Cougar Encounters Have Led To Temporary Closure of Sections of Whistler Bike Park

Those who frequent Whistler will be familiar with black bear sightings, but recent elevated cougar activity in this popular mountain biking destination has led to the temporary closure of two of the resort's most popular areas for mountain bikers and hikers. The Creekside and Garbanzo Zones of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park were closed on June 21 due to what conservation officers have deemed "aggressive cougar activity" following two encounters that took place on June 20th.

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Currently, the Ascent Trail, the Blackcomb bike trails, as well as both the Creekside and Garbanzo Zones, will remain closed until further notice. Conservation officers have stated that the cougars are not candidates for relocation, as they are already inhabiting their natural habitat. It is hoped that the animals will transition away from the area; however, should the situation escalate, more significant measures may be implemented.

Although these sightings and run-ins with North America's largest predatory cat did not result in injury, the Whistler Blackcomb Resort saw it best to temporarily hault lift operations and close these zones of the mountain for public safety while the COS and park staff asses the situation.

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"In one incident, a mountain biker was approached by a cougar. The cougar disengaged when other bikers arrived but stayed in the area," a spokesperson said to the local paper, Pique News Magazine. "In the second incident, a mountain biker was chased by a cougar for approximately 350 metres before falling. He threw rocks at the cougar, which also remained in the area."

#WBOps We continue to work with the Conservation Officer Service to address ongoing cougar activity in the areas of Creekside and Garbanzo Zones of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, and the Ascent Trail on Blackcomb Mountain.

— Whistler Blackcomb Operations (@wbmtnops) June 23, 2025

"We are working with the Conservation Officer Service to address cougar activity in the area of the Ascent Trail on Blackcomb Mountain," a spokesperson said. "As a precautionary measure to ensure public safety, the Ascent Trail and biking trails on Blackcomb, along with Creekside and Garbo Zones in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, are closed until further notice. We will provide updates as needed."

Following these reports, Canadian conservation officers arrived on the scene. They conducted an investigation, but they were unable to obtain visual sightings of the elusive animal, which should come as no surprise.

"In consultation with Whistler Blackcomb, partial closures of the park are in effect to ensure public safety. For information on closures, visit the park website. The spokesperson indicated that Chief Officers are currently present in the area to monitor and evaluate cougar activity.

These incidents occurred just a week after a trail to Garibaldi Lake had to be closed due to the presence of aggressive cougars in the vicinity. During that situation, several hikers were escorted out by COS and BC Parks staff after close calls with a pair of cougars. Whistler Blackcomb has also noted that more areas could be temporarily closed for safety reasons due to cougar activity on both mountains.

A spokesperson for the COS confirmed conservation officers are investigating "concerning cougar activity" on the neighboring mountain of Blackcomb. COs responded to the Ascent Trail area shortly after 11 a.m. on June 22, following a report of two cougars close to hikers. The hikers were quick to react and attempted to scare the cougar with noise and other deterrents, but their efforts were unsuccessful in deterring the cougar. Thankfully, no one was injured during this incident.

This alarming incident follows aggressive cougar activity at the nearby Whistler Mountain Bike Park over the weekend, where mountain bikers were stalked and pursued by cougars. Stalking, chasing, and being near people is an unusual behavior in cougars, which has prompted the park to pause operations while the situation is handled accordingly.

Whistler Blackcomb Operations issued a tweet on June 21st that read: “Bike Park Closure Update: Both Creekside and Garbo Zones remain closed to address recent cougar activity. A conservation officer will be located at the top of Fitzsimmons Express until noon today to educate guests on what to do in the event of a wildlife encounter.”

The COS also believes the cougars at Whistler Blackcomb are the same ones responsible for temporarily closing the Rubble Creek trail to Garibaldi Lake last week. Officials recommend visitors stay alert, check for updates, and report any cougar sightings. The trail closures will stay until authorities confirm the trails are safe.

We will update this story as more information becomes available.