Social-Distance-Friendly Activities in Whistler

Summer has arrived, and whether you’re making the short trip up the Sea to Sky Highway or are coming from further away, we are excited to welcome you back to Whistler. However, it is important to remember that as we enter phase three of B.C.’s restart plan, to be mindful of others personal space and safety. With that in mind, we wanted to share some ideas of how you can still enjoy Whistler this summer with these social-distance friendly activities.

Play a Round of Golf

With a number of golf courses to choose from, golf is the perfect outdoor activity for those needing some space, and socialization. Remember to follow the proper guidelines, and to ensure your plan goes smoothly, we recommend you book your tee-time in advance and/or have a plan B in place.

Safety Tip: Be sure to look up the golf course of your choosing’s website for COVID instructions. Many may ask you to wait in your vehicles instead of arriving early, or outline what and what is not on offer at the moment.

Go for a Hike/ Stroll around Whistler

One of the easiest ways to get outside this summer is to hit one of the many trail options Whistler has to offer. Whether that’s a simple stroll down the valley trail, around one of the lakes, or something more strenuous in the mountains, this is a great way to get active and see the sights by foot. Why not include more education in your walk/hike by grabbing a local flora/fauna book and see how many species you can identify?

Safety Tip: Just because there are several trails to choose from, doesn’t mean the more popular ones won’t be busy. Remember to keep your distance, and have a plan B.

Take a Self-Guided Art Walk

With fresh air being in high demand, why not combine it with a self-guided art tour around town? Whistler has 55 public and private art pieces that are scattered throughout the valley, and just waiting to be seen! A huge thanks to Arts Whistler for developing a series of Culture Maps that you can use to find these pieces, as well as some of our historical sites too. Their Whistler Valley Map highlights the heritage buildings you can find at Rainbow Park, indigenous artwork located in Cheakamus Crossing and at Whistler Olympic Park, as well as hikes like Train Wreck, which bring together the great outdoors and the arts.

Hit the Bike Trails

Now that Whistler Mountain Bike Park is open for the summer, and there are safe operating practices in place, this is a great option to explore while in town. If you’re an avid mountain biker, why not check out Trailforks to see which trails are clear and open so you can take yourself out on some of the local areas. If you’re looking for a more laid-back approach to bike riding, try renting a trail bike and take yourself along the Valley Trail and over to the lakes.

Safety Tip: Be courteous to other riders. Allow for space especially in congested areas like trail heads, parking lots or on the trail.

Don’t Forget to be Respectful, and Stay Safe

For your safety, we have also included the below information from Tourism Whistler

Whistler Trail Etiquette 2.0

• Stay home if you’re sick, the trails aren’t going anywhere, we promise
• Keep at least a two-metre distance (that’s a touch longer than a bike or pair of skis) from others outside of your normal “unit” – granted, some of our trails are narrow, have patience and if you’re stepping aside look for a rock or bare spot to stand on (nature thanks you)
• Ride and hike within your ability, we’re still at a point where we don’t want to put added pressure on our health care system
• Bylaw Officers and Parks and Trails Ambassadors are out and about to remind people about physical distancing. They are there to help everyone have a positive experience, so say hi and shoot them an air high five.

Suggestions and Tips

• Know before you go – check what’s open and have a Plan B in case the area you’ve chosen is busy
• Wash your hands often and pack hand sanitizer for longer trips
• Go before you go. Public washrooms are open but are high-touch areas, so minimize their use when you can
• As tempting as it is to chat about the upcoming adventure, don’t congregate at trailheads or in parking lots
• Be courteous and kind to others – everyone has their own version of what is and isn’t safe right now, give people space, a smile, a wave and the benefit of the doubt