Brandywine Falls in the Winter                                          Whistler Snowshoeing

Brandywine Falls, though extremely popular in the summer and fall months, hides behind a massive, snowplow formed, wall of snow from (usually) December to March.  The gate to the parking lot is closed and buried.  Attempting to hike to the falls on foot is tough as you find yourself thigh deep in snow right from the start.  But if you have snowshoes this trail becomes a winter paradise.  The snowplows intentionally clear a winter parking area for the park near the (buried) gate.

You just have to scramble over the mountain of snow, cross the parking lot and follow the signs.  The easy-to-follow trail begins just across the parking lot.

You then follow the trail to the bridge over the beautiful Cheakamus River and then turn right and snowshoe less than a kilometre along the wide and easy to follow trail until you reach the impressive and hugely beautiful viewing platform across from this thundering waterfall.

Brandywine Falls is amazing to see in the summer, but in the winter it is even more extraordinary.  The sounds are echoed louder as the sounds bounce of the frozen chasm the water falls into, yet the area is magically serene with rarely anyone to break the peacefulness of the park.

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Directions to Brandywine Falls Parking in the Winter:

The parking lot to Brandywine Falls is blocked by snow in the winter and you must park outside the gate along the highway.  There is plenty of room for several cars.  Located about 20 minutes south of Whistler there are big and difficult to miss signs indicating, "Brandywine Falls Provincial Park".  You will see the obvious area to park outside the gate (gate is usually buried in snow in the winter).  If driving from Whistler Brandywine Provincial Park will be on your left.  You will then have to put your snowshoes on immediately and scramble over the wall of snow to access the parking lot.  You will then be in a suddenly, serene setting of snow covered picnic tables and see the wonderful, covered bridge across the Cheakamus River leading to the amazing Brandywine Falls viewpoint.

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Whistler Snowshoeing - List of the Best Trails >>