February 10th, 2023: There are plenty of dog friendly snowshoe trails in Whistler.  They range from easy and quick to get to, to a bit of a drive and a bit more challenging.  Blueberry Park is a wonderful trail just a 2 minute drive from Whistler Village.  You can even walk there in about 20 minutes.  This deep forest park has a great 3 kilometre circle route that takes you up Blueberry Hill and then down along the shore of Alta Lake where you pass by four piers set into the frozen lake.  

Whistler & Garibaldi Hiking

Easy Hiking Trail WhistlerAlexander Falls  Moderate Hiking Trail Whistler Dog FriendlyAncient Cedars  Moderate Hiking Trail WhistlerBlack Tusk  Pay Use Hiking Trail WhistlerBlackcomb Mountain  Easy Hiking Trail WhistlerBrandywine Falls  Moderate/Hard Hiking Trail Whistler Dog FriendlyBrandywine Meadows  Moderate/Hard Hiking Trail Whistler Dog FriendlyBrew Lake  Easy Hiking Trail WhistlerCallaghan Lake  Moderate Hiking Trail WhistlerCheakamus Lake  Whistler Hiking Trail EasyCheakamus River  Whistler Hiking Trail HardCirque Lake  Whistler Hiking Trail EasyFlank Trail  Moderate Hiking Trail WhistlerGaribaldi Lake  Moderate Hiking Trail WhistlerGaribaldi Park  Moderate Hiking Trail WhistlerHelm Creek  Moderate Hiking Trail Whistler Dog FriendlyJane Lakes  Joffre Lakes Hike in Whistler in SeptemberJoffre Lakes  Moderate Hiking Trail Whistler Dog FriendlyKeyhole Hot Springs  Hiking Trail Hard Dog FriendlyLogger’s Lake  Whistler Hiking Trail EasyMadeley Lake  Moderate/Hard Hiking Trail Whistler Dog FriendlyMeager Hot Springs Easy Hiking Trail WhistlerNairn Falls  Whistler Hiking Trail HardNewt Lake  Moderate Hiking Trail WhistlerPanorama Ridge  Whistler Hiking Trail EasyParkhurst Ghost Town  Hiking Trail Hard Dog FriendlyRainbow Falls  Moderate Hiking Trail WhistlerRainbow Lake  Moderate/Hard Hiking Trail Whistler Dog FriendlyRing Lake  Moderate Hiking Trail WhistlerRusset Lake  Whistler Hiking Trail EasySea to Sky Trail  Easy Hiking Trail WhistlerSkookumchuck Hot Springs  Easy Hiking Trail WhistlerSloquet Hot Springs  Sproatt East  Moderate Hiking Trail WhistlerSproatt West  Moderate Hiking Trail WhistlerTaylor Meadows  Whistler Hiking Trail EasyTrain Wreck  Hiking Trail Hard - Whistler TrailsWedgemount Lake  Pay Use Hiking Trail WhistlerWhistler Mountain

Whistler Snowshoe Trails

Blueberry Park Steep, Short, Dog Friendly Snowshoe TrailBlueberry Trail  Snowshoe Easy DogBrandywine Falls  Snowshoe Easy DogCheakamus River  Elfin Lakes Moderate, Very Long Snowshoe TrailElfin Lakes  Steep, Short, Dog Friendly Snowshoe TrailFlank Trail  Joffre Lakes Moderate, Steep Snowshoe TrailJoffre Lakes  Snowshoe Easy DogNairn Falls  Dog Friendly Snowshoe TrailParkhurst Ghost Town  Steep, Short, Dog Friendly Snowshoe TrailRainbow Falls  Rainbow Lake Moderate, Steep & Long Snowshoe TrailRainbow Lake  Rainbow Park Easy Dog Friendly Snowshoe TrailRainbow Park  Steep Dog Friendly SnowshoeingSproatt East  Taylor Meadows Moderate, Steep Snowshoe TrailTaylor Meadows  Snowshoe Trail EasyModTrain Wreck  Wedgemount Lake Challenging, Steep Snowshoe TrailWedgemount Lake 

