Blackcomb Peak

Less famous than Whistler, its next-door neighbor to the south, Blackcomb still provides great opportunities for hiking, climbing and mountaineering in the warmer months. It’s also less crowded, although new trails have been built recently in an effort to diversify and increase the options for outdoor activities on that side of the Whistler complex. This outing will take you to the summit of 2,436-meter Blackcomb Peak.

This outing starts at the Blackcomb gondola near parking lot P1. Full services are available here, including restaurants and facilities. The summer trail goes to the Excalibur Gondola and then steadily makes its way up what is referred to as the “Little Burn,” “Big Burn,” and “Heart Burn” sections. The trail is 6.1-kilometers one way and gains 1,200 meters. It ends at Rendezvous Lodge, where restaurants and facilities are again available. The long grind up can be avoided by using the gondola (around $55 for a single day, round-trip).

From Rendezvous Lodge, the next step is to gain about 300 meters in 1.5 kilometers to reach Horstman Hut. There are ski slopes or a road to follow, or one can easily simply make it up to the hut by cutting through the snow and grass. Again, for those hoping to save time and energy, a shuttle takes glacier skiers and snowboarders from Rendezvous Lodge to Horstman Hut until the end of the season (usually late July).

The real fun starts at the hut. Blackcomb’s summit can be reached by scrambling on a rocky ridge or by traversing Blackcomb Glacier. Both options make for a great outing and are not too technical, although they have short exposed stretches. The glacier option will skirt the ridge that starts at Horstman Hut and reach the summit by the north, while the scrambling route will follow the ridge and reach the summit by the northwest. The glacier option requires glacier travel gear and knowledge.

From Blackcomb Peak, the view is fantastic in all directions. Whistler and the Fitzsimmons Range lie directly south, and Wedge Mountain, the highest in this area of British Columbia, lies northeast. Side trip options include The Spearhead, an easy 1-kilometer round-trip to the northeast, and Decker Mountain, about 5 kilometers round-trip southeast and prominently seen from Blackcomb. Whether you choose to continue the outing or stay on Blackcomb Peak, the views will still be fantastic as treeline is reached roughly at Rendezvous Lodge.

Before going on this outing, make sure to check the conditions and accessibility on Whistler-Blackcomb’s website.