Route: Whistler Mountain
Area: British Columbia, Canada
Date of walk: 23rd August 2025
Walkers: Andrew,Gilly, James and Anna
Distance: 4.0 miles
Ascent: 800 feet
Weather: Sunny and very hot (30c+)
Today’s grand adventure started in Whistler Village in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia. We’d previously booked 4 tickets for the Summer Alpine Experience which gives access to walks on Whistler Mountain and its neighbour Blackcomb Mountain. It includes access to the Whistler Village Gondola, Blackcomb Gondola, Peak 2 Peak Gondola and Peak Chair, all of which we’d use on today’s outing
Starting with the Whistler Village Gondola, we were taken up Whistler Mountain to the station at Roundhouse Lodge and from here we took the Peak Chair up to the ‘Top of the World Summit’ on Whistler Mountain at a height of 7,160 feet. The summit area has awe inspiring views and is also home to the Cloudraker Skybridge, a narrow suspension bridge leading to West Ridge. Although it wasn’t part of our route, we crossed it for the experience, which was wonderful though rather unsettling when the bridge swayed in the middle section
We then set off on our walk, following the High Note Trail. This was a narrow rocky path through alpine terrain with incredible views of the surrounding mountains. It was good to be following a rough mountain path, similar to those to be found in the Lake District. After traversing the mountainside for a while, the azure waters of Cheakamus Lake came into view, far below in the Garibaldi Provincial Park. This was a fantastic sight. We climbed uphill to a rocky plateau, at which point a decision had to be made. The High Note Trail continues for some distance, but at this junction there’s an opportunity to shorten the walk by using the Half Note Trail for the return. In view of the intense heat and lack of cover we decided to follow the Half Note Trail, which was energy sapping at first as we had to climb up a rocky ridge. Eventually the path arrived at Pika’s Traverse Road, a wide dirt track which took us back to Roundhouse Lodge
The end of the walk didn’t mean that it was the end of the adventure, as we then took the Peak 2 Peak Gondola across to Blackcomb Mountain. The gondola links the two mountains of Blackcomb and Whistler and has an unsupported lift span of nearly 2miles. After an incredible ride we arrived on Blackcomb Mountain and took the Blackcomb Gondola back into Whister Village to end a day which will live long in the memory
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Having taken the Whistler Village Gondola, we arrive at Roundhouse Lodge. We look up to the summit of Whistler and the Cloudraker Skybridge (top right) which we'll cross shortly
James and Anna decide to hike to the top, and we take the easy option of Peak Chair up to the 'Top of the World Summit' on Whistler Mountain. We'll wait for them at the top
The Cloudraker Skybridge
Whistler below
The bridge doesn't have to be crossed in order to start the walk, but it's too tempting to resist
Safely over the bridge, we admire the surrounding peaks from the summit area - the unmistakeable outline of Black Tusk (7,608 feet) a large spire of eroded dark volcanic rock
Black Tusk will be a dominant feature during the course of today's walk
Left to right - Cheakamus Glacier, Castle Towers, Corrie Lake and Mount Garibaldi
Whistler far below
Overlord Mountain and its glacier
Zooming in on Mount Garibaldi and Corrie Lake
James and Anna catch up with us, having climbed to the summit. We'd taken the easier option of the chairlift
We head to the start of the trail
Checking out the sign for the High Note Trail and the Half Note Trail. which are classed as 'most difficult', but we found them to be straightforward with no exposure or technical sections. Our only issue was the intense heat
James and Anna set off along the High Note Trail, during which Black Tusk makes numerous appearances...
Looking across to Castle Towers, with Corrie Lake below
The Garibaldi Provincial Park on our right as we contour around the mountainside
Admiring the view...
A marmot, also enjoying the view
Castle Towers and the Cheakamus Glacier
Black Tusk on our right
Approaching the far point of the walk, which has a wonderful finale...
The azure waters of Cheakamus Lake
The perfect spot for a family photo
The HIgh Note Trail continues towards Flute, but in view of the heat we decide to take the shorter option of the Half Note Trail
A change of direction as we head north
We cross some rocky terrain
Overlord Mountain
Garibaldi Provincial Park below
The path curves round and climbs up a steep ridge, which we found to be quite arduous in the heat
Looking back to Black Tusk as we take a breather
It's a relief to arrive at Pika's Traverse Road, an easy track which takes us to the end of the walk
More wonderful views as we continue down the track...
Roundhouse Lodge below and the end of a wonderful walk
Instead of taking the gondola back to Whistler, we took the Peak 2 Peak Gondola across to Blackcomb Mountain, a great experience. From there we took the Blackcomb Gondola back to Whistler Village to end a memorable day
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