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Madeley Lake is a gorgeous lake hidden high up in the wilderness of Callaghan Valley.  The Callaghan Valley runs somewhat parallel to Whistler Valley, with the two valleys separated by Mount Sproatt.  Sproatt is the mountain across the valley from Whistler Mountain.  The driving distance from Whistler Village to Madeley Lake is 27.4 kilometres and only the last 5 kilometres are on gravel forest service roads.  

• Amazing, remote feeling corner of Whistler
• Driving there is very scenic and beautiful
• Perfect little rocky beach and great for swimming
• Tidy & cute campsite with picnic tables & fire rings
• Beach is south facing & always sunny
• Free campsite
• Freshwater creek flows through the campsite
• Stunning mountain views all around
• Swimming is amazing, although freezing!
• Whistler Olympic Park blocked the road

Whistler & Garibaldi Hiking

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In the past you could drive right to the end of the lake and park near the short trail that takes you to the excellent campsite hidden in the forest at the far end of the lake.  Whistler Olympic Park has been trying to block access to Madeley Lake since 2020 when they put a locked gate near the start of Madeley Lake FSR.  Public pressure has forced them to move the gate in 2022 4 kilometres closer to the lake at the Hanging Lake trailhead parking area, which is now also the Madeley Lake trailhead and parking area.  Now you have to hike up the road for 500 metres to the start of Madeley Lake or two kilometres to the Madeley Lake campsite at the far end of the lake.  The Madeley Lake campsite is absolutely wonderful, located in the thick, old forest at the edge of the lake.  Madeley Creek crashes past the campsite to the lake alongside a nice pebble beach.  The campsite is not really maintained and quite rustic with just a couple picnic tables and one really old outhouse.  There are several nice clearings for tents throughout the forest and most have fire rings set up.  The campsite sometimes is busy on summer weekends, though you almost always find the few or no people there on weekdays.  For several decades the campsite was an almost forgotten, BC Regional Park.  When Whistler Olympic Park was built, for some reason Madeley Lake was quietly included within the Whistler Olympic Park boundaries and now it seems to be in limbo.  It’s not really a maintained park, but Whistler Olympic Park can’t really do anything commercial with it or prevent access without inviting the wrath of hiking groups and the public.  So, for the foreseeable future the Madeley Lake campsite will remain free and unchanged, except for the gate 2 kilometres from the campsite.

Whistler Olympic Park Blocked Access to Madeley

Whistler Olympic Park blocked vehicle access to Madeley lake back in 2020, which meant that you had to hike several kilometres up the ascending logging road to get there.  In 2022, evidently due to pressure from the public, they have moved the gate much farther up the road to the Hanging Lake trailhead.  It is still about 500 metres from Madeley Lake and well over a kilometre to the Madeley campsite.  At the gate there is a large area for parking and the hike to the lake is not too far.  This is a picture of the new gate and parking area.  On the right you can see the Madeley to Hanging Lake trailhead.

Madeley-Hanging Lake Trail

The Madeley-Hanging Lake trail is a 5 kilometre(3.1 mile) route through deep forest with a moderate elevation gain of 590 metres(1935 feet). Hanging Lake is located just before Rainbow Lake. Though ugly in comparison to Rainbow Lake, Hanging Lake has a nice camping area and is dog friendly and swimming friendly. Rainbow Lake is the source of Whistler's drinking water and camping, dogs, swimming and fishing are prohibited.  Though all of these prohibitions are unfortunately, routinely flouted at Rainbow Lake, Hanging Lake is a good alternative.  The dividing line for dogs allowed and not allowed runs between Rainbow Lake and Hanging Lake and is marked with a huge sign.

The trail from Madeley Lake to Hanging Lake is nice, however at times muddy. Free of snow, usually early June to November most years, this trail is a great way to avoid the much busier Rainbow Lake trail that starts from the Whistler side of this area. If you can arrange to have someone drop you off at the trailhead you can hike all the way to Whistler Village via the Rainbow Lake trail and the Valley Trail.  The entire distance is about 23 kilometres and should only take about 6 hours, much of it steadily descending the beautiful Rainbow Lake trail. The route is well marked and there are several map-boards along the route ensuring you find your way safely.

