HikeInWhistler.com

HikeInWhistler.com

Menu
  • Hike
      • Alexander Falls Provincial Park
      • Ancient Cedars & Showh Lakes
      • Black Tusk in Garibaldi Park
      • Blackcomb Mountain Hiking Trails
      • Brandywine Falls Provincial Park
      • Brandywine Meadows
      • Brew Lake & Mount Brew
      • Callaghan Lake Park
      • Cheakamus Lake in Garibaldi Park
      • Cheakamus River & Interpretive Forest
      • Cirque Lake in Callaghan Valley
      • Flank Trail (Rainbow-Sproatt)
      • Garibaldi Lake in Garibaldi Park
      • Helm Creek in Garibaldi Park
      • Jane Lakes West
      • Joffre Lakes Provincial Park
      • Keyhole Hot Springs
      • Logger's Lake
      • Madeley Lake & Hanging Lake
      • Meager Hot Springs
      • Nairn Falls Provincial Park
      • Newt Lake & Ancient Cedars
      • Panorama Ridge in Garibaldi Park
      • Parkhurst Ghost Town
      • Rainbow Falls
      • Rainbow Lake
      • Ring Lake & Conflict Lake
      • Russet Lake in Garibaldi Park
      • Sea to Sky Trail
      • Skookumchuck Hot Springs
      • Sloquet Hot Springs
      • Sproatt West(Northair) Trail
      • Sproatt East(Stonebridge) Trail
      • Train Wreck & Trash Trail
      • Taylor Meadows in Garibaldi Park
      • Wedgemount Lake in Garibaldi Park
      • Whistler Mountain Hiking Trails
  • Snow
      • Blueberry Trail Snowshoeing
      • Brandywine Falls Snowshoeing
      • Cheakamus River Snowshoeing
      • Elfin Lakes Snowshoeing
      • Flank Trail Snowshoeing
      • Joffre Lakes Snowshoeing
      • Nairn Falls Snowshoeing
      • Parkhurst Ghost Town Snowshoeing
      • Rainbow Falls Snowshoeing
      • Rainbow Lake Snowshoeing
      • Rainbow Park Snowshoeing
      • Sproatt East Snowshoeing
      • Taylor Meadows Snowshoeing
      • Train Wreck Snowshoeing
      • Wedgemount Lake Snowshoeing
  • Run
      • Whistler Golf Course 5k(3.1 Mile)
      • Blueberry Hill 6k(3.7 Mile)
      • Lost Lake 6k(3.7 Mile)
      • Alta Lake 8k(5 Mile)
      • Fitzsimmons Creek 9k(5.6 Mile)
      • Alta Green Lost 15k(9.3 Mile)
  • Best
      • Best Whistler Hiking by Month
          • Best by Month
      • Best Walk, Bike or Bus To Trails
      • Best Whistler Kid Friendly Trails
      • Best Whistler Dog Friendly Trails
      • Best Free Camping in Whistler
      • Best Sights Sea to Sky
      • Best Whistler Waterfalls
      • Best Whistler Aerial Views
      • Best Squamish Hiking Trails
      • Best Whistler Hiking Trails
      • Best Vancouver Hiking Trails
      • Best Whistler Snowshoeing
          • Best Whistler Snowshoe Trails
      • Best Whistler Running Trails
      • Best Whistler Hiking Gear Rentals
      • Best Whistler Parks & Beaches
  • AtoZ
      • Ablation Zone
      • Accumulation Zone
      • Adit Lakes
      • Aiguille
      • Alpine Zone
      • Arborlith or Lithophyte
      • Arête
      • A River Runs Through It
      • Armchair Glacier
      • The Barrier
      • Battleship Islands
      • Bears
      • Bench
      • Bergschrund or Schrund
      • Bivouac or Bivy
      • Blue Face House in Parkhurst
      • Bungee Bridge
      • Cairns & Inukshuks
      • Carter, Neal
      • Caterpillar D8
      • Caterpillar RD8
      • Chimney
      • Cirque or Cirque Lake
      • Cloudraker Skybridge
      • Coast Mountains
      • Col
      • Crevasse
      • Deadfall
      • Emerald Forest
      • Erratic or Glacier Erratic
      • The Fissile
      • Fitzsimmons Creek
      • Fitzsimmons Range
      • Fyles, Tom
      • Garibaldi Ranges
      • Garibaldi Volcanic Belt
      • Gemel or Inosculation
      • Glacier Window
      • Green Lake
      • Hoary Marmot
      • Krummholz
      • Moraine
      • Mount Garibaldi
      • Mount James Turner
      • Northair Mine
      • Nunatuk
      • Overlord Mountain & Glacier
      • Peak2Peak Gondola
      • Roundhouse Lodge
      • Rubble Creek
      • Spearhead Range
      • Tarn
      • The Table
      • Usnea or Old Man's Beard
      • Western Redcedar
  • Maps
      • Alexander Falls Maps
      • Ancient Cedars Maps
      • Black Tusk Maps
      • Blackcomb Mountain Maps
      • Brandywine Falls Maps
      • Brandywine Meadows Maps
      • Brew Lake Maps
      • Callaghan Lake Maps
      • Cheakamus Lake Maps
      • Cheakamus River Maps
      • Cirque Lake Maps
      • Garibaldi Lake Maps
      • Helm Creek Maps
      • Joffre Lakes Maps
      • Keyhole Hot Springs Maps
      • Logger's Lake Maps
      • Madeley Lake Maps
      • Meager Hot Springs Maps
      • Nairn Falls Maps
      • Panorama Ridge Maps
      • Parkhurst Ghost Town Maps
      • Rainbow Falls Maps
      • Rainbow Lake Maps
      • Ring Lake Maps
      • Russet Lake Maps
      • Skookumchuck Maps
      • Sloquet Hot Springs Maps
      • Sproatt Maps
      • Taylor Meadows Maps
      • Train Wreck Maps
      • Wedgemount Lake Maps
      • Whistler Mountain Maps
  • More
      • Whistler Hiking News & Blog
      • Live Whistler Webcams
      • Live Tofino Webcams
      • Live Vancouver Webcams
      • Garibaldi Provincial Park
      • Hike in Whistler Glossary

