The resort town of Whistler is beautiful in autumn with the leaves changing colour and the crowds of the summer season all but gone.

During September, October and November there are museums, parks and trails to explore, plus restaurant meals and hotel amenities to enjoy. The first part of the season is ideal for hiking and mountain biking. As the season winds down there is usually snow on the ground.

 

What to do in Whistler in the Fall

Fall is a great time to visit Whistler. Temperatures vary throughout the months but are milder than during the winter season. Daily averages range from highs of 10 degrees Celsius to an average low of about 0 degrees Celsius. Keep in mind, though, that temperatures up on the mountains may be up to 10 degrees colder than those in the valley. During the months of September, October and November, days can be either warm or cool. Residents and visitors can expect to experience sunny days alongside some rain (and maybe snow).

Festivals that usually take place in Whistler during the fall include the Whistler Village Beer Festival in September, the Whistler Writers Festival in October and Whistler Cornucopia in November.

Below we list some of our favourite fall venues and activities in the resort municipality of Whistler.

 

 

Fall Activities

Popular indoor and outdoor activities in Whistler in the fall include the following:

• Axe Throwing – visit Forged Axe Throwing for a fun, indoor activity. The place is open seven days a week between either 1:00 pm or 2:30 pm to 9:00 pm.
• Bungee Jumping – visitors can enjoy year-round thrill-seeking at Whistler Bungee. Jump above the Cheakamus River either single, tandem or in a wheelchair.
• Hiking – enjoy some end-of-season hikes without the summer crowds before the snow starts falling. Be sure to dress warmly in layers as temperatures on the mountains can be several degrees colder than in the village.
• Scandinave Spa – soak in some traditional Scandinavian hydrotherapy at one of Whistler’s most popular spas. It’s a great place to rest and recharge with the spa’s hot and cold soaking pools and no electronics policy. Folks can choose between just the baths experience or you can add a massage too.
• Peak 2 Peak Gondola – the famous Whistler attractions runs until late September most years. Enjoy a 360-degree experience travelling along an over 4 km gondola.
• Superfly Ziplines – a great year-round activity is ziplining through Whistler’s backcountry. Superfly Ziplines, located just 10 minutes north of Whistler, offers a three-hour tour encompassing four ziplines and an ATV ride up the mountain.
• Whitewater Rafting – if you go early in the fall you can enjoy some great whitewater rafting run by The Adventure Group.
• Whistler Wine Walk – every Friday in October from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm people can explore Whistler’s art galleries while sampling some local BC wines and hors d’oeuvres.
• Vallea Lumina – a guided, multimedia walk through Whistler’s forests at night. Summer bookings usually go until October and then winter bookings start again at the end of November.
• Visit a Museum – the Audain Art Museum, Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre and the Whistler Museum are all great options for those wanting to see some art and learn about Whistler’s history.

 

 

Annual Fall Festivals

The fall season in Whistler features three popular festivals:

• Whistler Village Beer Festival – the weeklong festival celebrating craft beer usually takes place in mid-September each year. The festival includes two main tasting events at the Whistler Olympic Plaza (usually on the weekend) plus an assortment of smaller cask nights, beer battles and foodie nights at restaurants across town.
• Whistler Writers Festival – a festival celebrating the literary arts that takes place annually in October. The festival usually features a variety of workshops and reading events attended by Canadian and international authors, publishers and guest speakers.
• Whistler Cornucopia – Whistler’s fall food festival celebrating the town’s culinary scene. The festival features a selection of local cuisine and paired drinks offered by Whistler’s local restaurants as well as drink seminars and other special events. Cornucopia usually runs for a week or two in November.

 

 

Other Information

If the weather is nice, then a great idea is to check out one of Whistler’s Best Parks and Nature.

Other articles that might be of interest include the following:

• Calendar of Whistler Events
• Whistler in the Winter
• Spring Activities in Whistler
• Whistler in the Summer