Madeley Lake Trail Map

This trail map shows the Madeley Lake trail to Hanging Lake as well as the Rainbow Lake Trail to Rainbow Lake and down to Whistler near Rainbow Park on Alta Lake. To print: Right Click on the map, save image as, save to desktop, then open the image and print on standard size printer paper. Cell coverage is sometimes spotty in the Callaghan Valley, however generally good nearer to Rainbow Lake. You will likely be able to access the internet and this map if you have a data plan, however saving this image may be a good idea especially if you are venturing out toward Beverley Lake where the trail is hard to find and follow.

Camping at Madeley Lake

The campsite at the end of Madeley Lake is very basic, though wonderfully remote feeling and rustic. The sun rises over the lake in the morning and you are bathed in sun most of the day.  In previous years you could also camp at the nearby Alexander Falls, however this is no longer allowed.  Also, keep in mind that this whole area in the winter is taken over by Callaghan Country and Whistler Olympic Park so access via skis comes with a usage charge.  Another campsite option in the area is the beautiful and large campsite area at Callaghan Lake Provincial Park nearby. Both Madeley Lake campsite and Callaghan Lake are free of charge for camping.

Facilities at Madeley Lake

Madeley Lake is a wonderfully remote feeling place and the campsite is not maintained.  There are a few picnic tables, an outhouse, several fire rings and several clearings for tents. Madeley Lake sits in a forgotten corner of Whistler's Callaghan Valley. Camping here is free and compared to every other campsite in and around Whistler, it is arguably the nicest. Tranquil, great rocky beach with a crashing river flowing by. Well laid out tent sites in a deep forest, sun facing and you can drink straight from the river which comes from a glacier at nearby Telemagique Lake.

Restrictions and Concerns at Madeley Lake

There are not really any restrictions at Madeley Lake. Free camping, dog friendly, and fires are OK in the fire rings. Though during the most dangerous months for a fire, you will see a "no fires" sign in the campground. The Madeley Lake trail to Hanging Lake is very dog friendly but keep in mind that it is often a muddy trail so your car will get muddy if you don't take him for a swim at the end. Beyond Hanging Lake you will come to a large sign indicating that Rainbow Lake is Whistler's water source and dogs, swimming, fishing, etc are prohibited. There are plenty of other dog friendly trails around Whistler.

Wildlife at Madeley Lake

Lots of black bears inhabit the forest around Madeley Lake and the Callaghan Valley. So many that you will occasionally see a bear watching tour across the lake. They drive up Callaghan Valley road and then up to Madeley Lake. Often seeing multiple bears on the drive to the lake. The Callaghan Valley is also home to grizzly bears. Occasionally you hear of someone photographing a grizzly bear in the area. If you encounter a black bear, don't worry too much as they are rarely aggressive in Whistler. If you encounter a grizzly bear, you should be worried. Though sightings are rare and there has never been a grizzly bear attack, or unprovoked black bear attack in Whistler, it is still possible. Much more so than an encounter with a black bear.  Black bears are timid and fearful of humans, whereas grizzly bears are far more likely to become aggressive if you get in their space.  The worrying thing about grizzly bears is though you are extremely unlikely to ever see one in and around Whistler, if you do happen upon one, you will be in a lot of danger if it is inclined to find you a threat.

History of Madeley Lake

Why is Madeley Lake sometimes mislabelled Powell Lake on some maps, including Google maps?  Most maps show it correctly as Madeley Lake and the forest service road to get there is signed as the Madeley Lake FSR.  Madeley Lake has been locally known by that name in recent memory as well as identified at Madeley Lake in many Forest Service records.  Madeley Lake is named as a memorial to remember Canadian Army Lieutenant William A. Madeley, from Squamish; killed in action 15 June 1945.  This would indicate the name was established in 1945 or soon after.  The origin of the Powell Lake name is from a brief period of time in the 1970's when a mining company worked the area.  The Lakewood Mining Company discovered a high tungsten geochemistry in the west shore of Madeley Lake.  An extremely rare, yellow fluorescent material named powellite.  The Lakewood Mining Company geologists referred to Madeley Lake as Powell Lake.  Around the lake itself, signs and mapboards show it as Madeley Lake, which seems to reinforce this name as the correct, and official name to use despite Google's continued use of Powell Lake.

