Callaghan Cruiser Snowmobile Tour

About This Experience

The Callaghan Cruiser is Canadian Wilderness Adventures' tour for first-timers, double riders and families. You check in at the operator's desk in Whistler Village, take the shuttle south to the Callaghan Valley, get fitted with a helmet, gloves and goggles and go through training before anyone turns a key. The guide then leads the group along wide, winding trails at a pace set for beginners, through snowy forest to the site of the historic NorthAir Goldmine.

The 3 hours listed is the full round trip, shuttle and training included, so the riding itself takes up part of that time. The trails are easy by design, and the listing rates the tour suitable for all fitness levels. Reviewers who had never ridden before say the guides were patient with nervous riders and made sure everyone was comfortable before setting off, and several mention snow-heavy trees and a frozen lake along the way.

The price is per snowmobile, and one machine carries one or two riders. The driver must be 19 or older with a full, unrestricted licence equivalent to a BC Class 5 or Class 6; the second seat is for a passenger. Children aged 5 to 12 ride free with a paying adult, as long as they are at least 48 inches tall and fit the smallest helmet. Combined weight on one machine must stay under 400 lb (180 kg).

Collision coverage is mandatory for each driver and is paid separately, and hotel pickup is not part of the tour. The ride goes ahead in all weather, so dress for snow. Guests rate it 4.9 out of 5 across 491 reviews, which makes it one of the most reliable ways to try snowmobiling near Whistler if nobody in your group has done it before.

Highlights

• A ride through the Callaghan Valley to the historic NorthAir Goldmine site
• Wide, winding trails ridden at a comfortable pace for beginners
• Designed for first-timers, double riders and families
• Suitable for all fitness levels
• Departure from the operator's desk in the middle of Whistler Village
• Groups of up to 7 snowmobiles following one guide

What's Included

• ✓ Local, professional guide
• ✓ Helmet, gloves and goggles
• ✓ Shuttle from Whistler Village to the Callaghan Valley and back
• ✓ Snowmobile training before the ride
• ✓ Free ride for children aged 5 to 12 with a paying adult

Not Included

• Mandatory collision coverage per driver (covers minor accidental damage to the snowmobile)
• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Gratuities

What to Bring

• Warm layered clothing and a winter jacket
• Snow pants
• Winter boots
• Winter gloves and ski goggles (gloves and goggles are provided, but your own may fit better)
• A full, valid driver's licence for anyone driving; drivers under 25 must show it at check-in

Good to Know & Caveats

• The 3 hours cover the shuttle, training and the ride itself, so riding time is shorter.
• The price is per snowmobile for one or two riders, not per person. Each additional snowmobile is a separate booking; note your companions' names under Special Requirements so you are grouped together.
• Drivers must be 19 or older with a full (unrestricted), valid licence equivalent to a BC Class 5 or Class 6.
• Child passengers must be at least 5 years old and 48 inches tall, and must fit the smallest helmet.
• Maximum combined weight on one snowmobile is 400 lb (180 kg).
• Everyone signs a release of liability and waiver; riders under 19 need a parent or guardian present to sign.
• Minimum numbers apply. If too few riders book, you are offered an alternative or a full refund.
• One adult per group of up to 7 snowmobiles must speak conversational English, and anyone suspected of being over BC's legal driving limit cannot ride and is not refunded.

Meeting Point

Check in 30 minutes early at the Canadian Wilderness Adventures reservations desk, downstairs in the Carleton Lodge, 4280 Mountain Square, Whistler Village. There is no hotel pickup; the shuttle to the Callaghan Valley leaves from here.