Wedgemount Lake

Callaghan Lake

Northair Mine

Black Tusk

Black Tusk

Cirque Lake

Logger's Lake

Wedgemount Lake

Adit Lakes

Whistler Train Wreck

Joffre Lakes

Brandywine Meadows

Newt Lake

Amazing Fall Hiking!

Fall is here! Check out our Best Whistler Hiking by Month for inspiration! WeRentGear.com rents tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, camp stoves, packs, complete kits and more!

Best Trails This Week!

Best This Week: Parkhurst Ghost Town, Sloquet and Skookumchuck Hot Springs, Rainbow Falls, Logger's Lake, Sproatt East, Cheakamus River, Joffre, and Whistler Train Wreck.

Alexander Falls Rating MapsAlexander Falls is a very impressive 43 metre/141 foot waterfall just 30 to 40 minutes south of Whistler in the Callaghan Valley. Open year-round and located just before Whistler Olympic Park where several of the 2010 Olympic events were held. There is a nice viewing platform on the edge of the cliff across from the falls which crash fantastically into the valley below.

  • Very scenic drive to get there with bear sightings
  • Impressively beautiful falls in the wilderness
  • Amazing place for a picnic or glass of champagne
  • Lots of other sights to see in the Callaghan Valley
  • Effortless sightseeing as you drive to viewpoint
  • Beautiful & free camping nearby
  • Interesting history & information display
  • Not much to see except the falls
  • Camping is no longer allowed
  • No visible connecting route to base of the falls

The parking area and viewing platform at Alexander Falls is one big area just 40 metres from the main road, just before Whistler Olympic Park.  The adventurous can find the obscure trail that leads to both the top of the falls as well as, with great difficulty, to the base of the falls.  Alexander Falls is certainly one of the nicest spots for a picnic in Whistler.  The picnic areas are numerous, the surrounding forest is gorgeous and wild and Alexander Falls crashes loud and beautiful in the background.  Several picnic tables are located in forested clearings that were once used as campsites, so if you have a big group, you will have lots of room to spread out and enjoy the surroundings.  The free parking lot at Alexander Falls is enormous. Keep in mind that it is a day-use only parking area and camping or campfires are prohibited. If you are looking for a place to park overnight in the area the possibilities are endless.  Callaghan Valley is very wild, devoid of people and the spider-web of logging roads that cover the valley run for hundreds of kilometres.  Continued here...

