Editor’s Note: This post about Whistler Mountain Bike Park’s iconic alpine trail, Top of the World, was originally written in 2013. We updated the photos and some of the information (on August 2024) but mainly left this post as is. It’s good to note that you need a specific Top of the World ticket to ride the trail.
First off, you need a proper bike. Before uploading I’d considered tackling the Top of the World trail with my cross-country bike. Perhaps a life-devoted mountain bike ninja master could rip Whistler Bike Park’s longest, highest trail on a hardtail 29’er but as I bounced and bumped my way down the southwest slopes off Whistler Peak I was incredibly thankful for the high-performance rental my friend had talked me into. And the shin and knee pads.
The best adventures involve some element of the unknown. There’s always a unique thrill in doing something for the first time. Pedaling off the peak of Whistler Mountain for the first time, and dropping into North America’s first lift-accessed, high-alpine bike trail, I was surrounded by unknowns, most of them regarding my own abilities.
The Top of The World trail starts at 2182 m (7160 feet) with stunning panoramic views of jutting Black Tusk, the glaciated Coast Mountains and the shimmering lakes of the valley below. These are views and terrain I grew up with but don’t usually see without the soft blanket of winter on everything. What I’d find simple to ski down looks treacherous on two wheels and right off the hop the Top of the World trail presents two entrance options: “This way is hard,” the black-diamond trail signs seem to proclaim, ”and this way is harder.” New to the sport, I opted for the “hard” entrance. Let the adventure begin…
“It looks pretty loose so just watch your back braking,” warned Whistler ripper Chantelle Pellerin, who wrote the initial Whistler Insider post on the Top of the World trail when it opened in 2012. Chantelle rides almost every day of the summer so it was comforting when she offered to ride tail-gun and make sure I made it down all 4,926 vertical feet back to the GLC patio.
“Here we go,” I said. And off we went.
The trail itself is a treat. A mix of totally unique alpine singletrack and double-wide ski runs. Riding past snow banks, splashing through creeks and weaving through stunted-growth alpine trees is just as exhilarating as the views of the Whistler backcountry and Corrie Lake.
Top of the World is bouncy and fun with a few tight corners and rocky sections but no huge drops or sketchy bridges to navigate (my weaknesses). I didn’t fall but definitely had to put a foot down in spots. My cross-country skills were up to the task although the five-kilometre continuous descent left my hands plenty tired by the bottom. It was almost hard to hold onto my margarita.
The Top of the World is a true alpine biking experience—just the mountains, the sky, you and the bike (with no uphill pedalling to get there). Whistler Blackcomb limits the number of riders per day on the trail (it’s sensitive terrain) so it’s best to book ahead for busy times (like Crankworx) but on an early Monday afternoon Chantelle and I didn’t see another rider until we arrived back at the bike park proper. The ability to link thousands of vertical feet of secluded alpine singletrack with your favourite bike park trails means Top of the World lives up to the hype and more. It’s truly a one-of-a-kind bike ride and a definite adventure, and the reason they suggest it’s for advanced riders.
Tips for Top of the World
- Full suspension is integral for rookie Top of the World’ers and the rental bikes are awesome. So is a good helmet (rental full-face helmets are pretty nasty though so if you are even half serious about mountain biking, go buy your own helmet).
- Lift your feet up when crossing streams to avoid soakers.
- Probably not a bad idea to burst off a warm-up lap in the park before heading straight to the top to get the blood and stoke pumping.
- Take’er easy, taker’er slow. 4,926 feet is a lot of vertical for a single run. It’s okay to take a breather and enjoy the views.
Check out our Whistler Mountain Bike Park: 25 Years of Progression blog to see what makes Whistler one of the top biking destinations in the world.
For a better look at the trail watch this Pinkbike.com Top of the World 2013 video.
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