The shore trail continues along and brings you back to the start of the trail.  Though you might need snowshoes during weeks of heavy snowfall, you can usually get away with just micro spikes.  In fact, you can’t do this trail without micro spikes or snowshoes most of the winter due to the trail being a sheet of ice, and often a steep sheet of ice.  Another great park your dog with love in the winter is located directly across from Blueberry Park, the considerably more popular Rainbow Park.  From Whistler Village you can drive down to the end of Lorimer Road and find free parking next to the Valley Trail.  The Valley Trail takes you through the forest for just over a kilometre to the beautiful and very dog friendly Rainbow Park.  This south facing park is amazing on a sunny day as the sun over Blackcomb and Whistler shines directly at the park.  Though fun to snowshoe to in deep snow, you can always get away with walking there without snowshoes or micro spikes as the trail is wide and flat, though usually icy.  For a bit more of a challenge and a bit further from Whistler Village you can drive 8 kilometres down to Cheakamus Crossing and snowshoe along Cheakamus River.  This winter wonderland is amazing in the winter as you can snowshoe down one side of the river, cross the beautiful suspension bridge and hike back the other side.  Roundtrip, depending on where you park is 4-6 kilometres and the trail bends through the tranquil forest along the impressively crashing Cheakamus River.

Cheakamus River Snowshoeing is Amazing and Dog Friendly!

Cheakamus River Snowshoeing

Very Dog Friendly Blueberry Park

Blueberry Trail Snowshoe Whistler

 Very Easy and Dog Friendly Rainbow Park

Rainbow Park Snowshoeing in Whistler

Whistler Train Wreck Dog Friendly Snowshoeing

Train Wreck Snowshoe RatingAnother great dog friendly snowshoe trail in Cheakamus Crossing is Whistler Train Wreck.  This wonderful trail is quite popular, so you probably won’t need snowshoes, though you definitely will need micro spikes as the icy trail is insanely slippery in the winter.  The trail takes you through the deep forest to Cheakamus River where a beautiful suspension bridge crosses and you find yourself in the midst of several wrecked train cars abandoned here in the 1950’s.  Mangled and sprawling all over, they have been painted by graffiti artists over the years and some are quite beautiful.  You can wander through the forest and along Cheakamus River where you will find several amazing viewpoints of the river.  Train Wreck Falls is particularly gorgeous, just a few hundred metres north of the wrecked cars.

Whistler Train Wreck Winter Map v9

Dog Friendly Whistler Train Wreck Continued...

Dog Friendly Snowshoeing - Parkhurst Ghost Town

Parkhurst Snowshoe RatingParkhurst Ghost Town is another wonderful, dog friendly snowshoe trail in Whistler.  There are several ways to get there, however in January and February you will often find Green Lake frozen enough to take a shortcut across the lake from Green Lake Park.  Green Lake Park is directly across from Parkhurst and you can walk there in 5 minutes if you determine the ice is thick enough and it is safe enough to cross.  Green Lake Park is easy to find along Lakeshore Drive, just an 8 minute drive north of Whistler Village.   Located on the far side of Green Lake, Parkhurst Ghost Town is a wonderful escape from the world as you wander through the beautiful forest and past relics of this old logging town.  One old house remains standing and graffiti covers the outside and inside.  A haunting Blue Face is painted on the front of the house over a decade ago by professional artist Kups who has painted stunning murals all over Whistler.  Most of the original murals that made Whistler Train Wreck famous were his creations.  The snow is usually deep in Parkhurst all winter and you will almost certainly need snowshoes or you won’t get far.

Parkhurst Whistler Snow Map v5

Dog Friendly Snowshoeing Parkhurst Continued...

Bungee Bridge to Brandywine Falls Snowshoeing

Brandywine Snowshoe RatingAnother fantastic and very dog friendly snowshoe trail in Whistler is the Bungee Bridge to Brandywine Falls trail.  The gate to the parking lot at Brandywine Falls is locked in the winter and parking is not allowed outside the gate so getting to the falls via the Bungee Bridge is a good alternative.  The Bungee Bridge is accessible by car year-round as the road is plowed in the winter and there is lots of parking there.  The trail starts by crossing the Bungee Bridge which is pretty amazing.  High above Cheakamus River the views are sensational.  The Sea to Sky Trail then winds through the forest for 3 kilometres to Brandywine Falls.  In the winter you will likely have Brandywine Falls to yourself due to the inaccessible main parking area.

