• Easy drive from Greater Vancouver on a plowed and sanded highway.
• Usually low avalanche risk. 
• Better weather and fluffier snow than the coast. 
• No stupidly steep climbs. Gorgeous mountain views.
• TONS of trails ranging from super flat beginner routes to all-day epics in the backcountry that climb mountains.

I mean, what else do  you need? In this guide I’ll give you all the details you need to choose the right trail for snowshoeing in Manning Park, plus tips to keep you safe on the trail.

This guide to snowshoeing in Manning Park includes:

• Quick reference guide: An easy overview of the stats for all the trails
• Snowshoeing safety: key info to help get you prepared to snowshoe in Vancouver
• Where to rent snowshoes in Manning Park including which shops have the best price
• Snowshoe trails in Manning Park: details for 9 trails
• No-go trails: summer trails that aren’t safe for snowshoeing

Psst! Looking for even more places to snowshoe in British Columbia? Check out these Vancouver-area snowshoe guides:

• Snowshoeing in Vancouver
• Snowshoeing in the Fraser Valley
• Snowshoeing in Whistler
• Snowshoeing in Squamish

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. Thanks for supporting my website! -Taryn

Snowshoeing in Manning Park Quick Reference Guide

But First… Be Prepared

• Make a trip plan: While these trails may be steps from busy ski areas, they access serious wilderness. Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back. Use the great trip planning tools from Adventure Smart.
• Check the weather, trail conditions, and avalanche forecast: If the weather and trail conditions don’t look good, don’t go. Use my list of the best weather apps for hiking. Check the avalanche forecast. Unless you have taken an avalanche safety course, you probably shouldn’t go out unless the forecast is rated “Low”.
• Wear winter clothing and pack the essentials: Prepare for emergencies by packing the 10 essentials. Read my recommendations for what to wear snowshoeing and tips for winter hiking and snowshoeing.
• Use safe snowshoeing techniques: Snowshoes keep you from sinking into deep snow, but they aren’t great for walking sideways or downhill – it’s easy to slip and injure yourself. Read up on snowshoeing safety and check out my guide to choosing snowshoes.) They also have crampons and other traction aids underfoot to help grip icy snow.
• Take an avalanche safety course: If you plan to stray from flat terrain, you need avalanche safety training. great FREE online beginner tutorial on Avalanche.ca. You should also take a 2.5 day AST1 course with avalanche Canada.

READ NEXT: Snowshoeing Safety: 14 Ways to Get into Trouble and How to Prevent Them

Join: Snowshoeing in Vancouver Facebook Group

Snowshoeing on the Skagit River Trail at Sumallo Grove

Note: The bridge across the river at the beginning of the trail is washed out. The river doesn’t reliably freeze over, making this trail impassable until the bridge is fixed.

The Trail: The Skagit River trail runs 15km down the banks of the… you guessed it: Skagit River. In winter Delacey camp at the 4km mark makes a good place to turn around. Along the way you’ll pass through the large old growth trees of Sumallo Grove. Be sure to take the side trail around the 2km mark to visit an old abandoned mining truck.

Since the access road is gated in the winter you’ll add an extra 0.5km each way to walk in to the summer parking lot. 

Note that this trail is at a much lower elevation than the rest of the snowshoeing trails in Manning Park (only 650m) so it will not receive as much snow and may be snow-free in warmer weather.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: Watch for open creeks and narrow snow-covered bridges along the trail. There is no immediate avalanche danger on the trail, but there are some substantial avalanche slopes up the hill from the trail. If the avalanche forecast is above low, it may not be smart to be down in this valley.

Trail Map/Guide: You can find info on the Manning Provincial Park website.

Permits/Fees: None.

Dogs: Permitted on leash.

Driving Directions: From Hope drive 30 minutes to the Sumallo Grove picnic area turn off on your right. Click here for driving directions. The gate to the parking lot is locked in the winter so you’ll have to park on the shoulder of the highway and walk in. There is space for a few cars outside the gate. Winter tires or chains are required to drive Highway 3 in winter.

Snowshoeing Mount Kelly

Distance: 7 km

Time Needed: 3.5-5 hours

Elevation Gain: 560 m

Rating: Challenging

The Trail: This trail has grown in popularity for snowshoeing in the last few years. The trail follows an old road in the lower sections and a trail up higher as it steadily gains elevation. The route is almost entirely through the forest. The summit doesn’t have a great view, but there are a few peek-a-boo views lower down on the trail. Experienced snowshoers can also explore off-trail along the ridge towards Nordheim Peak to the northwest for better views.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: The kilometre of the trail has some moderate avalanche exposure, but since it is in the trees, the risk is usually fairly low. Use caution and check the avalanche forecast before you go. There are a few steep sections of trail where you will need to watch your step – poles or an ice axe can help. After the trail leaves the logging road, it can be hard to find in fresh snow so you will need route-finding experience. If you choose to explore the ridge towards Nordheim, you must be experienced in off-trail route finding.

Trail Map/Guide: There’s a good write-up on Best Hikes BC.

Permits/Fees: None.

Dogs: Allowed on leash.

Driving Directions: From Hope drive 45 minutes to Allison Pass Summit. Turn right through the gate into the Highway works yard. You are allowed to park here as long as you park off to the side away from any Highway works vehicles. Click here for driving directions. Winter tires or chains are required to drive Highway 3 in winter.

Snowshoeing Cambie Creek Loop

The Trail: There are two interconnected cross country ski loop trails along the banks of the of the Similkameen River, collectively known as the Cambie Creek Loop. The trails are relatively flat and make a great snowshoe trip for beginners. The trails are un-groomed, but be prepared to share the trail with cross country skiers – don’t walk in their ski tracks.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: For many years one of the bridges on this trail was washed out and you couldn’t complete the loop. However, that is no longer a problem. The trail is down in the valley bottom and there are a few very steep slopes immediately uphill of the trail. Use caution and check the avalanche forecast before you go.

Trail Map/Guide: Surprisingly there is very little information online about this trail. There is a good map posted at trailhead.

Permits/Fees: None.

Dogs: Allowed on leash.

Driving Directions: From Hope drive 45 minutes to the Cambie Creek Winter Group Campsite turn off on your left. Click here for driving directions. There is a large plowed parking area. Winter tires or chains are required to drive Highway 3 in winter.

Snowshoeing the Fat Dog Trail

The Trail: This trail climbs up high into the alpine and on a clear day you can get some great views. Despite all the elevation gain, the trail is on an old road so it never gets too steep. The trail is also popular with backcountry skiers so be sure to walk outside their ski tracks. The Fat Dog Trail doesn’t have a definite end point – it peters out in the high alpine meadows so turn around when ever you’ve had enough of the views.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: The first few kilometres of the trail are down in the valley bottom and there are a few very steep slopes immediately uphill of the trail. Use caution and check the avalanche forecast before you go. The remainder of the trail is in much more mellow terrain. Be careful of cornices along the ridge at the top.

Trail Map/Guide: There’s a map and a little bit of information on All Trails.

Permits/Fees: None.

Dogs: Allowed on leash.

Driving Directions: From Hope drive 45 minutes to the Cambie Creek Winter Group Campsite turn off on your left. Click here for driving directions. There is a large plowed parking area. Winter tires or chains are required to drive Highway 3 in winter.

Lodge Area Snowshoe Trails

The Trail: Manning Park Resort maintains a small network of snowshoe trails right next to their cabins. If you stay there you can snowshoe right out your front door. The trails are flat and well marked.  Various loops are possible and there’s even a small lookout.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: None.

Trail Map/Guide: There’s info on Manning Park Resort’s website and they will also give you a map when you buy your trail pass.

Permits/Fees: You need a Manning Park Resort Snowshoe Trail pass for these trails. A day pass costs $10 and you can buy one at the Nordic Centre near the Lodge.

Dogs: Allowed on leash.

Driving Directions: From Hope drive 50 minutes to the Manning Park Lodge turn off on your right. Click here for driving directions. There is a large plowed parking area at the Lodge. Winter tires or chains are required to drive Highway 3 in winter.

Join: Snowshoeing in Vancouver Facebook Group

Snowshoeing the Canyon Nature Trail

The Trail: This short nature trail follows the banks of the Similkameen River as it winds through a mini-canyon. You’ll walk up one side of the river to a bridge near the Coldspring Campground, cross it and come back down the other side of the river.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: In some areas the trail gets close to the river bank. Use caution. This trail doesn’t have winter markings so it could be difficult to follow if no one has walked there recently. However, the trail stays down in the canyon so it shouldn’t be too hard to stay on track.

Trail Map/Guide: There’s trail information and a map on the Manning Provincial Park website.

Permits/Fees: None. While this trail starts next to Manning Park Resort’s Nordic Ski Trails, which do require a paid trail pass, this trail is strictly within BC Park’s jurisdiction and is free to use.

Dogs: Allowed on leash.

Driving Directions: From Hope drive 50 minutes to the Manning Park Lodge turn off on your right. Turn down Gibson Road and follow it for a couple minutes. Immediately after crossing a bridge you’ll see the trailhead on your right. Click here for driving directions. There is a small plowed pull out on the side of the road. Winter tires or chains are required to drive Highway 3 in winter.

Snowshoeing to Windy Joe Mountain

The Trail: This trail climbs Windy Joe Mountain on an old road. Thankfully the grade is never too steep. At the top you can explore an old fire lookout tower, last used in the 1960s. Be sure to climb up into the loft where a sign helps you identify all the peaks you are looking at.

Distance: 16km round trip

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: The trail traverses mostly mild terrain, but there it does cross a steep slope on the first switchback so use caution in this area and check the avalanche forecast before you go.

Trail Map/Guide: There’s a good trail guide on the Manning Provincial Park website. There’s a map as well.

Permits/Fees: None.

Dogs: Allowed on leash.

Driving Directions: From Hope drive 50 minutes to the Manning Park Lodge turn off on your right. Turn down Gibson Road and follow it for a couple minutes. Immediately after crossing a bridge you’ll see the trailhead on your left. Click here for driving directions. There is a small plowed pull out on the side of the road. Winter tires or chains are required to drive Highway 3 in winter.

Snowshoeing the Lightning Lakes Loop

The Trail: In the summer the Lightning Lakes trail is THE hike in Manning Park. So of course in winter this is THE place to go snowshoeing in Manning Park. The loop around Lightning Lake is a wonderful mellow trail, and if you want to make it even flatter, you can walk on the lake itself. The highlight is visiting the Rainbow Bridge when it’s all covered in snow.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: There is no major avalanche danger on the trail. If the lake is sufficiently frozen you can take a shortcut on the ice across the mouth of Lone Duck Bay. Be careful and don’t try this late or early in the season. If you can’t take the shortcut across the ice, you’ll have to go around the long way on the Lone Duck Trail. The Lone Duck trail is technically a cross country ski trail in the winter. Stay well to the side of the trail and don’t walk in the ski tracks.

Trail Map/Guide: You can find trail info and a map on the Manning Provincial Park website.

Permits/Fees: None.

Dogs: Allowed on leash.

Driving Directions: From Hope drive 50 minutes to the Manning Park Lodge turn off on your right. Turn down Gibson Road and follow it for 5 minutes. Take the signed turn off to the left for the Lightning Lakes Day Use Area. Click here for driving directions. There is a large plowed parking lot at the end of the road. Winter tires or chains are required to drive Highway 3 in winter.

Snowshoeing to Poland Lake

The Trail: Poland Lake is one of the less visited areas in Manning Park in both summer and winter, despite the fact that it’s only a short drive from the lodge.

Manning Park used to offer a $10 lift ticket for snowshoers to get to the top of the lift but they cancelled that in March 2021.

The old winter route followed ski runs up to the ridge, but starting in 2022, Manning Park Resort has opened a snowshoe trail that avoids the ski runs but is much longer. You also must get a free trail ticket at Alpine Guest Services to use this route.

The trail starts at Strawberry Flats parking area and follows an old road on the north side of the Gibsons Pass Road. After about 1.5km, it leaves the road on a flagged route.

About 2.5km from the trailhead, the route crosses the Manning Park Ski area. You need to get a trail ticket at guest services here, then cross the ski area.

The next section is a big climb in the woods to the west of the Blue Chair, gaining about 300 m over the next 1.5 km. The flagged route ends on the top of the ridge about 4 km from the trailhead, where the route joins the Poland Lake Trail. Turn left and follow this trail, which is an old road, along the top of an undulating ridge all the way to pretty little Poland Lake.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: The first part of the trail passes below avalanche slopes. Check the avalanche forecast before your trip. Use caution crossing the ski runs.

Trail Map/Guide: You can find info and a map of the winter route on the Manning Park Resort website.

Permits/Fees: Free

Dogs: Dogs are not allowed on the lift or in the ski area.

Driving Directions: Unfortunately, snowshoers are no longer allowed to park at the downhill ski area. Instead, you’ll need to park about 2.5 km earlier at Strawberry Flats. From Hope drive 50 minutes to the Manning Park Lodge turn off on your right. Turn down Gibson Road and follow it for 10 minutes to the Strawberry Flats parking area. Click here for driving directions. There is a large plowed parking lot at the end of the road. Winter tires or chains are required to drive Highway 3 in winter.

Join: Snowshoeing in Vancouver Facebook Group

No-Go Trails for Snowshoeing in Manning Park

There are a few summer hiking trails in Manning Park that may sound like a fun snowshoe adventure in winter. However, many of them have significant avalanche danger, are closed in winter, or just don’t have enough consistent snow for good snowshoeing.

• Heather Trail: The road to trailhead is actually groomed as a cross-country ski trail and snowshoeing is not allowed.
• Lightning Lakes Chain (Flash and Strike Lakes): Experienced snowshoers can continue past the end of Lightning Lake to Flash and Strike Lakes. However, there is significant overhead avalanche hazard and the trails are not well-marked.
• Frosty Mountain: This trail is very long (21 km round-trip) and it is not easy to find the trail in the winter, so only very experienced snowshoers should tackle this trail.
• Skyline II and II: These trails are difficult to find in the winter. As well, they have some very steep slopes where a slip could be fatal. The trails are also in prime avalanche start zones.

Final Thoughts

How many of these Manning Park trails have you snowshoed? Have questions about snowshoeing in Manning Park? Hit me up in the comments.

READ NEXT:

More Snowshoeing Guides:

• Snowshoeing in Vancouver
• Snowshoeing in Squamish
• Snowshoeing in Whistler
• Snowshoeing in Vancouver’s Fraser Valley

Snowshoeing and Winter Hiking Advice

• How to Choose Snowshoes: A Complete Guide
• The Best Boots For Snowshoeing
• Best Gifts for Snowshoers (20+ Ideas)
• Snowshoeing Safety: 14 Ways to Get into Trouble and How to Prevent Them
• What to Wear Winter Hiking and Snowshoeing
• 9 Tips for Winter Hiking (You Don’t Have to Freeze!)
• 100+ Snow-Free Hikes in Vancouver: Trails You Can Hike Year Round

The post Where to Go Snowshoeing in Manning Park, BC appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

This guide covers seven snowshoe trails on in the Fraser Valley. They are all trails that are high enough for consistent snow AND are also safe to snowshoe.

This guide to snowshoeing in the Fraser Valley includes:

• Quick reference guide: An easy overview of the stats for all the trails
• Snowshoeing safety: key info to help get you prepared to snowshoe in Vancouver
• Where to rent snowshoes in the Fraser Valley including which shops have the best price
• Snowshoe trails in the Fraser Valley: details for 7 places to go snowshoeing
• No-go trails: summer trails that aren’t safe for snowshoeing

If you’re looking for even more places to go snowshoeing in in the Vancouver area, don’t worry, I got you! Check out these other guides to snowshoeing trails near Vancouver:

• Snowshoeing in Vancouver
• Snowshoeing in Whistler
• Snowshoeing in Squamish
• Snowshoeing in Manning Park
• Snowshoeing at Dakota Ridge on the Sunshine Coast

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

Snowshoeing in the Fraser Valley Quick Reference Guide

But First… Be Prepared

• Make a trip plan: While these trails may be steps from busy ski areas, they access serious wilderness. Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back. Use the great trip planning tools from Adventure Smart.
• Check the weather, trail conditions, and avalanche forecast: If the weather and trail conditions don’t look good, don’t go. Use my list of the best weather apps for hiking. Check the avalanche forecast for the South Coast Inland zone. Unless you have taken an avalanche safety course, you probably shouldn’t go out unless the forecast is rated “Low”. 
• Wear winter clothing and pack the essentials: Prepare for emergencies by packing the 10 essentials. Read my recommendations for what to wear snowshoeing and tips for winter hiking and snowshoeing.
• Use safe snowshoeing techniques: Snowshoes keep you from sinking into deep snow, but they aren’t great for walking sideways or downhill – it’s easy to slip and injure yourself. Read up on snowshoeing safety and check out my guide to choosing snowshoes.) They also have crampons and other traction aids underfoot to help grip icy snow.
• Take an avalanche safety course: If you plan to stray from flat terrain, you need avalanche safety training. great FREE online beginner tutorial on Avalanche.ca. You should also take a 2.5 day AST1 course with avalanche Canada.

READ NEXT: Snowshoeing Safety: 14 Ways to Get into Trouble and How to Prevent Them

Join: Snowshoeing in Vancouver Facebook Group

Snowshoe Trails at Sasquatch Mountain

The Trail: Formerly called Hemlock Valley Resort, this ski resort near Harrison Hot Springs has a network of snowshoe trails. The short and flat Village Loop trail is great for beginners. More adventurous snowshoers can tackled the intermediat Ridge Run or Old Yeller Trails. For advanced snowshoeing, head to the peaks of Mount Klaudt or Mount Cartmel.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: The Mount Klaudt and Mount Cartmel trails climb some steep slopes, but there is no significant avalanche danger or other hazards. Check the avalanche forecast before you go.

Trail Map/Guide: There’s a trail map on the Sasquatch Mountain website.

Permits/Fees: Trail passes are $15/day.

Dogs: Not allowed

Getting There: It’s a 45min drive from Agassiz to Sasquatch Mountain Resort. The last 7km of the road are gravel, steep and winding but it is plowed and sanded regularly. Provincial law requires you to carry chains (and you’ll probably want them). 

Snowshoeing to Elk Mountain, Chilliwack

The Trail: This steep trail is sometimes referred to as Chilliwack’s version of the Grouse Grind. (Although it’s not quite as steep!) Once you break out of the trees on to the ridge it’s flatter you’ll get great views of Chilliwack and of the Chilliwack River Valley. If you want to extend your trip, you can continue along the ridge for another kilometer or so.

The Elk Mountain trail is by far the most popular place to go snowshoeing in the Fraser Valley, so the trail is often so packed down that you can get by with just microspikes and only use snowshoes once you are on the ridge. (Read my guide to differences between microspikes, crampons, and snowshoes.)

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: The last section of the trail before you reach the ridge top can be very slippery. It may be worth bringing microspikes or crampons and poles for this section (especially going downhill). There are very steep slopes and drop offs once you reach the open ridge top. Stay in the center of the ridge and well back from steep drops and slopes. Check the avalanche forecast before you go.

Trail Map/Guide: There’s a good trail guide on Vancouver Trails.

Permits/Fees: None.

Dogs: Allowed.

Getting There: It’s a 25min drive from Chilliwack City Hall to the trailhead. The last 2km are on a gravel road that is not plowed and can be very icy. Bring chains or be prepared to walk the extra 2km on the road to the trailhead. There is a gravel pullout for parking at the trailhead.

