Is Whistler, BC, Safe?

Whistler feels like a village stitched into the mountains: gondola rides, alpine skylines, and a compact, walkable core clustered around Whistler Village, where accommodation ranges from budget hostels to the Fairmont Chateau Whistler.

That mix of tourists, seasonal workers, and full-time residents shapes how safety looks here. You’ll see police patrols, Search and Rescue volunteers, and mountain-safety teams as part of day-to-day life.

Whistler’s vibe changes with the seasons. Ski season and summer biking both bring crowds and occasional congestion on the Sea to Sky Highway, and that seasonal swell is the main reason some types of crime, notably property crime linked to rental gear and unlocked vehicles, rise at specific times of year. 

If you are thinking about looking at homes in Whistler, planning a trip to Whistler from Vancouver, or just wondering whether Whistler is worth visiting for skiing or biking, this piece gives an honest review of the crime picture.

Official reporting from the Resort Municipality of Whistler and the local RCMP shows that total calls and the mix of offenses shifted in 2024. The local detachment reported roughly 5,162 calls for service in 2024 and recorded a sharp increase in property crime, roughly a 22% jump year-over-year, driven by fraud, auto theft, and larger thefts linked to prolific offenders from outside the community.

Violent crime in Whistler has not followed the same trajectory. Locally reported violent incidents declined slightly in the most recent annual summary while mental-health-related calls rose substantially, reflecting changing demand on policing and health resources. The surge in mental-health calls and increases in some assaults connected to alcohol were highlighted in press coverage and in the RMOW summaries in early 2025.

Because Whistler is a small municipality with a large visitor population, raw counts can swing quickly. A motel area break-in spree or several coordinated gear thefts during peak ski season can push property-crime percentages upward even while serious violent crime stays low. The municipality and Sea to Sky RCMP note that a sizeable share of property-crime incidents are thefts from vehicles, theft of rental gear, or opportunistic fraud.

Measured against provincial and national indicators like the Crime Severity Index and Statistics Canada incident tables, Whistler’s profile looks different because of its tourism footprint. Provincial compilations and the BC policing reports show regional patterns where resort and highway corridor communities can record higher non-violent and property crime rates per resident, largely because visitors and short-term rentals increase the pool of vulnerable targets. 

That said, Canada’s national crime picture in 2023–2024 shows modest declines in some violent metrics and mixed movement in property offenses. Comparing Whistler to a national average without factoring in overnight visitors and seasonal turnover will miss why certain rates look elevated in a resort town.

Whistler is generally safe in the sense that serious violent crime is not common, but property crime and fraud are the main concerns to track if you live in or visit the resort.

Squamish saw a modest rise in property crime in 2024, around a 6.6% increase, with notable spikes in auto thefts, similar to trends on the corridor, where auto theft and theft from vehicles rose. Squamish is larger in resident population than Whistler, and its year-over-year changes mirror the regional pattern for property crime.

Pemberton’s local reporting for 2024 flagged increases in both property and violent offenses versus 2023 totals; small communities can show larger percentage swings with relatively few incidents, so local policing notices highlighted a stepped-up presence and community policing responses.

Vancouver’s scale and mix of urban issues make direct comparisons tricky, but the Vancouver Police Department’s published statistics show substantially higher raw counts of violent incidents and a different crime profile typical of a major city. If you are comparing the Sea to Sky resort corridor with a large metropolitan area, expect different risk patterns.

Whistler and Squamish face seasonal, visitor-driven property and gear thefts; Vancouver reports larger volumes of both violent and non-violent crimes tied to urban conditions.

When you compare these towns, remember per-capita math and visitor loads matter. A single theft from a rental car in Whistler during ski season affects the resort’s rate far more than the same theft in a city of hundreds of thousands.

Law enforcement comes from the Whistler detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Officers patrol Whistler Village, watch the Sea to Sky Highway, and coordinate with municipal staff when the resort swells during ski season.

Fire protection is handled by Whistler Fire Rescue Service, a mix of career and volunteer firefighters operating several halls across the valley. Paramedic crews from BC Emergency Health Services keep ambulances stationed close to the village core so they can reach most addresses quickly.

If something goes wrong on the slopes, Whistler Blackcomb Ski Patrol steps in first, stabilizing injured skiers or snowboarders before handing them off to the RCMP or Whistler Search & Rescue for transport. Search & Rescue volunteers also respond to backcountry calls year-round, while the Whistler Alert system pushes real-time updates on road closures, storms, or wildfire threats to anyone who registers.

While Whistler does not have a single formal community-watch program covering the entire municipality in the way some suburban towns do, the RCMP and RMOW run regular awareness and prevention campaigns aimed at seasonal thefts, fraud, and backcountry safety.

Local neighbourhood groups, rental operators, and businesses also coordinate informal watch efforts and share timely alerts through social platforms and community email lists.

Beyond theft prevention, Whistler’s safety ecosystem includes volunteer Search & Rescue, avalanche-safety outreach in partnership with AdventureSmart and mountain patrol, fire-prevention outreach from Whistler Fire Rescue, and the Whistler Alert system for emergencies. 

Violent crime is rare, and the main streets around Whistler Village stay bright and busy well into the evening. Still, solo visitors should lock passports and electronics in a room safe, keep an eye on drinks in the pubs, and drop a quick text to a friend before ducking into a backcountry tour or late-night walk.

Property crime, particularly theft from vehicles, theft of rental ski or bike gear, and fraud, is the most reported concern for visitors and residents. During ski season and busy summer weekends, opportunistic thieves increase. Lock vehicles, remove visible gear, and book accommodations that offer secure storage when possible.

Whistler Search & Rescue, Whistler Blackcomb mountain patrol, and RCMP coordinate on backcountry and on-hill rescues. If you recreate off-piste or on hiking trails, educate yourself about avalanche risk, carry appropriate safety gear, and consider guided tours in unfamiliar alpine terrain.

Snow, ice, and rockfall can make this stretch tricky once temperatures drop. I check DriveBC the night before, leave Squamish with a full tank, and never start the climb without snow-rated tires plus chains in the trunk. If the forecast looks rough, the shuttle from Vancouver lets someone else watch for black ice while I relax.

Most trips pass without a hitch, but police logged more fake rental listings and credit-card skims last year. Stick with reputable booking sites, pay by card instead of wire transfer, and avoid public Wi-Fi for banking. If something feels off, walk away and let the RCMP know.

Choose spots that advertise locked gear rooms and in-suite safes; those perks matter when skis cost more than flights. I read the most recent guest reviews, then message the host about storage and building access before I book. Once in town, I keep passports and electronics out of sight and latch the balcony door even on upper floors.

A tumble on the hill can turn into a four-figure ambulance ride, so I always buy a policy that covers emergency medical and missed flights. Add gear protection if you’re packing your own boards, and make sure trip-interruption benefits kick in when highway closures strand you south of the peaks. The extra cost beats paying out of pocket after a bad landing off the Peak 2 Peak gondola.

Yes. Whistler in summer is absolutely worth visiting, with alpine hiking trails, biking events, and lakeside activities. Many travelers say they love Whistler just as much in July as they do in January, making it a destination that balances winter and summer attractions equally well.

Whistler is one of North America’s biggest ski resorts, but the village has much more to offer. You can walk the Whistler Valley Trail, take a gondola ride on the Peak 2 Peak gondola, go on guided tours in Whistler, or explore summer activities like alpine hiking and biking. Restaurants and cultural events around Whistler add to the year-round experience.