Whistler, The Outdoor Activity Mecca of Summer
A wild world of wonder is just waiting for you, Whistler and outdoor activities go hand-in-hand. Where should you starting this summer season? One of the greatest things about our outdoor-haven is that there are seemingly endless outdoor activities, often open year round. One of the worst things about our outdoor-haven of Whistler? Trying to choose.
Okay, we know choice isn’t a bad thing, but it can definitely make narrowing down, your options a bit challenging. Trying to fit just a few outdoor activities, in Whistler into a week’s itinerary incredibly difficult. Where do you start? What to include? How can you possibly cut out any of these awesome outdoor activities?
There is an adventure in Whistler no matter what your level of excitment
We’re here to make that decision a bit easier. It’s always a big help to have an idea of what kind of outdoor adventure you’re looking for. We suggest taking a good, hard look at your group. Are you guys looking for some gentle family fun that everyone can enjoy (no matter what age)? Do you have a crew that’s seeking out an outdoor adventure that lets you get the beautiful Whistler experience without the possibility of breaking any bones? Or are you a group full of weirdo-adrenaline junkies who are looking for the craziest outside adventure possible?
The good news is that no matter what kind of crew you’re rolling with, Whistler has a long list of outdoor activities that will be the perfect fit. Kick back, relax, and get to reading (and planning). We imagine you’ll have quite the itinerary planned once you’ve finished.
Family-Friendly Fun for Everyone
If your vacation crew includes children, gentle-fun seekers, or folks who simply want to keep the outdoor activities on the quieter side, we have plenty of suggestions for you. Check out some of these Summer outdoor activities that are fun for children, seniors, or just a down day in your schedule.
Canoe, Kayak, or SUP
What could be more Whistler, than SUP yoga?
Whistler has tons of water-related sports during the spring and summer months. If you’re looking for a fun, relaxed way to see the outdoor wonderland that Whistler has to offer, then we suggest renting a few canoes, kayaks, or stand-up paddleboards. Buddy up and paddle out, enjoy the fresh air and sunshine!
We recommend hooking up with The Adventure Group (also called TAG) for your watersport adventures. They have plenty of price options, skill-oriented classes if it’s your first time with these watercraft, and even fun excursions you can join them on. Rentals and tours start at about $100, but they have plenty of fun add-on options like specific adventure tours, SUP yoga classes, and adventurous excursions.
Horseback Riding
This is one of our favourite summertime outdoor activities Whistler has for families! You’re able to see the landscape around Whistler from high up in the saddle of a gorgeous animal. You can choose from soothing, kid-friendly trails through the forest or longer tours that traverse meadows, mountains, and more. Incredible scenery, mountain air, and a newfound hobby – how does it get any better? You can get in on the family-friendly action starting from $80 per person with an hour-long ride. Want more adventure? Copper Cayuse Outfitters has a half-day ride, or even a full day ride (this starts at $389 per person).
Photo Walking Tours
Combine your love of photography with your passion for the outdoors
If you’re interested in capturing the landscape of Whistler at a slow enough space that your children can keep up, we suggest the Photo Walks Tour by Coast Mountain Photography. This walking tour is the perfect way to take a soft adventure through Whistler, allowing you the chance to see all the outdoor sights at a pace that’s perfect for the whole family. This photo walk will teach you and your family how to take better photos no matter what device you choose to use: iPhone, SLR, or even Polaroid. They’ll have professional photographers on staff, leading the tour and guiding you to improve your picture-taking abilities; covering things like lighting, composition, directing a photo and camera settings. This is a great adventure to embark on at the beginning of your vacation, so you’ll be well prepared for the rest of it!
Activities for Adventure Seekers
If you’ve got the need for adventure but you’re not quite ready to jump off a bridge attached to a bungee cord (if that’s you, we suggest skipping to the next section), this is the perfect balance for you. We’ve listed three of our favourite outdoor adventure activities that are accessible, exciting, and not too over-the-top. Check them out!
Ziplining
If zipping through the mountain high in the treetops sounds appealing to you, you’re going to love the TAG Ziplining tours. The best part of these tours? You can do them in the summer and the winter, so you won’t have to plan your vacation time around including this tour. Ziplining combines the fun feeling of soaring through the air with the ultimate way to see the sights surrounding you. Have friends with you? Buddy up and zip side-by-side with TAGs dual-riding system. For about $150, this exhilarating tour can be all yours!
