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The Alta Lake 8k is a beautiful 8 kilometre(5 mile) trail run in Whistler with a bunch of great things going for it. Beautiful views running along the Whistler Golf Course. Almost constant panoramic views of Whistler Mountain, Blackcomb Mountain and Wedge Mountain. A little old growth forest of massive Western redcedars, and more than half of the route is along the majestic shore of Alta Lake. This trail, like the Whistler Golf Course 5k, is accessible directly from Whistler Village, or from the convenient and free parking at the end of Lorimer Rd, just a 5 minute drive from anywhere in Whistler.
Whistler & Garibaldi Hiking
Alexander Falls 
Ancient Cedars 
Black Tusk 
Blackcomb Mountain Brandywine Falls Brandywine Meadows Brew Lake Callaghan Lake Cheakamus Lake 
Cheakamus River 
Cirque Lake Flank Trail Garibaldi Lake Garibaldi Park Helm Creek Jane Lakes Joffre Lakes Keyhole Hot Springs Logger’s Lake Madeley Lake Meager Hot Springs Nairn Falls Newt Lake Panorama Ridge Parkhurst Ghost Town Rainbow Falls Rainbow Lake Ring Lake Russet Lake Sea to Sky Trail Skookumchuck Hot Springs Sloquet Hot Springs 
Sproatt East Sproatt West Taylor Meadows Train Wreck 
Wedgemount Lake Whistler Mountain
January February 
March April May 
June July August 
September October November December
Whistler Golf 5k 
Blueberry Hill 6k Lost Lake 6k Alta Lake 8k Fitzsimmons 9k Alta Green Lost 15k
The trail run can be accessed by running from Whistler Village under the Sea to Sky Highway via the underpass near the Conference Centre and getting on the Valley Trail heading in either direction. If you are not staying in the Village, then you can drive to the free parking at the end of Lorimer Rd. From here you will see the excellent, Valley Trail signs directing you. The red line on the map below indicates the 8k route. This beautiful trail runs along or near Alta Lake for half of the 8k. The other half of the run goes through Rainbow Park or along the beautiful Whistler Golf Course. There is a short section of Alta Lake Road that you run along but even this has some amazing views over the lake. There are several hills on this route, but none too difficult or long. Unfortunately this run becomes very difficult in the winter as the snow is not plowed around the Rainbow Park to Lorimer Rd section. It can still be run, however, about 2k's are slogging through some rough and messy snow. The 5k route around the Whistler Golf Course is regularly plowed of snow in winter and is ideal.
The Alta Lake 8k Run
If you are starting the Alta Lake 8k run from Whistler Village, you will want to exit the Village between Buffalo Bills and the Conference Centre, then run under the underpass under the Sea to Sky Highway. You will then come to the Whistler Golf Course parking lot and clubhouse with the Valley Trail branching both left and right. Taking the Valley Trail to the left you immediately enter a deep forest with the golf course on your right. The Valley Trail follows the edge of the golf course as it bends left and right as well as gradual ascents and descents. You consistently gain a slight bit of elevation as you reach one end of the golf course and emerge from the forest where the Valley Trail bends right for about 20 metres along the edge of Blueberry Drive. Here you will catch your first stunning view of Whistler Golf Course and mountains in the distance. Wedge Mountain, with its starkly wedge shape fills the sky in the distance, poking above Blackcomb Mountain.
On a sunny day this spot will stop you for a moment to take in this wonderful view. Wedge Mountain is the highest mountain in the Garibaldi Ranges and Blackcomb Mountain lays to its right in the foreground. To the left are Parkhurst, Rethel and Cook, all mountains surrounding Wedgemount Lake. Wedgemount Lake is one of the most amazing hiking destinations in Whistler and Garibaldi Provincial Park. After taking in this beautiful view, cross Blueberry Drive and continue running down St. Anton Way along the Valley Trail that runs along the right side of the road. The Valley Trail bends left down Archibald Way, then right on Carleton Way, then left on Lakeside Road before reaching Lakeside Park. From here you follow the Valley Trail along, or close to Alta Lake all the way to Rainbow Park. You don't have to worry about losing your way as the Valley Trail will guide you. When you do come to a fork in the trail you will have an excellent direction signpost and often a mapboard. Lakeside Park is quite a nice and big park that is very popular in the summer. There are a couple wharves, concession stand and washrooms. As you run past the park you will see a small trail on the right. It leads to a beautiful viewpoint and further along a little log cabin. Definitely worth a quick look for the great view.