Getting to Madeley Lake

Biking and public transit options to get to Madeley Lake are not good. Far away from any bus routes, you may be able to make your way to Whistler Olympic Park by a local tour or taxi, but then you still have a fair distance to hike to the lake. Driving to Madeley Lake is the only realistic and convenient option for most. From Whistler drive 13.8 kilometres towards Vancouver on the Sea to Sky highway, then turn right at the sign for Whistler Olympic Park. Drive up the beautiful, winding road for 9.6 kilometres. The sign for Callaghan Lake will be just after Alexander Falls and just before Whistler Olympic Park, you will turn left, cross a bridge and after about 300 metres turn right onto another logging road(Madeley Lake FSR).  You may want to zero your odometer here again because in 700 metres there is a fork in the road that you have to bear left.  At 900 metres you will drive past the rock quarry on your left.  At 2.4km you will come to another fork in the road, keep to the right and continue straight.  At 4.2km the road will end at the new gate Whistler Olympic Park installed in 2022 at the Hanging Lake trailhead parking area.  The campsite at Madeley Lake is about 2 kilometres from this new gate.  **the access road to Madeley Lake is often impassable due to snow until mid June.  In 2018, June 12th was the first day a high clearance 4x4 made it through the last deep snow section about 1 kilometre from the lake.  Most SUV's managed to get through by about the 16th of June.  Cars had to wait until late June to get through.

More Attractions Near Madeley Lake

Madeley Lake is located high up in Callaghan Valley.  This enormous, wild and beautiful valley is surrounded by mountains and a variety of gorgeous mountains, lakes, waterfalls, glaciers and hiking trails.  Callaghan Lake Provincial Park is located up the logging road you would have turned off of to drive up to Madeley Lake.  Callaghan Lake is a large and very tranquil lake in a pristine forest surrounded by snowy mountains.  The small campsite is right on the shore of the lake and you can drive right to the edge of the water.  Canoeing on Callaghan Lake is about as peaceful an experience you can get as you often have the entire lake and surrounding wilderness to yourself.  Sometimes the campsite gets busy, but rarely the lake.  At the far end of the lake is the unmarked and hard to spot trailhead to Cirque Lake, an even more remote and idyllic lake.  Steep sided, almost like a large volcano's crater, Cirque Lake is a little corner of paradise far removed from the increasingly chaotic Garibaldi Park across the valley.  Back at Madeley Lake you will find the Madeley to Hanging Lake trail.  Hanging Lake is a good place to camp as you cannot camp in the watershed around Rainbow Lake, which Hanging Lake is close to.  Rainbow Lake is where Whistler's water supply comes from and though you cannot camp in the watershed, the hiking is terrific.  The Rainbow Trail starts down in the Whistler Valley, not far from Rainbow Park on Alta Lake.

Alexander Falls Near Madeley Lake

Alexander 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.  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.  Continued here...

Callaghan Lake - Hikes Near Madeley Lake

Callaghan Lake Provincial Park is a relatively untouched wilderness of rugged mountainous terrain. The valley walls were formed by relatively recent glaciation. Evidence of this can be seen in the considerable glacial till and slide materials visible across the lake. Around the lake you will see talus slopes, flat rock benches, cirques, hanging valleys, tarns, waterfalls and upland plateaus with bogs.  The wildlife that reside in the area include bobcats, cougars, coyotes, minks, wolverines, wolves, bears, deer, mountain goats and occasionally moose and grizzly bears.  Callaghan Lake is not really a hiking destination but more of a drive to campsite on a beautiful lake, and gateway to some beautiful intermediate hikes.  The campsite is small and looks a bit like a parking lot with about a dozen spots to put up a tent near your vehicle.  There is a small boat launch at the campsite and the lake is large and beautiful to paddle. Surrounded by snowy mountains and nice rock outcrops the lake is good for fishing.  The hiking trails are minimal here due to the steepness and deep forest surrounding the lake. From the main parking area some short trails extend in either direction.  Continued here...

