While Whistler’s technical downhill runs at the bike park may be the first thing that comes to mind, Whistler is also a fantastic place to introduce your kids to the joys of mountain biking. With its network of beginner-friendly trails, family-focused activities, and stunning scenery, it’s the perfect spot for a biking adventure with the whole family.
In this guide, we’ll explore the best beginner trails, tips for biking with kids, and family-friendly activities to round out your trip. Whether you’re seasoned riders or total newbies, Whistler offers something for everyone.
Interested in a complete guide for Whistler? Check out our Whistler MTB Guide.
Tips for Mountain Biking with Kids in Whistler
Practice, Practice, Practice
Before the trip make sure your kids have been on their bikes, have tried on all their downhill gear and know how to secure their helmets. You want to optimize your time in Whistler and sorting this all out before makes your trip go smoothly. Also if going to the bike park, make sure they practice loading their bikes in the practice area right before the lifts or you talk to them about asking the lifties for help.
Choose the Right Trails
Start with green-rated trails and beginner-friendly routes like Lost Lake Trails and the Valley Trail. These trails are designed for less experienced riders and provide safe, smooth paths for kids to build confidence. Be aware that blue or black-rated trails include steep descents, jumps, and technical features. When going to the bike park always start on trails you know your kids can handle. Don’t scare them on the first run!
Stay in a Family-Friendly area
The Whistler Village can be loud so think about that before booking a condo or hotel right in the center. If camping, you can’t beat the location of Riverside. In Whistler Village check out The Westin for provide convenient access, comfortable rooms, and bike-friendly amenities, including secure bike storage and wash. Creekside is a great option for families that want more peace and quiet. Legends Whistler and Evolution Whistler are popular for their peaceful atmosphere and easy access to Creekside lifts.
Check your Bolts!
Whistler is tough on bikes and kids are even tougher. Make sure you check their bikes and bolts before, during, and after.
Mountain Bike Trails for Kids in Whistler
Here’s a list of 4 areas to ride in Whistler with kids. We’ll cover an overview of each area and a recommended route. Whistler has a lot of trails even for young riders. These trails suggestions are for kids who are just beginning their mountain biking journey. Our kids started exploring these routes on kids’ mountain bikes from 16-inch to 24-inch wheels. We highly recommend pre-riding the trails before taking your kids on them to make sure they’re up for the ride.
- Valley Trail
- Lost Lake
- Westside Trails
- Whistler Fitzsimmons Bike Park
Valley Trail
Riding the Valley Trail in Whistler with kids is good way to start exploring Whistler while enjoying safe, paved pathways. This extensive network of trails spans over 40 kilometers, connecting Whistler Village to scenic lakes, parks, and neighborhoods. You can ride from Whistler Village to Rainbow Park on Alta Lake, where you can relax by the water, or head toward Lost Lake Park for a mix of paved paths and singletrack trails. Another great route is the trail leading to Meadow Park Sports Centre, where kids can take a break at the playground or go to the pool. The Valley Trail has gentle terrain, bike-friendly signage, and and plenty of rest stops.
View and download a map of the Valley Trail.
Whistler Bike Park
Whistler Bike Park is world-famous for its technical downhill trails, but it also caters to young riders and beginners. For families with kids just starting their mountain biking journey, here are a few trails that stand out as the best trail at the park for kids.
EZ Does It
2.5 miles | Green Flow Trail
Ride Time: 20-30 minutes, depending on pace
Access Point: EZ Does It starts at the Fitzsimmons Express Chairlift. Go right off the chair.
EZ Does It is the perfect trail for beginner kids to experience the thrill of Whistler Bike Park without the challenges of more advanced trails. With proper preparation and encouragement, it’s a fantastic way to introduce young riders to the world of mountain biking.
Del Boca Vista
0.2 miles | Green Technical Downhill Trail
Ride Time: 5 minutes, depending on pace
Access Point: Off EZ Does It. Looks for the sign.
If you kid wants to step it up to more technical greens this trail is a family favorite. It’s less crowded than some other beginner trails, providing a relaxed environment for kids to build confidence without feeling rushed.
B-Line
1.5 miles | Blue Flow Trail
Ride Time: 10-20 minutes, depending on pace
Access Point: B-Line starts at the Fitzsimmons Express Chairlift. Go left off the chair.
As one of Whistler’s most popular beginner-to-intermediate trails, B-Line offers a slightly more challenging ride. It’s packed with small rollers, mild drops, and bermed turns that are great for kids ready to progress to the next level. The features are manageable for younger riders and provide a fun introduction to flow trails.