Back on the Valley Trail you will be ascending up into the forest and then descending down to Wayside Park. Another cute park on Alta Lake, Wayside Park is known for its secluded feel, great swimming and for canoe and kayak rentals in the summer. After Wayside Park you reach the end of Alta Lake and turn right and hug the shore of the other side of Alta Lake. Almost immediately you will see Alta Lake Park on your right. Even if you are rushing through on your run, you should run through this cute park. It is only slightly longer than continuing on the Valley Trail and it takes you through a nice forest with two piers on either end and several old relics from the past. An ancient truck and tractor lay rusting in the forest along the path as well as some great art installations. The short, Alta Lake Park path continues to a fork in the trail. Right takes you immediately to the park's huge L-shaped pier and the left fork brings you back out to the Valley Trail.
The Valley Trail turns sharply left and crosses the train tracks, then ascends up to Alta Lake Road. Turn right on Alta Lake Road and just run along the road for a kilometre before getting back on the Valley Trail in Rainbow Park. This kilometre long stretch of road is actually quite nice to run along as it ascends up to give you great views of Alta Lake and the background of mountains. There is a shortcut from Alta Lake Road into Rainbow Park just a couple hundred metres before the parking lot entrance. You will see it on the right as a wide trail into the trees. This trail zig-zags you down to Rainbow Park at the train track crossing. There are washrooms here as well as a water fountain. After you cross the train tracks and the bridge you can take a right to go to the lovely pier, or take a left and continue your run along the Valley Trail.
Leaving Rainbow Park you enter the forest and cross the River of Golden Dreams. A few hundred metres later you come to another Valley Trail junction at the end of Lorimer Road. This is where you have to turn right on the Valley Trail and head back to the Village via Whistler Golf Course. The Valley Trail connects in three directions here, so you want to make sure you head in the direction along Lorimer Road.
The Valley Trail splits after just a hundred metres along Lorimer Road, where Lorimer Road bends sharply left. Take the Valley Trail that runs straight into the forest, away from Lorimer Road. This is the Valley Trail that connects to Whistler Golf Course in just a couple minutes. When you come to the golf course the trail splits again as the trail runs around Whistler Golf Course. Taking the trail around the left side is the more direct route around the end of Whistler Golf Course and through a beautiful forest of huge Western redcedars. Impressively huge, this end of the golf course faces south and is where you will catch great views on a sunny day. Emerging from the cedar forest you slowly ascend toward where you started at the clubhouse parking lot.
More Whistler Running
There are plenty of great running trails in Whistler. The Whistler Golf Course 5k is one of the easiest and most convenient. The Blueberry Hill 6k follows part of the same route along Whistler Golf Course, as well as an interesting and challenging section that runs up and over Blueberry Hill. Though only a kilometre longer than the golf course route, the Blueberry Hill 6k has some steep uphill and downhill sections. Much more challenging and rewarding than the golf course run, it requires a bit more routefinding and a couple streets to navigate through. The Whistler Golf Course 5k is easy, relaxing and you don't have to think about where you are going as the route is quite clear. The Lost Lake 6k is similarly easy to follow and quite a bit of nice scenery. As with the Whistler Golf Course 5k and the Blueberry Hill 6k, the Lost Lake 6k starts right from Whistler Village. The trail takes you out and around Lost Lake and back to the Village through an amazingly serene and relaxing forest. The Alta Lake 8k is another beautiful running route that starts and finishes in Whistler Village at the Whistler Golf Course clubhouse. It takes you around Alta Lake, through several beautiful lakeside parks and hardly a minute goes by without a gorgeous mountain, lake or forest view. The Fitzsimmons 9k also begins in Whistler Village and takes you around one side of Lost Lake before continuing out to and across Fitzsimmons Creek, where you then run alongside the river back to where you started in Whistler Village. The Alta Green Lost 15k is a beautiful combination of parts of the previous trails. It takes you from Whistler Village, around Alta Lake along the Alta Lake 8k route. Instead of bending back to Whistler Village, you continue running north, along the River of Golden Dreams until you reach Green Lake. After you run across the amazingly scenic boardwalk bridge across Green Lake, you cross Fitzsimmons Creek and run along the far shore of Lost Lake and back to Whistler Village.
