Big Red Express Opening Dates
Big Red Express opens on Whistler Mountain’s opening day in a normal season. It was an opening-day lift in both 2023-24 and 2024-25. For 2026-27 expect it running from 20 November 2026, conditions permitting.
Where Big Red Express sits in the opening order
Big Red is Whistler Mountain’s main intermediate workhorse, running from Olympic Station up the front face towards the Roundhouse. It carries the bulk of the mountain’s traffic and is the primary feeder to the alpine.
It is also the lift that matters most on a bad weather day. When Peak Express and Harmony are on wind hold, Big Red keeps running below treeline, and it becomes the default lap for most of the mountain.
The 2022-23 season is the one exception in recent history: the new six-pack was still under construction on opening day and did not carry its first riders until 16 December 2022.
Big Red Express at a glance
| Lift type | Six-person high-speed detachable, Doppelmayr D-Line |
|---|---|
| Built | 2022, replacing the 1997 Big Red Express quad |
| Vertical rise | 554 m |
| Length | 2,463 m |
| Ride time | About 8 minutes 50 seconds |
| Capacity | 3,600 people per hour |
| Terrain served | Whistler’s main front face — wide groomed intermediate runs from Olympic Station to near the Roundhouse |
| Lineage | Traces back to the original Red Chair of 1965; the resort’s status feed sometimes still lists it as “Red Chair” |
Historical opening dates
Whistler Blackcomb does not publish a per-lift opening archive, so these dates come from the resort’s own Terrain Alert announcements and from archived snapshots of its lift status feed.
| Season | Opened | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 16 December 2022 | Mid-season debut of the new six-pack; missed opening day due to construction |
| 2023-24 | 23 November 2023 | Opening-day lift, listed as “Red Chair” |
| 2024-25 | 22 November 2024 | Opening-day lift |
| 2025-26 | By 2 December 2025 | Running in the first fortnight |
| 2026-27 | 20 November 2026 expected | Target opening day |
What Big Red Express needs to open
Big Red opens with the mountain. Because it runs below treeline on the sheltered north face, it needs far less snow than the alpine lifts and rarely holds up an opening.
What to expect for 2026-27
Whistler Blackcomb has confirmed a target opening day of Friday 20 November 2026, conditions permitting.
Treat every date on this page as a planning window rather than a fixed commitment. Lift openings are decided on the morning, on the basis of snow depth, avalanche control work, wind and visibility.
When does Big Red Express close?
Big Red runs to the end of Whistler Mountain’s season, in recent years between 14 and 21 April.
Common questions
When does Big Red Express open at Whistler?
Big Red opens on Whistler Mountain’s opening day in a normal season — 23 November 2023 and 22 November 2024, for example. For 2026-27 expect 20 November.
Is Big Red the same as the Red Chair?
Effectively yes. Big Red Express traces its lineage to the original 1965 Red Chair, and Whistler Blackcomb’s own lift status feed has listed it as “Red Chair” in recent seasons.
Does Big Red run when the alpine is closed?
Yes, and that is exactly when it matters most. Big Red sits below treeline and keeps running on days when Peak Express, Harmony and Symphony are held for wind or visibility.