Glacier Express Chairlift Area

The Glacier Express Chairlift area is located in the upper alpine zone of Blackcomb in-between the Blackcomb Glacier to the Northeast and the 7th Heaven area to the South. Given the terrain, off-piste skiing options, and potential weather conditions, this area is an intermediate and expert skiing zone.  The Glacier Express Chairlift is one of the two chairs on Blackcomb that can take you up into the alpine zone (the other is the 7th Heaven Express Chairlift). You can access the Glacier Express Chairlift next to Glacier Creek Lodge near the bottom of the Jersey Cream Express Chairlift.

 

This area has plenty of great open alpine skiing options, including Glacier Drive which runs down the middle of this area. There are also many Black skiing options (steeps, bumps, etc.) on either side of this area, including a small bowl—Brownlie Basin (Black)—that can be a lot of fun with good snow and visibility.

​

At the top of the Glacier Express Chairlift, you can also ski over to the Showcase T-Bar. This will take you up to the boot hike that gives you access into the Blackcomb Glacier (an advanced intermediate and expert skiing zone). You can also follow a traverse over to Spanky’s Ladder, boot hike up, and ski into the expert Gemstone Bowls on the other side.  NOTE: When the snow base is to low, the Showcase T-Bar is not usable given the distance between the cables and the snow surface (e.g. during the 2023-24 season).

 

NOTE: Almost all of the Glacier area is in the alpine, so the area can be very challenging if weather, visibility and/or snow conditions are poor. The bottom of the Glacier Express Chairlift can also be very busy on a good snow day and most weekends, so expect a long wait in line.

​

Skill Level

• Given that most of the runs in this area are Black or higher difficulty, this is an advanced intermediate and expert skiing / snowboarding zone.

• Intermediate skiers and snowboarders can go up the Glacier Express chairlift and follow the Crystal Traverse (Blue) over to the Crystal Ridge area.

 

Maps

• Whistler Blackcomb Winter Trail Map: https://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/-/aemasset/sitecore/whistler-blackcomb/maps/20231004_WB_Winter_TrailMapFull_001.pdf

• OpenSkiMap: https://openskimap.org/#14.59/50.0951/-122.88827/85.6

 

Gondolas/Lifts

• Glacier Express Chairlift: This is the high-speed four-person chair that starts next to the Glacier Creek Lodge and runs up into the alpine zone next to the Horstman Glacier.

• Showcase T-Bar: This is the two-person T-bar that runs up the far end of the Glacier Express Chairlift area. It provides access to the boot hike into the Blackcomb Glacier as well as to the top of Showcase (Blue).

​

Lodges/Huts

• Glacier Creek Lodge: Glacier Creek Lodge is a large, two-level lodge at the base of the Jersey Cream Express and the Glacier Express Chairlifts. The main cafeteria and coffee bar on the second floor offer food and drinks with ample seating. There is also a small snack bar on the lower level with additional seating inside and outside. The lodge has a small shop as well as washrooms on the first floor.

 

Main Routes

• Glacier Drive: Glacier Drive is the main Black run through this area.  Glacier Drive starts at the top of the ridge behind Horstman Hut, runs down into the Glacier Express Chairlift area, continues down the middle of this area, and then curves down to in front of the Glacier Creek Lodge.

• Crystal Traverse: Crystal Traverse is the main and only Blue route through this area.  It starts at the top of the Glacier Express Chairlift, curves right and under the chairlift, runs along the side of the mountain, and then ends at the top of the Crystal Ridge Express Chairlift area.

​

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