Cirque Lake - Hikes Near Madeley Lake

Cirque Lake is a wild and beautiful lake that hides high above and beyond Callaghan Lake in Callaghan Lake Provincial Park.  What makes Cirque Lake special among the other sensationally beautiful lakes in the Whistler area is both its location and geologically formed shape.  It sits high above Callaghan Lake, which itself is a gorgeous, mountain lake.  The remoteness of Callaghan Lake is a bit of a mirage due to the fact that you can drive right to it!  Callaghan Lake is accessible via an 8 kilometre weather battered and very potholed forest service road. The entire road is cratered with deep potholes, cut by frequent cross-ditches, and more recently a small section collapsing into the valley below. This logging road begins high up in the Callaghan Valley, which itself is largely overlooked by travellers to Whistler. The Callaghan Valley is home to quite a few natural and man-made attractions. Brandywine Meadows, Alexander Falls, Northair Mine and Mount Sproatt are all found in the valley. Recently, the 2010 Olympic Games produced the largest man-made attraction in Callaghan Valley, Whistler Olympic Park. Though Cirque Lake is tremendously far into the wilderness, the amount of hiking required to reach it is effectively less than two kilometres.  Another two kilometres of canoeing is required to reach the trailhead at the far end of Callaghan Lake. But for such an enchantingly beautiful, mountain lake, the exertion to reach it is remarkably little. The other attribute of Cirque Lake that makes it special, is its cirque structure. From the moment you catch sight of Cirque Lake, the abruptly steep sides all around give you the humbling feeling that you are inside a volcano. A volcano filled with emerald water and ringed by grassy meadows and crumbling, near vertical cliffs. Where you stand, at the entrance to the cirque, is not far from the only water channel out of the cirque. An ever narrowing gap in the cliffs spills water down one cliff after another until reaching Callaghan Lake just 1.4 kilometres away.  Continued here...

Ring Lake - Hikes Near Madeley Lake

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 through a rarely hiked forest, then to an idyllic meadow filled with ponds and ringed with distant, mountains, then finally up an over some steep terrain to reveal this very hidden lake. 5 kilometres(3.1 miles) into the hike you come to Conflict Lake with trails running around it.  Journeyman Lodge sits near Conflict Lake. A wilderness lodge operated by Callaghan Country, a tour company that operates in the valley. They offer a range of alpine activities, far more serene than across the valley on Whistler Mountain and Blackcomb Mountain. Signs along the trail and at Conflict Lake indicate which trail to take to reach Ring Lake, a further 5 kilometres from Conflict Lake.  The trail from Conflict Lake to Ring Lake passes through a huge valley for a couple kilometres, then abruptly ascends on the right side of the valley. The trail is poorly marked in this section and you have to keep bearing right to avoid descending back into the valley. The trail is occasionally maintained, however owing to heavy winter snow, the trail gets pretty brutalized every winter.  Because of the winter destruction, the visible trail in some parts disappears and you find yourself wondering if you are still on your way to Ring Lake. The key to staying on the right route, you quickly figure out, is to keep to the right side of the valley. Three kilometres of, at times very steep, but not technical trail gets you to the magnificent Ring Lake and the imposing Ring Mountain across the emerald green water.  Continued here...

Rainbow Lake - Hikes Near Madeley Lake

Rainbow Lake is one of the original hiking trails in Whistler that has existed well before Whistler was called Whistler. The 8 kilometre trail is challenging though beautiful as it passes through an impressively huge forest of giant trees. There are several wonderful bridge crossings and crashing river views. Rainbow Lake itself is surreal and beautiful.  An unnaturally bright, green meadow extends from one side of the lake and a field of starkly white erratics litter the landscape along the shores of the crystal clear lake. Rainbow Lake is Whistler's water source so swimming, fishing, dogs and camping are not allowed.  There are, you will quickly notice upon reaching Rainbow Lake, that a trail continues past the lake then forks.  If you hiked up from the Madeley Lake trail to Hanging Lake, Rainbow Lake is just a 20 minute hike past Hanging Lake.The Rainbow Trail is a convenient and popular trail near Whistler Village that takes you to Rainbow Lake as well as the Rainbow-Sproatt Flank Trail, Rainbow Falls, Hanging Lake, Madeley Lake, Beverley Lake, Rainbow Mountain... and even Whistler Olympic Park if you are determined.  It is a consistently uphill and very beautiful trail with several water (bridge) crossings and waterfalls on the way to the picture-perfect lake.  There are a few views of the valley across to Whistler Mountain, Blackcomb Mountain, and Wedge Mountain.  Few views, though fantastic.  Rainbow Lake itself is in a gorgeous alpine valley with branching trails that extend further beyond the lake in at least three directions.  Along with the waterfalls, bridge crossings and valley views, the Rainbow Trail passes through deep forest with some impressively huge trees.  Continued here...