Bungee Bridge to Brandywine Falls Map

Bungee Bridge to Brandywine Falls Continued...

Dog Friendly Snowshoeing to Rainbow Falls

Rainbow Falls Snowshoe RatingA bit closer to Whistler Village, on the far side of Alta Lake is yet another great, dog friendly snowshoe trail, Rainbow Falls.  A short, but often steep 2.2 kilometre circle route takes you through the forest to the cute little falls that are surprisingly beautiful.  Pillows of deep snow surround the falls and the terrain to get there is wildly beautiful.  A lovely bridge further up the trail takes you over Twentyone Mile Creek which is often hilariously buried in snow.  The Rainbow Falls trail is dog friendly, however the Rainbow Trail that continues up past the Flank Trail is not as Rainbow Lake is the source of Whistler’s water supply.

Rainbow Falls Snowshoe Map v6

Rainbow Falls Dog Friendly Snowshoeing Continued...

Dog Friendly Flank Trail

Flank Trail Snowshoe RatingThe Flank Trail crosses the Rainbow Trail and is quite beautiful in the winter.  It extends along the flank of Mount Sproatt and Rainbow Mountain for several kilometres and the views across the valley are incredible, especially on a sunny day.  It is dog friendly as it is just under the watershed for Whistler.  Just up from Rainbow Falls, the Rainbow Trail and the Flank Trail overlap for about 400 hundred metres.  If you follow this overlapping trail as it bends around the water treatment building, quickly ascending in the direction of Rainbow Lake, you will come to the Flank Trail junction.  The Flank Trail quickly ascends through deep forest and after about 15 minutes opens up and begins to gradually flatten out.  The views become beautiful and trail less tiring.  Whistler MountainBlackcomb Mountain and Wedge Mountain all come dramatically into view and Alta Lake appears far below.  Just steps from the trail take you to pristine, snowy outcrops, perfect for taking in the view on a sunny day.. and with most of the Flank Trail south facing, sun will always be facing you over Whistler Mountain.

Flank Trail Map Winter v3

Dog Friendly Snowshoeing the Flank Trail Continued...

Dog Friendly Sproatt East Trail

Sproatt East Snowshoe RatingMount Sproatt is the towering mountain that is directly across from Whistler Mountain.  The Flank Trail cuts across it for several kilometres and into an amazing spider web of hiking and biking trails that are fantastic snowshoe trails in the winter.  The Sproatt East trail is one particularly nice snowshoe trail that is very dog friendly.  Though it is located very high up on Sproatt, you can drive way up the side of the mountain and park at the end of a road in Stonebridge.  This access means you enter the forest already high up on the mountain and gives you incredible views right away.  You can snowshoe up the trail as far as you want, but the Sproatt East trail continues way up into the alpine after only about 4 kilometres and the summit of Sproatt is just a couple more kilometres.  Most just snowshoe to the various plateaus along the trail which give you sweeping, panoramic views of the valley.  Easily enjoyable in sections, you can have a short or a long trek into this beautiful wilderness paradise.

Sproatt East Snowshoe Map v2

Dog Friendly Snowshoeing the Sproatt East Trail Continued...

Blueberry Park, Dog Friendly and Fun

Geographically, the Blueberry Park is directly across Alta Lake from Rainbow Park.  From Whistler Village it is very close.  You can drive there in 3 minutes or walk there via the Valley Trail in 20 minutes.  It can be accessed from either end via the neighbourhoods of Whistler Cay at the end of Crabapple Drive, or in Alta Vista at the end of St Anton Way.  The St Anton Way trailhead is by far the better trailhead as it is easier to find and much closer to the beautiful piers.  If it has not snowed heavily in the last couple days, you will likely not need snowshoes for the Blueberry Park as the snow will have been packed down by others.  You will almost certainly need micro spikes as the trail is often a slick sheet of ice. Blueberry Park gets its name from the hill that rises above it named Blueberry Hill.  The park is well hidden despite being on all the maps in Whistler because both trailheads are found at the end of quiet streets.  The trailheads do have small trail signs and once you are on the trails they are easy to follow, even in deep snow.  Though at times steep, the trail is short.  The high point of the trail, about midway, is only 1.2 kilometres from either trailhead.  There is a small clearing at the edge of quite a high cliff that is a great vantage point to the lake.  People skating, cross country skiing or walking appear as little black dots scattered across the frozen lake.  As snowshoeing trails go, this one is a great, fun, short workout to a beautiful vantage point and five wonderful piers. 

