Lifestyle
Whistler and Pemberton are premier destinations for winter and summer sports. Whistler Blackcomb is consistently ranked as the leading ski resort in North America and provides access to terrain and facilities that are among the best in the world.
Surrounded by spectacular backcountry, opportunities exist near Sunstone for ski touring, snowmobiling, cross country skiing and heli-skiing. During spring and summer the region offers an abundance of spectacular mountain biking, hiking, golfing (2 courses within a 5 minute drive or 10 minute bike ride), horseback riding, paragliding, fishing, whitewater rafting, jetboating and kayaking. Exploring local markets, craft shops and galleries in and around Pemberton offer a peaceful way to enjoy a laid back lifestyle.
At the base of the Sunstone community is the future site of Pemberton’s planned recreational amenities as well as the planned 7km multi-use Friendship Trail which will connect the neighbourhood to Pemberton Village.
JANUARY / FEBRUARY
Pemberton Winterfest celebrates winter, the natural beauty of Pemberton’s outdoors, winter sports and recreation and the gathering of community members and visitors alike. When the conditions are right, some of the best ice skating can be found at One Mile Lake, Ivey Lake or nearby Gates Lake.
Snowmobiling is a thriving sport in this region. The Pemberton Ice Cap offers the thrills and chills of vast tracts of ice and snow, panoramic views, ice caves and crevasses.
MARCH / APRIL
Pemberton’s sandy soil, microclimate, and ongoing investment in trail building equals unparalleled mountain biking opportunities. Trails are well built and maintained and are meant for both up and downhill biking. Pemberton is often 10 degrees warmer than the coast, which makes it the ideal climate for early spring riding! One of the first mountain bike events in the season, the Pemberton Enduro happens in April and recreational Toonie Races occur weekly. Don’t miss the World Ski & Snowboard Festival (WSSF) is an annual celebration of snowsports, music, arts and mountain culture which will be held in Whistler each April.
MAY
The Pemberton Farmer’s Market is your one stop shop for local Pemberton goods. Held at the Pemberton Community Barn each Friday from May to mid-October, the market provides the opportunity to bring Pemberton-area producers and consumers together. Here you can browse Pemberton produce, arts/crafts, baked good and treats, jewellery and much more! At the end of May, catch the Nimby Fifty – a marathon 37km cross country mountain bike race covering most of the world-class single track trails Pemberton is famous for.
JUNE / JULY
Pemberton is well known for its golf and offers two spectacular 18-hole golf courses including the Sunstone Golf Club at the base of Mount Currie with mountain vistas in every direction. There are also vast array of trails and provincial parks in the area perfect for taking a day hike or spending the night. There is a quick hike just outside of town to the viewpoint of the 60m high Nairn Falls. The trail was once part of the traditional path used by the Lil’wat Nation to access the falls and Mount Currie. Another notable destination is Joffre Lakes which is a short but strenuous hike to three spectacular glacier-fed lakes and breathtaking vistas of the area. There are many exciting events happening in the Whistler including The North Face Half Marathon, Tough Mudder, Whistler Children’s Festival as well as the Subaru IRONMAN® Canada.
AUGUST / SEPTEMBER
August is jam-packed with events such as Wanderlust Whistler and the world-famous Crankworx Whistler Mountain Bike Festival both held in Whistler. Slow Food Cycle Sunday, Pemberton’s signature agritourism event is a wonderful opportunity to connect—town folk and city folk, consumers with their food, people with the land. Another magical Pemberton event is the Araxi Longtable Dining Series where award-winning executive chefs craft exquisite four-course menus that showcase farm-to-table creations at North Arm Farm. Finally, don’t forget to grab your finest cowboy threads and enjoy a night of music and dancing with the locals at the annual Pemberton Barn Dance.
OCTOBER / NOVEMBER
Did you know that Pemberton offers year round fishing, including excellent lake, river and heli-fishing. The Pemberton area is home to several species of fish including rainbow trout, Dolly Varden char, cutthroat trout, steelhead, whitefish, and five species of salmon making it one of the best places to fish on the West Coast. This is also one of the best times of the year to mountain bike in Pemberton, trails are often clear into early December.
DECEMBER
Pemberton is a short 20-minute drive from Whistler Blackcomb, North America’s largest ski resort. The ski resort boasts over 3,306 hectares of terrain, more than 37 lifts, over 200 marked runs and award-winning terrain parks. Some of Southwestern BC’s finest backcountry ski terrain lies just east of Pemberton. The highway gives easy access to numerous avalanche paths, open ridges, meadows, glaciers and attractive alpine basins that offer fantastic mid-winter backcountry skiing.
