Here are the Best and Worst Novice Runs in Whistler

Once you've mastered the beginner area and are getting bored of the magic carpet and Olympic/Magic Chair, it's time to head up the gondola and try out some green runs. If you are looking for a beginner/learning area (which is where I highly recommend starting if you are just starting out) you can check out this article to help you choose the right one for you: What is the best learning area in Whistler?

There are tons of green runs to choose from between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains and some are MUCH easier than others. There are some that are marked as green but are steeper or just as steep as other runs marked as blue!

Unfortunately there is no way to know this until you get there. So here is a list of great green runs for novice skiers on Whistler and Blackcomb mountains and which ones you should avoid.

You and your kids should be between a level 2-3 on this chart and confident skiing all runs at the learning area before you think about leaving Olympic Station or Magic Chair to these next runs. Runs are labelled from easiest to hardest. Click here for a trail map.

THE EASIEST GREEN RUNS ON WHISTLER MOUNTAIN:

Upper Whisky Jack

Lower Ego Bowl

Papoose

Pony Trail

Bear Cub

Expressway

Lower Olympic Run

RECOMMENDED: if you are taking your kids (or partner, friend or any beginner) up the mountain for their first time after the magic carpet and Olympic Station I would recommend Upper Whiskey Jack to Ego Bowl to Emerald Chair lift OR Lower Olympic Run from the Whistler Gondola mid-station to the village.

PRO TIP: Ski the lower mountain early in the day when everyone else is skiing the top. The snow will be better for longer and there will be less people around which is perfect for beginners!

THE HARDEST GREEN RUNS ON WHISTLER MOUNTAIN:

Burnt Stew Trail (has AMAZING views and is mostly a flat cat track but there are multiple sections that are very steep and off camber. It is also VERY long)

Pika's Traverse (it's very narrow and has some steep sections but the biggest thing that makes it hard is that there are a ton of advanced skiers going really fast making it unsafe for beginners).

Green Acres (it's labelled green but it's harder than Orange Peel which is blue)

Marmot (right next to green acres, the top pitch could be labelled a black sometimes because it's so steep and icy)

THE EASIEST GREEN RUNS ON BLACKCOMB MOUNTAIN:

Easy out

Green Line (this run goes from the very top to the very bottom. The best section is from the mid-station of the Blackcomb Gondola to the base or from the top of the Excalibur Gondola to the base. You can take it top to bottom but it's really long and usually way too tiring for first timers.)

Big Easy (has one steep section so make sure you are happy on Easy Out first.)

THE HARDEST GREEN RUNS ON BLACKCOMB MOUNTAIN:

Green Line from 7th Heaven Chair to the top of the Blackcomb Gondola

Crystal Road (steep and narrow with not much room to turn)

Sunset Boulevard (it's very narrow with not much room to turn and also long with a couple steeper sections. There are always lots of advanced skier going fast on this run making it unsafe for beginners.)

RECOMMENDED: Easy out is the easiest and best run for novice skiers on Blackcomb, especially kids. It's not too long (it's the shortest green run on either mountain other than the beginner areas). The Magic Castle is accessible from this run which is a fun playground with slides for the kids to play and have a break. Keep in mind that most of the green runs on Blackcomb are cat tracks which aren't that fun for learning and don't give much space for error.

PRO TIP: Whistler Mountain has way more beginner terrain than Blackcomb with an easier progression. If you want to ski lots of green runs and you are staying at Blackcomb Base you can upload the gondola and take the Peak to Peak over to Whistler.

DO YOU WANT TO BE SURE YOU AND YOUR KIDS ARE BEING SAFE AND PROGRESSING PROPERLY?

Take a lesson! Ski school is super fun and safe for the kids and they will have so much fun learning with an instructor and other kids their own age. Same goes for you! You can even take a family private lesson and ski together with the whole family.

BOOK A LESSON NOW