The Amazing Race Canada Season 12 Locations: Where They Went and How to Visit

Some places are already on your travel radar. Others sneak up on you because a TV show suddenly makes them look a lot more interesting than they did sitting quietly on Google Maps.

That’s why I like tracking The Amazing Race Canada locations. The show races through places quickly, obviously, but it also gives you a quick glimpse of destinations you might want to visit at a much more reasonable pace.

Season 12 starts in Whistler, BC, one of Canada’s most recognizable mountain destinations and a place I know well. I’ve visited Whistler dozens of times over the years, including when I worked for Whistler Blackcomb, so this opening stop feels like familiar territory – gondolas, village walks, alpine views, and all.

This post tracks the Season 12 filming locations as they air, with practical travel ideas for each stop. I’ll update it weekly as new episodes come out, starting with Episode 1.

You can see The Amazing Race Canada Season 11 Locations here.

Amazing Race Canada Season 12

Watch this video on YouTube.

Episode 1: Express Pass Let’s Go

Season 12 opened in Whistler, with teams starting the race atop Whistler Mountain. It’s a dramatic place to begin, but also a very visitable one – no clue card, panic-running, or reality TV producer required.

📍Whistler Mountain / Whistler Blackcomb – Whistler, BC

The race began atop Whistler Mountain, part of Whistler Blackcomb.

This is one of the biggest draws in Whistler, whether you’re visiting for skiing, sightseeing, hiking, or the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola. You don’t need to be a skier to enjoy the mountain either, which is good news for anyone whose idea of a strong travel day involves scenery, snacks, and not falling down a hill.

What you can do there:

• Ride the Whistler Village Gondola
• Take the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola between Whistler and Blackcomb
• Go skiing or snowboarding in winter
• Visit for alpine sightseeing in summer
• Add a short walk or viewpoint stop if conditions allow

Local tip: Check lift and sightseeing hours before you go. Whistler Mountain access changes by season, weather, and maintenance schedules.

📍Whistler Village & the Whistler Village Gondola – Whistler, BC

After the snow dig, teams rode the gondola down from the top of the mountain into Whistler Village, which is where the first Detour played out.

The village is the heart of Whistler and, happily, the easiest part to enjoy at a non-racing pace. It’s pedestrian-only, packed with cafés, patios, and shops, and it’s where the show set up its “Sparkle or Shine” Detour – stringing twinkle lights onto the big Whistler sign, or learning an après-ski dance at the Longhorn Saloon.

What you can do there:

• Ride the Whistler Village Gondola for the views and hiking trails
• Wander the pedestrian Village Stroll
• Grab a patio table at the Longhorn Saloon, a Whistler institution at the base of the mountain

Local tip: The village is free to walk around, so even a gondola-free day here is worth it. Après-ski energy is real, and no one will make you perform the dance.

📍Whistler Sailing Club & Alta Lake – Whistler, BC

From the village, teams taxied to the Whistler Sailing Club on Alta Lake, where they got a video message and then had to sail out to buoys to collect a few Moana-themed items – a coconut, a conch shell, and an oar.

Alta Lake is one of Whistler’s prettiest and most swimmable lakes, with calm water, mountain backdrops, and a much slower pace than the mountain itself. You don’t need to sail competitively to enjoy it, which is good news for those of us who prefer floating to racing.

What you can do there:

• Rent a kayak, canoe, paddleboard, or sailboat through the sailing club
• Swim or picnic at Lakeside Park or Rainbow Park
• Walk or bike the Valley Trail that connects the lakes
• Just sit by the water and do very little, which is underrated

Local tip: Rainbow Park on the far side of Alta Lake has some of the best mountain-and-water views in Whistler, and it’s a lovely spot for a relaxed afternoon. My favourite is Green Lake for quiet picnicking.