Snowshoeing to Needle Peak on the Coquihalla

The Trail: The Coquihalla is a great destination for Fraser Valley snowshoers since the road reaches high into the mountains to access lots of fresh snow. This challenging trail climbs through the trees on to the ridge of Needle Peak. It isn’t safe to go all the way to the summit in the winter unless you have mountaineering skills and equipment, so turn around somewhere on the ridge and retrace your steps back to the car.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: This is a true backcountry trail and is only appropriate for experienced snowshoers. As long as you stay on the ridge you can avoid the worst of the avalanche terrain, but you’re never totally safe from avalanches on this trail.  Check the avalanche forecast before you go and don’t go unless the forecast is low. After the trail gets above the treeline, the trail gets harder to follow, but just stay in the center of the ridge.

Trail Map/Guide: There’s trail info on the Coquihalla Summit Recreation Area website.

Permits/Fees: None.

Dogs: Allowed on leash.

Getting There: From Hope, it’s a 35 min drive on the Coquihalla. Take exit 217 to the Zopkios Rest Area on the south side of the highway. You will need winter tires or chains to drive the Coquihalla. See this parking map for instructions on legal places to park.

Snowshoeing to Falls Lake on the Coquihalla

The Trail: The trail to Falls Lake is the only easy snowshoe trail on the Coquihalla. The first half of the trail follows a road. After reaching a summer parking lot, it heads into the trees before emerging on the shores of Falls Lake. This lake is surrounded by tall peaks and feels much more remote than the short 2km walk from the road.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: Be prepared to share the initial road section of the trail with snowmobiles. There is no significant avalanche danger on this trail, but once you reach the lake stay away from the west bank as the steep slopes there can send avalanches down. Check the avalanche forecast before you go.

Trail Map/Guide: There’s trail info on the Coquihalla Summit Recreation Area website.

Permits/Fees: None.

Dogs: Allowed on leash.

Driving Directions: From Hope, it’s a 40 min drive on the Coquihalla. You will need winter tires or chains to drive the Coquihalla. Take exit 221 and follow the tunnel under the highway and turn left. You will immediately see a snowed-in road heading uphill. This is the trailhead. See this parking map for instructions on legal places to park.

Join: Snowshoeing in Vancouver Facebook Group

Snowshoeing to Zoa Peak on the Coquihalla

The Trail: The trail to Zoa Peak starts at the same trailhead as the trail to Falls Lake. But unlike the snowshoe to Falls Lake, the trip to Zoa Peak is not easy. The trail climbs a steep hill on an access road, before turning left into the forest.

Soon you’ll reach the treeline and stroll along the ridge looking waaay down towards Falls Lake. While the summer trail goes all the way to the true summit, in winter it’s much safer to be content with the views from the sub-summit since there’s a steep gully between the two.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: Be prepared to share the initial road section of the trail with snowmobiles. There is no significant avalanche danger on this trail, but once you reach the ridge stay away from edges, especially on the west side, as the steep slopes there can avalanche.  Check the avalanche forecast before you go. The trail can be hard to find, especially if it has snowed recently.

Trail Map/Guide: There’s trail info on the Coquihalla Summit Recreation Area website. There’s also a good write up on Vancouver Trails.

Permits/Fees: None.

Dogs: Allowed on leash.

Driving Directions: From Hope, it’s a 40 min drive on the Coquihalla. You will need winter tires or chains to drive the Coquihalla. Take exit 221 and follow the tunnel under the highway and turn left. You will immediately see a snowed-in road heading uphill. This is the trailhead. See this parking map for instructions on legal places to park.

Snowshoeing to Artist Point at Mount Baker, Washington

The Trail: If have a passport, Washington’s Mount Baker makes a great cross-border trip for Fraser Valley snowshoers. In the summer Artist Point is a gorgeous viewpoint that you can drive right up to. In the winter meters of snow blanket the region and you have to park further down and hike up… which means it’s way less busy… and possibly way more beautiful.

After a moderate 300m of elevation gain, you’ll be treated to great views of Mount Baker and Mount Shuksan wearing their winter coats – in fact the Washington Trails Association calls it one of best viewpoints in the state!

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: This route crosses avalanche terrain in several areas. Check the avalanche forecast for the West Slopes North region before you go and don’t go if the hazard is above low unless you have avalanche training. The route is not marked but it is a popular trail so there should be tracks to follow. The slope is mostly un-treed so bring a map and compass in case the clouds roll in and make navigation difficult.

Trail Map/Guide: There’s a great guide on the Washington Trails Association website.

Permits/Fees: None.

Dogs: Allowed on leash.

Getting There: From Abbotsford, drive 1.5 hours across the border to the Mount Baker Ski Area. Drive past the ski area to the very end of the plowed road. Don’t forget your passport for the border crossing and bring chains for your car. This is a very a high elevation mountain road. There is a designated and plowed parking area at the end of the road.

Snowshoeing at Manning Provincial Park

The Trails: In my opinion, Manning Park is the best place to snowshoe in Southwestern BC… and it’s not too far from the Fraser Valley. There are tons of trails to snowshoe in Manning Park… in fact there are so many that I had to put them all in a separate Snowshoeing in Manning Park post! There are flat easy strolls for beginners, more adventurous backcountry trails and lots in between.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: Most trails are fairly free of avalanche danger and other hazards, but there is avalanche terrain in the park. Check the avalanche forecast before you go. Some trails are unmarked and require backcountry route finding.

Trail Map/Guide: The best source of info is my post all about Snowshoeing in Manning Park.

Permits/Fees: Most trails are free, but there are paid trails for $10/day.

Dogs: Allowed on leash on all trails except Poland Lake.

Getting There: Manning Park is roughly 50 minutes from Hope. Provincial law requires you to have winter tires or chains to drive highway 3 east of Hope. There are plowed parking areas at all trailheads in the park.

Join: Snowshoeing in Vancouver Facebook Group

No-Go Trails for Snowshoeing in the Fraser Valley

There are lots of summer hiking trails in the Fraser Valley that may sound like a fun snowshoe adventure in winter. However, many of them have significant avalanche danger, are closed in winter, or just don’t have enough consistent snow for good snowshoeing.

• Lindeman Lake: The trail is too low elevation to get much snow and the trail is steep so microspikes are a safer choice than snowshoes.
• Flora Peak: This trail has significant avalanche danger so it is best for experienced snowshoers with avalanche training.
• Radium Lake: This trail has significant avalanche danger so it is best for experienced snowshoers with avalanche training.
• Pierce Lake and Mount MacFarlane: This trail has significant avalanche danger and requires a lot of route finding in winter. It is best for experienced snowshoers with avalanche training and experience with off-trail navigation.
• Mount Slesse: The logging road to the trailhead is not plowed, making this trail inaccessible. It also has substantial avalanche danger.
• Golden Ears Provincial Park: The road into the park is closed when there is snow on the ground making all of the trails in the park inaccessible.
• Cheam Peak: The road to the trailhead is not plowed in winter, making this trail inaccessible.

Final Thoughts

Which of these trails is your favourite? Do you have more suggestions for snowshoeing in the Fraser Valley? Tell me in the comments.

READ NEXT:

More Snowshoeing Guides:

• Where to Go Snowshoeing in Manning Park
• Where to Go Snowshoeing in Vancouver
• Where to Go Snowshoeing in Squamish
• Where to Go Snowshoeing in Whistler

Snowshoeing and Winter Hiking Advice

• How to Choose Snowshoes: A Complete Guide
• The Best Boots For Snowshoeing
• Best Gifts for Snowshoers (20+ Ideas)
• Snowshoeing Safety: 14 Ways to Get into Trouble and How to Prevent Them
• What to Wear Winter Hiking and Snowshoeing
• 9 Tips for Winter Hiking (You Don’t Have to Freeze!)
• Winter Camping For Beginners
• 100+ Snow-Free Hikes in Vancouver: Trails You Can Hike Year Round

The post Where to Go Snowshoeing in the Fraser Valley Near Vancouver appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

In this guide to snowshoeing in Squamish, you’ll get info and directions for 9 different trails ranging from super flat beginner trails to all-day epics to deep backcountry wilderness. I’m a Squamish local, so I’ve got the inside scoop on the best places to snowshoe in Squamish.

This guide to snowshoeing in Squamish includes:

• Quick reference guide: An easy overview of the stats for all the trails
• Snowshoeing safety: key info to help get you prepared to snowshoe in Vancouver
• Where to rent snowshoes in Squamish including which shops have the best price
• Snowshoe tours in Squamish: options for going with a guide
• Snowshoe trails in Squamish: details for 10 trails
• No-go trails: summer trails that aren’t safe for snowshoeing

Looking for other places to snowshoe in BC? Check out these posts about Vancouver-area snowshoe trails:

• Snowshoeing in Vancouver
• Snowshoeing in Whistler
• Snowshoeing in the Fraser Valley
• Snowshoeing in Manning Park
• Snowshoeing at Dakota Ridge on the Sunshine Coast

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

Snowshoeing in Squamish Quick Reference Guide

But First… Be Prepared

• Make a trip plan: While these trails may be steps from busy ski areas, they access serious wilderness. Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back. Use the great trip planning tools from Adventure Smart.
• Check the weather, trail conditions, and avalanche forecast: If the weather and trail conditions don’t look good, don’t go. Use my list of the best weather apps for hiking. Check the avalanche forecast. Unless you have taken an avalanche safety course, you probably shouldn’t go out unless the forecast is rated “Low”. 
• Wear winter clothing and pack the essentials: Prepare for emergencies by packing the 10 essentials. Read my recommendations for what to wear snowshoeing and tips for winter hiking and snowshoeing.
• Use safe snowshoeing techniques: Snowshoes keep you from sinking into deep snow, but they aren’t great for walking sideways or downhill – it’s easy to slip and injure yourself. Read up on snowshoeing safety and check out my guide to choosing snowshoes.) They also have crampons and other traction aids underfoot to help grip icy snow.
• Take an avalanche safety course: If you plan to stray from flat terrain, you need avalanche safety training. Avvy Savvy is a great FREE online beginner tutorial on Avalanche.ca. You should also take a 2.5 day AST1 course with avalanche Canada.

READ NEXT: Snowshoeing Safety: 14 Ways to Get into Trouble and How to Prevent Them

Snowshoeing at the Sea to Sky Gondola

The easiest place to go snowshoeing in Squamish is at the Sea to Sky Gondola. They have lots of trails to choose from (beginner to expert), and you don’t have to worry about driving on unplowed mountain roads. The only downside is the cost.

Permits/Fees: Day tickets for the gondola are $72. Once you get to the top there are no additional charges for snowshoeing.

If you want to avoid paying for the gondola up, you can hike up the Sea to Summit Trail instead, carrying your snowshoes. (You can take the gondola down for only $19.)

However, in the winter the Sea to Summit Trail sometimes closes due to hazardous conditions and if it’s open, it can be icy and dangerous so you will need crampons and an ice axe. For more information on the Sea to Summit trail including trail closures and conditions, see the Sea to Sky Gondola website.

Dogs: Not permitted on the gondola and on most trails. You can hike up via the Sea to Summit Trail and then snowshoe with your dog on a leash on the Al’s Habrich Ridge, Sky Pilot Valley and Skyline Trail and they must be on leash.

Driving Directions: Drive 50 min from Vancouver to Sea to Sky Gondola parking lot. If you’re coming from Squamish, it’s a 10-minute drive south of downtown. Note that BC law requires you to have winter tires to drive on highway 99 between October and April.

Transit Access: The Sea to Sky Gondola runs a shuttle service from Vancouver each day. It’s $112 for a combo shuttle and gondola pass, which isn’t a bad deal. Be sure to keep the shuttle schedule in mind when planning which trail to tackle.

Panorama Trail, Sea to Sky Gondola

The Trail: This is the Sea to Sky Gondola’s signature trail in both summer and winter. It’s a loop through gently rolling terrain that leads to some great viewpoints. The best one by far is the Chief viewing platform where you can look down to the Chief, the town of Squamish, the Squamish River valley and Howe Sound. Choose a sunny day for this one to really soak up the views.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: None.

Trail Map/Guide: The Sea to Sky gondola has a trail app you can download or just pick up a copy of their map when you buy your tickets. You can also find more info about the Panorama trail and about snowshoeing at the gondola in general on their website.

Wonderland Lake Loop, Sea to Sky Gondola

The Trail: This short and easy loop provides a bit more of a wilderness experience (and sees far fewer tourists) than the Panorama trail. It loops around through rolling terrain and passes several viewpoints. Be sure to take the narrow side Wonder View Spur to the right (south) to get the views.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: None.

Trail Map/Guide: The Sea to Sky gondola has a trail app you can download or just pick up a copy of their map when you buy your tickets. You can also find more info about the Wonderland Lake Loop and about snowshoeing at the gondola in general on their website.

Shannon Basin Loop, Sea to Sky Gondola

The Trail: This trail follows an old road on a meandering loop that descends to cross Shannon Creek on a bridge, then comes back up to the gondola on a portion of the Sea to Summit Trail. While it does gain over 400m, since it’s on an old roadbed, it’s never very steep. This is the lowest elevation trail at the Sea to Sky Gondola, so in mild weather it may not have enough snow to snowshoe.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: None.

Trail Map/Guide: The Sea to Sky gondola has a trail app you can download or just pick up a copy of their map when you buy your tickets. You can also find more info about the Shannon Basin Trail and about snowshoeing at the gondola in general on their website.

Al’s Habrich Ridge, Sea to Sky Gondola

The Trail: This backcountry trail travels a few hundred meters on a road before heading off into the forest. It immediately crosses a creek (there is no bridge), then heads uphill through the trees. The trail emerges onto a ridge and follows the crest of the ridge past several great viewpoints. The official winter route stops at the far end of the ridge. Unlike the other snowshoeing trails at the Sea to Sky Gondola, this trail mostly avoids roads and tourist attractions so it feels like real wilderness.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: The initial stream crossing can be a bit awkward: The creek doesn’t ice over but the rocks you need to use to hop across are icy. The far bank of the stream is also very steep. Take off your snowshoes to cross the stream and use poles for balance.

Watch carefully for diamond markers in the trees – it can be easy to lose the trail Once on the ridge, stay on the top of the ridge: there is a lot of steep and dangerous terrain if you leave the marked route.

The official winter route stops at the far end of the ridge. The summer trail continues past here and climbs steeply through the trees. It is very difficult to follow and is not well marked. Unless you are an expert in backcountry winter navigation, turn around at the far end of the ridge.

Check the avalanche forecast before you go.

Trail Map/Guide: My Al’s Habrich Trail guide has all the info you need. The Sea to Sky gondola has a trail app you can download or just pick up a copy of their map when you buy your tickets. You can also find more info about snowshoeing at the gondola in general on their website.

Sky Pilot Valley Trail, Sea to Sky Gondola

The Trail: This trail is primarily used by experienced backcountry skiers and mountaineers accessing challenging terrain. But it does follow an old road in a beautiful valley so it is accessible for snowshoers just looking for a winter walk with great views of the surrounding mountains.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: Past the end of the marked trail the skiers/climbers route goes steeply uphill into avalanche terrain. The slopes above the road are steep enough to slide – use caution if the avalanche forecast is anything except low. Please be prepared to share the trail with skiers and step aside to let them pass, especially when they are coming downhill. Don’t walk in the ski tracks – leave them intact for the skiers to use. Check the avalanche forecast before you go.

Trail Map/Guide: The Sea to Sky gondola has a trail app you can download or just pick up a copy of their when you buy your tickets. You can also find more info about snowshoeing at the gondola in general on their website. There’s also information on the summer hiking route on the Skyline Pilot Valley Trail. Keep in mind that the winter route only covers the first three-quarters of the trail before turning around.

Skyline Ridge Trail, Sea to Sky Gondola

The Trail: This trail follows an old (and sometimes overgrown) road through the valley before climbing on to the shoulder of Goat Ridge where there are some views. It’s a long way to go in a day, but it is a good option if you’re looking for a challenging trip from the top of the Sea to Sky Gondola. Be sure to stop at the end of the marked trail since route-finding past there will be very difficult and potentially dangerous in the winter.

Trail Map/Guide: The Sea to Sky gondola has a trail app you can download or just pick up a copy when you buy your tickets. You can also find more info about the the Skyline Ridge Trail and snowshoeing at the gondola in general on their website

Join: Snowshoeing in Vancouver Facebook Group

Other Places to Go Snowshoeing in Squamish

Red Heather/Elfin Lakes, Garibaldi Provincial Park

The Trail: The trail follows an old road for the first 5km to the Red Heather warming hut. Past there, the winter route is marked by reflective bamboo poles that lead another 6km along the undulations of Paul Ridge to the Elfin Lakes Hut. There are great views of the mountains from the ridge. Red Heather hut makes a great destination for shorter day trips.

Going all the way to Elfin Lakes and back is doable in a day but it is challenging. You can also snow camp overnight next to both Red Heather and Elfin Lakes huts, or you can reserve a bunk inside the Elfin Lakes Hut.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: No avalanche danger or hazards below Red Heather hut.

After Red Heather hut the trail emerges above treeline on to the ridge. The winter route is placed to minimize avalanche exposure, but the trail does travel through avalanche terrain and on slopes that can slide.

Use caution in these areas and do not attempt this trail if the avalanche forecast is above moderate. Avalanche.ca rates this as simple terrain which can be travelled with the normal amount of caution in most conditions. Check the avalanche forecast before you go.

Trail Map/Guide: My Elfin Lakes hiking guide has all the info you need.

Permits/Fees: No permits or fees are required for day trips on the trail in winter. If you want to camp or stay overnight in the Elfin Lakes hut you need to make a reservation and pay backcountry fees. Elfin Lakes Hut is $15/person/night + $6 reservation fee. Camping is $10/person/night + $6 reservation fee.

Dogs: Not permitted in Garibaldi Park.

Getting There: Drive 2 hours from Vancouver to the trailhead. If you’re coming from Squamish, it’s a 45-minute drive. After passing Quest University in Squamish the road turns to gravel and it is not plowed often.

You will need chains and possibly also 4-wheel drive (depending on the conditions) to get up this road in the winter. Cars without chains slip off the road every year and require very expensive tow trucks to get them out. 

The parking lot can fill up on winter weekends so carpool and be prepared to park in the pullouts further down the road and walk up. Don’t park on the shoulder as you will block the narrow road.

READ NEXT: Backcountry Huts in British Columbia and the Canadian Rockies

Garibaldi Lake/Taylor Meadows, Garibaldi Provincial Park

The Trail: This snowshoe route follows the usual summer trail up the switchbacks to Garibaldi Lake or Taylor Meadows. At the 6km the trail forks: left for Taylor Meadows, right for Garibaldi Lake. The trail can be icy lower down and covered in deep snow higher up so you may need to pack both microspikes and snowshoes. (Read my guide to the differences between microspikes, crampons, and snowshoes.) It’s a long hike to either destination so be sure to give yourself plenty of time and pack a headlamp in case you end up coming down in the dark.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: The switchbacks up to the 6km junction are steep and can be icy. Bring microspikes just in case. Watch for open creek crossings and partially buried bridges. Later in the year Barrier Lake and Lesser Garibaldi Lake on the Garibaldi Lake route freeze over. You can take a shortcut by walking across the lakes. Use extreme caution if you decide to walk on the lakes. 

Avalanche.ca rates the trail as simple terrain which can be travelled with the normal amount of caution in most conditions. The terrain is rated challenging past Taylor Meadows. Check the avalanche forecast before you go.

On your descent stay on trail and don’t follow skier descent trails into the Rubble Creek valley. The valley is prone to slides. A snowshoer drowned in Rubble Creek in 2008 after getting lost on the descent.

Trail Map/Guide: You can also find more information on the BC Parks website.

Permits/Fees: No permits or fees are required for day trips on the trail in winter. If you want to camp overnight you need to make a reservation and pay backcountry fees. Camping is $10/night + $6 reservation fee.

Dogs: Not permitted in Garibaldi Park.

Getting There: Drive 1.5 hours from Vancouver to the trailhead. If you are coming from Squamish it’s only 30 minutes. Note that BC law requires you to have winter tires to drive on highway 99 between October and April.

