Creekside Gondola
Area

The Creekside Gondola services the area located on the lower West side of Whistler Mountain and is the first part of the resort that you reach when driving in from Vancouver.  Whistler Creekside offers free underground day parking and is very popular with locals coming in to ski for the day.  The Creekside Gondola runs up from Creekside and ends at the base of the Big Red Express Chairlift, which then runs up to end near the Roundhouse Lodge area.

 

From the top of the Creekside Gondola, you can access the Blue and Black runs back down to the Creekside base. There is also the Expressway run (Green) that takes you over to the Garbanzo Express Chairlift base and the Olympic Mid Station area.

 

Skill Level

• There is no Green run from the top of the Creekside Gondola back down to Whistler Creekside.   Beginners or low intermediate skiers and snowboarders should probably download on the gondola. '

• There are Blue and Black runs through this area and so it is a good fit for intermediate and expert skiers and snowboarders.

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Maps

• Whistler Blackcomb Trail Map: https://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/the-mountain/about-the-mountain/trail-maps.aspx

• Openskimap.org: https://openskimap.org/#14.57/50.09065/-122.97675/128/60

 

Gondolas/Lifts

• Creekside Gondola: This is the eight-person gondola that runs from the Whistler Creekside base up to the base of Big Red Express Chairlift. The Creekside Gondola is the only access point up to Whistler Mountain from the Creekside base.

  • Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DhNi5QdE7I​

 

Lodges/Huts

• The Raven’s Nest: This is a small hut at the base of the Big Red Express Chairlift. It offers coffee, pastries, and a limited set of lunch options. The Raven’s Nest has a small outdoor patio with views of the valley below (a beautiful spot on a sunny, warm afternoon).  There are also washrooms in the basement of the building.

 

Main Routes

• Cross Roads + Lower Franz's:  Cross Roads (Blue) starts on the left side of Expressway (Green) just below the top of the Creekside Gondola.  It runs diagonally across the mountain and ends on Lower Franz's (Blue).  Lower Franz’s then leads down to Creekside base.

• Lower Dave Murray Downhill: Lower Dave Murray starts on the lefts side Expressway (Green) below the top of the Creekside Gondola.   Lower Dave Murray then runs downhill to connect with Lower Franz’s (Blue) and continues down to Creekside base.

 

Whistler Tree Fort

The Whistler Tree Fort is a kids’ play fort that sits in the forest between Bear Cub (Green) and Pony Trail (Green). The fort has different sections, some bridges, and some slides for kids to explore. On the Pony Trail side you will see a sign that clearly marks the path to the fort on the left side (looking downhill) of the run. This path leads to the fort and then back out again to Pony Trail. On the Bear Cub side, the entrance to the fort is also clearly marked on the right side (looking downhill) of the run and through a small tunnel. Many people leave their skis on the side of the run and walk through the tunnel to the fort area.

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For more specific details about this area (and other areas) on Whistler Blackcomb check out my Whistler Blackcomb Guidebook ...