Adventure  Education  Inspiration

Ziptrek Ecotours at Whistler-Blackcomb truly has it all. Guests from around the world enjoy a rare and unforgettable opportunity to explore, learn and enjoy themselves in an accessible environment that blends outdoor adventure with an enlightening ecology-based curriculum.

Ziptrek Ecotours was founded in 2001 when two lifelong friends and entrepreneurs came together to create an adventure ecotourism business. Their goal was to provide guests with a unique experience combining nature-based learning with the rush of adrenaline. Charles Steele and David Udow both graduated from business school and went on to start their own small businesses. Not satisfied with traditional business models and being stuck behind a desk all day, they came together and set their sights on getting ‘back to nature’ in a way that would marry their business sensibilities with their love of the outdoors and passion for the environment.

Ziptrek first opened its doors for adventure in July 2002 and has been a hit with visitors and locals ever since. Fully guided Ziptrek tours take guests on an inspiring journey through the forest via a series of suspension bridges, observation platforms, ground based trails and, of course, ziplines. Ziplines are steel cables that are anchored between two treetops. Guests are outfitted with a climbing harness and are then attached to the zipline cable with a pulley. At each aerial launch platform, guests are instructed to step down the platform stairs until they feel the tension of the tethers holding their weight. They can then simply pick up their feet, step off the platform and soar down the cable, picking up speeds of up to 100 km/hr (60 mph). While on a zipline cable guests have the freedom to move, look around and position themselves in various ways (upside down, etc.) to increase the speed and the thrill. Over the years, Ziptrek’s clever guides have come up with an assortment of ziplining positions for the more intrepid Ziptrekker such as the ‘starfish’, ‘cannonball’, ‘heat seeker’ and - one of the all-time favorites - the ‘inverted Buddha’.

For those who love the education and stunning treetop vistas of the river valley below but are not quite as adventurous, Ziptrek Ecotours opened TreeTrek – Whistler’s Canopy Walk. TreeTrek is a fully guided, ecology based tour that takes guests through the treetops on a series of suspension bridges and observation platforms. TreeTrek guests enjoy an even stronger focus on our ecology and sustainability material in the same stunning and inspiring locale. For some, the gentle sway of the suspension bridges offers the same exhilaration as riding a zipline does for others!

Ziptrek Ecotours is located in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada. Whistler is consistently rated one of the top all-season resorts in the world and is located about 120 km from Vancouver, BC along the spectacular Sea-to-Sky Highway. The Ziptrek site covers over 33 acres of diverse terrain (old growth forest, second growth forest, steep cliff faces and lush forest floor) spanning between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains and over Fitzsimmons Creek - guests literally zipline between the two mountains directly over the river! A complimentary shuttle from Whistler Village to the Ziptrek base on Blackcomb Mountain takes approximately ten minutes by four-wheel drive van (and snowcat in winter). While at the Ziptrek tour area, guests are able to see first hand the varieties of forest composition between the ancient, old growth forests and the second-generation forests that exist in the area. It is the ideal site for interactive learning and outdoor adventure exploration. Ziptrek offers two tours: the original 5-zipline tour that made them famous and the new 5-zipline tour that includes a 2000’ awe inspiring monster that drops over 20 stories. Each tour lasts just under 3 hours and TreeTrek tours are just under 2 hours in duration.

Ziptrek & Tree Trek tours run 365 days a year, in all weather conditions. Tours depart approximately every half an hour in fall and winter and every twenty minutes in spring and summer. Ziptrek Ecotours also offer twilight tours that include headlamps and allow guests to explore the forest under the light of the moon and stars. To add to the evening aura, the Ziptrek suspension bridges are illuminated with small LED lights to allow for greater visibility without spoiling the moonlit magic.

The Ziptrek team is a network of passionate people from diverse backgrounds who collaborate to ensure that they consistently exceed guest expectations while staying committed to their sustainability mandate and remaining a model of ecotourism. The Ziptrek Staff are proud to be part of a progressive company that is able to provide an unparalleled and unforgettable experience in an environmentally and socially responsible way.

Ziptrek is proud to conform to the United Nations’ definition of ecotourism and to actively support Whistler’s commitment to becoming one of the most sustainable communities in North America using the principles of The Natural Step Framework. This has been achieved by focusing on such things as creating sustainable jobs in the community, which do not consume the resources upon which they are based. Wherever possible, Ziptrek uses renewable energy sources for operations. They also support local and international organizations that are committed to environmental education and sustainability. Most recently Ziptrek Ecotours have gone off the electric grid and are now drawing power through their own hydroelectric set up at their base on Blackcomb. Ziptrek constantly strives for the minimal environmental impact possible and do such things as ensuring that they offset annual carbon dioxide emissions by planting trees.

Ziptrek Ecotours company mandate is to provide an exhilarating and memorable outdoor adventure experience following a sustainable business model. Ziptrek Ecotours is continually adopting new technologies to promote these philosophies even further. Ziptrek thrives on sharing the thrill that people experience when they overcome perceived fears and realize that the experience is so much more than they thought it would be.