Alexander Falls Map v10

Alexander Falls Best Whistler Hiking

Alexander Falls Aerial View 32

Alexander Falls Aerial View 37

More Sights Near Alexander Falls

The Callaghan Valley is home to some other great places to visit. Just past the Alexander Falls parking lot on your left you will see a sign for Callaghan Lake Provincial Park. If you turn left here you can either drive straight up a very bad logging road for 8.5 kilometres to Callaghan Lake. Callaghan Lake Provincial Park has only a couple short trails.  There is, however, a the Cirque Lake trail at the end of the lake takes you to paradise! Cirque Lake is found high above Callaghan Lake and up quite a steep, but short 2 kilometre trail.  Well worth the hike, but you have to have a canoe/kayak to get to the trailhead.  If you want a quick look at a very pretty mountain lake, take the first right at the start of this logging road that takes you to Madeley Lake. On a sunny summer day, few places in Whistler are more serene and beautiful. A short trail from the end of the road, behind the lake takes you down to a lovely and sunny shore of this crystal clear lake. It is also a free campground that is very nice. Northair Mine is close by and a very interesting place to see, though you need a 4x4 to get up the increasingly deteriorating forest service road.

Callaghan Valley Map v11a

Callaghan Lake Near Alexander Falls

Callaghan Lake is a big and beautiful, remote lake high up beyond Alexander Falls.  A free, drive-to campsite and parking area are located on one end of the lake and the rest of the lake is wild and untouched wilderness.  There are few trails around the lake and most visitors travel by canoe, kayak or paddleboard.  There is one significant trail to hike at the far end of Callaghan Lake and it is very nice.  The somewhat hard to find trail starts at the far end of the lake and takes you up to a stunning glacier carved lake appropriately called Cirque Lake.

Callaghan Lake Near Alexander Falls

Cirque Lake Near Alexander Falls

Cirque Lake gets its name from the term 'cirque', which is a glacier-carved bowl or amphitheatre in the mountains.  To form, the glacier must be a combination of size, a certain slope and more unexpectedly, a certain angle away from the sun. In the northern hemisphere, this means the glacier must be on the northeast slope of the mountain, away from the suns rays and the prevailing winds. Thick snow, protected in this way, grows thicker into glacial ice, then a process of freeze-thaw called nivation, chews at the lower rocks, hollowing out a deep basin.

Cirque Lake Near Alexander Falls

Madeley Lake Near Alexander Falls

Madeley Lake is a beautiful alpine lake just a 10 minute drive past Alexander Falls.  A free, serene and hidden feeling campsite hides in the forest at the far end of the lake.  Whistler Olympic Park has recently wrestled control over the access road and in 2020 and barricaded the access road.  They attempted to require an access fee to the lake and quickly backtracked when they realized their quiet takeover of Madeley Lake would cause a public outcry and force the Resort Municipality of Whistler to coerce Whistler Olympic Park to return free access to the decades old regional park.  The sign on the gate that stated "WARNING ENTERING WHISTLER OLYMPIC PARK CORE AREA YOU ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A TICKET OR YOU ARE TRESPASSING" was quickly removed by WOP shortly after it was discovered by the public in 2020.  They have since moved the gate much further up the road and it is now just one kilometre from the start of Madeley Lake and another kilometre to the end of the lake near the campsite.

Madeley Lake Near Alexander Falls

Madeley Lake Map v8a

Northair Mine Near Alexander Falls

Northair Mine is a strangely beautiful old goldmine near Alexander Falls.  Abandoned several decades ago, the cement foundations are now adorned in colourful graffiti and stunning murals.  In 2019 Kups, a professional Whistler muralist, painted a stunning mural across one of the largest and broadest cement walls.  Along with the beautiful and surreal foundations, Northair Mine is also home to a surprisingly beautiful lake.