The road to the trailhead and the parking lot is plowed sporadically. However, it is still a mountain road so winter tires and chains are recommended in case the plow has not been through recently.

Brandywine Falls

The Trail: The flat and easy trail to the Brandywine Falls viewing platform is a great option for snowshoeing near Whistler. If you want to extend your trip, you can snowshoe a portion of the Sea to Sky trail over to the Whistler Bungee Bridge. You can look down into the depths of the Cheakamus River canyon and maybe even watch people bungee jump.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: The trail crosses train tracks: use caution. There is no maintained trail down to the base of Brandywine Falls: there is an illegal route that uses a scary old rope to descend a cliff but it travels over slippery rocks and is very icy and dangerous in the winter. No avalanche hazard.

Trail Map/Guide: My Brandywine Falls hiking guide has all the info you need.

Permits/Fees: None.

Dogs: Permitted on leash.

Driving Directions: Drive 1.5 hours from Vancouver. It’s only 30 minutes from Squamish. Note that BC law requires you to have winter tires to drive on Highway 99 between October and April.

Getting There: The park gate is locked in the winter and unfortunately you are not allowed to park on the side of Highway 99. (Your car will get towed.) Unless you get dropped off and picked up, unfortunately the only way to do this snowshoe trip currently is to park at Whistler Bungee on the Cal-Cheak Forest Service Road and walk in from that direction. Whistler Bungee does plow the road but it is rough.

Join: Snowshoeing in Vancouver Facebook Group

No-Go Trails for Snowshoeing in Squamish

There are lots of summer hiking trails in Squamish that may sound like a fun snowshoe adventure in winter. However, many of them have significant avalanche danger, are closed in winter, or just don’t have enough consistent snow for good snowshoeing.

Here’s my list of no-go trails for snowshoeing:

• Sea to Summit Trail: Only the last section of the Sea to Summit Trail is high enough to see consistent snow, and it’s steep enough to make microspikes or crampons a safer choice than snowshoes even if there is snow.
• Stawamus Chief: It snows on top of the Chief a few times a year, but it doesn’t usually stick for long since it is not at a high enough elevation. As well, it’s too steep for snowshoes – microspikes are better here.
• Watersprite Lake: The road to Watersprite Lake is not plowed so even with 4×4 and chains, you often have to walk a long distance just to get to the trailhead. The summer trail has significant avalanche hazard, so in winter, you have to use an unmarked route to get to the lake. Watersprite Lake is best for experienced snowshoers with avalanche training and experience with off-trail winter navigation.

Squamish Snowshoeing FAQ

Final Thoughts

How many of these snowshoe trails have you done? Which is your favourite? Have questions about snowshoeing in Squamish? Hit me up in the comments.

READ NEXT:

More Snowshoeing Guides:

• Snowshoeing in Vancouver
• Snowshoeing in Whistler
• Manning Park Snowshoeing
• Snowshoeing in Vancouver’s Fraser Valley

Advice for Snowshoeing and Winter Hiking:

• How to Choose Snowshoes: A Complete Guide
• The Best Boots For Snowshoeing
• Snowshoeing Safety: 14 Ways to Get into Trouble and How to Prevent Them
• Best Gifts for Snowshoers (20+ Ideas)
• What to Wear Winter Hiking and Snowshoeing
• 9 Tips for Winter Hiking (You Don’t Have to Freeze!)
• 100+ Snow-Free Hikes in Vancouver: Trails You Can Hike Year Round

More Squamish Posts:

• The Best Hikes in Squamish, BC (From a Local)
• 70+ Things to Do in Squamish
• Camping in Squamish, BC: 22 Places to Camp Near Squamish
• Sea to Sky Highway Road Trip Guide: Driving from Vancouver to Whistler
• 10 Best Hotels in Squamish

The post Where to Go Snowshoeing in Squamish appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

This guide covers every trail in the Whistler area that is safe to snowshoe. I haven’t included the countless expert-only areas that are not marked and have significant avalanche danger.

I grew up in Vancouver and live in nearby Squamish, so I’ve been snowshoeing in Whistler for close to two decades. So I know the BEST places to snowshoe near Whistler.

This guide to snowshoeing in Whistler includes:

• Quick reference guide: An easy overview of the stats for all the trails
• Snowshoeing safety: key info to help get you prepared to snowshoe in Vancouver
• Snowshoe trails in Whistler: details for 10 trails
• No-go trails: summer trails that aren’t safe for snowshoeing
• Where to rent snowshoes in Whistler – both at the trailheads and in the village
• Snowshoe tours in Whistler: options for going with a guide

If you’re looking for even more places to go snowshoeing or other things to do in Whistler in winter, don’t worry – I got you! Check out these other guides:

• 40+ Things to do in Whistler in Winter
• 40+ Cheap and Free Things To Do in Whistler
• Where to Go Snowshoeing in Vancouver
• Where to Go Snowshoeing in Squamish

Psst: Looking for a full list of Whistler activities? Check out my list of the best things to do in Whistler. It includes over 80 ideas!

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

Snowshoeing in Whistler Quick Reference Guide

But First… Be Prepared

• Make a trip plan: While these trails may be steps from a busy ski area, they access serious wilderness. Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back. Use the great trip planning tools from Adventure Smart.
• Check the weather, trail conditions, and avalanche forecast: If the weather and trail conditions don’t look good, don’t go. Use my list of the best weather apps for hiking. Check the avalanche forecast. Unless you have taken an avalanche safety course, you probably shouldn’t go out unless the forecast is rated “Low”.
• Wear winter clothing and pack the essentials: Prepare for emergencies by packing the 10 essentials. Read my recommendations for what to wear snowshoeing and tips for winter hiking and snowshoeing.
• Use safe snowshoeing techniques: Snowshoes keep you from sinking into deep snow, but they aren’t great for walking sideways or downhill – it’s easy to slip and injure yourself. Read up on snowshoeing safety and check out my guide to choosing snowshoes.) They also have crampons and other traction aids underfoot to help grip icy snow.
• Take an avalanche safety course: If you plan to stray from flat terrain, you need avalanche safety training. great FREE online Avy Savvy beginner tutorial from Avalanche Canada. You should also take a 2.5 day AST1 course with avalanche Canada.

READ NEXT: Snowshoeing Safety: 14 Ways to Get into Trouble and How to Prevent Them

Brandywine Falls Snowshoe

The Trail: The flat and easy trail to the Brandywine Falls viewing platform is a great option for snowshoeing near Whistler. If you want to extend your trip, you can snowshoe a portion of the Sea to Sky trail over to the Whistler Bungee Bridge. You can look down into the depths of the Cheakamus River canyon and maybe even watch people bungee jump.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: The trail crosses train tracks: use caution. There is no maintained trail down to the base of Brandywine Falls: there is an illegal route that uses a scary old rope to descend a cliff but it travels over slippery rocks and is very icy and dangerous in the winter.

Trail Map/Guide: My Brandywine Falls hiking guide has all the info you need.

Permits/Fees: None.

Dogs: Permitted on leash.

Getting There: The park gate is locked in the winter and unfortunately you are not allowed to park on the side of Highway 99. (Your car will get towed.) Unless you get dropped off and picked up, unfortunately the only way to do this snowshoe trip currently is to park at Whistler Bungee on the Cal-Cheak Forest Service Road and walk in from that direction. Whistler Bungee does plow the road but it is rough.

Snowshoeing at The Callaghan

The Trails: There are two separate cross country ski areas in the Callaghan Valley (Whistler Olympic Park and The Callaghan). They used to operate together, but in 2024/2025 they have separate tickets. The Callaghan has cross country and backcountry ski trails, but there are also 21 km of snowshoe trails ranging from super flat to more moderate. The highlight of the area is 43m high Alexander falls, which looks spectacular when frozen. You can snowshoe right to the base.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: Most trails in the park are on flat or rolling terrain. However, some trails travel across steeper slopes that can be prone to avalanche. The park may close these trails if conditions are not safe. There are several backcountry access points in the park. Once you pass into the backcountry, there are no trail markings and you are in serious avalanche terrain. Some trails are shared with cross country skiers. Stay on the side of the trail and don’t walk in the set ski track.

Trail Map/Guide: Plan your route with this map.

Permits/Fees: Trail passes are $18 a day.

Dogs: The current website for the The Callaghan does not have any info about dogs. In the past dogs were allowed with the purchased of a day ticket . There were some on-leash on some trails. I’ll update this post after I get more info for the 204/25 season.

It costs $7 for a dog day pass. Dogs are allowed on leash on some trails and prohibited on others. There are also a few off-leash trails and a designated dog parking lot. (See this map for details on dog-friendly trails and parking).

Getting There: Follow signs to The Callaghan ski area along the Callaghan Valley Road. It is located just before the Whistler Olympic Park parking area.

Snowshoeing at Whistler Olympic Park

Distance: 18.5 km with various loops possible

Time Needed: 30 minutes to all day

Elevation Gain: Up to 300 m

Rating: Super Easy to Challenging

The Trails: There are two separate cross country ski areas in the Callaghan Valley (Whistler Olympic Park and The Callaghan). They used to operate together, but in 2024/2025 they have separate tickets. Whistler Olympic Park has cross country ski trails as well as a network of snowshoe trails.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: Most trails in the park are on flat or rolling terrain. However, some trails travel across steeper slopes that can be prone to avalanche. The park may close these trails if conditions are not safe. There are several backcountry access points in the park. Once you pass into the backcountry, there are no trail markings and you are in serious avalanche terrain. Some trails are shared with cross country skiers. Stay on the side of the trail and don’t walk in the set ski track.

Trail Map/Guide: Plan your route with this map.

Permits/Fees: Trail passes are $20 a day.

Dogs: It costs $8 for a dog day pass. Dogs are allowed on leash on some trails and prohibited on others. There are also a few off-leash trails and a designated dog parking lot. Read through the Whistler Olympic Park dog info to see where dogs are allowed.

Getting There: Follow signs to the Whistler Olympic Park ski area along the Callaghan Valley Road. It is located just after The Callaghan parking area.

Snowshoeing to Whistler Train Wreck

The Trail: This short trail is one of the best hikes in Whistler, so in the winter it’s a great place to go snowshoeing. The trail descends gradually to a brand new suspension bridge over the Cheakamus River.

On the other side, there are 7 graffiti-covered box cars in the forest along with some old mountain bike jumps. The main 5 are right where you came up the hill. The other two are a little further along the trail to the left.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: No avalanche danger. Be sure to follow the directions in the trail guide linked below. There are still some old trail guides online that use an old (an illegal!) way to access the train wreck. The old way involves trespassing on some train tracks.

Trail Map/Guide: My Whistler Train Wreck Trail guide has all the info.

Permits/Fees: None required.

Dogs: Allowed on leash.

Getting There: There is free parking at the trailhead in the Cheakamus Crossing neighbourhood of Whistler. You can get to within a 10 minute walk of the trail on public transit. From Whistler Village take bus 20 to Legacy Way, then walk 700m down Jane Lakes Road to the trailhead.

Snowshoeing the Cheakamus River Trails

The Trail: The Whistler Interpretive Forest in Whistler’s Cheakamus Crossing neighbourhood is a great place to go snowshoeing in Whistler. You can make a loop by using the Riverside Trail on one side of the Cheakamus River and the Farside Trail on the other. Connect the two with a walk over a picturesque suspension bridge. The route has some short rolling hills, but its never very steep.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: None.

Trail Map/Guide: This map shows all the trails. Use my Cheakamus River Snowshoe Trail guide.

Permits/Fees: None

Dogs: Allowed on leash.

Getting There: Park in Whistler Interpretive Forest Parking lot on Cheakamus Lake Road just after you turn off the highway.

You can get to the trail on public transit. From Whistler Village take bus 20 to the first stop in Cheakamus Crossing.

READ NEXT: Cheakamus River Snowshoe Trail in Whistler

Cheakamus Lake Snowshoeing

The Trail: Cheakamus Lake is a popular short hike in the summer time. In winter it’s a much longer journey since the normal access road is closed. First you have to snowshoe 7.5 km along the closed road to the summer parking lot. From there it’s another 3km to Cheakamus Lake following the summer trail. Once you get to the lake you can continue along the shore for a further 4km.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: The road portion of the trip has no hazards. Once you leave the summer parking lot for the Cheakamus Lake and start on the trail you will be crossing a large rock slide and a steep slope. This slope is an avalanche hazard. Use caution and cross one at a time. Be prepared to turn back if conditions aren’t right.

Trail Map/Guide: This map shows all the trails.

Permits/Fees: None

Dogs: Allowed on leash on the road portion and the Whistler Interpretive Trails. Dogs are not permitted in Garibaldi Park so you can’t bring your dog on the Cheakamus Lake Trail.

Getting There: Parking: Park in Whistler Interpretive Forest Parking lot on Cheakamus Lake Road just after you turn off the highway. You can walk down the road to the trailhead.

You can get to within a 5 minute walk of the trail on public transit. From Whistler Village take bus 20 to the first stop in Cheakamus Crossing, then walk 350m down Cheakamus Lake Road to the trailhead.

Join: Snowshoeing in Vancouver Facebook Group

Snowshoeing to Rainbow Falls

The Trail: This short trail takes you to the base of pretty little Rainbow Falls near Alta Lake in Whistler. It looks particularly gorgeous when frozen. While the trail is short, it does gain over 100m in less than a kilometer so it’s not super easy.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: No avalanche hazard. The trail to Rainbow Falls branches off right from the main trail to Rainbow Lake (which isn’t accessible in the winter due to a removed bridge). The turn off to the falls can be hard to spot, but my trail guide will help you find the way.

Trail Map/Guide: Use my Rainbow Falls Loop Trail guide.

Permits/Fees: None required.

Dogs: Allowed on-leash on the Rainbow Falls Loop Trail but not allowed on other trails in the area.

Getting There: There is a parking lot at the trailhead. You can also take a taxi from Whistler Village.

Snowshoeing at Lost Lake Park

The Trail: Lost Lake Park is mostly known for its cross country ski trails, but it also has a 15km network of snowshoe trails to explore. These rolling trails wind through the forest around Lost Lake, intersecting the ski trails occasionally. If you climb up some of the hillier trails, you’ll discover views of Lost Lake or Green Lake. If you want a break, there’s a day lodge with a cafe and a warming hut.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards:  No avalanche danger. The trails sometimes intersect cross country ski trails. Watch for on-coming skiers. Stay on the side of the trail and carefully step over the set ski track.

Trail Map/Guide: Read my Lost Lake snowshoe guide for step-by-step directions for my recommended route, a map, driving directions, and more.

Permits/Fees: Day passes are $13.50.

Dogs: Not permitted.

Getting There: The closest parking is in Lot 5 in Whistler Village. On public transit, take bus 5 to the corner of Blackcomb Way and Lorimer Road, then walk 5 minutes down Lorimer to the entrance to Lost Lake Park.

READ NEXT: Lost Lake Snowshoe Trails in Whistler

Snowshoeing the Ancient Cedars Trail

The Trail: In the summer, the Ancient Cedars Trail is an easy hike to a grove of huge old-growth cedars. But in the winter it turns into a much longer outings since the rough logging road to the trailhead (4 km in total) isn’t plowed, so you will have to walk that as well.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: The first two kilometres of the road is in a tight valley with steep slopes above you that will expose you to avalanche hazard.

Trail Map/Guide: There is a good description of the summer route on Vancouver Trails. Keep in mind that you will need to snowshoe up the access road.

Permits/Fees: None

Dogs: Allowed

Getting There: From Whistler, head north on Highway 99. Just past the end of Green Lake, turn left onto Cougar Mountain Road. Drive up the road for a few minutes to the Superfly Ziplines base area. Park here as the road past this point is impassable in winter.

Snowshoeing to Parkhurst Ghost Town

The Trail: If you love abandoned buildings and are comfortable navigating unmarked trails, the free snowshoe trip to the former town of Parkhurst was made for you. The loop hike to the ghost town follows a network of mountain bike trails that can be a challenge to find in the winter.

Parkhurst Ghost Town is a former logging town settlement on the shores of Green Lake that was abandoned in the 1960s, before Whistler was a ski area. There are lots of collapsed buildings and vehicles to discover in the area. The highlight is the one surviving building, covered in graffiti.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: No avalanche danger. Some of the trails and junctions are not well marked so it can be easy to get lost. The markers are not easy to see in the winter. I recommend using a GPS app that shows trails like Gaia, Alltrails or Trailforks. Bring a map and compass just in case.

Trail Map/Guide: Read my complete guide to the Parkhurst Ghost Town hike. The directions were written for summer travel and the trail network will be much more challenging to find in the winter.

Permits/Fees: None.

Dogs: Allowed.

Getting There: Drive 10 minutes north of the village on highway 99 to the marked turn off for the Wedgemount Lake Trail. Turn right off the highway, then cross train tracks and a bridge. Park on the side of the road right after the bridge. There will usually be too much snow to drive all the way to the trailhead described in my trail guide. Walking the road will add 1km each way to your hike.

Snowshoeing to Nairn Falls

The Trail: This flat trail runs above the bank of the Green River before ending at the spectacular viewpoint for Nairn Falls. The falls are especially dramatic when they partially freeze up in the winter.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: No avalanche danger. Use caution in slippery conditions as the trail is on a wide ledge above the river and the drop down to the river is pretty steep.

Trail Map/Guide: There is info on the Nairn Falls Provincial Park website.

Permits/Fees: None.

Dogs: Allowed on leash.

Getting There: Drive 30 minutes north of Whistler Village to Nairn Falls Provincial Park. Watch for the BC Parks signs so you don’t miss the turn. The campground portion of the park is gated in winter, but you can drive into the day use parking lot.

Snowshoeing to Joffre Lakes

The Trail: This popular trail winds past two alpine lakes before arriving at a third alpine lake with a great view of the surrounding glaciers. In the summer the turquoise blue lakes are the draw, but in the winter the whole area is blanketed in white.

The first lake is an easy 5 minute walk from the car (great for beginners), but the other lakes will take substantially longer to reach and are best left for experienced snowshoers. You have to pay if you want to camp overnight, but it’s totally free to snowshoe there on a day trip.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: This is serious backcountry terrain. You are far from help and there is no cell service. The trail crosses below some avalanche terrain, particularly in between the 2nd and 3rd lakes and at the far end of the 3rd lake. You should have avalanche gear and training if you plan to tackle this trail.

Trail Map/Guide: See my Joffre Lakes hiking guide for more details.

Permits/Fees: None in winter.

Dogs: Not allowed.

Getting There: Drive an hour north of Whistler, through Pemberton and Mount Currie to Joffre Lakes Provincial Park. Although the entire drive is on the paved road of highway 99, this is a VERY steep mountain road with lots of switchbacks and it can be slippery and snowy in the winter. Bring tire chains just in case.

In the summer there is a large parking lot, but only a fraction of it is plowed in the winter. And sometimes it’s not plowed at all. Try to park where you won’t block the plow and bring a snow shovel in case you need to dig yourself a parking spot. Get there early to make sure you get a spot.

Join: Snowshoeing in Vancouver Facebook Group

No-Go Trails for Snowshoeing in Whistler

There are lots of summer hiking trails in Whistler that may sound like a fun snowshoe adventure in winter. However, many of them have significant avalanche danger, or are closed in winter.

