Creekside Gondola Opening Dates
The Creekside Gondola usually runs from Whistler Mountain’s opening day, as it did in 2023-24 and 2024-25. The exception is when Blackcomb opens first: in 2025-26 the Creekside lots were closed to ski access for the first three days while only Blackcomb was running.
Where Creekside Gondola sits in the opening order
The Creekside Gondola is the south-side access to Whistler Mountain, running from Creekside at 653 m up to the Raven’s Nest and mid-mountain area. It is the newest gondola at the resort, a Doppelmayr D-Line installed in 2022.
It is a standard part of the opening-day package in a normal year. The nuance is that Whistler Mountain and Blackcomb do not always open on the same day. When Blackcomb opens first — as it did in 2024-25 and 2025-26 — the whole Whistler side including Creekside stays shut until Whistler Mountain’s own opening day.
If you are staying in Creekside, check which mountain opens first before booking your travel dates.
Creekside Gondola at a glance
| Lift type | Ten-passenger monocable gondola, Doppelmayr D-Line |
|---|---|
| Built | 2022, replacing the 1996 Poma six-passenger gondola |
| Base elevation | 653 m at Creekside |
| Vertical rise | 645 m |
| Length | 2,047 m |
| Ride time | About 6 minutes 20 seconds |
| Capacity | 3,200 people per hour |
| Terrain served | South-side valley access to mid-mountain, serving the Dave Murray Downhill corridor and lower Whistler groomers |
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 | 23 December 2022 | Mid-season debut of the new gondola; missed opening day due to construction |
| 2023-24 | 23 November 2023 | Opening-day lift, download required |
| 2024-25 | 22 November 2024 | Opening-day lift |
| 2025-26 | 26 November 2025 | Creekside lots closed to ski access 21-23 November while only Blackcomb ran |
| 2026-27 | 20 November 2026 expected | Both mountains targeted for the same day |
What Creekside Gondola needs to open
Creekside’s base sits at 653 m, the lowest lift base at the resort, so the ski-out here is among the last terrain to fill in. Expect a download requirement in a thin early season, as the resort imposed in 2023-24.
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 Creekside Gondola close?
The Creekside Gondola closes on the same day as Whistler Mountain, in recent years between 14 and 21 April. In 2024-25 the resort confirmed Creekside Gondola, PEAK 2 PEAK and Whistler Mountain all finished together on 21 April.
Common questions
When does the Creekside Gondola open?
Usually on Whistler Mountain’s opening day — 23 November 2023 and 22 November 2024, for example. For 2026-27 expect 20 November.
Can I ski from Creekside on opening weekend?
Only if Whistler Mountain is open. When Blackcomb opens first, as in 2024-25 and 2025-26, Creekside stays closed to ski access until Whistler Mountain’s own opening day.
Is the Creekside Gondola new?
Yes, it is the newest gondola at the resort — a ten-passenger Doppelmayr D-Line installed in 2022, replacing a 1996 six-passenger gondola.