Parks in Whistler range from flat and family-friendly to rocky, steep and wild. Within Whistler Village, Lost Lake Park is the location for summer and winter fun.
Brandywine Falls Provincial Park is a pleasant stroll through a mixed species forest and Nairn Falls Provincial Park is not just another waterfall thundering through a steep-walled canyon. Featuring a well-developed campsite, it offers a base from which to explore the region.
If backcountry hiking is part of that exploration, then Garibaldi Provincial Park is the place to start.
Learn More About Highlight Parks in Whistler:
Brandywine Falls Provincial Park
Nairn Falls Provincial Park
Garibaldi Provincial Park
Lost Lake Park
Brandywine Falls Provincial Park
A 10- to 20-minute stroll under a leafy forest canopy leads to viewing platforms. These platforms are built on volcanic escarpments similar to that from which Brandywine Falls makes its dramatic 70-m/230-ft plunge into the pot-bellied canyon below. The second platform also takes in views of Daisy Lake and Black Tusk. A trail within the park provides access to the Cal-Cheak Suspension Bridge, a pleasant two-hour hike through a mixed forest of Douglas fir and lodge pole pine.
While the falls are always more spectacular when rain pumps up the volume, winter weather takes their scenic value to a new level altogether. Icy spray clings to the sides of the steep-walled canyon, layering icicles one over another, an ever-evolving work of art. The walk from the parking lot is a winter wonderland of snow-tipped boughs and bushes, but visitors should be cautious as trails are not maintained in winter.
Close to
Brandywine Falls is located 11km/7mi south of Whistler on Highway 99.
More information
Brandywine Falls Provincial Park Site
Nairn Falls Provincial Park
Nairn Falls Provincial Park is a good base camp from which to explore Whistler and points north, like the Pemberton Valley. The park is situated on the Green River which thunders down from its source, a fracture in the granite foundation of Mount Currie.
What's special
- Nairn Falls makes an impressive 60-m/196-ft leap to the valley floor. A viewing platform is reached via the 1.5-km/0.9-mi trail from the parking lot.
- The park has long been a spiritual site for the Lil'wat Nation.
- Swimming at nearby One Mile Lake.
- The park presents dramatic examples of water erosion in the potholes that have been created in the rocks.
- The park has a special resident – the rubber boa. At 45cm/18in long, it is just a little boa but it has the distinction of being one of the most cold-tolerant snakes in the world. It's grey or brown with blunt ends, like a big worm. Enjoy, but please don't touch.
Camping
There are 94 vehicle access campsites (40 are reservable).
Close to
Nairn Falls is 15 minutes north of Whistler on Highway 99.
More information
Nairn Falls Provincial Park Site
Garibaldi Provincial Park
At 2,678m/8,786ft Mount Garibaldi commands over 194,000ha/480,000ac of backcountry – snow-capped peaks, alpine meadows, gemstone lakes, sparkling streams and rushing rivers. Only an hour's drive from Vancouver, Garibaldi Provincial Park is a year-round mecca for those who flock to its well-developed trails for afternoon or multi-day trips. The primary activity in the park is hiking and mountaineering with Black Tusk, the remnant of a volcanic cone, the climber's challenge.
Camping
All camping is walk-in with 160 sites at ten locations. There are some huts available and there is winter camping in selected areas. No reservations.
Close to
Garibaldi Provincial Park is 70km/44mi north of Vancouver. Signs on the Sea-to-Sky Highway (Hwy 99) lead to trailheads that are 2 to 16 km from the highway.
More information
Garibaldi Provincial Park Site
Lost Lake Park
It is a quick walk from Whistler Village, but Lost Lake Park is so thoroughly secluded by evergreens that it feels like you've wandered into the wilderness.
What's special
- The park provides 32km/20mi of well-maintained trails for walking or biking in the summer and cross country skiing in the winter.
- In the summer season the lake's sandy beach and warm waters make it a popular place for summer fun. The park features BBQ pits, picnic tables, washrooms, swimming docks and an off-leash area for dogs.
- The lake is stocked with rainbow trout.
Camping
No. But some bed & breakfasts are close by, as is all of Whistler Village's accommodations.
Close to
Lost Lake is about a five-minute walk from Whistler Village. A free shuttle runs from the Village in July and August. There is no parking at the park.
More Information
Whistler Community Parks
Play a part in protecting BC's forests. Abide by local park rules, exercise caution and ensure all fires are extinguished. For more information on BC forest fires click here. To report a forest fire within BC from a cell phone, call *5555.
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