Here’s my list of no-go trails for snowshoeing:

• Blackcomb Ascent Trails: These trails are closed in winter because they go through the ski area.
• Blackcomb Alpine Trails: These trails are closed in winter because they go through the ski area.
• Singing Pass Trail to Russet Lake: This trail has significant avalanche hazard. As well, this trail is very long and is often used as a backcountry ski descent route. It is only suited for experienced snowshoers with avalanche training. And honestly, it’s not a very aesthetically pleasing route unless you are on your way to the Kees and Claire Hut at Russet Lake.
• Musical Bumps: This trail is closed in winter because it goes through the ski area.
• High Note Trail: This trail is closed in winter because it goes through the ski area.
• Rainbow Lake: This trail is closed in winter because a key bridge is removed to protect it from snow-loading.
• Skywalk Trail: This trail includes signifcant avalanche hazard. As well, once it leaves the trees wayfinding is very difficult. The trail is only suited for experienced snowshoers with avalanche training and off-trail travel skills.
• Wedgemount Lake: This trail has significant avalanche hazard, especially just before the lake. It is also very steep and can require an ice axe to navigate. The trail is only suited for experienced snowshoers with avalanche training.

Where to Rent Snowshoes in Whistler

If you want to try snowshoeing before you buy, lots of places in Whistler rent snowshoes. Sunny weekends and holidays can be really busy for rentals, so try to reserve a pair ahead of time if possible.

• Urban Alpine in Squamish
• Whistler Olympic Park
• Ski Callaghan
• Cross Country Connection at Lost Lake
• Spicy Sports in Whistler Village.
• Spud Valley Sporting Goods in Pemberton

Snowshoe Tours in Whistler

If it’s your first time snowshoeing, it can be helpful to go with a guide. They can help you get your snowshoes set up and provide tips for snowshoeing technique. Your guide will also have info about the plants, animals, and views you will see on your trip.

• Snowshoe the Medicine Trail: This snowshoe tour takes place on private land through beautiful forest, so you can only do it with a tour. The trip visits an old trapper’s cabin too!
• Private Snowshoeing Tour: Your guide will take you to the trail of your choice – you can pick from several destinations to suit your group.

Final Thoughts

Which of these Whistler snowshoe trails is your favourite? Have questions about snowshoeing in Whistler? Let me know in the comments.

READ NEXT:

More Snowshoeing Guides:

• Cheakamus River Snowshoe Trail in Whistler
• Lost Lake Snowshoe Trails in Whistler
• Brandywine Falls Provincial Park Hiking Guide
• Where to Go Snowshoeing in Vancouver
• Where to Go Snowshoeing in Squamish
• Where to Go to Snowshoeing in Manning Park
• Where to Go Snowshoeing in Vancouver’s Fraser Valley
• Snowshoe at Dakota Ridge on the Sunshine Coast, BC

Snowshoeing and Winter Hiking Advice

• How to Choose Snowshoes: A Complete Guide
• The Best Boots For Snowshoeing
• Best Gifts for Snowshoers (20+ Ideas)
• Snowshoeing Safety: 14 Ways to Get into Trouble and How to Prevent Them
• What to Wear Winter Hiking and Snowshoeing
• 9 Tips for Winter Hiking (You Don’t Have to Freeze!)

More Whistler Ideas:

• The Best Things to do in Whistler (By a Local)
• 44 Things to do in Whistler in Winter
• 40 Cheap and Free Things To Do in Whistler
• The Best Hikes in Whistler: A Guide to All the Trails
• Camping in Whistler, BC: The Best Campgrounds
• Hike to Parkhurst Ghost Town in Whistler
• Sea to Sky Highway Road Trip Guide: Driving from Vancouver to Whistler

The post Where to Go Snowshoeing in Whistler appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

This post covers 10 snowshoe trails on Vancouver’s North Shore. That’s every single North Shore trail that is high enough for consistent snow AND is also safe to snowshoe. I haven’t included the countless expert-only areas that are not marked and have significant avalanche danger.

I’ve been snowshoeing in Vancouver for most of my life. I grew up here and my dad took me snowshoeing as a kid. I got my first pair of snowshoes over 20 years ago and have been snowshoeing near Vancouver every winter since then.

This guide to snowshoeing in Vancouver includes:

• Quick reference guide: An easy overview of the stats for all the trails
• Snowshoeing safety: key info to help get you prepared to snowshoe in Vancouver
• Snowshoeing at Grouse Mountain: details for three trails
• Snowshoeing at Mount Seymour: details for three trails
• Snowshoeing at Cypress Mountain: details for four trails
• No-go trails: summer trails that aren’t safe for snowshoeing
• Vancouver snowshoeing FAQ: answers to all your questions!

If you’re looking for even more places to go snowshoeing in the Vancouver area, don’t worry – I got you! Check out these other guides to snowshoeing trails near Vancouver:

• Where to go Snowshoeing in Whistler
• Where to go Snowshoeing in Squamish
• Where to go Snowshoeing in the Fraser Valley
• Where to go Snowshoeing in Manning Park
• Snowshoeing at Dakota Ridge on the Sunshine Coast, BC

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

Vancouver Snowshoeing Quick Reference Guide

There are three main places to go snowshoeing in Vancouver: Grouse Mountain, Mount Seymour and Cypress Provincial Park (which is where Cypress Mountain ski hill is.) These three locations are the only places in Vancouver at a high enough elevation to have consistent snow. 

Join: Snowshoeing in Vancouver Facebook Group

But First… Be Prepared

• Make a trip plan: While these trails may be steps from busy ski areas, they access serious wilderness. Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back. Use the great trip planning tools from Adventure Smart.
• Check the weather, trail conditions, and avalanche forecast: If the weather and trail conditions don’t look good, don’t go. Use my list of the best weather apps for hiking. Check the avalanche forecast. Unless you have taken an avalanche safety course, you probably shouldn’t go out unless the forecast is rated “Low”.
• Wear winter clothing and pack the essentials: Prepare for emergencies by packing the 10 essentials. Read my recommendations for what to wear snowshoeing and tips for winter hiking and snowshoeing.
• Use safe snowshoeing techniques: Snowshoes keep you from sinking into deep snow, but they aren’t great for walking sideways or downhill – it’s easy to slip and injure yourself. Read up on snowshoeing safety and check out my guide to choosing snowshoes.) They also have crampons and other traction aids underfoot to help grip icy snow.
• Take an avalanche safety course: If you plan to stray from flat terrain, you need avalanche safety training. There is a great FREE online Avy Savvy beginner tutorial from Avalanche Canada. You should also take a 2.5 day AST1 course with avalanche Canada.

READ NEXT: Snowshoeing Safety: 14 Ways to Get into Trouble and How to Prevent Them

Snowshoeing at Grouse Mountain

Grouse Mountain is one of the easiest places to go snowshoeing in Vancouver. You simply ride the gondola to the top, then head out on the trails. They have rentals too. There are three snowshoe trails at Grouse Mountain. Read on for details.

Permits/Fees: You need a Mountain Admission ticket to take the gondola to the top of Grouse Mountain. It’s $82 for a round trip. Once you get to the top, there are no extra charges for snowshoeing.

You can also access the top of Grouse Mountain for free if you hike up the very steep Grouse Grind or BCMC trails. However, these trails can close in the winter if conditions are bad. And even if they are open, you will need an ice axe and crampons.

Dogs: Not permitted on any trails.

Driving Directions: Drive 20 min from Vancouver to the base of the Grouse Mountain Skyride gondola, then buy a ticket and ride up. Click here for driving directions.

Parking: It costs $10/day to park in the lots at the base of Grouse.

Transit Access: Translink bus 236 from Lonsdale Quay will get you to the bottom of the gondola. Click here for transit directions.

Blue Grouse Loop Snowshoe Trail, Grouse Mountain

The Trail: This short loop trail meanders through the forest near the lodge and crosses a bridge over a small pond. Part of the route is lit up with Christmas lights as part of Grouse Mountain’s Lightwalk attraction. Expect to see tourists without snowshoes on the Lightwalk section.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: None.

Trail Map/Guide: Trail descriptions and a map are available on the Grouse Mountain website.

Snowshoe Grind, Grouse Mountain

The Trail: A winter alternative to the Grouse Grind, the Snowshoe Grind isn’t nearly as steep as the regular grind, but it does go pretty steadily uphill. It finishes near the summit of Dam Mountain.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: The first section of the trail is on the side of a very steep hill that can produce small avalanches. In general, stay on the trail: there is a lot steep and dangerous terrain if you leave the marked route. The final 50m to the summit is very steep and can be slippery. Do not go past the summit as the area is closed in winter since it is very dangerous terrain. Check the South Coast avalanche forecast before you go.

Trail Map/Guide: There’s more information and a map on the Grouse Mountain website.

Thunderbird Ridge Snowshoe Route, Grouse Mountain

The Trail: The first part of the trail to Thunderbird Ridge is shared with the Snowshoe Grind. After the Snowshoe Grind tops out, the Thunderbird Ridge trail meanders downhill on a mellow ridgeline with good views of the surrounding mountains. (Psst: In the summer, the Thunderbird Ridge trail is one of my picks for the best easy hikes near Vancouver.)

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: The first section of the trail after you leave the ski resort is on an old road cut into the side of a very steep hill. The slopes above this hill can produce small avalanches. Use caution in this area and spread out your group. Stay on the trail: there is a lot of steep and dangerous terrain if you leave the marked route. Check the South Coast avalanche forecast before you go. 

Trail Map/Guide: There’s a map on the Grouse Mountain website.

Snowshoeing at Mount Seymour

There are two separate snowshoe areas here: one managed by the ski resort (paid), and one in Mount Seymour Provincial Park (free). I think Mount Seymour Provincial Park has the best free beginner-friendly terrain in Vancouver. Read on for the details.

Ski Resort Trails Tickets: If you snowshoe on the Mount Seymour Discovery Snowshoe Trails (part of the ski resort) snowshoe tickets cost $17 day and include free parking in the upper lots.

BC Parks Trails Day-Passes: If you want to snowshoe in Mount Seymour Provincial Park (Dog Mountain and Mount Seymour trails) it’s totally free. But you do need to get a day pass on weekends and holidays in order to park. You can get a pass online starting at 7am two days before your trip. On popular weekends, passes will run out so act quickly. See my guide to BC Parks day passes for more info.

Dogs: Permitted on leash on all trails.

Driving Directions: Drive 35 min from Vancouver to the downhill ski parking lot at Mount Seymour. Click here for driving directions.

Parking: Parking is free but depends on where you are snowshoeing. See the parking map here. If you are snowshoeing on the paid ski resort trails, you can park in the upper lots. If you snowshoeing on the free BC Parks trails, you need to park in the lower lots which are up to 1.5km walk to the trailhead.

Transit Access: The Mount Seymour Shuttle is $10-15. You don’t need a day pass if you take the shuttle.

Discovery Snowshoe Trails, Mount Seymour

The Trails: A network of short trails loops around several lakes just downhill from the bunny hill. Most of the trails are very easy. Keep in mind that you’ll always have to head uphill to get back to the parking lot. These trails are operated by the ski resort so you will need to buy a trail pass to snowshoe here.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: None.

Trail Map/Guide: Trail descriptions and a map are available on the Mount Seymour website.

Dog Mountain Winter Snowshoe Route, Mount Seymour

The Trail: This rolling trail travels past a small lake on the way to the open summit of Dog Mountain. From there you can get a great view of the city. This trail is probably the most popular place to go snowshoeing in Vancouver. No permits or fees are required.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: No avalanche danger. Be careful to use bridges around stream channels as the water may not be completely frozen over.

Trail Map/Guide: For a map, see the Metro Vancouver Parks website.

Join: Snowshoeing in Vancouver Facebook Group

Mount Seymour First Peak Winter Backcountry Access Trail

The Trail: This steep route climbs to the first peak of Mount Seymour on a trail that starts out paralleling the ski runs. After passing over Brockton Point it traverses below the south face of Mount Seymour before climbing sharply up a ridge to the summit. The last kilometer of the route is very steep and can be slippery. Use caution. No permits or fees are required.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: Avalanche.ca rates the first part of the trail as simple terrain and the final section to the summit as challenging. The trail crosses an avalanche path where it traverses below the south summit of Mount Seymour. The climb up the ridge to the peak is very steep and can be treacherous in icy conditions. Do not attempt the final climb from the junction with the Elsay Lake trail to the summit without crampons and an ice axe (and the skills to use them) if the trail is icy.

The summer routes to the 2nd and 3rd peaks and the trail to Elsay Lake are rated as complex by Avalanche.ca. They traverse steep slopes and narrow gullies with high avalanche risk. Do not continue past the summit of 1st peak without avalanche training and safety gear. Check the South Coast avalanche forecast before you go. 

Trail Map/Guide: You can find information about the winter route to Mount Seymour on the BC Parks website.

Snowshoeing at Cypress Mountain

There is actually no mountain called Cypress Mountain – that’s just the name of the ski hill. You can snowshoe at the nordic ski area trails on Hollyburn Mountain. You can also snowshoe on BC Parks trails on Hollyburn Mountain, Black Mountain, and Bowen Lookout.

Ski Resort Trails Tickets: If you snowshoe on the Hollyburn Nordic Self-Guided Snowshoe Trails (part of the ski resort) snowshoe tickets cost $22 day and include free parking in the nordic lots.

BC Parks Trails: If you want to snowshoe in Cypress Provincial Park (Hollyburn Mountain, Black Mountain, Bowen Lookout) it’s totally free. However, you do need to pick up a free liability waiver pass for Black Mountain and Bowen Lookout. Details on those below. (In previous years, you needed to get a free day pass for all BC Parks trails, but passes aren’t required for winter 2025/26.)

Dogs: Not permitted on the Hollyburn Nordic Area trails. Dogs are permitted on-leash on all other trails.

Driving Directions: Drive 30 min from Vancouver to Cypress Mountain. Click here for driving directions.

Parking: There is free parking in lots 1, 2, 3a, and 3b, and 4 (nordic area) but the lots closest to the trailheads fill up fast. There is a shuttle from the furthest lots. I’ve got recommended parking location info for each trail below.

Transit Access: The Cypress Coachlines shuttle is $35.

Hollyburn Nordic Area Self-Guided Snowshoe Trails, Cypress Mountain

The Trails: Cypress Mountain’s cross country ski area is also home to a maze of snowshoe trails that crisscross the ski trails. There are a few flat trails but most have hills. Two warming huts give you a place to take a break. These trails are inside the ski area so you need trail passes for $22 a day.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: None.

Trail Map/Guide: Trail descriptions and a map are available on the Cypress Mountain website.

Parking: Park in Lot 4 (Nordic ski area) or if that is full, in lot 3B.

Bowen Lookout Winter Snowshoe Route, Cypress Mountain

The Trail: This short but steep trail climbs the first section of the Howe Sound Crest Trail to a lookout with great views of Bowen Island. Bowen Lookout is my favourite place to go for a sunset snowshoe near Vancouver.

Passes: Due to the ski resorts liability policy, a free backcountry access pass is required to cross the ski hill to get to the start of the trail. You can pick one up at the old Black Mountain Lodge in the main downhill ski area parking lot.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: No avalanche danger. The steep switchbacks on the trail can get really icy. Use caution when descending. This trail extends along the Howe Sound Crest Trail to St. Mark’s Summit.

In the winter travelling any further than Bowen Lookout will take you into serious avalanche terrain with many dangerous gullies and sharp drop-offs. Two snowshoers died in the area in December 2016. If you snowshoe this trail, please don’t go any further than Bowen Lookout without avalanche training and safety equipment.

Trail Map/Guide: A trail description and trail map are available on the BC Parks website.

Parking: Park in Lot 1, 2, or 3A. If those are full, park in lot 3B and take the shuttle.

Black Mountain Winter Snowshoe Route, Cypress Mountain

The Trail: This steep trail climbs up beside the ski runs to the top of Black Mountain. Once at the top a loop trail travels past a few lakes.

Passes: Due to the ski resorts liability policy, a free backcountry access pass is required to cross the ski hill to get to the start of the trail. You can pick one up at the old Black Mountain Lodge in the main downhill ski area parking lot.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: Avalanche.ca rates this as simple terrain which can be travelled with the normal amount of caution in most conditions. There is a very steep section of trail next to the ski run. Use caution and consider taking off your snowshoes when descending to avoid slipping. Check the South Coast avalanche forecast before you go. 

Trail Map/Guide: A trail description and trail map are available on the BC Parks website.

Parking: Park in Lot 1, 2, or 3A. If those are full, park in lot 3B and take the shuttle.

Hollyburn Mountain Winter Trail, Cypress Mountain

The Trail: The trail to the peak of Hollyburn Mountain climbs a few short hills and meanders beside the cross-country ski trails. In the last kilometer, it climbs steeply straight up to the summit.

Passes: No permits or fees are required as long as you stay out of the nordic ski area.

Avalanche Danger and Hazards: Avalanche.ca rates this as simple terrain which can be travelled with the normal amount of caution in most conditions. The final slope up to the summit is rated as challenging terrain. It very steep and can be treacherous in icy conditions. There is no significant avalanche danger if you stay on the trail, but the steep cliffs and gullies around the summit are prime avalanche territory. Check the South Coast avalanche forecast before you go. 

Trail Map/Guide: A trail description and trail map are available on the BC Parks website.

Parking: Park in Lot 4 (Nordic ski area) or if that is full, in lot 3B.

Join: Snowshoeing in Vancouver Facebook Group

No-Go Trails for Snowshoeing in Vancouver

There are lots of summer hiking trails in Vancouver that may sound like a fun snowshoe adventure in winter. However, many of them have significant avalanche danger, are closed in winter, or just don’t have enough snow to be worthwhile for snowshoeing.

Here’s my list of no-go trails for snowshoeing:

Elsay Lake Trail: This trail has significant avalanche hazard since it passes through and below avalanche chutes for almost its entire length.

Lynn Peak: There is usually not enough snow to make this a worthwhile snowshoeing trip – you will usually have to carry your snowshoes for about 90% of the ascent until you reach deep snow.

Hanes Valley: This route is officially closed and forbidden to hike in winter. It passes through significant avalanche terrain.

Coliseum Mountain: This route is officially closed and forbidden to hike in winter. It passes through significant avalanche terrain.

Crown Mountain: This route is officially closed and forbidden to hike in winter. It passes through significant avalanche terrain and has very dangerous steep slopes.

Goat Mountain and Goat Ridge: This route is officially closed and forbidden to hike in winter. It passes through significant avalanche terrain and has very dangerous steep slopes.

Mount Strachan: The route up the front (south) side of the peak is closed in winter since it is part of the ski hill. The route up Christmas Gully on the back (north) side of the peak has significant avalanche danger.

St. Mark’s Summit: The trail crosses several dangerous avalanche chutes and is difficult to follow when snow covered.

Vancouver Snowshoeing FAQ

How many of these snowshoe trails have you done? Which is your favourite? Have questions about snowshoeing in Vancouver? Hit me up in the comments.

READ NEXT:

More Snowshoeing Guides:

• Where to Go Snowshoeing in Squamish
• Where to Go Snowshoeing in Whistler
• Where to Go Snowshoeing in Vancouver’s Fraser Valley
• Where to Go Snowshoeing in Manning Park
• Snowshoeing at Dakota Ridge on the Sunshine Coast, BC

More Snowshoeing and Winter Hiking Advice

• How to Choose Snowshoes: A Complete Guide
• The Best Boots For Snowshoeing
• Snowshoeing Safety: 14 Ways to Get into Trouble and How to Prevent Them
• Best Gifts for Snowshoers (20+ Ideas)
• What to Wear Winter Hiking and Snowshoeing
• 9 Tips for Winter Hiking (You Don’t Have to Freeze!)
• 100+ Snow-Free Hikes in Vancouver: Trails You Can Hike Year Round

The post Where to Go Snowshoeing in Vancouver appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

If you’re interested in hiking to Joffre Lakes I bet you’ve seen incredible photos of Gatorade-blue lakes on Instagram or Tiktok. And you’re probably wondering: Where is that? Is it a hard hike? Is it as busy as everyone says? Do you need a day pass? And when is Joffre Lakes closed?