Northair Mine Near Madeley Lake

Northair Mine is a surreal little world of colourful murals on abandoned cement foundations, surrounded by an astoundingly tranquil little lake in a secluded forest.  Just a short logging road off of the Callaghan Valley Road takes you to this unusual little abandoned mine.  You would have driven by the turnoff if you have been to Whistler Olympic Park or Alexander Falls, both of which are just a couple kilometres away.  Northair Mine gets its name from the Vancouver based mining company the Northair Group.  The mine was in production from 1976 and extracted 5 tons of gold before being abandoned in 1982. Today it is a bizarre little world in the mountains that has become an incredible place to escape the world and camp out under the stars.  Northair Mine is tricky to find and even when you near it, the turnoff is not obvious.  The access road takes you high into the mountains and is only free of snow in May most years.  In 2016, for example, the snow melted enough for vehicle access during the first week in May.  Driving to Northair Mine is along a bumpy, potholed, old logging road drivable by most vehicles, though at least one deep washout may give even SUV's some difficulty.  Once Northair Mine comes into view it is quite a sight.  The area that surrounds the old ruins is unexpectedly huge.  About 2 kilometres long, edged by a cliff on one side and a beautiful lake on the other.  Graffiti art covers some of the cement pilings and scattered remnants indicate that this skeleton of a building has been home to its share of gatherings since being abandoned.  Whistler's cherished Flank Trail passes right by Northair Mine near its terminus at Whistler Olympic Park.  Although, the Rainbow-Sproatt Flank Trail effectively ends far south of the Northair Mine, it piggybacks on the logging road that extends up and past the mine.  With the massive construction that preceded the 2010 Olympics, the Callaghan Valley had a luxuriously wide, paved road built high up into the mountains here. 

Northair Mine is located way up in the beautiful Callaghan Valley.  From Whistler Village, drive south on the Sea to Sky Highway for 13.8 kilometres and turn right onto Callaghan Valley Road.  Drive up into the Callaghan Valley for 7.6 kilometres and just after you cross the bridge over Callaghan Creek turn right onto the Callaghan Creek forest service road.  The gravel road is pretty good for the first couple kilometres until you make a sharp left turn and the road deteriorates quickly.  Still manageable by most vehicles, however there are a couple very deep waterbars that might surprise you.  Northair Mine is very close to, and on the way to one of the access trailheads to Mount Sproatt.

Mount Sproatt - Hikes Near Madeley Lake

Mount Sproatt, or as it is known locally as  just Sproatt, is one of the many towering mountains visible from Whistler Village. Above and beyond Alta Lake, directly across from Whistler Mountain and Blackcomb Mountain, you will see this quiet giant. Its unremarkable appearance hides the growing network of trails that stretch through some startlingly beautiful terrain.  Next time you walk through Whistler Village and cross the pedestrian bridge(with Village Gate Boulevard below you), you will see Mount Sproatt in the distance. It is the rocky giant, abruptly steep on one end and gently sloping on the other. At its summit you may be able to make out the small weather recording structure.  What you can't see from Whistler Village is the extraordinarily beautiful alpine paradise that lays beyond it. Lakes and tarns everywhere you look. Fields of alpine flowers and wonderfully mangled, yet strikingly beautiful forests of krummholz.  Hostile looking fields of boulders and absurdly placed erratics the size of RV's. Beyond, of course, endless stunning view of distant, snowy mountains. From the towering elevation of much of the Mount Sproatt hiking trail network, you often look across or even down on distant mountains.  Continued here...

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