Garibaldi Park Whistler A to Z: Mt James TurnerWaterbar and Cross-Ditch: the purpose of a waterbar or cross-ditch is to capture and redirect surface water from the road and channel it across the road surface beyond the shoulder of the road.  A waterbar differs from a cross-ditch as it collects only road surface water and not water flowing down a ditch line or creek.  Waterbars often form naturally across forest service roads over time by seasonal flooding.  Man-made waterbars are visibly different than natural ones in that they are deeper, straighter and have a berm on the downhill side.

Whistler & Garibaldi Hiking

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A berm is an artificial ridge or raised bank running along the downhill side of the waterbar.  A berm uses the excavated material dug out of the ditch to allow the waterbar to channel a higher volume of water, yet be shallow enough to be crossed by vehicles.  Waterbars and cross-ditches are similar, however cross-ditches are generally larger, more visibly man-made, and designed to channel a permanent flow of water.  On active forest service roads waterbars and cross-ditches are designed to allow vehicles to cross them.  On deactivated forest service roads, cross-ditches can be constructed large enough to prevent vehicle access and to allow a more natural looking stream to permanently form.  Access roads in Whistler have many examples of waterbars and cross-ditches.  The old 8 kilometre access road to Callaghan Lake has almost continuous waterbars that range from not too bad to very bad.  An SUV will have no worries crossing even the deepest of these waterbars, though many require slowing to a crawl.  Cars will have some difficulty getting past the waterbars, though with careful and slow driving, getting to Callaghan Lake should be possible for most.  The road to Madeley Lake that branches off from the Callaghan Lake FSR is similarly crossed by waterbars.  Far less numerous, the waterbars along the 6.2 kilometre road to Madeley Lake don't start until about 4 kilometres up the road.  After the trailhead to Hanging Lake at 4.2 km the Madeley Lake Road has a few very deep waterbars that appear to get deeper every year.

Typical Waterbar Along the Callaghan Lake FSR

Waterbar Callaghan Lake FSR

Waterbars Modified to Cross-Ditches

The old logging road that extends from Cheakamus Crossing to Jane Lakes was blocked off in 2019 and there you can see good examples of how waterbars have been modified into cross-ditches. The future of this comparatively unknown old logging road looks very promising. Particularly owing to the enticing network of biking trails around Jane Lakes and the seemingly endless energy of bike trail builders in Whistler this trail seems poised to be something special. The trail itself is quite steep and the newly dug cross-ditches are quite wide and deep.  Even in the dry months of fall several are tricky to jump across without splashing through. Added to that the fact that this trail will be frequently used as an exit route for bikes coming down the steep old road at high speed would hint at the need for bridges over the dozens of cross-ditches. Hiking up the trail to Jane Lakes, you can't help but visualize the trail in a couple years with bridges over creeks every few hundred metres. Though the excavator used to dig the cross-ditches gouged out the road considerably in 2019, the next couple years will see the forest push back in. The dense forest and steep terrain open up fantastic views all along the trail and the hiking and biking possibilities seem endless. Jane Lakes have trails around them as well as extending through to the Microwave Road which brings you back along Cheakamus River to Cheakamus Crossing.  Another trail connects partway up the Jane Lakes West trail to the Daisy Lake FSR between the Bungee Bridge and the Cal-Cheak Campground.

Cross-Ditch on the Jane Lakes West Trail

Cross Ditch Jane Lakes Trail

Cross-Ditch Jane Lakes Trail

 

More Whistler & Garibaldi Park Hiking A to Z!

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Cairns, inukshuks or inuksuks are a pile or arrangement of rocks used to indicate a route, landmark or a summit.  The word cairn originates from the ...
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The Cloudraker Skybridge and the Raven’s Eye Cliff Walk are new additions to the summit of Whistler Mountain.  The Cloudraker Skybridge stretches 130 ...
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Whistler spruce is a hybrid of the Sitka spruce and the interior Engelmann spruce. Sitka spruce trees thrive in the rainforests of the Pacific Northwest ...
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Waterbar and Cross-Ditch: the purpose of a waterbar or cross-ditch is to capture and redirect surface water from the road and channel it across the road ...
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The Coast Mountains run from the Yukon down to Vancouver along the west coast of British Columbia in a band that averages 300 kilometres wide(190 miles).  ...
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The Garibaldi Ranges are a subdivision of the Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains.  Deriving its name from Mount Garibaldi, the Garibaldi Ranges cover ...
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Amazing Hiking Trails in Whistler

The Best Whistler & Garibaldi Park Hiking Trails!

Panorama Ridge is easily one of the most amazing hikes in Garibaldi Provincial Park.  The 15 kilometre(9.3 mile) hike from the trailhead at Rubble Creek to Panorama Ridge takes you through beautiful and deep ...
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Madeley Lake is a gorgeous mountain lake located high up in the Callaghan Valley just a short drive past Alexander Falls.  From Whistler Village it takes about 50 minutes to drive the 27.4 kilometres to get to the ...
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Helm Creek is a cute, meandering creek that winds its way from beyond Black Tusk, down the valley to the wonderful campground that takes its name. From the Helm Creek campground, Helm Creek descends further ...
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Black Tusk is the extraordinarily iconic and appropriately named mountain that can be seen from almost everywhere in Whistler.  The massive black spire of crumbling rock juts out of the earth in an incredibly ...
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Whistler & Garibaldi Park Best Hiking by Month!

In the(usually) deep March snow of Whistler you have an amazing array of snowshoeing options.  If you have not been to the Whistler Train Wreck, you have ...
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April in Whistler is a wonderful time of year.  The winter deep freeze ends and T-shirt weather erupts.  The village comes alive with overflowing patios and ...
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May is an extraordinarily beautiful time of year in Whistler.  The days are longer and warmer and a great lull in between seasons happens.  Whistler is fairly ...
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June is a pretty amazing month to hike in Whistler and Garibaldi Park.  The average low and high temperatures in Whistler range from 9c to 21c(48f/70f).  ...
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Free Camping Gear Delivery to Garibaldi Park

Explore BC Hiking Destinations!

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