Northair Mine Kups Murals

Alexander Falls Directions

Driving to Alexander FallsCell coverage is reliable on the road and at the viewpoint to Alexander Falls so you will be able to access the internet if you have a data plan, however saving this map to your smartphone or tablet might be helpful. From Whistler Village: Drive south on Hwy 99(Sea to Sky Highway), 13.8 kilometres from Village Gate Boulevard, turn right onto Callaghan Valley Road at the sign to Whistler Olympic Park. Follow this road for 9.6 kilometres, keep an eye out on your left for a little sign that directs you to Alexander Falls. The sign/turnoff is just before Whistler Olympic Park.

Alexander Falls Directions Map v4a

Alexander Falls Provincial Park Continued Here...

More Whistler & Garibaldi Park Hiking Maps!

Sloquet Hot Springs Maps

Sloquet Hot Springs is a wonderfully wild set of shallow, man-made pools fed by a small, all natural, and very hot, waterfall. The pools stretch from the waterfall to the ...
Read more

Ring Lake Maps

Ring Lake is a fantastically serene and wonderfully remote lake similar to Cirque Lake, but considerably farther to hike to reach it. The 10 kilometre(6.2 mile) hike takes you ...
Read more

Parkhurst Ghost Town Maps

Whistler has an absurd number of wonderful and free hiking trails and Parkhurst Ghost Town certainly ranks as one of the most unusual, exotic and interesting. Parkhurst was a little ...
Read more

Wedgemount Lake Maps

Wedgemount Lake itself is a magnificent destination for a day hike or spectacular overnight beneath the dazzling mountain peaks and stars. Many sleep under the stars on one of ...
Read more
More Whistler Hiking Trail Maps

Amazing West Coast Trail Guide

Whistler & Garibaldi Park Glossary A to Z

Chimney: a gap between two vertical faces of rock or ice.  Often a chimney offers the only viable route to the summit of a mountain.  An example of this is Black ...
Read more
Erratic or glacier erratic is a piece of rock that has been carried by glacial ice, often hundreds of kilometres.  Characteristic of their massive size and ...
Read more
Emerald Forest is a cute little forest that is well hidden between Whistler Cay and Alpine.  From Whistler Village, if you go down to the end of Lorimer ...
Read more
Wedge Creek cuts through the valley that separates Wedge Mountain and Blackcomb Mountain and empties into Green River near the north end of Green Lake.  ...
Read more
Scree: from the Norse “skridha”, landslide.  The small, loose stones covering a slope. Also called talus, the French word for slope. Scree is mainly formed ...
Read more
Western hemlock (tsuga heterophylla) is a large evergreen coniferous tree that is native to the west coast of North America. Unlike many other trees in ...
Read more
Rainbow Lodge was a popular wilderness lodge in the small community called Alta Lake, and what would eventually be called Whistler  It was a fishing and ...
Read more
Bench: a flat section in steep terrain.  Characteristically narrow, flat or gently sloping with steep or vertical slopes on either side.  A bench can be ...
Read more
More Hike in Whistler Glossary

Rent Hiking Gear Whistler and Garibaldi Park

The Best Whistler & Garibaldi Park Hiking Trails!

Garibaldi Lake is the centre and base for much of the hiking in Garibaldi Provincial Park. The Garibaldi Lake campsite is located on the amazing, turquoise shores of this massive and mostly still wild ...
Read more
Ancient Cedars is a nice, easy/moderate 2.5 kilometre (1.6 mile) hiking trail on the far side of Cougar Mountain, just 13.1 kilometres north of Whistler Village. A small, untouched grove of huge western ...
Read more
Sloquet Hot Springs is a wonderfully wild set of shallow, man-made pools fed by a small, all natural, and very hot, waterfall. The pools stretch from the waterfall to the large and crashing Sloquet River. The ...
Read more
Newt Lake is cute little hidden lake high up on the far side of Cougar Mountain near Ancient Cedars.  Its location is a wonderful mix of unexpected characteristics that combine to make it a gorgeous place to ...
Read more
More Whistler Hiking Trails & Maps

HikeInWhistler.com HikeInWhistler.com © 2023
  • Contact Us: [email protected]