Lost Lake is a tranquil and secluded lake that hides in the forest extending from Whistler Village. Just a 20 minute, leisurely walk or 5 minute bike ride along the well signed Valley Trail will lead you to this beautiful little lake. The wide and paved Valley Trail turns into a wide and gravel trail as you enter Lost Lake Park and. Trails circle the lake and extend in all directions.
The main trail around the lake is a popular running route from Whistler Village as roundtrip from the Village, around Lost Lake and back to the Village is just 6 kilometres. There are plenty of nice viewpoints along the main trail as well as quite a few short trails that lead to several access points to the lake, some with great places to sit and relax in the sun and take in the view. Lost Lake has a very popular beach at one end and in the height of summer can get busy as it is the most convenient beach from Whistler Village. There are several swimming platforms out in the lake as well as a wonderful and huge pier along the right hand side of the lake. An amazing place to catch the sunsets over Whistler Mountain. In the winter months when there is snow in Whistler, Lost Lake becomes a cross country and snowshoeing area and there is a charge to access the main trails around the lake. Usually from mid December to early April. If there is snow on the ground in Whistler Village, you will likely find the park gated for admission only snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. The trails around Lost Lake are convenient from Whistler Village and pretty scenic, however there are better snowshoeing trails in Whistler that are free to use.
In the non-winter months Lost Lake is a heaven for swimming, fishing and lounging in the sun. The main beach is the main area for swimming, however the large dock is excellent as well. More serene than the main beach and a wonderful world of its own, looking over this tree ringed lake and white mountains beyond. For the most part, the main beach and the pier are the swimming areas, however there are some wonderful floating docks in the middle of the lake. Easy to swim to, these are little islands in paradise. Fishing is very popular at Lost Lake and you will quickly notice fish jumping everywhere. The lake is stocked with trout every June and throughout the summer and fall, they are very easy to catch. From various points along the shore to the large dock, you will spot people fishing all hours of the day. The best times to fish are early in the day and in the evening. And unlike Green Lake or Alta Lake, you can keep what you catch. Though you will catch lots of trout, they are usually less than 2 pounds.
Just beyond this pier you will come to one of Whistler's disc golf courses. "Frolf" is free to play and the course is well laid out. Just bring a disc and walk on. You will also notice several bike trails, entrances and exits, all along the main Lost Lake trail. If you like a little exploring, they are amazing. Many have elaborate ramps and bridges, and the trails always bring you back to the main trail. Keep and ear out for the occasional bike coming from behind. Out of courtesy you should keep out of their way as they will be barrelling along, usually pretty fast. The trails extend throughout the forest in a massive spider-web looking array. It is tough to get lost however, as they are hemmed in by the larger, main Lost Lake trail.
The Sea to Sky Trail runs through Lost Lake Park, and the arm that extends north above Green Lake starts on the Lost Lake trail where the disc golf course is. Keep your eyes out for the Sea to Sky Trail sign on your right if walking from the Lost Lake direction. This amazing, and recently constructed section of the Sea to Sky Trail takes you high above Green Lake and to some breathtaking views. There are plenty of trail signs along the way and the wonderful views begin only five minutes from the Lost Lake trail. The Sea to Sky Trail takes you past Whistler's ghost town, Parkhurst. A wonderfully untouched logging town abandoned in the 50's.
Lost Lake has such a staggering number of hiking and biking trails that you could easily wander the beautiful forest for hours. Beyond the disc golf course, if you keep on the Lost Lake trail, you will come to a bridge over Fitzsimmons Creek. The same Fitzsimmons Creek you probably crossed in the Village. It runs through the Village separating the Whistler Village with the Upper Village. If you keep walking the Lost Lake trail across this bridge over Fitzsimmons Creek, the trail turns sharply left and arrives at the Nicklaus North golf course. An amazing restaurant in the clubhouse is a great place to stop for a drink. If you carry on walking past the clubhouse, the now paved, and now Valley Trail continues along the left shore of Green Lake. The views along this section of boardwalk are beautiful. Snowy mountains across this amazing and surreal looking, green lake.
If you are still wanting to walk further, the Valley Trail continues past this boardwalk at Green Lake, then to Meadow Park(15 minutes walking), and then back along the River of Golden Dreams eventually leading back to the Village(about 1.5 hours past Meadow Park if walking). There are excellent direction signs at most of the Valley Trail junctions and at some points you will even find clear mapboards. If instead you backtrack toward the bridge over the Fitzsimmons Creek, then you can return to the Village along the opposite(west) side of the beautiful Fitzsimmons Creek. From this bridge you are about 5 kilometres from Whistler Village or less than an hours walk away. The trail that runs along the Fitzsimmons Creek is wonderfully scenic and surprisingly unknown.. even to most locals.
It takes you in and out of deep forest along the edge of the Fitzsimmons and ends partway between Lost Lake and Whistler Village, which is likely where you started from! The trail is well defined and the last, deep forest section of trail running along the Fitzsimmons Creek is called the Fitzsimmons Nature Trail. There are signs at either end of this easy-to-miss trail, but the way to find it is to keep aiming for the Fitzsimmons Creek and you will have no trouble spotting it.
The trail around Lost Lake is lit up at night and not too difficult to navigate at night. Keep in mind that this trail is reserved for cross-country skiers and snowshoers in the winter(Dec-Mar). You can still go, but there is an entry fee. There are a few different ways to get to Lost Lake from Whistler Village, but the Valley Trail/Sea to Sky Trail mapboard in the Village on Blackcomb Way is a good place to start. Just two minutes from the mapboard and you are at the first beautiful bridge over Fitzsimmons River and a great area by the river to see before heading across the bridge and along the forest trail leading to Lost Lake.
The Lost Lake trail and the Valley Trail on either side of Lost Lake Park are very dog friendly with the exception of the sandy, main beach at Lost Lake. Continue on the paved trail past this beach and the trail becomes gravel near the washrooms as it bends left along the lake. After a minute or two you will notice a sign for "Canine Cove" and a great little beach reserved just for your dog. They think of everything in Whistler and even the floating docks and the piers have doggie accessible ramps that make it easy for your dog to climb onto.
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