whistler isn't just a ski town

come summer, the mountains open up into some of the most breathtaking hiking terrain in british columbia.

we've done the research (and the blisters) so you don't have to

here are our favourite trails — in order from easy-peasy to okay this is gonna take a bit to I have all I need in case I get lost for a few days — and everything you need to know before you go

easy hikes

cheakamus lake trail

an easy 3km walk through old-growth forest to a stunning glacial lake. perfect for a morning out before a patio afternoon. the kind of trail that reminds you why you live here — or why you keep coming back.

• distance: 3km one way (6km return)
• difficulty: easy
• trailhead: cheakamus lake trailhead, off cheakamus lake road (turn off hwy 99 south of whistler village)
• parking: free parking at the trailhead
• cost: free

wear: a lightweight long-sleeve, wide-leg pants you can roll up, and a trucker hat for the sun on the open sections

bring:

• water (at least 1 litre per person)
• snacks
• sunscreen + lip balm
• sunglasses
• light layer or long-sleeve
• comfortable footwear with some grip
• fully charged phone
• let someone know where you're going

alta lake loop

a flat, scenic loop around alta lake that's perfect for an easy evening walk or a slow morning. the light on the water at golden hour is something else entirely.

• distance: approximately 6km loop
• difficulty: easy
• trailhead: multiple access points — rainbow park and wayside park are popular starting spots
• parking: free at rainbow park and wayside park
• cost: free

wear: whatever you feel good in. this is the trail for your statement piece – the discoball hoodie, the bold trucker hat, the outfit that makes people stop and ask where you got it

bring:

• water (at least 1 litre per person)
• snacks
• sunscreen + lip balm
• sunglasses
• light layer or long-sleeve
• comfortable footwear with some grip
• fully charged phone
• let someone know where you're going

moderate day hikes

ancient cedars trail

one of whistler's most magical and underrated hikes. this 5km loop winds through a grove of ancient western red cedars — some over 1,000 years old — with a lookout at the top that genuinely stops you in your tracks. the view over the valley and surrounding peaks is breathtaking in the truest sense. don't skip it.

• distance: 5km loop
• difficulty: moderate
• trailhead: cougar mountain trailhead, accessible via the cheakamus lake road area — follow signs toward cougar mountain
• parking: limited free parking at the trailhead; arrive early in summer
• cost: free

wear: something you can move in and don't mind getting a little muddy. the forest is lush and the air is cool — a long-sleeve or light hoodie is perfect. you'll want to look up more than you look down on this one

bring:

• same as for easy day hikes, plus:
• 2+ litres of water
• trekking poles (optional but helpful on descent)
• rain jacket or packable windbreaker
• first aid kit (basic)
• trail map or downloaded offline map (alltrails works well)
• headlamp (in case you're out longer than planned)
• extra snacks / lunch
• bear spray (recommended in all whistler-area trails)

 

ascent trail, blackcomb mountain

for those who want the mountain experience without the ski lift ticket, the ascent trail on blackcomb is a serious leg-burner with serious rewards

it climbs steeply through alpine terrain with panoramic views of the coast mountains that open up as you gain elevation. raw, wild, and worth every step

• distance: approximately 10km return
• difficulty: strenuous
• trailhead: blackcomb base, accessible from the upper village — follow signs toward blackcomb way and the ski patrol building
• parking: upper village day lots (paid parking); whistler village is also walkable to the base
• cost: free to hike (no lift ticket required for the trail itself); parking fees apply in the upper village lots

wear: this is the one where you can start at the base looking like you're headed to a rooftop set and end up above the treeline with the whole sea to sky corridor at your feet

lean into it. a bold hoodie, a great hat, y

our favourite layers — and don't forget, merlin's will be waiting at the bottom for some live music apres vibes when you get back down 🎶🏔️

joffre lakes trail

some places earn their reputation. joffre lakes is one of them — three glacial lakes stacked up a valley, each one more impossibly turquoise than the last, with the joffre glacier hanging above it all like something out of a dream. the third lake is the reward, and it is worth every step.

• distance: approximately 10km return
• difficulty: moderate to strenuous (steady elevation gain to upper lake)
• trailhead: joffre lakes provincial park, hwy 99 between whistler and pemberton — approximately 25km north of whistler village
• parking: day use lot at the trailhead — fills extremely fast, often by 7am on summer weekends. arrive early or you will be turned away. bc parks is exploring a reservation system; check before you go.
• cost: free (bc parks day use)

wear: this is the one where you can look good at the first lake and still make it to the top.

start with a light layer you can tie at the waist — it gets cooler as you climb. a crop hoodie for the lower trail, something you can move in for the upper section. the turquoise water deserves an outfit worth photographing. 🪩

bring:

• water (2+ litres — it's a full day if you go to the third lake)
• snacks + lunch
• sunscreen spf 50+
• light rain jacket (weather shifts fast in the valley)
• trekking poles (the upper section is steep and rooty)
• trail runners or hiking boots with grip
• fully charged phone + downloaded offline map
• bear spray
• headlamp (just in case)
• cash or card for parking
• bc parks reservation confirmation if required

a note on visiting joffre lakes with respect 🌿

joffre lakes sits within the traditional territory of the lil'wat nation, whose connection to this land goes back thousands of years. this is not just a pretty hike — it is someone's home, their sacred landscape, their history

if you can, consider visiting on a weekday in shoulder season — may or october — when the crowds thin and the place breathes again. the lil'wat nation deserves space to be on their own land without it feeling like a tourist attraction

if you see a closure, a ceremony or a request to stay away on certain days — honour it without question. no photograph is worth more than that

leave nothing behind. take nothing but the memory of what it felt like to stand at that third lake and understand, just for a moment, why this place has been loved for so long🏔️

strenuous day hikes

wedge mountain trail

wedge mountain is the highest peak in the whistler area and one of the most rewarding — and demanding — objectives in the sea to sky corridor.

this is not a casual day hike. the approach takes you through old-growth forest and alpine meadows before the terrain opens up into exposed ridgelines and serious scrambling. 

the summit views stretch across a sea of peaks in every direction. it is genuinely one of the most spectacular places you can stand in bc.

