Emerald Express Chairlift Area

The Emerald Express Chairlift area is located mid mountain, below the Roundhouse Lodge on Whistler.  This area is accessible either via the Whistler Village Gondola or the Garbanzo Express Chairlift and is serviced by the Emerald Express Chairlift. 

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The Emerald Express Chairlift is the first lift to open up on Whistler in the morning, so most people do warm-up runs here at the start of the day.  This chairlift is also the main lift used by the ski school. As a result, it can be quite busy at different times of the day.  This area is also popular with ‘Park Rats’ who want to ski the Whistler Terrain Park in this area.

 

From the top of the Emerald Express Chairlift, you can:

• Ski over to the Roundhouse Lodge

• Ski over to the Peak Express Chairlift base

• Access runs down to the bottom of the Harmony Express Chairlift

• Access runs down to the Big Red Express Chairlift base

• Access a variety of runs and the Whistler Terrain Park under and around the Emerald Express Chairlift

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Skill Level

• This area offers a range of Green and Blue runs as well as some Black glade areas and is popular for beginner and intermediate skiers and snowboarders.

• There are some Black glade sections in this area that require expert skiing and boarding skills.

 

Maps

• Whistler Blackcomb Trail Map: https://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/the-mountain/about-the-mountain/trail-maps.aspx

• OpenSkiMap: https://openskimap.org/#14.37/50.07647/-122.94658/-168.8

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Gondolas/Lifts

• Emerald Express Chairlift - This is the six-person, high-speed chairlift that services this area below the Roundhouse Lodge.

 

Lodges/Huts

• The Roundhouse Lodge: Roundhouse Lodge is the main lodge on Whistler Mountain. The lodge offers two large cafes and two cafeterias on the two levels. It also contains Seppo’s Bar and a more formal restaurant called Steeps Grill and Wine Bar (reservations recommended). There are two outdoor patios, 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 and surrounding mountains. There are large men’s and women’s washrooms as well as two shops on the lower level.

• Chic Pea Hut - Shared with the Garbanzo Express Chairlift area, the Chic Pea Hut is a nice, small hut that offers food, seating, and washrooms. It is reminiscent of how ski lodges used to be with long tables and bench seating. 

 

Main Routes

• Ego Bowl - This is the main Green route through the Emerald area. It starts below the Roundhouse Lodge and curves back and forth to end down at the bottom of the Emerald Express Chairlift.

• Jolly Green Giant -  This is the main Blue run down through the Emerald Express Chairlift area. It starts at the top of the Emerald Express Chairlift and runs down to end on Sidewinder (Green) just above the Emerald Express Chairlift base.

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​For more specific details about this area (and other areas) on Whistler Blackcomb check out my Whistler Blackcomb Guidebook ...