Golf Course 5k Run in Whistler
From Whistler Village there are several convenient trails and routes with varying distances. If you don't continue to Blueberry Park, but instead go around the golf course, you will be doing an the popular Whistler Golf Course 5k. This route follows the Valley Trail as it circles the golf course. This section of the Valley Trail is plowed year-round and even in -10c mornings you will see people braving this beautiful trail. In the spring, summer and fall months the Whistler Golf Course is frequented by bears and it is not uncommon(especially in June) to see two or three bears at various places along the run. Usually you will spot them out on the golf course, however, sometimes on the Valley Trail. If this happens, your best bet is to back away, make some noise and he will likely run into the forest. If not, making a detour through the golf course is always possible. Continue here...
Blueberry Hill 6k Run in Whistler
The Blueberry Hill 6k is a 6 kilometre(3.7 mile) trail run packed with great views and a wonderfully varied terrain. From Whistler Village you run along the edge of Whistler Golf Course on the wide, paved, two lane trail to the start of the Blueberry Trail. The Blueberry Trail quickly ascends through a deep forest as a few small switchbacks take you high up on the edge of Blueberry Hill. This five minutes of gruelling ascent then levels off and you get the first of several nice viewpoints, high above Alta Lake. The trail then descends toward Whistler Cay, where one kilometre of residential street running connects you to the Valley Trail once again and leads you back to the Village, once again along edge of Whistler Golf Course. Blueberry Park is a very scenic park on Alta Lake that most Whistler locals don't even know about. If you have been to Rainbow Park you would have noticed some piers across Alta Lake surrounded by forest. These public piers sit at the edge of Blueberry Park, with the Blueberry Trail running from one side of the forest to the other. The park covers most of the hill beyond these piers and stretches between and connects the neighbourhoods of Whistler Cay and Alta Vista. Continue here...
Lost Lake 6k Run in Whistler
The Lost Lake 6k is a nice 6 kilometre(3.7 mile) route that runs from Whistler Village out and around Lost Lake and back. Lost Lake, along with the Whistler Golf Course 5k trail run are two of the most convenient and scenic trail runs adjacent to Whistler Village. Both can be started in Whistler Village and both have almost constant views and easy to follow routes. Depending on where you are in the Village you can access the Lost Lake Park via many different directions. There are a few different ways to get to Lost Lake from the Village, but starting at the Fitzsimmons Trail between Lot 1 and Lot 2 is possibly the nicest. Just two minutes in and you are at the first beautiful bridge over Fitzsimmons Creek and a great area by the river to see before heading across the bridge and immediately left along the far shore of the leading to Lost Lake. The Lost Lake 6k takes you to, then around Lost Lake, which lays at the heart of the deeply forested Lost Lake Park. The wide trail runs around this very picturesque lake through a wonderful forest. This area has been developed into a large network of biking trails which also makes it a paradise for runners. Continue here...
Fitzsimmons 9k Run in Whistler
The Fitzsimmons 9k is a 9 kilometre(5.6 mile) running route through tranquil forests along the beautiful Fitzsimmons Creek and the scenic forest around Lost Lake. 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. The huge pier is an amazing place to catch the sunsets over Whistler Mountain in the spring, summer and fall. 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 December to March, depending on the snow around Lost Lake. The Fitzsimmons 9k run starts from Whistler Village between Lot 1 and Lot 2 on the Valley Trail/Sea to Sky Trail that connects Whistler Village to the Upper Village. This short connecting trail to the Upper Village is also called the Fitzsimmons Trail as it crosses Fitzsimmons Creek. To get to the start of Fitzsimmons Trail from Whistler Village you want to find Village Common. All areas of Whistler Village have names. Mountain Square and Skier's Plaza are at the base of Whistler Mountain. Village Square is the centre of Whistler Village where the Liquor Store, Grocery Store, Rexall, Araxi, and the popular patio restaurants, The Amsterdam, La Bocca and Beacon Pub are located. Further down from Village Square is Village Common with a large totem pole at the centre, surrounded by the Mongolie Grill, Starbucks and the Keg. If you run up the stairs between Starbucks(see map) and the Keg you will find a shortcut across Blackcomb Way to the Fitzsimmons Trail. Continue here...
