VERDICT: We gave 5 out of 5 tickets and here’s why!
This guide forms part of our complete Canada Travel Guide featuring scenic road trips, iconic destinations, practical travel advice and honest first-hand travel experiences from across Canada.
Just a few optional places in British Columbia to visit:
- Fort Langley – B.C.’s Birthplace
- Vancouver – Pacific Ocean, to Ski Hills
- Okanagan – Wine Country
- White Rock – Crescent Beach
- Steveston Village – Quaint Fishing Village
- Stanley Park – B.C.’s Biggest Park
- Hornby Island – Perfect Island Life
- Vancouver Island – Spectacular Coastline
- Harrison Hot Springs –Watersports, Beaches, Cafes & Restaurants
Soar 436 Metres Above the Valley on Whistler’s Spectacular Mountain-to-Mountain Gondola
PEAK 2 PEAK: The Essential Facts
The engineering is almost as impressive as the scenery:
- Total length: 4.4 km
- Journey time: approximately 11 minutes
- Maximum height: 436 metres (1,430 ft) above the valley floor
- Longest unsupported section: 3.024 km
- Cabins: 28-passenger capacity
- System: 3S tri-cable gondola
- Opened: December 2008
- Connects: Whistler Mountain and Blackcomb Mountain
The Peak 2 Peak Gondola in Whistler is not just a gondola, it’s the reason most people go to Whistler in summer.
When it opened, the PEAK 2 PEAK shattered world records, and its extraordinary height and unsupported span remain engineering marvels.
It connects Whistler Mountain and Blackcomb Mountain, and in 11 minutes you go 4.4km across the valley with nothing underneath you but air.
Our Experience
We started on the Whistler Village Gondola up Whistler Mountain, then transferred to Peak 2 Peak at the Roundhouse Lodge.
As soon as we left the station, the floor dropped. We were hanging 436 meters above the valley floor and you’re just floating between two peaks. Absolutely thrilling!
If you’re brave, get the glass-bottom gondola, the ones with the silver stripe. The floor is clear glass in the middle. You look straight down to the forest and the boulder fields. The regular red gondolas have solid floors and are better if you get vertigo.
In the middle of the span, it went dead silent. No towers, no cables touching. Just us, the mountains, and that huge view of Garibaldi, the Fitzsimmons Valley, and on a clear day all the way to Black Tusk.
On the other side we were on Blackcomb, we ventured up to the Rendezvous Lodge, walked a bit of a trail, then rode back. This was an incredible journey and well worth the money. This is a 5 Ticket rating out of 5, for sure.
Tips:
Operating season and hours: PEAK 2 PEAK operates seasonally, with scheduled maintenance closures. Always check current lift status and operating hours before travelling.
Go before 10am. Afternoons in summer have 45-60 minute lines. In the mornings you can basically walk on.
It’s included in your Whistler Blackcomb lift ticket in winter, but in summer you need a separate Peak 2 Peak ticket. Buy them online.
If you get motion sick, sit, don’t stand, and look at the horizon, not straight down.
It’s 5 minutes of pure “wow” in the middle, and it completely changes how you see Whistler, you realize the two mountains aren’t close at all, they’re two massive separate worlds linked by that one thread.
2026 PEAK 2 PEAK Admission
For the 2026 regular summer season (June 13–September 7), the one-day Summer Alpine Experience ticket was:
| Age | 2026 Price |
|---|---|
| Adult 19–64 | $110 |
| Senior 65+ | $100 |
| Teen 13–18 | $100 |
| Child 7–12 | $60 |
| Tot 3–6 | Free |
These are the published 2026 rates and are subject to change. The ticket includes sightseeing access to Whistler and Blackcomb mountains and the PEAK 2 PEAK during its operating period.
Check current PEAK 2 PEAK prices and tickets
2026 Operating Hours
The PEAK 2 PEAK’s main summer season runs mid May through early September. From mid June through early September, it operates daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The last recommended upload from the valley was 4:30 p.m., last PEAK 2 PEAK round trip 4:45 p.m., and last one-way crossing 5:00 p.m.
Important: as of early September, the PEAK 2 PEAK is closed for the fall maintenance period, even though Whistler Mountain sightseeing continues through late September.
Check current Whistler Blackcomb operating hours
How Does PEAK 2 PEAK Compare With Gondolas Around the World?
When PEAK 2 PEAK opened, its 3.024-km unsupported span was extraordinary and record-breaking. However, it no longer holds the outright world record for longest unsupported gondola span; Germany’s Eibsee Cable Car subsequently exceeded it.
What makes Whistler special isn’t simply a record number. It is the combination of a 4.4-km mountain-to-mountain crossing, enormous unsupported span, 436-metre clearance above Fitzsimmons Valley and direct connection between two major alpine mountains. Doppelmayr, which built the lift, says it was the world’s longest 3S ropeway when it opened in 2008.
