The gondola is the easiest way for non-skiers to experience Whistler’s winter wonderland.

Check Peak 2 Peak Gondola winter prices.

Vallea Lumina

Vallea Lumina is multimedia and light experience that is truly unique. It’s a story-based journey where you walk through the snowy forest encountering lights, sound, and lasers that create a sense of magic in the landscape.

It’s such a unique and immersive experience. I really loved walking through the quiet forest and looking for all the clever details they’ve created with lights. Honesty, it is the kind of thing you can’t really understand unless you’ve experienced it.

Check Vallea Lumina experience ticket prices.

Flightseeing Tours

Fly high above Whistler’s glaciers and peaks on a helicopter or floatplane tour. There are lots of tours to choose from: glide over Whistler Peak, see Whistler village from above, or head into the backcountry to see mountain peaks and tumbling glaciers. Some tours even let you land on a glacier and explore an ice cave!

I did a flightseeing tour last year during the summer for my birthday as a splurge, special-occasion experience and it was so cool! I’d love to do one in winter to see the ice caves.

Book a Scenic Helicopter Flight or a Glacier Floatplane Tour

Ice Fishing

Walk out onto a frozen lake and fish for trout through a hole in the ice. It’s definitely a bucket list experience. In cold weather, you’ll sit inside a portable ice hut or beside a heater, but in milder temps, you can enjoy the scenery around you. Book an Ice Fishing Adventure

Sightseeing Tours

Take a guided tour to see all of Whistler’s highlights in one easy tour. It includes scenic viewpoints, a museum, local food, Olympic sites, and more. This small-group van tour hits all the sights and is led by a knowledgeable local guide. Book a Whistler Sightseeing Tour.

Self-Guided Walking Tours

With winding lanes and lots of nooks and crannies, I find something new to discover each time I visit Whistler. For example, I didn’t know how many old growth trees there were around Whistler Village until recently!

Tourism Whistler has a great app with over a dozen self-guided walking tours. Each one has its own theme: I discovered the giant trees on their Weird and Wonderful Trees tour.

Other tours focus on a diverse range of topics including the legacy of the 2010 Olympics, craft beer, Indigneous culture, and more.

Whistler Village Activities in Winter

You don’t need to leave the village to find lots of things to do in Whistler. You could easily spend a day or two exploring the winding pedestrian friendly streets. Just be sure to wear your winter boots and as it gets pretty snowy!

Wander through Whistler Village

Whistler’s core is a purpose-built pedestrian village. I think it looks a bit like alpine Disneyland. In the winter it’s covered in snow and charming twinkling lights. If I have downtime in Whistler, I love to take a walk through the village to people-watch.

Take a walk on the Village Stroll, a pedestrian-only street that winds past cafes, boutiques, and ski shops. It’s a great place to window-shop or just enjoy a walk. Use this map of Whistler Village to find your way.

Go Shopping

Since it is an international ski destination, Whistler has surprisingly good shopping for such a small town, and most of it is concentrated around the pedestrian-friendly Village Stroll. You can find your favourite chain stores like The Gap and Lululemon alongside fine jewelry and tons of outdoor and ski shops.

But the real gems are boutiques selling local goods. Check out 3 Singing Birds for locally designed and made clothing and home decor. Find local art at several galleries. Or pick up a local book at Armchair Books. (They carry my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia, so I think they’re pretty awesome!)

Ice Skating

What could be more magical than ice skating outdoors? Each winter Whistler transforms part of the Whistler Olympic Plaza into an outdoor ice rink. It’s especially phenomenal at night when the nearby trees are lit up with twinkly lights. You can rent skates on-site or bring your own.

If you’d rather skate indoors, head to the rink at Meadow Park Sports Centre.

Scandinave Spa

I try to visit Scandinave Spa at least once every winter. The gorgeous facility has a mix of outdoor hot and cold pools, indoor steam rooms and saunas, and both indoor and outdoor relaxation areas. You’re encouraged to take in cycles of heat, cold, and rest in the Nordic spa tradition.

I also love that Scandinave has a silence and no-phones policy. At first I thought it was annoying but I found it was much easier to zone out and relax. You are allowed to bring a book or eReader, which is what I usually do. Although I often end napping in one of the solariums too.

You can book a massage and other treatments, but I usually just pay for access to the spa facilities. I can literally spend all day here!

I think winter is the best time to go to Scandinave since the snow makes the grounds even more beautiful. The contrast of the cold air temperature with the warmth of the hot pools and saunas is also great in cold weather. This is my number one pick for the best things to do in Whistler in winter for non-skiers.

Fire and Ice Show

Head to the Whistler Village base between the Whistler and Excalibur gondolas every Sunday night in winter to catch the free Fire and Ice Show. It combines fire spinners and fireworks with insane ski and snowboard flips, jumps, and tricks.

It’s one of the best things to do in Whistler in winter for both non-skiers and skiers. (Or really, anyone who likes watching other people do dangerous things.)

