For those looking for swift access to the top of a mountain for views, skiing , mountain biking and other outdoor adventres , or a safe canyon descent - the Vancouver Coast & Mountains region offers all kinds of possibilities. Start at Vancouver's North Shore and hop on the Grouse Mountain Skyride for spectacular views of the city and beyond. Skiers and snowboarders will appreciate the Peak to Peak Gondola that spans Whistler and Blackcomb peaks, allowing for easier access to downhill terrain. And serious adrenalin-seekers can take the Hell's Gate Airtram for a closer look at the 200 million gallons of water per minute that flows through the Fraser Canyon at peak season.
Panoramic views of the city, oceans and mountains unfold as the Skyride , North America's largest aerial tram system, whisks visitors to the mountain-top, 3,700ft above the city. Experience year-round activities including a Refuge for Endangered Wildlife, where two orphaned grizzly bears and three timber wolves live in a protected sanctuary. Theatre in the Sky showcases a breathtaking scenic overview of Southwestern BC from an eagle's perspective. snowboarding , as well as snowshoeing, ice-skating and sleighrides. All this just minutes from downtown Vancouver . Learn more about Gondolas at Grouse Mountain:
Whistler Blackcomb resort can access the mountains from the valley by five bases equipped with the most extensive high-speed lift system in the world. Two gondolas from Whistler Village (Excalibur and Whistler Village), four-person chairlifts at the base of Blackcomb and Whistler mountains, and a gondola at the Creekside base, 4km south of Whistler Village, virtually eliminate line-ups.
The PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola opened in Deceomber 2008 and connects the tops of Whistler and Blackcomb, linking 8,171 acres of terrain. This 11 minute ride takes skiers and snowboarders from mountain to mountain allowing them the freedom to find fresh powder in Seventh Heaven and Symphony Bowl ski areas, and then make their way over to Creekside, all before lunch!
Located in the scenic Fraser Canyon between Hope and Cache Creek on the No. 1 Trans Canada Hwy, the Fraser River squeezes through Hell's Gate - a 35 metre wide gorge where over 200 million gallons of water per minute flow through at spring run off – that's twice the volume of Niagara Falls!
Hell's Gate Airtram makes a gentle 500 foot descent from highway level to river level. It's at this historic location that Simon Fraser made a death defying voyage in 1808, and the great Fraser Canyon battle occured during the Gold Rush in 1858.
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