Alpine Hiking
Unsure about where to start exploring Whistler? Start here.
If you’re looking to go beyond a leisurely stroll through the Whistler Village, the alpine hiking tours that TAG offers are the ultimate adventure you’re looking for. Join an experienced guide as you explore old growth forests, glacial lakes, alpine meadows, and endless views of the Whistler wonderland paradise. Choose from waterfall tours starting at $129 to nature walks at $99 to the ultimate hiking diamond tour at $1,200.
RZR Tours
Want to see the outdoor beauty of Whistler while getting an insane, white-knuckle thrill at the same time? TAGs RZR tours are the perfect option. Fire up the engine of your very own RZR, or ride along with a friend, and cruise along the rugged trails in exhilaration. These exclusive tours take you to unforgettable destinations, deep in the mountains, giving you the pleasure of off-roading in comfort. You can choose tours ranging from an hour to an entire day! It’s all about what kind of adventure you’re after and how much exhilaration you can fit into your day!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUVqQSWmt94
Adrenaline Junkies Unite
If extreme is your middle name, you’ve come to the right place. We know who you are – because we are the same. We are those crazy, adventure seeking, wild-blooded-person, and luckily, Whistler has plenty of options for people like us. Check out some of our tried-and-true favourites below. Be warned, though; it’s going to be hard to pick just one.
Bungee Jumping
Adrenaline junkies only…
We’re not saying you’re crazy for wanting to jump off a bridge attached to a rubber band, and you’re certainly not alone. Bungee jumping is a wildly popular outdoor activity in Whistler for those who are looking to feel a wild pulse of exhilaration. Whistler Bungee is actually home to the BC’s highest year-round jumping bungee jumping venue which features a whopping 50-meter drop (that’s 160 feet). You can jump right off the bridge that spans the beautiful, glacial-fed Cheakamus river for just $134 per person. Happy jumping, friends!
Heli-Sightseeing
If the idea of “taking a tour” or “going sightseeing” sounds boring to you, we’ve got quite the surprise for you. Heli-sightseeing is an out of this world, heart-pumping, adrenaline-thumping experience, and you won’t want to write it off. Join TAG, and they’re super-experienced pilots on a high-flying, speedy-as-all-get-out, beautiful alpine tour experience like no other.
From Heli-whitewater-rafting to Heli ice-cave tours, to your ‘run of the mill’ helicopter alpine excursions, there’s plenty of wild adventures to choose from. You’ll have the option to choose a basic tour that starts at around $170 for 12 minutes, all the way up to $1500 Heli rafting experience where you use the helicopter to experience the invigorating, rushing, river-rafting experience of a lifetime. If you’re seeking adrenaline, this is the way to do it.
Whitewater Jet Boat Tours
Get wet and wild in Whistler with a jet boat experience.
You’ve heard of white water rafting, but have you ever heard of jetting down the rapids in a speedboat? We didn’t think so. This outdoor tour is for the ultimate adventure seeker, aka; we don’t know if the faint of heart will enjoy it (though we definitely encourage everyone to give it a go). Join expert pilots as they guide you through jagged canyons past lush, green forests, mountain vistas, and plenty of Whistler wildlife. For just $119 per person, you can have the ultimate white-water Whistler experience!
Whether you’re looking for a wild and crazy adventure that you’ll talk about for years to come or a gentle, outdoor excursion that’s guaranteed to make lovely family memories, Whistler has it all. We suggest trying as many different outdoor activities as you can while you’re here, we promise you won’t regret it.
If you so happen to want an outdoorsy break and need a fun inside adventure, visit us at Forged Axe to learn how to throw an ax as good as any lumberjack. We are on route to many of the activities anyway, including the Bungee jumping. Just swing by Forged Axe Throwing to get a little riled up before jumping off a bridge.
No matter what you decide to do in Whistler, the outcome will be the same: a wonderful few days full of wonderful adventure, great times, laughs and happy memories. Perhaps even some unforgettable ones. Whistler, an outdoor activity haven, isn’t known for letting people down.