Whistler and Blackcomb are two mountains located in British Columbia, Canada which are hugely popular during the ski season, but which is the best? I’ll be comparing everything you need to know about these two mountains in the iconic Whistler Blackcomb ski resort so you can decide which to go to!
Whistler vs Blackcomb Overview
Whistler mountain has more skiable terrain however Blackcomb has a larger vertical drop. Both mountains offer terrain for all abilities but Whistler is slightly better for beginners and Blackcomb is better for expert skiers/ snowboarders.
| Comparison | Best Mountain |
| Total Skiable Terrain | Whistler |
| Vertical Drop | Blackcomb |
| Beginner Terrain | Whistler |
| Intermediate Terrain | Whistler |
| Advanced/ Expert Terrain | Blackcomb |
| Freestyle/ Park | Blackcomb |
| Ski Lifts/ Gondolas | Whistler |
| Ski Season Length | Blackcomb |
| Ski Village | Whistler |
| Parking and Accessibility | Whistler |
Skiing/ Snowboarding Experience
In this section we’ll be looking at the following:
- Mountain Stats
- Beginner Terrain
- Intermediate Terrain
- Advanced/ Expert Terrain
- Lifts/ Gondolas
Mountain Statistics
Whistler is a larger mountain with 4757 acres of skiable terrain compared to Blackcomb’s 3414 acres of skiable terrain. However, Blackcomb does have slightly more skiable vertical with 5280 ft compared to Whistler’s 5020 ft.
| Statistic | Whistler | Blackcomb |
| Skiable Area | 4757 acres | 3414 acres |
| Vertical Drop | 5020 ft/ 1530 m | 5280 ft/ 1609 m |
| Top Elevation | 7160 ft/ 2182 m | 7494 ft/ 2284 m |
| Longest Run | 11 km/ 7 miles | 11 km/ 7 miles |
| Number of Lifts | 19 | 12 |
| Number of Trails | 100+ | 100+ |
| Number of Parks | 2 | 3 |
| Number of Pipes | 0 | 1 |
| Snowcross Tracks | 0 | 1 |
| Beginner Trails | 20% | 20% |
| Intermediate Trails | 55% | 50% |
| Expert Trails | 25% | 30% |
| Total Capacity/ Hour | 36,148 | 33,791 |
Which is the Best Mountain for Beginners?
Whistler offers more green runs compared to Blackcomb so is a better option for beginners. The beginner slopes are also further up the mountain at Whistler which means the snow quality is better and the views are nicer too. Blackcomb is still a great place to ski if you’re a beginner, it’s just slightly more limited than Whistler.
- Best Areas for Beginners on Whistler: Olympic Chair Lift and Emerald 6 Express
- Best Areas for Beginners on Blackcomb: The Magic Chairlift, Expressway/ Greenline (7th Heaven)
WINNER: WHISTLER
Which is the Best Mountain for Intermediates?
Of the total skiable terrain available, 55% of it is aimed at intermediates on Whistler, whereas 50% of the terrain is aimed at intermediates on Blackcomb.
- Best Areas for Intermediates on Whistler: Garbanzo Chair and Harmony Ridge
- Best Areas for Intermediates on Blackcomb: 7th Heaven and Crystal Zone
WINNER: WHISTLER
Which is the Best Mountain for Experts?
Whistler is a little easier if you’re transitioning from intermediate to black terrain compared to Blackcomb as there are usually less trees and more open bowls. However, Blackcomb is the best mountain if you’re an expert skier looking for a bigger challenge.
Blackcomb mountain has more of a focus skiable terrain for advanced/ expert skiers compared to Whistler and a higher vertical drop. The runs also have more obstacles and drops making it a very challenging and thrilling mountain to ski.
WINNER: BLACKCOMB
Ski Lifts and Gondolas
Whistler and Blackcomb have 32 lifts all together. There is a peak to peak Gondola connecting the two mountains so you can easily visit them both in a single day. Whistler has more ski lifts compared to Blackcomb (19 compared to 12).