I live just down the road in Squamish and I’m a hiking guidebook author so I’ve got all the locals’ insight on Joffre Lakes and can help you out with all your Joffre Lakes questions. This Joffre Lakes hiking guide includes:

• Why hike Joffre Lakes? Why is it so special?
• Joffre Lakes trail stats including distance, time needed, and best months to go
• Tips for hiking Joffre Lakes including what to bring
• How to get a day pass for Joffre Lakes (You can’t hike the trail without one.)
• When is Joffre Lakes closed? Details on annual closures
• A Joffre Lakes trail map with all the key locations marked
• How to get to Joffre Lakes by car or bus or tour and info on where to park
• Where to stay near Joffre Lakes – recommendations for hotels in Whistler and Pemberton
• Step-by-step Joffre Lakes hiking directions with info on the best places to get views
• How to go backcountry camping at Joffre Lakes including how to get reservations
• Info for winter hiking and snowshoeing at Joffre Lakes including avalanche safety info
• Info for swimming and paddling at Joffre Lakes – it’s allowed but be careful
• The Indigenous context for Joffre Lakes so you can be respectful of Lil’wat and N’Quatqua land
• A Joffre Lakes FAQ that answers all your questions

This is a sensitive wilderness area. Learn how to Leave No Trace to keep the wilderness wild. Make sure you are prepared by bringing the 10 Essentials. Get ready for adventure with this checklist of things to do before every hike.

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

Why Hike Joffre Lakes

Joffre Lake is one of the most popular hikes in BC. In fact, it is currently number one on my list of the most Instagrammed hikes near Vancouver.

But why is it so popular? There are three main factors:

First, it’s undeniably gorgeous – it’s on my lists of the best hikes in Whistler and best backpacking trips in BC. The hike leads past three bright turquoise glacial lakes with views of snow-capped mountains. Unlike many other hikes where you spend a long time in the forest to get to one good view at the end, on the Joffre Lakes hike you get views almost the whole time.

Second, the hike isn’t that difficult. Anyone with a moderate fitness level can do it and the trail is easy to follow. It’s on my list of the best easy backpacking trips in BC for that reason. On my most recent trip, I saw toddlers, seniors and everybody in between on the trail. Some were fast, some were slow, but almost everyone was able to complete the hike.

Third, the trail is an easy three-hour drive from Vancouver, British Columbia’s largest city. It’s easy to get there by car or bus. (More details in the Getting There section below.)

Joffre Lakes Trail Stats

Distance: 9.5 km round trip

Elevation Gain: 360 m cumulative elevation gain

Duration: 3.5-4.5 hours (but allow more time for breaks and photos)

Difficulty: Moderate

Best Time to Go: June to October

Toilets: At the trailhead, Middle Joffre Lake Viewpoint, Upper Joffre Lake Viewpoint, and the Upper Joffre Lake Campground

Dogs: Not allowed.

Distance from Vancouver: About 3 hours

Permits: Day-passes are required from mid-May to late October each year. See the day pass section below for more details.

Closures: The trail has several closures during the summer and fall months for Indigenous use. See the closures section below for more info.

Tips for Hiking Joffre Lakes

• Get a day pass and check for closures. Joffre Lakes is a popular place so at some times of year day passes are required. And the park also has scheduled closures for Indigenous use. See the day pass and closure sections below for more info.
• Check the weather before you go. City weather forecasts are useless in the mountains. Use an algorithmic spot forecast for Joffre Lakes like Spotwx. (Read my guide to weather apps for hikers for more tips.)
• Check trail conditions online using AllTrails or Instagram. This is especially important in the spring or fall when the trail can be icy or snowy.
• Bring a rain jacket and warm clothing just in case. It can be much colder and rainier in the mountains than in the city.
• Wear trail running shoes or hiking boots. The trail is steep, rocky, and loose in places. Regular running shoes don’t have enough grip or ankle support. (I wear Salomon XA Pro 3D trail runners.)
• Bring water and snacks. There is nowhere to fill up your water bottle. It is not safe to drink the water from the lakes without boiling, filtering, or treating it as you never know if people or animals have pooped or died upstream. (Gross!)
• Bring the 10 Essentials. These are key safety items you should have on every hike.
• Bring a camera – it’s gorgeous and you will want tons of pics! But leave the drone at home. Drones aren’t allowed in BC Parks without a commercial filming permit.
• Pack out all your garbage. There are garbage cans in the parking lot, but if they are full, take your garbage home with you. Leaving it in the park attracts animals.

Joffre Lakes Day Passes

Since Joffre Lakes is so popular, you need to get a free day pass to visit in spring, summer, and fall. In 2025 you need a day pass from May 17 to October 26.

Each person needs their own pass. Passes are available on the BC parks website starting at 7 am two days before your trip. Act fast: passes run out fast on summer weekends.

Print out your day pass or save it as a screenshot on your phone. There is no cell service at the trailhead so you won’t be able to pull it up from your email. Parks staff will check for passes at the trailhead. If you don’t have a pass, you won’t be allowed to hike.

Read my guide to BC Parks day passes for more info including tips for getting a pass.

When is Joffre Lakes Closed?

Joffre Lakes is jointly managed by BC Parks and the Lil’wat and N’Quatqua Nations. These Indigenous Nations have lived in this area since time immemorial. Joffre Lakes is a sacred place for their community and is used for harvesting and ceremonies.

There are several park closures each year to allow Indigenous people exclusive access to the park.

In 2025, Joffre Lakes is closed to support Indigenous cultural practices during the following periods: (Note these dates are subject to change – I’ll keep this post up to date as best I can.)

• April 25 to May 16
• June 13 to 27
• September 2 to October 3

Joffre Lakes Trail Map

I made a map of the Joffre Lakes Trail for you using Gaia GPS, my favourite GPS and mapping app. It also includes an elevation profile. Click through to zoom in.

How to Get to Joffre Lakes

The Joffre Lakes hike is about 3 hours from Vancouver. You can get there by car or bus. In this section, I’ve got everything you need to know for driving, parking, and taking the bus to Joffre Lakes.

Driving Directions to Joffre Lakes

From Vancouver, head over the Lions Gate Bridge, then go west on Highway 1. Follow the signs to switch to Highway 99 North just before Horseshoe Bay. Stay on Highway 99 North through Squamish, Whistler, and Pemberton.

Reach a T-junction in Mount Currie and turn right to stay on Highway 99. After you cross the bridge over the Lillooet River just outside Mount Currie, the road starts to climb steeply on curving switchbacks.

About 10 minutes after the switchbacks end, look for signs for Joffre Lakes Provincial Park. The main parking lot is on the right side. The overflow parking lot is on the left side just before the main lot. Click here for Google Maps driving directions.

Joffre Lakes Parking

There are two parking lots for Joffre Lakes. The main parking lot is at the trailhead. There is also an overflow parking lot on the left side of the highway just before the main parking lot. The overflow parking lot is larger and is a better option if you are driving an RV.

A gravel trail on the side of the highway connects the overflow parking lot to the main parking lot. Don’t walk on the highway and please use the crosswalk to stay safe.

Both parking lots are gravel and don’t have painted lines, so park close to the car next to you so there will be room for everyone. There used to be issues with full parking lots leading people to park illegally on the highway, which was really dangerous. Now that day passes are required, there is enough parking for everyone.

Caution: Since the parking lot is right next to the highway, sometimes people parking overnight return to find that their car has been broken into. If you are parking overnight, do not leave anything in your car.

Joffre Lakes Parking Passes

You do not need a parking pass for Joffre Lakes. While other BC Parks require parking passes, at Joffre Lakes, you just need a day pass for each person in your group – you don’t need a parking pass.

Buses to Joffre Lakes

2025 Update: In previous years, you could get to Joffre Lakes using the Parkbus. It was the only bus going to Joffre lakes from 2021 to 2023. However, Parkbus did not run in 2024 and it looks like they will not run in 2025.

In previous years, Parkbus ran dozens of scheduled departure dates from Vancouver in the summer and fall. Most dates were on weekends, but there are were weekday trips too. As a bonus, you didn’t need to get a day pass if you go with Parkbus.

You might find old info online about a different bus to Joffre Lakes that let you park at Cayoosh Lot and then take a shuttle to the trailhead. That info is not up to date or correct. That bus service has not operated since 2019 and there do not seem to be any plans to bring it back.

Tours to Joffre Lakes

You can also visit Joffre Lakes on a guided hiking tour. Your guide will provide transportation and can help you learn about the fascinating glaciers you will see on your hike. They can also point out plants and animals you might otherwise miss.

• This Joffre Lake guided hike is led by a professional photographer and includes pro photos of your trip.
• This Joffre Lakes guided day trip includes transportation from Vancouver or Squamish as well as lunch and snacks.

Getting to Joffre Lakes Without a Car

If you don’t own a car, you can still get to Joffre Lakes. Taking a tour is the easiest way since you don’t have to worry about driving. You can also rent a car. I use Discover Cars because it lets me compare car rentals across different companies to get the best rate.

If you belong to a car-sharing service like Evo or Modo, you can drive one to Joffre Lakes. Keep in mind that you will need to pay the date rate which can work out to more than a rental car.

You can also use a ride-sharing service like Poparide to try to find people who are driving to Joffre Lakes and want to make a few extra dollars by taking passengers. Or post on local Facebook hiking groups or with hiking clubs to find people to carpool with.

Where to Stay Near Joffre Lakes

While you can drive to and from Vancouver and Joffre Lakes in one day, it is 3 hours each way, which means 6 hours in the car. I recommend staying nearby so you don’t have such a long drive.

Joffre Lakes makes a great day trip from Whistler since it is 1 hour from Whistler. (Joffre Lakes is also on my list of the best things to do in Whistler in summer). The cute town of Pemberton also makes a great place to stay near Joffre Lakes.

Here are a few hotels I recommend:

• Pemberton Valley Lodge: An all-suite hotel near downtown Pemberton and just 30 minutes from Joffre Lakes. Check prices.
• Summit Lodge: A boutique hotel in Whistler Village with slightly eclectic decor. (This is my favourite place to stay in Whistler.) Check prices.
• Glacier’s Reach: Condos in Whistler Village with full kitchens. The best part? Private hot tubs! Check prices.
• The Westin Resort & Spa: Luxury hotel in Whistler with luxe rooms and a cool pool that is part indoors, part outdoors. Check prices.

Joffre Lakes Hiking Directions

Trip Planner

0 km Trailhead, Day Pass Check-in, and Toilets

0.2 km Lower Joffre Lake Viewpoint (5 min from trailhead)

2.8 km Middle Joffre Lake Viewpoint and Toilet (1-1.5 hours from trailhead)

3 km Floating Log (1-1.5 hours from trailhead)

3.3 km Holloway Falls Viewpoint (1.25-2 hours from trailhead)

3.8 km Upper Joffre Lake Viewpoint and Toilet (1.5-2.5 hours from trailhead)

4.8 km Upper Joffre Lake Campground and Toilet (2-3 hours from trailhead)

Starting the Joffre Lakes Hike

The hike to Joffre Lakes starts at the far end of the main parking lot. There is an info kiosk with informative signs about plants, animals and Indigenous culture. You will also find four pit toilets here.

If you visit between May and October, there will also be a temporary building that houses the BC Parks staff members who check day passes. For more info about day passes including why they are required, read my guide to BC Parks day passes and the day pass section above.

Lower Joffre Lake Viewpoint

After you have had your day pass checked you can start the trail. The path heads very slightly downhill to an intersection. For now, go straight for one minute to the Lower Joffre Lake viewpoint.

The viewpoint has a bench and is a great place for photos. You can see the glacier-topped peaks far above you up the valley. The shallow water is very clear so you can easily see the bottom. If you are short on time or stamina, the Lower Joffre Lake viewpoint may be as far as you get.

If you want to continue on the trail, retrace your steps to the junction and turn left. The trail is fairly flat for a few minutes as it parallels the lakeshore. The lake is out of sight behind some bushes.

After you cross a wooden bridge over the lake outlet stream, the trail begins to head uphill a little bit. You can catch glimpses of the lake through the forest to your left.

About 30 minutes from the start the trail emerges from the forest in a more open area with lots of low bushes. This area is a rock slide. Until 2013 you had to clamber from boulder to boulder, avoiding the huge drops in between.

But huge loads of gravel have been dumped in between the rocks to create a smooth path that’s easy to hike. These days the only hazard is sun exposure.

After the boulder field, the trail heads back into the forest and the steepest part of the trail begins. Many people find this part very tiring.

Take your time as you follow the steep trail up many wood and rock stairs and a few eroded sections. If you need to take breaks, move off to the side so other hikes can get by. In a few places, you can look back down to Lower Joffre Lake and across the valley to Cayoosh Mountain.

Middle Joffre Lake Viewpoint and the Floating Log

About 1-1.5 hours from the trailhead you will get your first view of the turquoise waters of Middle Joffre Lake. Continue down the trail for another minute to the main viewpoint. This is a great spot for a snack and some photos.

After you have enjoyed the viewpoint, continue along the trail to cross a bridge. On the other side, you will find a trail to the left that leads to a toilet. The trail to the right leads to some benches in the shade and the lakeshore with a slightly different viewpoint.

Keep hiking for another minute to reach the famous floating log. Unless you arrive early in the day, there will likely be a line-up of people waiting for photos of themselves standing on it.

The log is quite stable and easy to walk on as you long as stay close to shore. The farther out you go, the more bouncy and slippery it gets. Be careful because the water is frigid and falling in can cause hypothermia.

Holloway Falls

Follow the trail around the lake and into the forest again. The path climbs a small hill. About 5 minutes later, take a spur trail to the right for a great view of Holloway Falls. This waterfall wasn’t on the original Joffre Lakes trail – it was rerouted in 2013 to include this great viewpoint. (Psst: Holloway Falls is on my list of the best waterfalls near Vancouver.)

Upper Joffre Lakes Viewpoint

From the waterfall, climb a short set of wooden stairs on the main trail and continue up the hill. The terrain starts to flatten out as you cross a bridge and some boardwalks.

You will start to get views of Upper Joffre Lake through the trees. Stay on the main trail since the lakeshore is marshy here and going off-trail can cause ecological damage. In any case, there are better views up ahead.

About 10 minutes after the waterfall, reach a junction. The main trail goes straight but you should go left to the Upper Joffre Lake Viewpoint. The viewpoint is on a short trail that loops back to the main trail. The viewpoint trail scrambles over rocks in a few places, but it is fairly easy to follow along the lakeshore.

This is the best view of Upper Joffre Lake and the mountains behind it, so plan to take a break here. As you look across the lake the main peak you see is Slalok Mountain with the Stonecrop and Matier Glaciers hanging from its flanks. Joffre Peak is on the left. At one time, the huge glaciers extended all the way down the valley to the present-day highway. Today’s lakes fill bowls in the rocks that the grinding ice of the glaciers carved out.

For some people, the Upper Joffre Lake viewpoint is as far as they want to go. After enjoying the view follow the viewpoint trail around to a second junction with the main trail in a rocky area. Turn left if you want to continue onwards. Turning right will take you past a spur trail to an outhouse and then back down to the trailhead.

Joffre Lakes Campground

If you are continuing to the campground, follow the trail beside the lake. It is much rougher than it was lower down with lots of small ups and downs and scrambling over rocks and roots. A bridge about 2/3 of the way along is the only smooth footing.

About 20-30 minutes after leaving the viewpoint, scramble down a short ladder, and then pass an outhouse up some stairs. A spur trail to the left leads to a helicopter pad. Rock hop across a small creek to arrive at the Upper Joffre Lake campground. The campground is spread out in this area. Find more details in the camping section below.

This is the end of the official Joffre Lakes trail. Head down to the lakeshore to take a break and enjoy the view. You can look back across the lake to Cayoosh Mountain on the other side of the highway. When you are ready, retrace your steps back to the trailhead.

Take care on the steep sections on the way down. Some of the dirt and gravel is loose so it can be easy to slip.

Continuing Beyond the Campground

There are no official trails beyond the Joffre Lakes campground. On some maps or apps, you may see trails continuing past the campground. These are unmarked, unmaintained, and unofficial mountaineering routes.

It can be tempting to want to scramble up towards the glaciers and you’ve probably seen photos on social media of people doing it. However, if you spend any time hanging out at Joffre Lakes you will probably see and hear rocks and chunks of ice falling off the glacier.

The routes up to the glacier are all in the path of falling rock and ice. Some of the falling chunks can be car or bus sized. Please don’t scramble up to the glacier without mountaineering training. You could be injured or killed.

There is a faint path through the rocks and bushes to a small waterfall cascading over a rock outcrop and then down into the back of the lake. The route to the waterfall does occasionally get hit by falling rock and ice, but it is a much safer option if you really want to explore beyond the campground.

You may also see a path on some maps leading to Tszil Mountain. This is an unmarked scramblers route that involves off-trail navigation through boulder fields and snowfields. Do not attempt it without off-trail navigation and scrambling experience.

Backcountry Camping at Joffre Lakes

The backcountry campground at Joffre Lakes is a popular destination so it requires reservations. You can book online up to 3 months before your trip. See my guide to making backcountry reservations in BC for tips on getting a spot. Camping costs $25 per person per night plus a $6 reservation fee for each tent. Note: You don’t need a day pass if you have a backcountry camping reservation.

The campground has 26 gravel campsites spread out along the lakeshore and hillside. There is a large metal food locker in the center of the campground. The toilet is 100 m away back down the main trail. Collect drinking water from the stream between the outhouse and the campground but be sure to filter or treat it.

Camping is not allowed between mid-November and mid-June since the campground is in an avalanche path. As well, campfires are never allowed to protect the fragile environment.

You can find more info about backpacking to Joffre Lakes in my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia.

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Hiking and Snowshoeing Joffre Lakes in Winter

With easy access to a plowed highway, Joffre Lakes makes a good winter hiking and snowshoeing destination. I’ve got all the details in my guide to snowshoeing near Whistler.

However, it is a much more challenging and potentially dangerous trip in winter. The trail is not marked in winter so you will need to be comfortable with navigation. I use the Gaia GPS app.

The trail will also be very snowy and icy. Depending on trail conditions, you will need snowshoes or microspikes. I recommend microspikes in April, May, late October, and November and both snowshoes and microspikes between January and March. (Read my guide for tips on how to choose snowshoes and my guide to the differences between snowshoes and microspikes).

As well, the trail is in serious avalanche terrain so you will need avalanche training and rescue gear. Check the avalanche forecast before your trip.

However, I don’t recommend you visit Joffre Lakes in winter for one big reason: You won’t be able to see the gorgeous blue lakes because they will be covered in snow and ice. You will just see snowy mountains, which you can see lots of other places in BC.

Paddling and Swimming and Joffre Lakes

You are allowed to swim in all three Joffre Lakes but it is not a great idea. The BC Parks website says: “The glacier-fed lakes are very cold and are not recommended for swimming.”

They are right – the water is just above freezing. It is easy to get hypothermia and you are a long way from help. Bring some warm clothes to put on afterward. The best places to swim are at the viewpoints at each lake as well as at the campground.

BC Parks does not have any rules about paddling SUPs, floaties, or inflatable boats at Joffre Lakes. So yes it is allowed to paddle at Joffre Lakes. However, I honestly don’t think it’s a good idea.

The same caution about the frigid water temperature applies. You should bring a wetsuit or drysuit and wear a PFD for safety. If you capsize, the water is cold enough to incapacitate you quickly and could lead to drowning. You are a long way from help.

Indigenous Context

Indigenous people have lived and travelled in the area around Joffre Lakes since time immemorial. Joffre Lakes is in the traditional and unceded shared territories of the Lil’wat and N’Quatqua people.

In 2021 the Joffre Lakes Provincial Park Visitor Use Management Strategy was released. It is a joint project between BC Parks, several arms of the BC government, the Lil’wat and N’Quatqua.