Blueberry Park Snowshoeing Map v8

Dog Friendly Snowshoeing in Blueberry Park Continued...

Dog Friendly Snowshoeing - Cheakamus River 

Snowshoe Rating CheakamusCheakamus River is located just 8 kilometrs south of Whistler Village just off of the Sea to Sky Highway.  This well marked, though beautifully remote feeling snowshoeing trail takes you along both sides of the wildly crashing Cheakamus River.  Snow begins to fall in earnest in the Whistler area in December, so the best months for snowshoeing Cheakamus River are from late December to early March.  These trails are frequently used year-round so the snow on the trail is often packed down.  You may find that you don't need snowshoes for much or all of the trail.  One of the best routes is to walk/snowshoe from your car for about 100 metres following the road to Cheakamus Lake.  At about 100 metres you will see a branching road go to the right and a large, vehicle bridge cross the Cheakamus River.  Cross the bridge and you will immediately see a trail on your left running along the river.  This trail, with Cheakamus River on your left will descend and ascend through a beautiful forest.  Sometimes close to the river, sometimes 100 metres away.

Cheakamus River Snowshoeing Map v6

Dog Friendly Cheakamus River Snowshoeing Continued...

Whistler Snowshoe Trails!

More Whistler Updates!

February 11th, 2023: What trails are good this week?  Driving up into the mountains is a great way to seek out some springtime snow.  Alexander Falls is ...
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July 20th, 2022: A little knowledge before you head out into the wilderness is a good idea.  Especially if you are new to hiking or in unknown terrain.  ...
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March 25th, 2023: What trails are good this week?  If you are dying for summer to come, Lillooet Lake is paradise these days.  Just an hours drive north of ...
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September 5th, 2022: Madeley Lake is a stunning wilderness lake high up in the Callaghan Valley that is easily accessible by a decades old logging road.  ...
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Amazing Hiking Trails in Whistler

Whistler & Garibaldi Park Hiking Glossary A to Z

Whistler Bungee Bridge, also known as the Cheakamus Bungee Bridge is a very convenient and beautiful attraction on the way to or from Whistler from ...
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Russet Lake sits in a wide, glacier carved valley at the base of The Fissile.  In the direction opposite The Fissile, up on a plateau less than a ...
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Paper birch, also known as white birch is a type of birch tree that grows in northern North America. Named for its paper-like, white or cream coloured ...
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Emerald Forest is a cute little forest that is well hidden between Whistler Cay and Alpine.  From Whistler Village, if you go down to the end of Lorimer ...
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Whistler can be expensive.  Everything worth doing seems to cost a lot of money.  But if you step back from the noise and crowds you may spot some secret ...
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Waterbar and Cross-Ditch: the purpose of a waterbar or cross-ditch is to capture and redirect surface water from the road and channel it across the road ...
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The pale green shub-like growths hanging from trees in the forests around Whistler is called usnea.  These bushy, coral-like fruticose lichens anchor to bark ...
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Coast Douglas-fir trees are medium to extremely large trees that you will encounter in Whistler and Garibaldi Park. They are the second tallest conifer ...
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Whistler & Garibaldi Park Best Hiking by Month!

November in Whistler is when the temperatures plummet and the first heavy snow falls in the alpine and often in Whistler Village.  The hiking opportunities become ...
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December hiking in Whistler is mainly done on snowshoes, though not always. If it hasn't snowed much recently then trails such as Whistler Train Wreck and ...
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There are plenty of beautiful and free snowshoe trails in Whistler and Garibaldi Provincial Park.  From the surreal paintings of Whistler Train Wreck to ...
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February is a great month for snowshoeing in Whistler and Garibaldi Park.  The days slowly get longer, but the temperatures stay consistently cold.  Expect ...
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Free Camping Gear Delivery to Garibaldi Park

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