What to Watch for During the Ride
Be sure to take in the views:
Fitzsimmons Valley: The huge valley directly beneath you provides the most dramatic perspective on just how far apart the two mountains actually are.
Black Tusk: Look for the unmistakable dark volcanic peak rising above the surrounding Coast Mountains.
Glaciers and snowfields: Even during summer, permanent snow and glaciers can be visible across the surrounding alpine landscape.
Whistler Village: Look back toward the valley for a completely different perspective on the village and surrounding lakes.
Wildlife: Black bears, marmots, deer, chipmunks and birds can inhabit the alpine environment, although sightings obviously aren’t guaranteed.
The unsupported span: This is the part to appreciate. For more than three kilometres there is no intermediate tower beneath the gondola. You’re simply suspended across the valley.
Glass-bottom cabins: Your article is right to mention these. They’re easy to identify and worth waiting for if looking 400+ metres down doesn’t bother you.
Whistler Mountain Facts
Whistler Mountain reaches approximately 2,181 metres (7,156 ft) in elevation.
The PEAK 2 PEAK terminal is near Roundhouse Lodge, rather than at Whistler’s actual summit. During summer sightseeing, visitors can explore alpine trails and, when operating, continue via Peak Express toward the higher alpine.
Whistler Mountain is also home to the spectacular Cloudraker Skybridge, a 130-metre suspension bridge near Whistler Peak.
► Top Things to Do on the Whistler Mountain Side
- Cloudraker Skybridge: Cross the dramatic suspension bridge high in the alpine.
- Raven’s Eye Lookout: Take in panoramic views from the viewing platform.
- Alpine hiking: Choose anything from relatively short walks to longer mountain hikes.
- Roundhouse Lodge: Stop for food and enjoy the mountain views.
- Photograph Black Tusk: One of the most distinctive landmarks visible from the Whistler alpine.
Whistler Blackcomb has more than 50 kms of alpine hiking trails across its summer mountain experience.
Blackcomb Mountain Facts
Blackcomb is the higher of the two mountains, reaching approximately 2,436 metres (7,992 ft).
The PEAK 2 PEAK arrives near Rendezvous Lodge, providing access to alpine trails and extensive views across the Coast Mountains.
Blackcomb’s landscape feels noticeably different from Whistler, which is one reason I would encourage visitors not to simply ride across and immediately return.
► Top Things to Do on the Blackcomb Side
- Explore the Rendezvous area: Stop, walk around and appreciate the mountain scenery before returning.
- Alpine Loop: An accessible 1.4-km alpine walk taking roughly 30 minutes.
- Overlord Trail: A longer 3.7-km route offering excellent alpine scenery.
- Look for wildlife: Marmots and black bears are among the animals that may be encountered in the alpine.
- Enjoy lunch with a view: Mountain dining turns the PEAK 2 PEAK into a much longer experience rather than simply an 11-minute gondola ride.
Tourism Whistler lists several Blackcomb hikes ranging from the short Alpine Loop through to considerably longer routes.
Explore More of Whistler: Our Top Ten Recommendations
Shannon Falls Provincial Park: An easy forest walk leads to the impressive 335-metre Shannon Falls, just south of Squamish.
Sea to Sky Gondola: Ride above Howe Sound for spectacular mountain views, hiking trails, viewing platforms and the Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge. Travel the Sea to Sky Highway.
Stawamus Chief Provincial Park: One of the Sea to Sky corridor’s signature landmarks, with challenging hiking routes and spectacular views over Howe Sound.
Brandywine Falls Provincial Park: Take the short forest trail to viewpoints overlooking the dramatic 70-metre waterfall and surrounding mountains.
PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola: Travel high above the valley between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains for one of Whistler’s signature experiences. Seasonal operating dates vary, so check before travelling. Whistler Village Centre: Explore Whistler’s pedestrian village, filled with mountain scenery, shops, restaurants and lively public spaces.
Lost Lake Park: Walk or cycle the trails surrounding this beautiful lake, only a short distance from Whistler Village.
Train Wreck: Hike through the forest to colourful abandoned railway cars beside the Cheakamus River.
Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre: Discover the history, traditions and living cultures of the Squamish and Lil’wat Nations.
Audain Art Museum: Explore an outstanding collection of British Columbia art, including historic Indigenous works and celebrated BC artists.
Nearby Attractions
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With every trip, we offer feedback to travel companies along with honest views for you, the reader. We rate adventures on a scale of one to five tickets, judged on quality, service, memorability, and price. A perfect ‘Ticket Rating’ of a five-ticket score means the experience was flawless and we’d eagerly return. Your desire to go back is the ultimate measure of a trip’s worth. Exclusive to My Return Ticket.
