Whistler's Best Heli Drop

WHISTLER’S BEST HELI DROP

HIDDEN PEAK // ALPX EXPEDITIONS

Photos Courtesy of Continental Tires

August 18, 2025

Crankworx may have started as an athlete-focused event with competitions and races in just about every gravity-focused MTB discipline, but over the years it’s almost turned into a tradeshow in a sense. Brands are showcasing product, hosting media rides and booking meetings. Whether it’s a pre-ride coffee meeting, chairlift meetings or discussions over dinner, there’s plenty of “work” going on during Crankworx Whistler. This year, one of those networking events was a heli-drop on the new Hidden Peak Trail just outside Whistler. The Hidden Peak trail, guided by AlpX Expeditions and Blackcomb Helicopters is an absolutely amazing experience and is now at the top of my list as the best heli-drop I’ve ever done in Whistler, and likely near the top of my list of all time heli-drops.

Often times heli-biking is more about the experience, or views or the experience of being in a helicopter and the mountain biking experience is secondary. That is not the case with the newly constructed Hidden Peak Trail. The trail descends from our Landing Zone at 7,283 feet (2,200m) down to 2,300 feet (720m). Over the course of the ride we covered 7.5 miles (12km) and descended nearly 5,200 feet with only about 360 feet of climbing. Unlike other heli-drops, there was no bushwhacking, no skidding down scree slopes, and no terrifying fear or breaking a toe while riding through horribly unkempt and overgrown singletrack deep in the backcountry. This trail has been built with care, time and effort. The terrain is varied top to bottom, but it’s never too arduous or exhausting to be fun. The corners, rock work and flow have been maximized to keep this backcountry experience bordering on the longest black-diamond bike park lap ever! It’s insane.

Our drop off point was high above the trees and treated us to some beautiful views, rock slabs, chunk and plenty of alpine lakes. As we dropped into the woods, the terrain changed and the grins only widened. The soil was incredible and we were treated to blind up and overs, loose chunky rock, roots and perfectly placed catch berms of dark brown dirt. Towards the bottom the trail opened up into drier, rockier conditions with beautiful flowers and speedy switchbacks and berms.

We’d like to extend a huge thanks to Continental Tires for hosting this incredibly memorable event and suggest that anyone interested in the ride of a lifetime, check out this trip next time you’re in B.C.

Learn more about the heli drop at Coastrangeheliskiing.com

Impressive to note, not a single flat from our entire crew, despite plenty of vert and very sharp rocks. We were kitted out with Continental's Enduro casing tires in the Kryptotal variety. All riders were given a set of Kryptotal Fr Super Soft up front and the Kryptotal Re Soft in the back. It's quite a testament to these tires to have such a big group navigate this terrain without a single flat all day.
After the ride I asked Gee Atherton what he thought about the ride and he agreed that it was likely the best heli-drop he’d ever been on.
After bashing through some upper alpine rock, it was an absolute treat to see dark dirt and catch berms in this remote forest.
I spent the better part of the day chasing down speed-queen, Kera Linn. Thanks for the choice lines.
Always gotta stop for the obligatory group shot.
DG_Continental_Whistler_Heli_Ride-37
Our helicopter pilot didn’t want to be out-steezed by the Athertons, so he showed us his own version of dropping in and sent his machine off the side of the cliff and straight down into the valley. The entire crew was in awe.

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