Blue Velvet - Upper

Blue Velvet – Upper in Whistler is the classic “first real lap” in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park’s Garbanzo zone. It’s a 9 km point-to-point descent from around 1,668 m, rated very easy on paper, but still fast and exciting once you open it up. If you’re in town for Crankworx or just stacking Whistler Bike Park miles, this is a go-to warm-up from the top of the Garbo chair.

The trail is wide and mellow by Whistler standards, with only about 4 m of climbing, so you’re basically just pointing it downhill the whole way. Expect a mix of smooth sections, rougher loose patches, small jumps, and bits of fire road where you can really carry speed and let the brakes cool off. It links well with other Garbanzo trails, so you can treat Blue Velvet – Upper as a confidence-builder before dropping into more technical lines.

Current reports around Crankworx say the park is buzzing, so expect traffic, especially midday when races and festival crowds spill onto the lifts. Surfaces can get blown out and dusty in late summer, with braking bumps in the faster sections, so stay light on the bars and give space to riders ahead. The Whistler Bike Park usually runs this zone from late spring to fall, but always check Whistler Blackcomb’s official mountain bike park page for openings, weather holds, and pass requirements before you plan your lap down Blue Velvet – Upper.