Is Squamish Canyon Worth Visiting? BC’s New Forest Walk

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📍The Roadblock: Slackline at Squamish Canyon

For the Roadblock, teams drove the Sea to Sky Highway down to Squamish, where one person had to walk a slackline high above a river to grab the next clue.

Squamish is a great stop in its own right, and if you’re curious about the canyon that’s been mentioned, Squamish Canyon is a real, visitable eco-attraction – a network of elevated boardwalks (around 1.5 km) winding through coastal rainforest with views of Mamquam Falls, about 15 minutes from downtown Squamish.

What you can do in and around Squamish:

• Walk the elevated boardwalks and canyon walkways above the Mamquam River
• Take in the Mamquam Falls viewpoints along the route
• Give yourself about 45 to 90 minutes for the full loop
• Pair it with other Squamish stops like the Sea to Sky Gondola

Local tip: If you do visit Squamish Canyon itself, buy tickets ahead and check seasonal hours, since it’s a newer attraction with timed entry rather than a free trail.

📍The Pit Stop: Squamish, BC

Leg 1 wrapped at a Pit Stop in Squamish, where superfan twins Tina & Liz checked in first. It was a non-elimination leg, so every team lived to race another day. The mat was set up on a soccer field at the Capilano University Squamish campus.

This one’s more of a “that’s where the mat was” stop than a tourist destination, but it’s a reminder of how walkable and compact Squamish is. If you’re building a trip, Squamish itself is the real draw here – it sits right between Vancouver and Whistler on the Sea to Sky Highway.

What you can do nearby:

• Ride the Sea to Sky Gondola for viewing platforms and a suspension bridge
• Chase waterfalls at Shannon Falls Provincial Park
• Watch kiteboarders at the Squamish Spit
• Use Squamish as a relaxed base between Vancouver and Whistler

Local tip: Squamish is an easy, scenic stop on the drive up from Vancouver, so it’s worth building in half a day rather than blowing past it on the way to Whistler.

🧭 How to Visit These Places

If you’re planning a Whistler-inspired trip, don’t try to race through it.

Whistler works best when you give yourself time for the mountain, the village, and one or two quieter stops nearby. I’ve been there dozens of times, and the trips that feel best are never the ones where every hour is booked like a tiny vacation spreadsheet with hiking shoes.

Suggested route:

• Start with Whistler Mountain or PEAK 2 PEAK
• Walk through Whistler Village
• Add Lost Lake, the Audain Art Museum, or the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre
• Stay overnight if you can, especially if you’re driving from Vancouver
• Keep the Sea to Sky Highway portion flexible so you can stop safely for views
• Add Alta Lake for a swim, paddle, or lakeside break
• Stop at Squamish Canyon on the Sea to Sky Highway between Vancouver and Whistler

Best time to go:

• Summer for alpine sightseeing, lakes, and longer daylight
• Fall for fewer crowds and cooler walking weather
• Winter for skiing, snow, and classic Whistler village energy
• Spring for a quieter shoulder-season trip, depending on what’s open

FAQs About The Amazing Race Canada Season 12 Locations

Where did The Amazing Race Canada Season 12 start?

Season 12 started atop Whistler Mountain in Whistler, British Columbia.

What was the first location in The Amazing Race Canada Season 12?

The starting line was Whistler Mountain (part of Whistler Blackcomb). From there, Leg 1 ran through Whistler Village, the Whistler Sailing Club on Alta Lake, and Squamish Canyon, before finishing at the Capilano University Squamish campus.

Will this post be updated after each episode?

Yes. I’ll update this post weekly as each Season 12 episode airs and more locations are confirmed.

Where the Race Begins

Whistler is a strong start for Season 12 because it gives the show immediate mountain drama, but it also gives travellers a real place to build a trip around.

You can use the episode as a spark, then slow the whole thing down.

Ride the gondola. Walk the village. Add a cultural stop. Sit by a lake. Have a snack. Radical stuff, apparently.

The racers have to move fast. You don’t.