Best Indoor Activities in Whistler

Sometimes you just want to stay inside, out of the cold. Thankfully, there are lots of great things to do in Whistler like museums, indoor rock climbing, movies, and more. (Axe throwing anyone?)

Audain Art Museum

Opened in 2016, the Audain Art Museum houses a huge collection of British Columbia art in a beautiful and award-winning modern building. Honestly, I think the architecture itself makes it worth a visit. It includes art from the late 18th century to the present.

The museum is home to a large collection of Coastal First Nations masks as well as works by settler artists like Emily Carr, Jack Shadbolt, and E.J. Hughes. The gift shop is also one of the best places in Whistler to pick up beautiful and unique local souvenirs.

Buy Museum Tickets in Advance.

Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre

The Squamish and Lil’wat Nations have lived in the Whistler valley since time immemorial. Visit the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre to learn about their history, culture, and art. Guides welcome you with drums and song, then take you on a tour of the exhibits including a hand-carved canoe. Visit the Thunderbird Cafe to try indigenous-inspired dishes made with local ingredients.

It’s one of the best Indigenous museums I have been to. If you are going to do just one indoor activity in Whistler in winter, I think it should be the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre.

Whistler Museum

Learn about Whistler’s history at the community-run Whistler Museum. It has exhibits detailing Whistler’s history from wilderness to world-class ski resort including vintage ski gondolas, retro photos, the 50-year-long road to the 2010 Olympics, historical furniture and gear from the early days of the Rainbow Lake Lodge, and profiles of local people who shaped the town.

Don’t miss a photo op in the vintage gondola. I also love the geology section which explains how the local landscape was shaped by glaciers and volcanoes.

Admission is by donation, so this is a great cheap thing to do in Whistler in winter.

Escape! Whistler

Take on challenging puzzles to escape from themed rooms at Escape! Whistler. They have four different scenarios to choose from: Pirate Ship, Buried Cabin, Pinball Machine, or Rabbit Hole. These escape rooms are really fun with groups, but you can also get a private escape room for parties of two. (No sharing with strangers!)

Book an Escape Room session

Forged Axe Throwing

Let your inner lumber Jack or Jill out at Forged Axe Throwing. If you’ve never thrown an axe before, don’t worry: they’ll give you all the pointers you need to help you hit the bullseye. Most visitors go for a one-hour session, but if you’re super keen (and competitive) they also have a weekly league night.

Book a 1-hour Axe Throwing Session

Apres-Ski

The apres-ski culture is strong in Whistler. There are also tons of pubs around town, perfect for relaxing after a day on the slopes. You can’t go wrong with Dusty’s Bar and BBQ. It’s Whistler’s original apres spot, open since the 1970s.

For an upscale experience apres experience, try the Ketel One Ice Room at the Bearfoot Bistro, billed as the coldest vodka tasting room in the world at -32C (-25F). (Don’t worry – they’ll give you a parka to wear!)

And if you still have energy for dancing, Whistler has several nightclubs. I remember Garfinkel’s from my early 20s clubbing days, and they’re still going strong (even if I’m not!)

Extreme Winter Sports in Whistler

If you like to go fast, feel your heart beat through your chest, and get your adrenaline pumping, these extreme Whistler winter sports are for you. You also don’t need any experience to try these exciting (or scary) activities.

Ziplining

In Whistler, you can zipline all year-long. In the winter, you’ll enjoy winter wonderland views and snowflakes falling all around you.

Ziptrek Ecotours lets you soar like an eagle over Fitzsimmons Creek between Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. I’ve done this tour in summer, and it’s gorgeous. I’d love to see it in the snow!

Superfly Ziplines is located 10 minutes north of the village on Cougar Mountain and has ziplines deep in the wilderness.

Bungee Jumping

3… 2… 1… Bungee! Jump off a bridge 50 metres (164 feet) above the Cheakamus River at Whistler Bungee just south of Whistler. In the winter, the river freezes, the surrounding cliffs are covered in ice and snow, and you’ll jump into a postcard-perfect winter landscape.

I’ve hiked and biked past the bridge plenty of times in summer, but I’ve never had the courage to jump.

Book bungee jumping.

Bobsleigh, Luge, and Skeleton

As host of the 2010 Winter Olympics, Whistler is home to one the two bobsleigh tracks in Canada. Sign up for a one-day bobsleigh, luge, or skeleton lesson to try out the sport.

If you just want to go for a high-speed ride, they offer passenger bobsleigh rides too. You’ll go up to 125 km/hour!! You can also watch the action for free.

Book a Passenger Bobsleigh Ride.

Whistler Food and Drink

Whistler has an amazing restaurant scene. I end up here a few times a year simply to eat.

It’s home to upscale fine-dining at places like Alta Bistro, The Rimrock Cafe and Araxi Restaurant, but there are also lots of amazing casual places where you can show up in your sweaty ski clothes and no one cares.