Alta Green Lost 15k Run in Whistler
The Alta Green Lost 15k is a fantastic 15 kilometre(9.3 mile) trail run that takes you past three of Whistler's wonderful lakes and several gorgeous parks. Almost entirely on the wide, paved, two lane Valley Trail, this run is constantly changing as you pass numerous stunning vantage points. Easy to navigate and several gradual hills make this a relaxing and constantly interesting trail run. If you are a fan of beautiful sunrises, this run is packed with spectacular ones. If you like to jump in a lake in the middle of your run, you have many opportunities, including a naked plunge from the clothing optional pier on Lost Lake! Running the entire length of Alta Lake gives you a horizon of snowy mountains, blue sky and a south facing, sunny views. The Alta Green Lost 15k, as with the Whistler Golf Course 5k and the Alta Lake 8k, is accessible from several convenient locations. You can access this route directly by parking at the end of Lorimer Road, or from Whistler Village via the pedestrian and car underpass off of Whistler Way. Continue here...
The Alta Lake 8k is a beautiful 8 kilometre(5 mile) trail run in Whistler with a bunch of great things going for it. Beautiful views running along the Whistler Golf Course. Almost constant panoramic views of ...
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The Lost Lake 6k is a nice 6 kilometre(3.7 mile) running route that takes you from Whistler Village out and around Lost Lake. Lost Lake, along with the Whistler Golf Course 5k trail run are two of the most ...
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In the(usually) deep March snow of Whistler you have an amazing array of snowshoeing options. If you have not been to the Whistler Train Wreck, you have ...
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April in Whistler is a wonderful time of year. The winter deep freeze ends and T-shirt weather erupts. The village comes alive with overflowing patios and ...
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May is an extraordinarily beautiful time of year in Whistler. The days are longer and warmer and a great lull in between seasons happens. Whistler is fairly ...
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June is a pretty amazing month to hike in Whistler. The average low and high temperatures in Whistler range from 9c to 21c(48f/70f). The summer tourist ...
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Whistler & Garibaldi Hiking
Alexander Falls Ancient Cedars Black Tusk Blackcomb Mountain Brandywine Falls Brandywine Meadows Brew Lake Callaghan Lake Cheakamus Lake Cheakamus River Cirque Lake Flank Trail Garibaldi Lake Garibaldi Park Helm Creek Jane Lakes Joffre Lakes Keyhole Hot Springs Logger’s Lake Madeley Lake Meager Hot Springs Nairn Falls Newt Lake Panorama Ridge Parkhurst Ghost Town Rainbow Falls Rainbow Lake Ring Lake Russet Lake Sea to Sky Trail Skookumchuck Hot Springs Sloquet Hot Springs Sproatt East Sproatt West Taylor Meadows Train Wreck Wedgemount Lake Whistler Mountain
January February March April May June July August September October November December
Ring Lake is a fantastically serene and wonderfully remote lake similar to Cirque Lake, but considerably farther to hike to reach it. The 10 kilometre(6.2 mile) hike takes you through a rarely hiked forest, ...
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The short, winding, and ever-changing hiking trail to Rainbow Falls is the same as the much more popular trailhead for Rainbow Lake. The trailhead is marked as the Rainbow Trail, and the trail quickly ...
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Hiking and biking trails are so abundant in Whistler that many go unnoticed, neglected or taken for granted. The Flank Trail is one of these. Most people in Whistler don't even know about it, but the ones ...
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Keyhole Hot Springs (aka Pebble Creek Hot Springs) is located 100 kilometres from Whistler (Village Gate Blvd). Closed from Apr 1- Nov 15 every year by BC Ministry of Forests due to potential bear conflicts. Though much of ...
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