Zipline Adventure over Fitzsimmons Valley Whistler

Whistler Village

Whistler Village is the car-free heart of one of the best-known mountain resorts in North America, about two hours north of Vancouver along the coast and mountains. Its pedestrian streets are lined with lodges, outdoor shops, cafes and plazas, and it was one of the host areas of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. In summer it fills with hikers and mountain bikers; in winter it is a busy ski base.

Your zipline adventure begins at Carleton Lodge, right across from the Whistler Village Gondola, so the meeting point is easy to find from any hotel in the village. After check-in and a safety briefing, your guides fit you with a helmet and harness. If you are planning what to do in Whistler beyond skiing, a zipline tour is one of the most popular choices, and this one starts and finishes in the village itself.

Whistler Village Gondola and Whistler Mountain

The Whistler Village Gondola is the main lift from the village up Whistler Mountain, carrying skiers in winter and sightseers and bikers in summer. On this tour it is your ride to the zipline course: you glide above the forest and ski runs with views opening up across the valley before stepping off for a short walk to the first launch platform.

Whistler Mountain is one of the two peaks that make up the huge Whistler Blackcomb resort, with forests of fir, cedar and hemlock on its lower slopes and alpine terrain above. The first launch sits at about 1,000 metres, high enough to feel the mountain air and see far along the valley. The gondola ride alone is a highlight for many visitors, and here it is part of the adventure rather than an extra ticket.

The Fitzsimmons Valley

The Fitzsimmons Valley lies between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, carved by Fitzsimmons Creek as it tumbles down from the high peaks towards the village. Its slopes are covered with tall coastal forest, and the creek runs fast and clear, fed by snowmelt in late spring and early summer. From the ziplines you see the whole valley open below you, with the trees, the water and the mountain walls on both sides.

This valley is the reason this Whistler zipline tour feels so wild even though it starts in a busy resort. Once you are on the lines you are surrounded by forest, and the only sounds are the wind and the creek below. Your guides share facts about the valley, the local wildlife and the way the resort grew up around it, adding meaning to the views between each line.

The zipline course and treetop bridges

The course has five ziplines and four treetop bridges, linked by short walks and stairs through the forest. The longest line runs about 730 metres (2,400 feet), with a steep drop that gives a real rush of speed, while tandem lines let two people fly side by side. Between the lines, the suspension bridges sway gently between tall trees and give you time to enjoy the forest.

Two professional guides run every group of up to 10 people, handling the safety checks and clipping you onto each line, so no experience is needed. The minimum age is 6, the weight range is 34 to 125 kg, and the activity involves climbing some stairs. Is the Whistler zipline worth it? For most visitors the answer is a clear yes, especially for the moment the final line drops you back into the village.

Views of Blackcomb Mountain and the seasons in Whistler

From the platforms and lines you look straight across to Blackcomb Mountain, with its forested lower slopes, ski runs and rocky peaks, often holding snow well into summer. On clear days the view stretches along the whole Fitzsimmons Valley, and you get a feel for the scale of the mountains that surround the resort.

The tour runs in all weather and in every season, and each one looks different: green forest and fast snowmelt creeks in summer, golden larch and crisp air in autumn, and snowy trees in winter. The best time to visit Whistler for a zipline tour is a dry day from June to September, but winter rides over a snowy valley are just as memorable. Dress for the weather and wear closed-toe shoes.