Big Red Express Chairlift Area

The Big Red Express Chairlift services the area located on the West side of Whistler Mountain below the Roundhouse Lodge and above the Creekside Gondola area.  This chairlift along with the Creekside Gondola is one of the 2 main ways to upload onto Whistler Mountain (the other being the Whistler Gondola from Whistler Village).  

 

From the top of the Big Red Express Chairlift, you can access:

• Roundhouse Lodge

• Runs over to the Peak Express Chairlift

• Runs over to the Glacier Bowl T-Bar

• Runs over to the Harmony Express Chairlift base

• Runs down to the bottom of the Emerald Express Chairlift

 

Skill Level

• The Big Red area offers a good variety of Green, Blue, and Black Runs (and even a Double-Black-like run), making it a good area for beginners, intermediate and even 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/#14.54/50.07969/-122.95663/113.9/52

 

Gondolas/Lifts​​

• Big Red Express Chairlift: This is the six-person chairlift that runs from the top of the Creekside Gondola up to just above the Roundhouse Lodge.

  • Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6Sq5Fq8U4Q​

• Franz’s Chairlift: This is the older three-person chairlift that runs below and to the right of the Big Red Express Chairlift. It is only occasionally open and running when there is a lot of traffic on the hill.

 

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.

• The Roundhouse Lodge: This is the main lodge on Whistler Mountain. It offers a café and two big cafeterias, one on the top level and one on the lower level. It also contains Seppo’s Bar and Steeps Grill and Wine Bar (reservations recommended). There are two outdoor patios, with one facing the mountain and one facing the valley. The famous Whistler Umbrella Bar sits on the very edge of the valley side patio and offers great views of the valley. There are large men’s and women’s washrooms and a small store on the lower level.

 

Main Routes

• Pony Trail – Expressway: This is the main Green route on this side of Whistler Mountain. Pony Trails starts below the Roundhouse Lodge on the side towards the Big Red Express Chairlift and curves back and forth down to the Big Red Express Chairlift base.  Expressway runs from the Big Red Express Chairlift base over to the Whistler Village side of the mountain and to Garbanzo Express Chairlift base.

• CC – Fisheye/Little Red – Porcupine – Franz’s – Highway 86:  This is the main Blue route from the Roundhouse Lodge down to the bottom of the Big Red Express Chairlift.  CC starts just below the Roundhouse Lodge and has several paths that lead down to the start of Fisheye and Little Red. Fisheye and Little Red continue down to join with Porcupine, which leads to the top of Franz’s Run. Franz’s runs down to Highway 86.  At the end of Highway 86 you can then follow Pony Trail - Lower to the bottom of the chairlift.

 

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 ...