Historically, the Lil’wat and N’Quatqua used the park for hunting, gathering, and spiritual ceremonies. They refer to the entire Duffey Lake corridor as a “banquet place” where they can harvest minerals, plants, berries, and animals such as mountain goats, deer, and fish. The Joffre watershed was also an important place for vision quests.

The Lil’wat and N’Quatqua call the area Pipi7íyekw and the park has been renamed Pipi7íyekw/Joffre lake Park. (Pipi7íyekw is pronouced “pee-PEE-yow”.)

The influx of hikers as well as the designation of the area as a provincial park have negatively impacted the Lil’wat and N’Quatqua people since they are unable to continue to harvest and conduct spiritual practices they way they could before settlers arrived.

The Visitor Use Management Plan seeks to protect important Indigenous cultural resources and sites. It also strives to celebrate Indigenous culture and allow Indigenous people access to the park for cultural practices.

Starting in 2024, there are three closure periods each year where there is no public access to Joffre Lakes Park. These closures allow the Lil’wat and N’Quatqua to conduct cultural celebrations and engage in harvesting.

When you visit Joffre Lakes, be respectful. Remember that you are a visitor on Lil’wat and N’Quatqua land. Stop to read the info boards at the trailhead to learn more about the Indigenous context of the area.

I also recommend visiting the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre in Whistler. It’s a beautiful museum and the guides do a great job of explaining their culture both historically and today. (It’s also one of my top picks for things to do in Whistler.

Joffre Lakes FAQ

Final Thoughts

That’s everything you need to know about the Joffre Lake hike. Did I miss something? Do you have more questions about the Joffre Lakes trail? Ask them in the comments – I’m happy to help.

READ NEXT:

• The Best Hikes in Whistler
• Sea to Sky Highway Road Trip Guide: Driving from Vancouver to Whistler
• Visiting Whistler, BC in Summer (By a Local)
• 80+ Things to Do in Whistler (By a Local)
• 31 Best Backpacking Trips in BC

The post Joffre Lakes Hike (By a Local) appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

I live in Squamish and have a Sea to Sky Gondola annual pass so I’ve hiked the Al’s Habrich Ridge Trail more times than I can count. I often take visiting friends here since we have a great hike and enjoy the views but still have time to sit on the patio at the Summit Lodge afterward and enjoy the sunshine while eating poutine!

In this post, I’ve got everything you need to know about the Al’s Habrich Trail hike. This guide includes:

• Trail stats including how long it takes, difficulty, best time to go, and more
• Tips for the Al’s Habrich Ridge hike including what to pack and how to prep
• Trail map that shows all the key locations I mention in this post
• How to get to the Al’s Habrich Ridge Trail – driving directions plus tips for going without a car
• Step-by-step hiking directions so you know what to expect
• Extending your trip – my picks for hikes you can add on
• Snowshoeing and winter hiking – info on the Al’s Habrich hike when it’s snowy

This is a sensitive wilderness area. Learn how to Leave No Trace to keep the wilderness wild. Make sure you are prepared by bringing the 10 Essentials. Get ready for adventure with this checklist of things to do before every hike.

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

Al’s Habrich Trail Stats

Here are the basic stats that you need to know about hiking the Al’s Habrich Ridge Trail at the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish:

Location: The trail starts at the top of the Sea to Sky Gondola. You can ride the gondola to get to the trailhead or hike the Sea to Summit Trail first. More details about that in the Getting There section below.

Duration: 3 to 4.5 hours

Distance: 7 km return

Difficulty: Moderate

Elevation Change: 545 m

Cost: $65.95 to $72.95 per adult (depending on day of the week)

Best Time to Go: July to early October when the trail is snow-free. I also recommend picking a clear day so you can enjoy the views.

Caution: Check gondola opening hours so you don’t get stuck without a ride down.

Toilets: There are toilets at the top of the Sea to Sky Gondola. There are no toilets on the trail.

Drinking Water: You can fill your bottles at Neverland Lake at the end of the trail. Pack plenty of drinking water. Since you don’t know if humans or animals have pooped or died upstream, you need to filter or treat all water before you drink it.

Dogs: Dogs are not allowed to upload on the Sea to Sky Gondola. However, you can hike the Sea to Summit Trail with your dog, and then hike the Al’s Habrich Trail. Dogs may struggle on both of these trails due to steep sections with fixed ropes. Dogs are allowed to download on the gondola for $20 each.

Indigenous Context: The Al’s Habrich Ridge Trail is in the traditional territory of the Skwxwu7mesh (Squamish) Nation. To learn more about Skwxwu7mesh history and culture, visit the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre.

Al’s Habrich Ridge Hiking Tips

• Check the weather before you go. City weather forecasts are useless in the mountains. Use an algorithmic spot forecast for Al’s Habrich Trail like Spotwx. (Read my guide to weather apps for hikers for more tips.)
• Check trail conditions on the Sea to Sky Gondola Daily Conditions page. This is especially important in the spring or fall when the trail can be icy or snowy.
• Check gondola hours on the Sea to Sky Gondola hours page. You don’t want to miss the last ride down!
• Buy tickets online – you’ll save $4! Local’s tip: If you plan to go up the gondola 3 or more times in a year, it’s worth buying an annual pass.
• Bring a rain jacket and warm clothing just in case. It can be much colder and rainier in the mountains than in the city.
• Wear trail running shoes or hiking boots. The trail is steep and loose in places. And there are sections of travel on slick granite slabs. Regular running shoes don’t have enough grip or ankle support.
• Bring water and snacks. It is not safe to drink the water from the creeks or ponds without boiling, filtering, or treating it as you never know if people or animals have pooped or died upstream. Gross! (I use a Katadyn BeFree.)
• Bring the 10 Essentials. These are key safety items you should have on every hike.
• Pack out all your garbage. There are no garbage cans here so you must take your garbage back to the gondola with you. Leaving it in on the trails attracts animals.
• Be Bear aware: It is common to encounter black bears on this trail in late summer and fall especially near Neverland Lake, Neverland Loop, and Yuko’s Ponds. Hike in a group, make noise, and carry bear spray. Read my bear safety tips for more info.
• Leave some time for the patio: The patio at the Summit Lodge is incredible and you don’t want to miss it. Allow enough time after your hike to sit awhile and have a drink. Or a huge plate of poutine.

Al’s Habrich Trail Map

In most places, the Al’s Habrich Ridge Trail is easy to follow with lots of markers. The trail has coloured markers that are numbered so you can stay on track. But it has a few areas where it gets indistinct.

I made you a custom trail map using Gaia GPS, my favourite mapping app. It shows all the locations I mention in this post. Click through to zoom in and explore (and to download the GPX file).

You can also use the Sea to Sky Gondola Trails Map. It’s available via their app. It’s a beautiful artist-rendered map, and the GPS locating feature on the app tells you where you are. But since it only gives you a vague idea of the terrain and doesn’t show the other unofficial trails (more on those below), I don’t find it nearly as helpful as a proper topographic map… which is why I use All Trails+ or Gaia GPS instead.

How to Get to the Al’s Habrich Trail

Driving Directions

Al’s Habrich Ridge Trail starts at the top of the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish. To get there, drive Highway 1 west from Vancouver, then switch to Highway 99 north. Drive through the communities of Lions Bay, Furry Creek, and Britannia Beach. Just after the traffic light at Shannon Falls, turn right into the signed Sea to Sky Gondola parking lot. Here are Google Maps driving directions.

Getting There By Bus

If you don’t have a car, you can also get to the Sea to Sky Gondola by using the Squamish Connector bus. They offer service from downtown Vancouver to the Sea to Sky Gondola several times a day.

Sea to Sky Gondola

The easiest way to get to the start of Al’s Habrich Trail is to ride the Sea to Sky Gondola. Check opening hours before you go. It’s incredibly scenic and takes about 10 minutes. My tip: Choose the seats that face backwards for the best view.

Gondola tickets are not cheap (About $68 per adult as of 2024) but I think it’s worth it since the views are so good. Once you are at the top you can hike (of course), sit on their gorgeous patio, and walk across the suspension bridge.

Sea to Summit Trail

If you don’t want to pay for the gondola, you can also hike up via the Sea to Summit Trail. This is a steep and challenging trail that takes most hikers 3-4 hours. Unless you are a strong hiker, I don’t recommend hiking the Sea to Summit Trail to access Al’s Habrich Ridge because you won’t have enough energy or time to complete both hikes.

If you hike up the Sea to Summit Trail you can ride the gondola down for just $20.

Al’s Habrich Trail Hiking Directions

To start the hike, get off the gondola and head down the stairs from the lodge. Walk left through the plaza, then follow the gravel road downhill to the east. About 2 minutes from the gondola, arrive at a junction. The service road down to the valley goes hard left, the Wonderland Lake Loop trail goes right and your route goes to the left up the hill on the road.

Walk up the hill on the road passing the gondola generator (which you can hear humming behind the fence). Just as the road starts to curve right, look for the trailhead for Al’s Habrich Ridge Trail on the left next to an open area.

Follow the trail into the trees. The path descends slightly and passes below some cliffs as it curls around a bluff. About 10-15 minutes after leaving the gondola, arrive on the banks of Olesen Creek. (The winter route joins from the right here, but it is roped off in the summertime.)

Cross the creek by hopping across on rocks. There is a rope to hang on to for balance if you need it. In the spring or after heavy rains the creek may be deep enough that your feet might get wet, but usually, there is just a trickle of water.

On the other side of the creek follow the trail uphill through the trees and across rock slabs. There are a few places where you will need to use fixed ropes to help you up slopes. But the ropes are short and fairly easy to navigate.

The trail braids a few times in this section, but if you stay on the widest trail and look for the diamond markers, you will go the right way.

About 30-40 minutes from the gondola you will begin to break out of the forest. The route takes you up along the spine of a wide granite ridge. The route is indistinct here so again, follow the markers and keep to the middle of the ridge to stay on course.

A few minutes later, the views really start to open up to your left. You can look down to Howe Sound below you.

Keep hiking along the ridge. As the granite slabs come to an end, look for cairns showing you the way to your right down into the forest. But before you go into the forest, follow a path across the granite to a small knoll with a great view of Mount Garibaldi/Nch’kay to the north.

When you are ready, follow the cairns into the forest and slightly downhill. Stay on the main trail and follow the markers as the path makes a hard left (and older faint trail goes straight).

From here, you have a short but steep climb up through the forest on a very rooty and rocky trail. Watch for diamond trail markers to stay on track.

When the trail begins to level out, you have almost reached the viewpoints. There will be a large granite bluff to your right and a barely marked side trail for Yuko’s Ponds to your right (more on that below). Go straight towards the main viewpoint on the big granite slab.

This is the best view on the whole trail. You can look down to the waters of Howe Sound and the Sea to Sky Highway snaking its way south.

If you want more views, scramble up the granite bluff behind you. The first part of the ascent is very steep, but the granite provides lots of friction on your boots so it’s doable. You can wander around the top of the bluff to get views down to the town of Squamish and the Squamish River Valley. Take care on the descent as it is steep!

You might choose to make the viewpoints your turn around, and honestly, I think that’s not a bad idea since you have already seen the most spectacular part of the trail. But if you want, you can continue for another 0.8 km to the official end of the trail.

To head to the end of the trail, follow the markers to the right across the rock slabs, then down into the meadows. The trail undulates through pockets of forest and blueberry bushes and past two junction with the Neverland Loop Trail before ending at Neverland Lake.

While Neverland Lake may sound like a picturesque destination and maybe even a place to swim, it’s actually a seasonal pond that dries up into a puddle by late summer. Unfortunately, it’s a bit underwhelming. When you are done at the lake, retrace your steps back to the gondola. Or see the Extending Your Trip section below for more options.

Extending Your Trip

If you have extra time and energy, it’s worth adding some extra distance on to your hike. Here are the best options.

Neverland Loop and Neverland Falls

The Neverland Loop and Neverland Falls Trail makes a great add-on to the Al’s Habrich Ridge Trail since it visits a waterfall and some interesting rock slab areas. It adds about 1 km and 150 m of elevation gain to your trip. But it is a much rougher trail so expect it to take 30 min to an hour.

From Neverland Lake, backtrack to the Neverland Loop junction. Head steeply uphill through the forest. A rope helps you climb up a steep section just below a cliff. At the top of the rope, reach a junction. Go right to get to Neverland Falls.

The trail to Neverland Falls goes through thickets of blueberry bushes as it trends slightly uphill. Reach the base of Neverland Falls about 300 m from the junction.

In early summer the falls will have lots of water and a small pool underneath that you can swim in. But for most of the summer, the falls dry up to a trickle and the pool is too small to be inviting.

If you want to explore further, follow a rough unofficial trail uphill to the right of the falls for about 100 m. It scrambles over rocks and is quite steep. At the top, you can check out Upper Neverland Falls.

After you are finished at the falls, retrace your steps back to the junction with the rope, then go straight. The trail rambles through more forest and blueberry bushes with a cliff on your right. At one point, the path takes you under the overhang of a huge boulder.

After the boulder, the path begins to head downhill on some granite slabs. There is a rope to assist you on the steep part. As you approach a creek (which looks like a rock water slide), the trail switchbacks to the left and heads down to meet back up with the Al’s Habrich Trail. A faint trail goes right up the creek to Yuko’s Ponds (see below).

Yuko’s Ponds

This short trail visits a few small ponds and heads through some pretty patches of sub-alpine meadows. Since it is not on the list of official Sea to Sky Gondola trails, it’s a bit quieter up here, which I like.

The Yuko’s Ponds route adds 0.6 km and 50 m of elevation gain to your trip. Allow an extra 20-30 minutes for this add-on. Since this is an unofficial trail, it isn’t marked with big diamond markers. But it isn’t that hard to follow (there are occasional square orange markers). It’s also easy to stay on track if you use All Trails+ or Gaia GPS.

My preferred route is to pick up the Yuko’s Ponds trail from the north end of the Neverland Loop. Where that trail comes close to a creek flowing across a granite slab, turn uphill and follow sporadic markers and flagging tape up the creek.

At the top where it flattens out next to a pond, go left and slightly uphill. (If you continue straight the trail deadends at a marsh.) Stay on the trail past another tiny pond and through more meadows. The trail curls left and heads downhill.

Follow markers carefully as the path drops down a granite bluff, turn makes a hard right. The terrain gets steep and a bit scrambly for a few moves as you work your way downhill to meet up with the main trail in the forest just before the viewpoints.

Further Along the Ridge and Robin’s Connector

The official Al’s Habrich Trail doesn’t go anywhere near the top of Al’s Habrich Ridge. However, several unofficial and poorly marked trails do go higher on the ridge.

A rough trail continues uphill from Neverland Lake through the forest higher on the ridge. Another trail, called Robin’s Connector, branches off from Yuko’s Ponds and the north part of Neverland Loop. It heads east through the forest, then curls back south through some bluffs to head up the ridge.

Both trails join partway along the ridge, then continue southeast to a high point. These trails are poorly marked and unmaintained. In places they seem to disappear. There have been lots of Search and Rescue incidents here due to lost hikers. Please don’t attempt these trails without good fitness and off-trail navigation skills.

It’s also worth noting that there are no trails to the top of Mount Habrich. The summit is a shear rocky cliff that can only be scaled by rock climbers.

Snowshoeing and Winter Hiking the Al’s Habrich Trail

With easy access via the Sea to Sky Gondola, Al’s Habrich Ridge Trail is one of the best places to snowshoe in Squamish. However, it is a much more challenging and potentially dangerous trip in winter. The trail markers are harder to see, so it is easy to get off track. You will need to be comfortable with navigation. I use the Gaia GPS app.

The steep terrain can also make travel very challenging with a mix of both snow and ice. Depending on trail conditions, you will need snowshoes and/or microspikes. I recommend microspikes in May and November and both snowshoes and microspikes between December and April – you may need to switch to microspikes on the steeper stuff because your snowshoes won’t have enough grip. (Read my guide for tips on how to choose snowshoes and my guide to the differences between snowshoes and microspikes).

For the most part, the trail stays out of avalanche terrain since it doesn’t cross or travel below steep slopes. The exception is the steep ascent in the trees just before the main viewpoint and the Neverland Loop Trail, both of which travel on or below avalanche-prone slopes. In any case, you should still have avalanche training and rescue gear. Check the avalanche forecast before your trip.

It’s worth noting that the winter route is slightly different than the summer route. Instead of turning off the access road near the generator, you stay on the road to a fork where you go left. Then you follow that road for another 0.2 km to its end where you join the regular route at the creek crossing. As well, the Sea to Sky Gondola recommends doing only the first half of the trail in winter (the part along the granite ridge) since it is the easiest to follow, isn’t as steep, and avoids all avalanche terrain.

If you do just one hike at the Sea to Sky Gondola, it should definitely be Al’s Habrich Trail. It’s one of my favourite trails that I return to over and over. Do you have questions about this hike? Ask them in the comments.

READ NEXT:

• The Best Hikes in Squamish, BC (By a Local)
• Where to Go Snowshoeing in Squamish
• 70+ Things to do in Squamish (By a Local)
• High Note Trail in Whistler Hiking Guide (By a Season’s Pass Holder)
• Joffre Lakes Hike (By a Local)

The post Al’s Habrich Trail at the Sea to Sky Gondola (By a Local) appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

I’ve hiked the Elfin Lakes Trail more times than I count, in every season, in boots, in spikes, and in snowshoes. I’ve spent lots of nights in the campground and the shelter and really explored the area. Elfin Lakes is one of the best hikes in Squamish and it is featured in my hiking guidebook, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia.

In this post, I’ve got everything you need to know to do the Elfin Lakes hike in Squamish. This guide includes:

• Trail stats including how long it takes, difficulty, best time to go, and more
• Tips for hiking to Elfin Lakes including what to pack and how to prep
• Day Passes – what you need to know to get a pass
• Camping reservations – how to reserve and when to book
• Trail map that shows all the key locations I mention in this post
• How to get to the Elfin Lakes trail – driving directions plus tips for going without a car
• Step-by-step hiking directions so you know what to expect
• Extending your trip – my picks for hikes you can do from Elfin Lakes
• Backcountry camping and the hut – info on where to camp and what to expect at each campground
• Snowshoeing and skiing – info on trekking to Elfin Lakes in winter
• Biking to Elfin Lakes – tips for going by bike instead of hiking

This is a sensitive wilderness area. Learn how to Leave No Trace to keep the wilderness wild. Make sure you are prepared by bringing the 10 Essentials. Get ready for adventure with this checklist of things to do before every hike.

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

Elfin Lakes Trail Stats

Here are the basic stats that you need to know about hiking the Elfin Lakes Trail in Squamish:

Location: The trail is located in the southern part of Garibaldi Provincial Park near Squamish, BC.

Duration: 6-7 hours

Distance: 22 km

Difficulty: Moderate/Challenging

Elevation Change: 900 m of elevation gain

Day Passes: Required some days of the week between June and October. (See the Day passes section below for more info.)

Camping and the Hut: Reservations are required for camping and staying at the Elfin Lakes Hut. (See the Camping and Hut section below for more info.)

Best Time to Go: July to early October when the trail is snow-free. I also recommend picking a clear day so you can enjoy the views.

Toilets: There are toilets at the trailhead, Red Heather day-use shelter, Elfin Lakes campground, Elfin Lakes Hut, and Rampart Ponds campground.

Drinking Water: You can fill your water bottles at Brandvold Falls (2.5 km from the trailhead) and at the north Elfin Lake (11 km from the trailhead). Pack plenty of drinking water. Since you don’t know if humans or animals have pooped or died upstream, you need to filter or treat all water before you drink it. (I use a Katadyn BeFree.)

Dogs: Not allowed in Garibaldi Provincial Park to protect wildlife and the fragile ecosystem.

Bikes: Bikes are allowed on the trail as far as the Elfin Lakes shelter. (See the biking section below for more info.)

