Blackcomb Gondola Opening Dates
The Blackcomb Gondola is usually the very first lift running at the resort each season. Blackcomb has opened before Whistler Mountain in each of the last two seasons, and the gondola is always part of that first-day package. For 2026-27 expect it from 20 November 2026.
Where Blackcomb Gondola sits in the opening order
The Blackcomb Gondola runs in two stages from Blackcomb Base at 680 m up to Rendezvous at around 1,860 m, and it is the backbone of the mountain’s access. Every Blackcomb opening-day package since 2022 has been built around it.
It matters more than most lifts for trip planning because Blackcomb has opened first in each of the last two seasons — a day early in 2024-25, and five days early in 2025-26. If you are travelling for the very start of the season, Blackcomb is where you will be skiing.
On opening day the gondola typically feeds Jersey Cream Express, with Excelerator, Catskinner and the Excalibur Gondola alongside it, for roughly 87 to 125 skiable acres.
Blackcomb Gondola at a glance
| Lift type | Ten-passenger monocable detachable gondola, in two stages |
|---|---|
| Built | 2018, Doppelmayr, replacing the Wizard Express and Solar Coaster Express quads of 1987 |
| Stage 1 | Blackcomb Base 680 m to Base II 1,174 m — 493 m vertical, 2,020 m long |
| Stage 2 | Base II to Rendezvous, around 1,860 m — 690 m vertical, 2,077 m long |
| Capacity | 4,000 people per hour |
| Ride time | About 6 minutes per stage |
| Year-round | Runs in summer for sightseeing and bike access |
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 | 24 November 2022 | Opening-day; 125 skiable acres on Blackcomb |
| 2023-24 | 23 November 2023 | Opening-day, 8:30 am |
| 2024-25 | 21 November 2024 | Blackcomb opened one day before Whistler Mountain; 87 acres |
| 2025-26 | 21 November 2025 | Blackcomb opened five days before Whistler Mountain |
| 2026-27 | 20 November 2026 expected | Both mountains targeted for the same day |
What Blackcomb Gondola needs to open
The gondola itself needs no snow — it is the terrain it accesses that governs the opening. Blackcomb’s early-season package centres on Wishbone off Jersey Cream, which sits high enough to hold snow when the valley has none. Expect a download on the gondola rather than a ski-out to the base in the first weeks.
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 Blackcomb Gondola close?
The Blackcomb Gondola runs to the end of Blackcomb’s season, which is roughly a month later than Whistler Mountain. Recent Blackcomb closing days: 23 May 2022, 22 May 2023, 20 May 2024, 19 May 2025 and 18 May 2026.
It also runs through summer for sightseeing.
Common questions
When does the Blackcomb Gondola open?
It is part of Blackcomb’s opening-day package every season, and Blackcomb has opened before Whistler Mountain in each of the last two years. For 2026-27 expect 20 November.
Does Blackcomb open before Whistler Mountain?
It has in each of the last two seasons — one day earlier in 2024-25 and five days earlier in 2025-26. For 2026-27 both mountains are targeted for the same day, 20 November.
When does Blackcomb close?
Blackcomb runs about a month later than Whistler Mountain, finishing on the Victoria Day long weekend. Recent closing days were 19 May 2025 and 18 May 2026.