We often grab beer and burgers at the High Mountain Brewing Co. Brewhouse or burritos at La Cantina Tacos. Don’t miss the amazing Aussie pies at Peaked Pies. Order it with mashed potatoes, mushy peas, and gravy on top!

For coffee, I highly recommend Mount Currie Coffee Co. And for a sweet treat purebread is to die for.

To sample the best food that Whistler has to offer, Book a Fine Dining Dinner Tour or a Hidden Gems Dinner Tour.

Whistler also has a strong craft beer scene. There are three craft breweries in town each with its own tasting room. High Mountain Brewing is located in the heart of Whistler Village, right next to the Olympic Plaza. It’s a huge space with tons of tables and a big food menu. We often end up here with friends.

Whistler Brewing and Coast Mountain Brewing are both located south of Whistler village in the industrial Function Junction neighbourhood. I love the pizza at Whistler Brewing.

Whistler in Winter FAQ

What is the the weather like in Whistler in winter?

While Whistler gets a ton of snow (about 10.8 metres/35.5 feet per year), it’s actually not that cold. In December, January, and February, the average low temperature is about -5°C/24°F and the average high is about 1°C/34°F.

The snowiest months are December and January, with about 40 inches/101 cm of snow per month. It snows about 25 inches/64 cm in February.

When is ski season in Whistler?

Whistler Blackcomb ski resort typically opens each year on American Thanksgiving (the fourth Thursday in November). The mountain starts to close in mid-April and is fully closed by mid-May.
The best skiing is typically in January and February and Whistler is the busiest during those two months.

What should you pack for Whistler in winter?

Even if you aren’t going to ski, it’s a good idea to have a waterproof jacket for walking around the village or wearing for activities. For extra warmth, layer it over a puffy down or synthetic insulated jacket. Don’t forget a pair of warm gloves and and a toque. (That’s what Canadians call a beanie.)

Whistler is a pretty casual place so skip the high heels and opt for some insulated winter boots instead. The village can be icy, snowy, and slushy so you will appreciate the protection.

There is no dress code at Whistler restaurants or bars, so you don’t have to worry about packing a jacket and tie. You can turn up pretty much everywhere in casual clothes. However, if you plan to go a fine dining restaurant, you might be more comfortable in a nice pair of pants and a sweater or a simple dress.

Hot tubbing and visiting the spa are an important part of the Whistler experience. Don’t forget your bathing suit and a pair of sandals for navigating snowy poolsides.

What is the best month to visit Whistler in winter?

Late January and February are the best months for skiing since there is a good snow pack. However, look for crowds to spike around Family Day, a local holiday on the third Monday in February.

Late November and early to mid-December have variable skiing conditions so it can be a bit quieter than other times of the year. However, you might luck into some powder. It’s also a cheapest time to visit in winter.

The holiday season around Christmas and New Year’s brings good skiing conditions, and tons of events to Whistler. It’s a popular (and expensive) time to visit, and for good reason.

The late season of March and April can have great snow conditions, but they get more variable as the season goes on. It’s also a bit quieter and less expensive than other times of the year. However crowds do pick up around Easter.

How to Get to Whistler in Winter

There are several ways to get to Whistler in winter. The easiest and most economical option is to take one of the shuttle bus services: YVR Skylynx, Whistler Shuttle, or Epic Rides. They offer rides from Vancouver or Vancouver Airport to Whistler.

You can also book a private chauffered charter limo or van service.

If you want, you can also drive yourself. It’s a gorgeous road trip on the Sea to Sky Highway. However, keep in mind that you will likely face snowy and icy winter driving conditions. Snow tires are required between October 1 and March 31, so make sure your rental car has them.

I do not recommend driving yourself unless you are an experienced winter driver. As well, once you get to Whistler, it’s easy to get around the Village on foot or to take the bus or a taxi to other attractions.

Where to Stay in Whistler

There are literally hundreds of places to stay in Whistler, so it can be hard to choose. Here are my picks:

Budget – Pangea Pod Hotel: This unique Japanese style pod hotel is in the heart of the village. There on-site bar has a huge selection of board games you can play. Check prices.

Condo – Glacier’s Reach: I’ve stayed at these condos just north of the village on a lot of trips to Whistler. It’s sooo nice to have a kitchen but the best part is the private hot tubs! Check prices.

Boutique Hotel – Summit Lodge: We stayed at this centrally located hotel on our most recent trip to Whistler. It’s a boutique property with funky decor and a fun vibe. When we were there they had a pop-up bubble tea shop! Check prices.

Luxury Hotel – Westin Resort & Spa: My now-husband took me here when we were first dating. It was a luxe experience. My favourite part is the huge pool that both indoor and outdoor sections you can swim between. Check prices.

Final Thoughts

So that’s my big list of winter activities in Whistler for non-skiers. I’m sure you’ll find something to do in the Whistler in the winter that you’ll love. (Actually, I’m sure you’ll find a bunch of things.) What’s your favourite Whistler winter activity? Tell me in the comments.

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