Lost Lake
The Lost Lake trail system is one of Whistler’s most accessible networks, located just minutes from Whistler Village off the bike path. These trails are ideal for a more relaxed, cross-country experience and are a great option for families, beginners, and those wanting to explore Whistler’s beautiful forests and lakeside views. While less intense than the Whistler Bike Park trails, Lost Lake offers a variety of routes with some flowy singletrack, gentle climbs, tech, and even some rock slabs if you look for them.
For a well-rounded experience of the Lost Lake trail system, the Zappa Trails Loop is a good choice. Named after musician Frank Zappa, this network of trails flows seamlessly, offering a mix of green and blue singletrack that showcases the best of Lost Lake’s terrain.
Route Overview
- Distance: Approximately 6-7 km (around 4 miles)
- Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate
- Duration: 1-2 hours, depending on pace
- Starting Point: Begin at the Lost Lake Park entrance, which is easily accessible from Whistler Village.
Route Highlights
- Peaches en Regalia and Dinah Moe Humm (Blue)
- Description: Start with Peaches en Regalia and Dinah Moe Humm. These trails include some wooden features and tech climbs that are on the easier side.
- Grand Wazoo (Blue)
- Description: Transition to Grand Wazoo, which offers a slightly more technical experience with small roots, rocks, and a few narrow turns. This trail is ideal for riders ready to step up from the green trails but not yet ready for intense terrain.
- Disco Boy (Blue)
- Description: After Grand Wazoo, head onto Disco Boy for some fun, flowy singletrack with moderate rollers and small berms. This trail offers some of the best flow in the Zappa network, making it a highlight of the loop.
- Tin Pants (Green)
- Description: For a smooth ride back toward the lake, take Tin Pants, which connects with other trails in the area and brings you through more forested sections. This trail is wide and flat, ideal for a relaxed cool-down.
- Fountain of Love/Pinocchio’s Furniture/Dwarf Nebula/Zoot Allures/Toads/Gee/Son of Mr. Green (Blues)
- Description: This route will provide a lot of fun challenges, wooden features and short tech sections.
- Jelly Roll Gumdrop (Blue)
- Description: If you’re up for a little more, finish with Jelly Roll Gumdrop, a trail that combines gentle elevation changes with fun turns, all leading back toward the starting point near Lost Lake.
Whistler Fitzsimmons Bike Park
The Fitzsimmons bike park, near Fitzsimmons Creek and next to the skate park by parking lot #3, is a great area for kids to develop their mountain biking skills in a fun and supportive environment. Designed with riders of varying abilities in mind, the park features a range of options, including dirt jumps, a pump track, and dedicated beginner and intermediate skills areas. The park is convenient to Lost Lake and the Bike Park so it’s an excellent spot to hang out before or after rides.
Whistler DFX
Whistler DFX Camps are a great way for kids to dive into mountain biking, whether they’re just starting out or already love riding. The program is designed to focus on skills development while being approachable and fun. We love riding with our kids and still find camps like DFX are critical to our kids learning and enjoyment.
The camps are divided into groups based on ability and not age. While this usually works out, I do think they should also focus on age ranges to make everyone more comfortable and mentally on the same page.
One of the best things about DFX Camps is your kids will get to explore areas you didn’t even know about, make friends, and try new things without their parent’s energy nearby.
DFX has several programs to join based on how long you’re at the park. Get more info here.
Whistler Family Activities
Whistler isn’t just about mountain biking—there are plenty of other activities to explore, whether you want to unwind or try something new.
Blackcomb Family Adventure Zone – The base of Blackcomb has several kids activities such as bounce houses, mini-golf, pump track, climbing wall, and Bungee Trampolines.
Hiking and Sightseeing: Take a break from biking and explore scenic hikes like the Whistler Train Wreck Trail, for its graffiti-covered boxcars and river views.
For panoramic alpine views, the Peak 2 Peak Gondola ride is a must if you’re not afraid of heights.
Ziplining and Bungee Jumping: For thrill-seekers, Whistler offers a range of adventure sports, including ziplining with Ziptrek Ecotours and bungee jumping with Whistler Bungee.
Lake Activities: Whistler has several beautiful lakes, including Alta Lake and Lost Lake, ideal for paddleboarding, swimming, or just relaxing on the shore. Check out the food truck (Park Eats) schedule in the summer as they visit each of the lakes.
Tennis: If you’re looking to switch gears, Whistler has a tennis club where our son did a few camps and lessons.