Bears: This area has a high black bear population. Hike in a group and carry bear spray.

Indigenous Context: The Elfin Lakes Trail is in the traditional territory of the Skwxwu7mesh (Squamish) Nation. Historically, the area was an important place to pick berries and harvest mountain goats. To learn more, see the info sign in the Elfin Lakes campground or visit the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre.

Tips for Hiking Elfin Lakes

• Check the weather before you go. City weather forecasts are useless in the mountains. Use an algorithmic spot forecast for Elfin Lakes like Spotwx. (Read my guide to weather apps for hikers for more tips.)
• Get a day pass: More info about that below.
• Check trail conditions online using AllTrails or Instagram. This is especially important in the spring or fall when the trail can be icy or snowy.
• Bring a rain jacket and warm clothing just in case. It can be much colder and rainier in the mountains than in the city.
• Wear trail running shoes or hiking boots. The trail is rocky and loose in places. Regular running shoes don’t have enough grip or ankle support.
• Bring water and snacks. It is not safe to drink the water from the lakes without boiling, filtering, or treating it as you never know if people or animals have pooped or died upstream. Gross! (I use a Katadyn BeFree.)
• Bring the 10 Essentials. These are key safety items you should have on every hike.
• Bring a camera – it’s gorgeous and you will want tons of pics! But leave the drone at home. Drones aren’t allowed in BC Parks without a commercial filming permit.
• Pack out all your garbage. There are no garbage cans here so you must take your garbage home with you. Leaving it in the park attracts animals.
• Be Bear aware: There are lots of black bears on this trail, especially in late summer and fall. Hike in a group, make noise, and carry bear spray. Read my bear safety tips for more info.

Elfin Lakes Day Passes

Since this is such a popular area, you need to get a free day pass if you plan to visit on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays, and holidays between mid-June and mid-October. Your pass covers everyone in your vehicle. Passes are available on the BC parks website starting at 7 AM two days before your trip. Act fast: passes run out fast on summer weekends.

Tip: Select the Diamond Head trailhead in Garibaldi Provincial Park to reserve a day pass to hike to Elfin Lakes.

Print out your day pass or save it as a screenshot on your phone. Cell service at the trailhead is really spotty, so you might not be able to pull it up from your email. Parks staff will check for passes on the road just before the trailhead. If you don’t have a pass, you won’t be allowed to hike.

Read my guide to BC Parks day passes for more info including tips for getting a pass.

Elfin Lakes Camping Reservations

The backcountry campgrounds and hut at Elfin Lakes are popular destinations so they all require reservations. You can book online up to 3 months before your trip. See my guide to making backcountry reservations in BC for tips on getting a spot.

Camping costs $25 per person per night plus a $6 reservation fee for each tent. Bunks in the hut cost $30 per person per night plus a $6 reservation fee per group. Note: You don’t need a day pass if you have a backcountry camping reservation.

I’ve got lots of details on what to expect at the Elfin Lakes Campground, Elfin Lakes Shelter, and other nearby campgrounds further down in this post.

Read my guide to making backcountry camping reservations in BC for tips on getting a camping reservation.

Elfin Lakes Trail Map

I made a map of the Elfin Lakes Trail for you using Gaia GPS, my favourite GPS and mapping app. It also includes an elevation profile. Click through to zoom in and download the GPX track.

How to Get to Elfin Lakes

The trailhead is about 1.5 hours from Vancouver and about 30 minutes from Squamish. You can get there by car or a bus/taxi combo. In this section, I’ve got everything you need to know for driving, parking, and taking the bus and a taxi to Elfin Lakes.

Driving Directions

From Vancouver, head over the Lions Gate Bridge, then go west on Highway 1. Follow the signs to switch to Highway 99 North just before Horseshoe Bay. Stay on Highway 99 North and drive past downtown Squamish.

Turn right onto Mamquam Road just after crossing the bridge over the Mamquam River. A few blocks later turn left onto Highlands Way. At the roundabout, go right onto the Boulevard. Go straight through the next roundabout and follow the Boulevard up the hill and across a bridge where it becomes University Boulevard.

Turn right at the roundabout onto Village Drive. Then turn left onto Mamquam Road. A few blocks later Mamquam Road turns to gravel and becomes Garibaldi Park Road. The road has bumpy and loose sections, but is fine for all vehicles – just go slow.

Stay on this road, ignoring side roads. Watch for mountain bikers. Go left to stay on Garibaldi Park Road amongst a group of houses. Follow the road for another 5 km to the trailhead and the large gravel parking area. Here are Google Maps driving directions.

Parking Passes

Just before you reach the parking lot, you may encounter a park facility operator checking parking passes and camping reservations.

If you visit on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays, and holidays between mid-June and mid-October, you must have a day pass for your car (also called a parking pass). See the day pass section above for more info.

If you are camping, you don’t need a parking pass, but you do need a camping reservation for each member of your group. See the camping section above for more info.

Getting to Elfin Lakes Without a Car

You can get to Elfin Lakes without a car, but it isn’t easy. From Vancouver, take the YVR Skylynx or Squamish Connector buses to Squamish.

From there, Howe Sound Taxi can take you 30 minutes to the trailhead. (Call ahead to confirm that they will go up the gravel road to the trailhead – some dispatchers get confused as to where this is.)

You can also take Squamish Shred Shuttle (a mountain bike shuttle service) to their highest stop, which is a few minutes walk from the trailhead.)

Elfin Lakes Hiking Directions

Here are my step-by-step directions for hiking to Elfin Lakes.

Trailhead to Red Heather Day-Use Hut

The trailhead is at the east end of the parking lot next to a large info sign. Walk around the yellow gate and past the outhouse to start your hike up the old road.

The Brandvold family built this road to access their backcountry lodge at Elfin Lakes in the 1940s. The lodge closed in 1972 and these days the only cars allowed on the road are BC Parks maintenance vehicles. The road is steep and rocky, so it doesn’t make for the most pleasant hiking experience.

Follow the old road up and around a switchback. About 1.5 km from the trailhead, look for a small opening in the trees to your left. There is a bit of a view down to the Squamish harbour, but it is getting overgrown.

Reach Brandvold Falls about 2.5 km from the trailhead. This is the only place to get water on the hike – but be sure to treat or filter your water. The falls are quite dry late in the summer, but there is usually at least a trickle.

Past the falls the trail starts to zigzag. In the next few kilometres, the forest opens up a bit as it starts to transition to alpine vegetation.

About 5 km from the start, reach the Red Heather day-use shelter tucked away on your left. This is a good place to take a break. There are tables and benches inside. There is also a wood stove, but it is only unlocked and available for use in the winter.

You’ll find an outhouse a few metres down the trail from Red Heather day-use shelter. It has tall stairs to keep it out of the deep snow that falls here each year.

Red Heather Day-Use Shelter to Elfin Lakes

So far the trail has been entirely uphill. (You have gained about 400 m of elevation up to this point.) But past here, the trail gets a little flatter and the views start.

From Red Heather Shelter, follow the trail past the outhouse to a junction. Go left onto the hiker’s trail and follow it steeply uphill through patches of trees and meadow. (The cyclists’ route stays on the road to the right.)

About 1 km after Red Heather Shelter, the hikers’ trail meets back up with the old road. Turn left and hike along the road.

Follow the trail as it works its way along the crest of Paul Ridge through rolling terrain. In places, the terrain is rocky and barren and in others, there are beautiful meadows. There are great views of Mount Garibaldi (Nch’kay in the Squamish language) to the north.

Occasionally, there are patches of trees, but the entire route is quite exposed to the sun, so wear a hat and sunscreen. About 10 km from the trailhead the path heads downhill and you get your first good view of Elfin Lakes.

Follow the trail to the left of the lakes. Reach the lakeshore about halfway along the southern lake. This is a good place to go swimming on a hot day.

Ignore the spur trail to the ranger station and continue on the main trail as it trends left. Arrive at a junction near the Elfin Lakes Shelter and go right and up a small hill to reach the Elfin Lakes campground.

There are great views of Nch’kay from here as well as of the Garibaldi Neve glaciers. Take a break at the picnic tables in the campground or head down to the shore of the north lake to fill up on water. (Don’t swim in the north lake as this is the drinking water source.)

When you are ready, retrace your steps back to the trailhead. If you want to explore further, I’ve got some options for extending your trip below.

Extending Your Trip

At 22 km round-trip, this hike is fairly long for one day. But if you have lots of time and energy, it’s possible to extend your trip a bit. As well, the Elfin Lakes campground is a great place to base yourself for some day hikes. Here are my picks for the best hikes that leave from the Elfin Lakes campground/Elfin Lakes Shelter area.

Columnar Peak and the Gargoyles

The short (but steep) hike to Columnar Peak and the Gargoyles is doable for hikers tackling the Elfin Lakes hike in a day. It’s also a great hike from the campground. It has incredible views of the campground, Mamquam Mountain, and Nch’Kay.

Here are the key stats for the hike to Columnar Peak and the Gargoyles from Elfin Lakes campground:

• Duration: 2-3 hours
• Distance: Up to 6 km round-trip
• Difficulty: Challenging
• Elevation Change: 500 m elevation gain
• Map: Use my Gaia GPS map of the Columnar Peak and Gargoyles trail

From the junction outside the Elfin Lakes Shelter, go west on the trail towards Opal Cone and Rampart Ponds. The trail heads downhill into a meadow.

About 1 km from the shelter, go left at a junction towards Columnar Peak and the Gargoyles. The trail immediately becomes much rougher and eroded. Try to stay on the trail as much as you can to keep the erosion concentrated, rather than spreading it out.

Follow the trail uphill through clumps of trees and then across the bottom of a scree slope and across a creek. The trail braids in a few places – you should stick to the most well-trodden path. Keep following the trail steeply uphill through rocks and meadows to a saddle.

There are incredible views from here and you may be content to make this your turnaround point. If you want to reach a summit, you can scramble uphill to the Gargoyles (to your right) and Columnar Peak (to your left). Both involve a bit of route finding and some steep slopes, so step carefully and take your time. The Gargoyles is a bit shorter and easier.

Diamond Head Peak

Diamond Head Peak is a triangular subsummit of Mount Garibaldi (Nch’kay). This peak is also called Little Diamond Head and is named after Diamond Head Peak in Hawaii.

This is the only peak on Nch’Kay that you can reach just by hiking. It’s a long trip that involves some route finding, but it is fairly straightforward. It’s best as a day trip from the Elfin Lakes campground, but strong hikers can tackle it from the trailhead in one long day. When I did it, we took about 11 hours car-to-car.

Here are the key stats for the hike to Diamond Head Peak from Elfin Lakes campground:

• Duration: 3.5-5 hours
• Distance: 10 km round-trip
• Difficulty: Very Challenging
• Elevation Change: 730 m elevation gain
• Map: Use my Gaia GPS map of the Diamond Head trail

Follow the directions above to the saddle between the Gargoyles and Columnar Peak. From there, follow a faint trail downhill through the scree to a low point with a great view of the Squamish Valley to the southwest and a small lake to the northeast.

Follow a faint trail uphill through meadows and trees to the base of a huge gravel slope. The trail disappears here and you will need to find your own route. There are a few cairns that show the way, but they peter out eventually. Just keep working your way uphill towards Diamond Head, which you can always see above you.

About half a kilometre before the summit, reach the edge of a ridge that drops away steeply to the west. I was lucky enough to see mountain goats here! Stay back from the edge and follow the ridge uphill to the north. A very steep boot-beaten path through the gravel takes you to the summit of Diamond Head. It’s steep with big drop-offs so be careful.

Opal Cone

Opal Cone is an extinct volcanic cinder cone. It has great views of the glaciers to the north as well as Mamquam Mountain to the east. It’s a great day hike from the Elfin Lakes campground or a detour on the way to Rampart Ponds.

Here are the key stats for the hike to Opal Cone from Elfin Lakes campground:

• Duration: 3.5-5 hours
• Distance: 14 km round-trip
• Difficulty: Challenging
• Elevation Change: 540 m elevation gain
• Map: Use my Gaia GPS map of the Opal Cone trail

From the junction in front of the shelter, follow the trail north through the meadows. After the turn-off for the Gargoyles, it heads into the trees crosses lots of deep gullies as it trends downhill. Reach your low point 3 km from Elfin Lakes and 200 m lower as you cross Ring Creek on a bridge.

On the other side, the trail heads uphill beside the creek through bare gravel that transitions to meadows. The route makes a few switchbacks before heading into a short stretch of trees. Reach a junction and head left to make your ascent of Opal Cone. (The route to the right continues to Rampart Ponds.)

After the junction, the route is very steep and loose. Follow the cairns to stay on track to the summit 1.25 km from the junction. You can retrace your steps, or walk all the way around the rim of the crater.

Rampart Ponds

If you want to explore further into the park, make the trek out of the backcountry campground at Rampart Ponds. It’s a good spot to base yourself for the hike to Mamquam Lake.

Here are the key stats for the hike to Rampart Ponds from Elfin Lakes campground:

• Duration: 5.5-7.5 hours
• Distance: 17.1 km round-trip
• Difficulty: Challenging
• Elevation Change: 950 m elevation gain
• Map: Use my Gaia GPS map of the Rampart Ponds trail

The route to Rampart Ponds involves lots of elevation gain and loss as well as a mandatory ford through a flooded section. To begin, follow the directions to the Opal Cone junction above.

From Opal Cone, the trail descends down to a huge volcanic gravel plain that looks like a moonscape. About 1 km after the Opal Cone junction, reach the flooded section. Each year the melting glaciers change this area, expanding the meltwater ponds. Carefully wade across the flooded area – it may be up to your waist.

On the other side, follow the trail as it heads downhill to cross Zigzag Creek on a small bridge. If the bridge is missing, this creek can be too dangerous to cross. Climb up the hill from the creek. The turn-off to the Rampart Ponds campground is 1 km past the creek. The glacier views through here are amazing.

Mamquam Lake

Mamquam Lake makes a good day hike from the Rampart Ponds campground. It’s also a very tough day hike from Elfin Lakes campground. Note: There used to be a campground at Mamquam Lake, but BC Parks closed it due to archeological concerns and built the Rampart Ponds campground instead.

Here are the key stats for the hike to Mamquam Lake from Rampart Ponds campground and from Elfin Lakes campground:

• Duration: 1-1.5 hours from Rampart Ponds/6.5-9 hours from Elfin Lakes
• Distance: 3.7 km round-trip from Rampart Ponds/20.8 km round-trip from Elfin Lakes
• Difficulty: Easy from Rampart Ponds/Very Challenging from Elfin Lakes
• Elevation Change: 250 m elevation gain from Rampart Ponds/1200 m elevation gain from Elfin Lakes
• Map: Use my Gaia GPS map of the Mamquam Lake trail

Follow the directions above to Rampart Ponds. From there, follow the trail as it switchbacks downhill. The route starts in the gravel glacial plain, then transitions to meadow and then forest. The trail ends at the lakeshore, which is great for swimming.

Backcountry Camping and the Hut at Elfin Lakes

Most people choose to camp at Elfin Lakes campground or stay in the Elfin Lakes Shelter (also called the Elfin Lakes Hut). But there are also a couple other camping options nearby. I have details on all of them below.

Elfin Lakes Campground

Elfin Lakes Campground is spread out at the north end of North Elfin Lake. The campground has 35 wooden tent platforms that can hold up to a 4-person tent. You can also squeeze two 2-person tents on the platforms, but you probably won’t be able to get your rain flies staked out all the way.

All campsites are first-come, first-served for campers with reservations. Just choose a site once you arrive.

There are metal hanging poles with pulleys to store your food. Bring a waterproof bag (I recommend a lightweight dry bag) to protect your food from rain and birds.

The cooking shelter has a metal counter for cooking, picnic tables, and a wash sink with grey water disposal. There are also outdoor picnic tables. Plan to cook and eat in the cooking area to minimize food smells and waste around the tent pads.

There are outhouses at each end of the campground. The outhouse building for the Elfin Lakes Shelter are also very close by.

Collect water from the north Elfin Lake. This is the designated drinking water lake so keep it clean! You must filter or treat all drinking water as you don’t know if people or animals have contaminated it with poop or other pathogens. (I use a Katadyn BeFree.)

Campfires are never allowed in Garibaldi Provincial Park to protect the fragile alpine vegetation. As well, be sure to stay on the paths through the campground. Over the years, campers’ feet have eroded a lot of the beautiful heather meadows.

You can find more info about backpacking to Elfin Lakes in my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia.

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Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia

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Elfin Lakes Shelter

The Elfin Lakes Shelter is also known as the Elfin Lakes Hut or the Elfin Lakes Cabin. It is located just past the north end of the two lakes. This large A-Frame hut has a kitchen and eating area downstairs and bunkbeds upstairs.

There are 33 double bunks (bottom bunks) and 11 single bunks (top bunks) and all bunks are first-come, first-served amongst people with reservations – choose an available bunk when you arrive.

The kitchen area downstairs has a propane stove that is free to use but you will need to bring your own pots. There are also metal counters for cooking and picnic tables for eating. You can wash dishes in the sink – it also has a grey water disposal drain. Hang your food on hooks on the wall and ceiling to protect it from mice.

The propane heater in the centre of the hut is only turned on in winter. The hut also has solar lighting, but it doesn’t always work. There is an outhouse building to the east of the hut with four separate stalls.

Collect water from the north Elfin Lake by walking past the cooking area for the campground. This is the designated drinking water lake so keep it clean. You must filter or treat all drinking water.

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Rampart Ponds Campground

The Rampart Ponds Campground is located 8.5 kilometres from Elfin Lakes and 19.5 kilometres from the trailhead. Keep in mind that it will take about 7-8 hours to hike there from the trailhead.

The Rampart Ponds are shallow glacial ponds in the middle of a rocky glacial plain. There are no trees for shelter so it can be a miserable place to camp in bad weather… but it also has gorgeous glacier views in good weather.

The campground has 12 gravel campsites, an outhouse, and food lockers. Collect water from Rampart Ponds.

Red Heather Campground

The Red Heather Campground is open during the winter months only. (It is prime bear habitat the rest of the year so camping is only allowed in the winter.) There are no tent pads or designated tenting area – just pitch your tent on the snow. You can use the Red Heather hut for cooking, eating, and storing your food. There is an outhouse nearby.

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Snowshoeing and Skiing at Elfin Lakes in Winter

The Garibaldi Park Road is plowed in winter, making Elfin Lakes a very popular winter hiking, snowshoeing and backcountry skiing destination. I’ve got more details in my guide to snowshoeing in Squamish.

However, it is a much more challenging and potentially dangerous trip in winter. The trail is marked in winter with reflective wands, but when the fog rolls it can be difficult to see them. You will need to be comfortable with navigation. I use the Gaia GPS app.

The trail will also be very snowy and icy. Depending on trail conditions, you will need snowshoes or microspikes. I recommend microspikes in May and November and snowshoes between December and April. (Read my guide for tips on how to choose snowshoes and my guide to the differences between snowshoes and microspikes).

The winter route (marked by wands) deviates from the summer route in a few places (most notably around the east side of Round Mountain.) Thanks to this, it stays out of most of the serious avalanche terrain. However, the backcountry ski runs below the trail are in avalanche terrain. In any case, you should still have avalanche training and rescue gear. Check the avalanche forecast before your trip.

While the road is plowed in winter, it is still usually snow and ice-covered. You must have tire chains to drive this road. BC Parks has a checkpoint partway up the road in winter. If you don’t have chains, they won’t let you continue. Even if the road doesn’t seem that slippery, the final switchback before the parking area can be very icy – lots of cars have slipped off the road here and required a tow truck to get them out. Just put your chains on!

