May 18th, 2023: Summer has arrived in Whistler and though the mountains are still snowy and tough to hike, all the lower elevation hikes are snow free. Parkhurst Ghost Town is absolutely fantastic in May and nearby Wedge Creek is almost entirely unknown to hikers. If you have ever hiked to Parkhurst, you likely crossed the disintegrating, yet strangely beautiful old bridge over Wedge Creek.
March 25th, 2023: What trails are good this week? If you are dying for summer to come, Lillooet Lake is paradise these days. Just an hours drive north of Whistler is the first of several beach campsites along this massive lake. Strawberry Point is the first one you come to along the In-Shuck-Ch gravel road that runs along the edge of Lillooet Lake. The campsites along the lake don't open until April 1st, so you can visit or camp for free before then.
February 11th, 2023: What trails are good this week? Driving up into the mountains is a great way to seek out some springtime snow. Alexander Falls is beautiful these days with deep snow everywhere. Not really a hike as the walk from your car to the viewpoint is just a hundred metres or so, it is worth the drive, especially on a sunny day! High up in the Callaghan Valley, Alexander Falls is easy to get to in any weather and amazing in February.
February 10th, 2023: There are plenty of dog friendly snowshoe trails in Whistler. They range from easy and quick to get to, to a bit of a drive and a bit more challenging. Blueberry Park is a wonderful trail just a 2 minute drive from Whistler Village. You can even walk there in about 20 minutes. This deep forest park has a great 3 kilometre circle route that takes you up Blueberry Hill and then down along the shore of Alta Lake where you pass by four piers set into the frozen lake.
February 4th, 2023: What trails are good this week? This is a great time of year to check out one of Whistler's impressive waterfalls, Brandywine Falls. Brandywine Falls is a wonderful place to visit in February, though it is a bit tricky to get to in the winter months due to BC Parks keeping the parking gate locked and towing cars parked outside the gate.
February 1st, 2023: The beautiful murals that make Whistler Train Wreck the magical place it is today began appearing in 2011 when this hidden place was known by just a few Whistler locals. Artists ranging from aspiring graffiti artists that mostly remain unnamed, to tremendously gifted professional mural artists like Kups. Kups is a prolific mural artist with stunning works that can be seen all over Whistler and the lower mainland. Remnants of one of his hauntingly beautiful murals can be found inside the first boxcar you come to after crossing the bridge into Whistler Train Wreck.
January 18th, 2023: Alexander Falls, high up in the Callaghan Valley in Whistler has some interesting historical murals and a mysterious plaque. The information board with as short history of the areas surrounding the falls, complete with museum-like pictures of the regions logging history. One depicts, "A Land of Giants" and describes, with photos, how incredibly huge trees were cut down and moved. One picture from 1910, shows 10 men sitting on an enormous, felled tree and looking tiny by comparison.
January 5th, 2023: Pack smart by putting heavier items close to your back and higher up your pack. Be organized and think of keeping important things easily accessible. Having an accessible sweater makes you more likely to not put off your comfort by difficulty in finding it. Familiarize yourself with your gear before you go. Setting up your tent in the living room will ensure you have all the parts and know where to put them.
January 2nd, 2023: The Rubble Creek trailhead to Garibaldi Provincial Park is consistently snowplowed this season. The two kilometre access road is still difficult for most cars as it is hard packed with about 4 centimetres of snow/ice most of the way up. It is very icy and regular, non 4x4 cars can't seem to get traction and have to turn back a few metres up the road. Once you get to the parking lot near the trailhead there is just a centimetre or less of packed ice/snow covering the pavement.
November 18th, 2022: Way up in the Callaghan Valley on the back side of Mount Sproatt is an abandoned gold mine. Old cement foundations and two unexpectedly beautiful lakes mark the location of Northair Mine, abandoned in 1982. For about five years it was a fairly productive gold mine that extracted five tons of gold. Largely forgotten for years, in the last decade it has come to life in stunning colour by graffiti artists and professional muralists.
October 22nd, 2022: The Cal-Cheak campground just south of Whistler sits in a tranquil, huge tree forest, nestled between Callaghan Creek and Cheakamus River. Both Callaghan Creek and Cheakamus River are huge and chaotic torrents of turquoise water that surround the campground on three sides. Cal-Cheak Recreation Site is divided into three campsite areas, Callaghan Camp is adjacent to Callaghan Creek, the North Camp is along Cheakamus River, and the South Camp has both merging around it.
Oct 10th, 2022: Jane Lakes consist of three lakes that are well hidden in the vast wilderness adjacent to Whistler’s Interpretive Forest. West Jane Lake, East Jane Lake and Little Jane Lake are all so engulfed in the forest that they remain unseen until just a few metres away from the shore. So hidden in fact, that when you do catch a glimpse of West Jane Lake, the biggest of the three, you can’t help but be shocked at the sudden sprawling view.
Sept 25th, 2022: Newt Lake is a fantastic, emerald coloured and very hidden lake up on the far side of Cougar Mountain. In the busy summer months you are not likely to see anyone on the trail or at the lake. In the much quieter fall months, you almost certainly won’t. The unmarked trailhead is found at the end of the Ancient Cedars trail between the “TREES IN THE ANCIENT CEDARS… DOUGLAS-FIR” info board and the bridge.
Sept 11th, 2022: The notoriously difficult biking trail in the wilderness between Emerald Forest and Rainbow Park is a pretty fun place to wander around. It zig-zags through the deep stretch of forest with Alta Lake Road along one side and the train tracks and the River of Golden Dreams on the other. A River Runs Through It, or ARRTI as it is more affectionately called by the locals who love it, is buried in such a thick forest that you often only see slivers of sky above and wandering off the trail leads you to bizarre and beautiful places.
September 5th, 2022: Madeley Lake is a stunning wilderness lake high up in the Callaghan Valley that is easily accessible by a decades old logging road. Until 2020, you could drive all the way to the end of the lake and walk the short trail to the old campsite nestled in the forest. This little corner of paradise has been included in area granted to be part of Whistler Olympic Park built for the 2010 Winter Olympics.
July 20th, 2022: A little knowledge before you head out into the wilderness is a good idea. Especially if you are new to hiking or in unknown terrain. Planning a suitable hike is a great first step is having a great hike. Bringing along extra clothing and food is a great idea and having a first aid kit will help you with any troubles you may encounter. Courtesy and hiking etiquette is an important factor as well. Leaving no trace and packing out what you pack in are paramount to keeping the wilderness wild.
