Whistler, British Columbia has a reputation built on skiing, but the town's summer lineup might be its best-kept secret. A recent episode of Outside's travel show "Along for the Ride," which drops comedian Brooks Wheelan into a surprise itinerary each day, makes the case that Canada's best-known mountain resort is just as much of a thrill machine when the snow melts.
Start with the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, often called the best on the planet. It packs four mountain zones and over 50 miles of riding into 70 trails ranging from beginner-friendly to full-send freeride. Total newcomers can book into the Bike School, and there are skills parks for every level — intermediates can work their way up to famous runs like A-Line and Dirt Merchant. For something rarer, the Hidden Peak trail offers a descent of nearly 5,000 feet that you can only reach by helicopter with Coast Range Helicopters, pairing flowy singletrack with serious alpine terrain.
Not a rider? Whistler still gets you high. The Via Ferrata Tour up Whistler Peak uses fixed cables and metal rungs to make cliff climbing accessible to anyone aged 12 and up — no experience required. The Peak 2 Peak Gondola, the highest lift of its kind in the world, links Whistler and Blackcomb mountains for pure sightseeing, with the Cloudraker Skybridge suspension bridge and a web of hiking trails waiting at the top.
For a genuinely odd adrenaline hit, head to Whistler Olympic Park, where the Whistler Sliding Centre lets you ride the actual bobsled track from the 2010 Vancouver Olympics — still the fastest and steepest in the world. Summer runs top out around 55 mph in wheeled sleds. Slower than the winter ice version, but plenty.
Where to stay depends on your style and budget. The Pan Pacific Whistler Mountainside has been voted Canada's Best Ski Hotel 13 years running and works just as well in warm weather. The Pangea Pod Hotel offers cheap personal sleeping pods, a rooftop patio and gear storage (dubbed the Toy Box) for travellers who'd rather spend money on adventures than rooms. And when the pounding heart needs slowing, Nita Lake Lodge — Whistler's only lakeside resort and spa — covers the recovery side with dining and wellness treatments.
The real takeaway from the episode is Whistler's range: one town, two mountains, and enough activities across every season that a first-timer can go from helicopter drop-offs to bobsled runs to lakeside spa sessions in a single trip. It sits just 90 minutes north of Vancouver, which makes it an easy add-on to any British Columbia itinerary, and the pedestrian village means you can park the car and walk everywhere. Whether you're a hardcore rider chasing the Hidden Peak descent or a couple after gondola views and good food, there's a version of Whistler that fits — and as the show demonstrates, the best plans here tend to bend as you go.
Story first covered by Outside Online.