Biking to Elfin Lakes

Bikes are allowed on the trail as the Elfin Lakes Shelter. Since the entire route is on an old road, biking makes the trip to Elfin Lakes much faster. I’ve ridden up to Elfin on my mountain bike and while it is faster than hiking, it’s still pretty tough thanks to the elevation gain and the technical terrain.

The biking directions are the same as the hiking directions above, with one key exception. Just after Red Heather day-use shelter, the hikers’ route leaves the road and heads directly uphill. If you are on a bike you must stay on the old road as it makes a long switchback before meeting back up with the hikers route about 1 km later.

The trail is steep in a few places and is often very rocky. You will need a mountain bike with suspension or at least a gravel bike. Unless you are great at technical riding uphill, you’ll definitely have to push your bike in a few places – it’s really chunky. Class 1 e-bikes (pedal assist only) are allowed. You will also need a bit of stamina for the first six kilometres since they are entirely uphill.

Final Thoughts

That’s everything you need to know to plan a trip to Elfin Lakes. I recommend going in clear weather to really enjoy the views. Do you have questions about the trail? Ask them in the comments – I’m happy to help.

READ NEXT:

• The Best Hikes in Squamish, BC (From a Local)
• Where to Go Snowshoeing in Squamish
• 70+ Things to do in Squamish (By a Local)
• Camping in Squamish, BC: 22 Places to Camp Near Squamish
• 31 Best Backpacking Trips in BC

The post Elfin Lakes Hike in Squamish (By a Local) appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

The falls are great in all seasons. In the spring they gush with snowmelt. The falls gets a little drier in the summer and you can see the rock formations better. In the fall, they gush again with rain. And in the winter they freeze up a little bit and the ice formations are really cool.

But the falls are not the only thing worth visiting at Brandywine Falls Provincial Park. Lots of people don’t know that there is a whole trail network here: you can visit another canyon with a bungee bridge, see other viewpoints, and go for a swim.

This guide to Brandywine Falls Provincial Park includes:

• Key trail stats for the hike to Brandywine Falls
• A Brandywine Falls trail map that I made just for you
• How to get to the park by car or on a tour
• Turn-by-turn hiking directions with lots of photos
• Hiking to the bottom of Brandywine Falls – is it allowed?
• Winter hiking and snowshoeing at Brandywine Falls including where to park legally
• Other hikes at Brandywine Falls – info for three other scenic trails
• Brandywine Falls FAQ – all your questions answered

This is a sensitive wilderness area. Learn how to Leave No Trace to keep the wilderness wild. Make sure you are prepared by bringing the 10 Essentials. Get ready for adventure with this checklist of things to do before every hike.

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

Brandywine Falls Trail Stats

Note: The trail stats below are just for the hike to Brandywine Falls. I’ve also got details on three more hikes in the park at the bottom of this post.

Distance: 1.2 km

Elevation Gain: 20 m

Duration: 30 minutes

Difficulty: Very easy

Season: April to November without snowshoes. November to March with snowshoes or microspikes. (Read my guide to the differences between microspikes and snowshoes.)

Toilets: Pit toilets at the trailhead.

Dogs: Allowed on-leash only.

Heads up: There are popular (and more advanced) hikes upstream of Brandywine Falls called Brandywine Meadows and Brandywine Mountain. Both of those hikes require logging road driving to reach the trailhead. They are not at Brandywine Falls Provincial Park.

Brandywine Falls Trail Map

The trails at Brandywine Falls Provincial Park are well-signed and easy to follow. There are signs at each junction. But, I made you a trail map using Gaia GPS, my favourite GPS and mapping app. Click through to zoom in and explore.

How to Get to Brandywine Falls

Brandywine Falls Provincial Park is located between Squamish and Whistler on Highway 99.

To get there, go north on Highway 99 from Squamish. A few minutes after you pass the turn-off to Garibaldi Provincial Park and the Daisy Lake Dam, look for signs for Brandywine Falls on your right. Click here for Google Maps directions from Squamish.

If you are coming from Whistler, go south on Highway 99. About 8 minutes after the traffic light in Function Junction, look for the left turn lane and signs for Brandywine Falls on your left. Click here for Google Maps directions from Whistler.

The parking lot at has room for a few dozen cars and also has an RV and bus section. However, it does fill up on summer weekends, especially in the afternoon. There is no overflow parking. If you park on the highway you will get towed.

Unfortunately, there is no public transportation to the park. You could take a taxi from Whistler, which is about 15 minutes away.

Many Sea to Sky tours stop at Brandywine Falls. This highly-rated full-day bus tour includes stops at Brandywine Falls, the Sea to Sky Gondola, and Whistler. Or book a private tour of the Sea to Sky Highway that includes Shannon Falls, Brandywine Falls, and Whistler.

In winter, the parking lot is gated. Your car will get towed if you park in front of the gate. See the winter hiking and snowshoeing section below for more info.

Brandywine Falls Hiking Directions

From the parking lot, walk past a kiosk with info about Squamish and Lil’wat Indigenous culture and history. Continue past a few picnic tables to the covered bridge over Brandywine Creek.

Cross the bridge and turn right on the other side to head towards the falls. (The trail to the right goes to Lava Lake.)The wide trail here heads slightly downhill through the forest.

A few minutes later, ignore the signed Swim Lake Trail branching uphill to the left. Continue through the yellow gates to carefully cross the railway tracks.

On the other side, ignore the Sea to Sky Trail going left and continue straight. The first waterfall viewpoint is just ahead. There is a large wooden platform here with great views of the falls. Unfortunately as of summer 2023, a small tree is growing in front of the platform, which reduces the view a little.

Some people turn around here because they don’t realize there are more views. Continue along the trail for another minute to another viewpoint. This one is from a bit further back, so you get a head-on view of the waterfall.

You can continue along the trail to its end at another viewpoint. This time you can look south to the turquoise waters of Daisy Lake, a human-made lake used as a reservoir for hydropower generation. You can also look back north and spot the volcanic peak of Black Tusk.

When you have finished enjoying the view, retrace your steps back to the parking lot.

Hiking to the Bottom of Brandywine Falls

You may have seen photos on social media of people at the bottom of the waterfall. Unfortunately hiking to the bottom of Brandywine Falls is illegal.

The Provincial Park website clearly states there is no access to the bottom of the falls since it is very unsafe due to unstable slopes and falling rocks.

As well, the start of the route to the bottom of the falls now has huge fences in front of it with signs warning people not to go down into the canyon. The signs also warn people that there are fines for going past the fence.

Winter Hiking and Snowshoeing at Brandywine Falls

The flat and easy trail to the waterfall as well as the other hikes in the park make great winter hikes or snowshoe trips. However, there is one big problem: the parking lot is closed in winter.

Unfortunately, it is not easy to snowshoe at Brandywine Falls since BC Parks locks the gate at the parking lot in the winter and doesn’t plow the parking lot. If you park outside the gate on the highway, you risk getting your car towed away or having it hit by a snow plow.

However, you can legally park in winter at the Whistler Bungee parking lot on Cal-Cheak Forest Service Road. From there it’s a 6 km round trip snowshoe to the falls. More details in my guide to snowshoeing in Whistler.

Other Hikes at Brandywine Falls Provincial Park

Most visitors to Brandywine Falls Provincial Park do the short hike to the waterfall viewpoint and then head back to their car. However, there are several other great hikes in the park. I’ve got details below.

Sea to Sky Trail to the Bungee Bridge

The hike to the Bungee Bridge makes a great add-on to Brandywine Falls. It’s a 4.5 km round trip from the main trail and takes about 1.5 hours. Click here to see the custom map I made of the route to the Bungee Bridge.

Just after crossing the railway tracks, turn left onto the Sea to Sky Trail. The trail is shared with bikes, but it is wide so there should be room for everyone. The trail heads downhill to a viewpoint of Daisy Lake, then works its way back up a short but steep hill.

The second half of the trail travels under the powerlines and into an old lava field, so there is no shade, which can be tough on hot days. Just after you pass under the powerlines, ignore a trail branching to the left and stay on the main Sea to Sky Trail.

A few minutes later pass some small lakes, then arrive at the edge of the Cheakamus River Canyon. There is a great view down into the canyon and of the Bungee Bridge a few minutes ahead. This is the best place to watch people bungee jump.

You can also carry on along the trail to the bridge and look directly down into the canyon. The bridge closes for a few minutes each time people bungee jump so you may have to wait to cross it. After you’ve enjoyed the view, retrace your steps back to the Brandywine Falls main trail.

Alternatively, you can follow the Sea to Sky Trail all the way to Whistler Village, 20 km to the north across the Bungee Bridge.

Swim Lake Trail

This short trail (0.8 km round trip) leads uphill through rocks and forest to the south shore of Swim Lake. The route to Swim Lake starts just before you cross the railway tracks on the main trail. Click here to see the custom map I made of the Swim Lake Trail.

You will encounter a much more rugged trail than the main Brandywine Falls Trail, but it’s not too long – the climb from the main trail to the lake takes about 10 minutes.

The shore of the lake is rocky in some places and marshy in others, so it can be tough to find a place to get in the water easily. It is refreshing on a hot day though.

Lava Lake Trail

This multi-use trail is shared with bikes, but it’s rarely used so you won’t see many people. It starts just after the covered bridge – go left to Lava Lake instead of right to Brandywine Falls. Click here to see the custom map I made of the Lava Lake Trail.

The hike to the end of the trail is 5.3 km round trip and takes about 1.5 hours. The trail is a wide old road that passes under some powerlines. Faint side trails lead to some interesting lakes formed by depressions in an old lava field.

If you are up for some navigating, you can follow the road at the end of the trail out of the park, then across the railway tracks to meet up with the trail that goes to a cool suspension bridge over Callaghan Creek. You will end up at Cal-Cheak Campground, one of my picks for the best places to camp near Whistler.

If you choose to head outside the park, I recommend using All Trails+ or Gaia GPS app to find your way as the trails can be confusing.

Brandywine Falls FAQ

So that’s everything you need to know to hike at Brandywine Falls Provincial Park. If you have questions about the hike, leave them in the comments so I can help you out.

MORE WHISTLER HIKES:

• The Best Hikes in Whistler: A Guide to All the Trails
• Joffre Lakes Hike (By a Local)
• Whistler Train Wreck Hike
• Hike to Parkhurst Ghost Town in Whistler
• Rainbow Falls Loop Trail in Whistler
• Where to Go Snowshoeing in Whistler

MORE WHISTLER INFO:

• 80+ Things to Do in Whistler (By a Local)
• 42 Cheap and Free Things to Do in Whistler
• Camping in Whistler, BC: 18 Places to Camp Near Whistler
• Lost Lake in Whistler: Hiking, Swimming, Biking and More
• Sea to Sky Highway Road Trip Guide: Driving from Vancouver to Whistler

The post Brandywine Falls Provincial Park Hiking Guide appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

I live just down the road in Squamish, so I’ve hiked the Whistler Train Wreck Trail more times than I can count. (I think I’m up to about six times?) If people ask me to recommend a short and easy Whistler hike, it’s always the one I recommend. It’s one of my top picks for the best things to do in Whistler in summer.

This guide to the Whistler Train Wreck Trail includes:

• Key trail stats for the Whistler Train Wreck Hike
• A Whistler Train Wreck trail map that I made just for you
• How to get to the trailhead by car and bus
• Turn-by-turn hiking directions with lots of photos
• History of the train wreck – how did the train cars end up in the forest?
• Whistler Train Wreck Trail FAQ – all your questions answered

This is a sensitive wilderness area. Learn how to Leave No Trace to keep the wilderness wild. Make sure you are prepared by bringing the 10 Essentials. Get ready for adventure with this checklist of things to do before every hike.

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

Whistler Train Wreck Hike Basics

The Whistler Train Wreck is a short and easy hike through the forest to a cluster of abandoned train cars. The train cars are covered in graffiti and are fun to explore. Along the way, the trail crosses a spectacular suspension bridge over the turquoise glacial waters of the Cheakamus River.

The hike to the Whistler Train Wreck is my favourite short hike in Whistler since it is easy enough for almost all hikers and has great scenery. It’s also mostly in the forest, which is great for both hot days and rainy ones. Plus it is easy to get to by bus or car and has lots of parking.

I also love snowshoeing to the train wreck in winter – it’s on my list of the best snowshoe trails in Whistler.

Trail Stats

Distance: 2.5-3 km

Elevation Gain: 90 m

Duration: 1-1.5 hours

Difficulty: Easy

Season: April to November in hiking boots, November to March with snowshoes or microspikes. (Read my guide to the differences between snowshoes and microspikes.)

Toilets: The closest toilets are at Bayly Park, which is across the road and up the hill from the trailhead (about 3 minute walk).

Dogs: Allowed on-leash only under Whistler’s dog bylaws.

Caution: Some of these trails are multi-use trails which are shared with bikes. Watch for bikes and move over as they are often not able to stop as quickly as hikers.

Whistler Train Wreck Trail Map

The Whistler Train Wreck Trail is easy to follow and there are signs at most intersections. However, I made you a trail map using Gaia GPS, my favourite GPS and mapping app. Click through to zoom in and explore.

How to Get to the Whistler Train Wreck Hike

Where is the Trailhead for the Whistler Train Wreck Hike?

Over the years there have been several different ways to hike to the Whistler Train Wreck. The current trailhead is on Jane Lakes Road in the Cheakamus Crossing neighbourhood.

The original route to the train wreck started in Function Junction, Whistler’s industrial park. However, that route involved walking along the railroad tracks for a few minutes, which was dangerous and illegal. If you see instructions online for accessing the Train Wreck Trail that way, they are out of date since that route is now closed.

There is also another route to the Whistler Train Wreck from a pullout on Highway 99 just south of Whistler. It uses the Lower Yer Saddle mountain bike trail to get to the train wreck quickly. However, it also involves crossing the railway tracks, so it is also illegal.

The new official route to the Whistler Train Wreck opened in 2016. It starts near Bayly Park in the Cheakamus Crossing neighbourhood. The new trail includes a suspension bridge over the Cheakamus River. That is the only legal way to access the trailhead (and it’s also the nicest trail.)

Below I’ve got both driving and public transit directions for getting to the official trailhead.

Driving Directions and Parking

From Whistler Village, go south on Highway 99. Turn left at the traffic light onto Cheakamus Lake Road. (Turning right puts you on Alpha Lake Road, which goes to the Function Junction neighbourhood.)

Follow Cheakamus Lake Road (which becomes Legacy Way) over a bridge, and then around the corner into the Cheakamus Crossing neighbourhood. Make your first right onto Jane Lakes Road, following signs for the Train Wreck Trail.

A minute later, turn right into the gravel parking lot for the Train Wreck Trail. If it is full, there is another parking area a few meters later on the left side of the road.

You can also take a taxi or Whistle (Whistler’s Uber service) to the Whistler Train Wreck trailhead from anywhere in Whistler.

Click here for Google Maps driving directions.

Bus Directions

It’s also possible to get to the Train Wreck Trail by bus. Take BC Transit bus 10 or 20 from Whistler Village to the stop on Legacy Way at the HI Whistler Hostel. From there, walk down the hill through Bayly Park to the trailhead. The walk adds about 5 minutes to your hike.

Click here for Google Maps bus directions.

Whistler Train Wreck Hiking Directions

From the main parking area, follow the gravel path beside the road for a minute to the trailhead.

The large signboard here is labelled “Sea to Sky/Train Wreck” because, for the first part of your hike, you will be on the Sea to Sky Trail. This 180-kilometre-long multi-use trail stretches from Squamish past Pemberton.

From the trailhead, follow the wide gravel trail into the forest. The trail heads slightly downhill for the first few minutes.

Stay on the main trail until you reach a signed junction. Turn right onto the Train Wreck Express Trail.

Follow this trail downhill on a long switchback to arrive at the suspension bridge. Less travelled trails follow the river to the right and left of you, but ignore them for now and cross the bridge.

On the other side of the bridge, follow the trail slightly uphill into the forest to an open area where you will see the first of the abandoned train cars. Follow the path to the right and then down towards the river to spot two train cars, one of which is partially dangling into the canyon.

Retrace your steps and go left along the trail to see three more train cars spread out in clearings in the forest.

Many people turn around here since they don’t realize there are two more train cars to see. Continue following the trail around a few corners to see the other train cars. The trails in this area are very braided and there are lots of paths. Stick to the most well-trodden trail to find your way. Or use All Trails+ or Gaia GPS app to stay on track.

Once you have visited the last two train cars (there are seven in total), turn around and retrace your steps to the suspension bridge. When you get across the suspension bridge, you have a choice.

Most guides to the Whistler Train Wreck Hike tell you to just go back to the parking lot. But then you would miss out on a gorgeous waterfall and some canyon views. Below I’ve got a description for a 0.5 km add-on to the hike.

If you want to do the canyon and waterfall add-on, turn left immediately after crossing the suspension bridge and follow the trail along the edge of the river. You will see the main trail off to your right, but continue on the fainter riverside trail.

The trail weaves through the forest and then comes close to the edge of the cliff. There is a good view down into the water, but be careful near the edge.

Continue along the trail as it passes a wide bend in the river. Ignore a trail heading right that joins up with the Sea to Sky Trail – that is your return route.

Continue along the trail beside the river. Spur trails out to the left lead to more canyon views. Pass a junction with a mountain bike trail called Just Another Bike Trail then arrive at the waterfall. If you’re lucky, you might see whitewater kayakers playing in it.

When you’re ready to leave the waterfall, retrace your steps back to the bend in the river, then head left on a trail through the trees that joins up with the Sea to Sky Trail almost right away. Follow the Sea to Sky Trail back uphill to the trailhead and parking lot to finish your hike.

If you want to explore even more, use the Gaia GPS app to follow the Trash trail further along the river. It ends up Legacy Way, and you can walk back along Jane Lakes Road to the trailhead from there.

Whistler Train Wreck History

The abandoned train cars on the Whistler Train Wreck Trail are the result of a train that derailed in 1956.

A freight train heading south from Lillooet was going about 35 miles per hour (56 km/hr) in an area where it should have been going 15 miles per hour (24 km/hr). One of the engines came off the rails, causing the wreck.

Several of the cars were damaged, but they were blocking the train tracks. So a local logging company was hired to use their heavy-duty machinery to drag the cars out of the way, then roll them down the hill into the forest.

The train cars remained in the forest, mostly undisturbed for decades. In the 1990s and early 2000s, mountain bikers built trails around them, incorporating the cars into elaborate ramps and jumps. But those trails fell into disrepair.

In 2013, hikers popularized the Train Wreck trail on Instagram. To give people a legal way to get to the Whistler Train Wreck Hike without walking on the train tracks, the town of Whistler built the suspension bridge and new trail in 2016.

You can read more about the history of the train wreck on the Whistler Museum website. And I definitely recommend visiting the Whistler Museum – it’s one of my picks for the best cheap things to do in Whistler.

Whistler Train Wreck FAQ

So that’s everything you need to know to hike the Whistler Train Wreck Trail. If you have questions about the hike, leave them in the comments so I can help you out.

MORE WHISTLER OUTDOOR ADVENTURES:

• The Best Hikes in Whistler: A Guide to All the Trails
• Joffre Lakes Hike (By a Local)
• High Note Trail in Whistler
• Hike to Parkhurst Ghost Town in Whistler
• Rainbow Falls Loop Trail in Whistler
• How to Paddle the River of Golden Dreams in Whistler, BC
• Where to Go Snowshoeing in Whistler

MORE WHISTLER INFO:

• 80+ Things to Do in Whistler (By a Local)
• Visiting Whistler, BC in Summer (By a Local)
• 42 Cheap and Free Things to Do in Whistler
• Camping in Whistler, BC: 18 Places to Camp Near Whistler
• Lost Lake in Whistler: Hiking, Swimming, Biking and More
• Sea to Sky Highway Road Trip Guide: Driving from Vancouver to Whistler

The post Whistler Train Wreck Hike appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.