• distance: approximately 20–24km return (depending on route)
• difficulty: very strenuous / mountaineering
• trailhead: wedgemount lake trailhead, off hwy 99 north of whistler — look for the wedgemount lake recreation site sign
• parking: free parking at the trailhead; fills quickly on summer weekends
• cost: free

wear: this one demands respect — and gear to match. moisture-wicking base layer, warm mid-layer, full rain shell just in case and footwear with serious grip.

tuck the style into the layers — the mountain doesn't care what you're wearing, but you will when you're standing on top of it 🏔️

overnight camping — wedge

wedgemount lake sits at the base of the wedge glacier and is one of the most stunning backcountry campsites in the region. camping is permitted at the designated sites near the lake. bring a bear canister — this is active bear country. fires are not permitted. a backcountry camping fee applies through bc parks (book via the bc parks reservation system).

the lake itself is a destination; the summit is the objective. many hikers do wedgemount lake as a day hike and camp overnight before attempting the wedge summit the following morning

garibaldi lake trail + black tusk

one of bc's most iconic hikes — 18km return with serious elevation gain and views that make every step worth it. the turquoise glacial lake at the top is almost unreal. this one earns its views. 

— a glacially-fed turquoise lake surrounded by volcanic peaks, with black tusk rising dramatically above it all.

the lake trail alone is a full day. black tusk adds significant elevation, exposure, and scrambling. together they represent one of the great bc wilderness experiences

• distance: garibaldi lake — 18km return. black tusk from the lake — add approximately 8km return and 600m additional elevation gain
• difficulty: strenuous (lake) / very strenuous with exposure (black tusk)
• trailhead: garibaldi lake trailhead; rubble creek trailhead, approximately 37km south of whistler on hwy 99
• parking: day use lot at rubble creek — arrives early or take the bc transit connector from squamish or whistler; lot fills by 7am on summer weekends
• cost: free (bc parks day use)

wear: layers you can add and remove as you climb. it's warm in the trees and cold at the lake — sometimes on the same day. a crop hoodie tied at the waist for the ascent, a proper mid-layer for the top. and wear something you'd want to be photographed in, because the turquoise water backdrop is unreal

bring: 

• same as for easy hikes, plus:
• 3+ litres of water or a water filter / purification tablets
• full rain gear (jacket + pants)
• warm mid-layer (fleece or down)
• toque and gloves (even in summer — summit temps can drop fast)
• gaiters if snow is on the route
• emergency bivy or space blanket
• whistle
• bear spray — carried accessibly, not buried in your pack
• satellite communicator (garmin inreach or similar — highly recommended above the treeline)
• sunscreen spf 50+ (alpine uv is intense)
• blister kit
• cash or card for parking

overnight backcountry (wedgemount lake, garibaldi lake campgrounds)

this is one of bc's most popular backcountry campsites and reservations are essential — book well in advance through the bc parks reservation system.

there are two campgrounds: garibaldi lake campground and taylor meadows campground (slightly shorter approach, good base for black tusk). fees apply. bear caches are provided at the campsite — use them.

no fires permitted. the milky way over the lake on a clear night is something you will not forget

bring: 

• same as easy and moderate day hikes, plus:
• bear canister or use provided bear cache
• backcountry tent (4-season recommended for wedge)
• sleeping bag rated to at least -5°c
• sleeping pad
• camp stove + fuel + lightweight cookware
• 3 days of food minimum (even for a 1-night trip — weather can pin you down)
• water filter
• trowel + waste bags (leave no trace)
• dry bags for all gear
• extra socks (always)
• bc parks reservation confirmation

🐻 wildlife tips

what to actually do if you meet a bear or cougar on the trail

• carry bear spray and know how to use it (on your hip, not your pack)
• make noise on the trail — talk, clap, call out on blind corners
• never run from a bear or cougar
• black bear vs grizzly — different responses (stand ground vs play dead)
• cougar — don't crouch, don't run, make yourself large, fight back
• food storage — bear canisters, never in your tent
• hike in groups when possible

what to wear on any whistler trail

the mountains here can shift fast — sunshine to cloud cover in an hour. pack layers, bring more water than you think you need, wear footwear with grip, and always tell someone where you're going. leave the trail better than you found it 🌲

the outdoors gives a lot. the least we can do is show up ready — and leave nothing behind

the formula is simple: a base layer you can move in, a hoodie or long-sleeve for the temperature swings, a hat for sun and wind and footwear with grip. the rest is just style

shop the trail edit

• discoball | crop hoodie – the trail layer that looks good at the summit and the patio
• go outside | trucker hat – a reminder and a hat in one
• rainbow | trucker hat – for the views that deserve a colourful frame

 

because everyone deserves to feel this alive out there. made with love near whistler, bc 🏔️✨

please note we take no responsibility for weather and conditions, let alone a reader's physical fitness or outdoor experience and offer this as solely an interesting insight on some of whistler's best hiking trails