Elyse’s guidebook
City/town information
Spring, Summer, Fall
If you want an easy stroll, you can cruise along the valley trail which is an expansive paved pedestrian/ bike path that winds through the neighbourhoods of Whistler, around golf courses, and edges the lakes. There’s about 40kms of paved trails accessible from the Emerald Development on Green Lake to Cheakamus Crossing. There are maps along the trail, so you can see where you are at any given point. The Valley Trail is the best place to spot bears April to November from a safe distance. (They usually hang around the golf courses) On a nice day, a picnic at one of the lakes is a fun thing to do. There are often food trucks parked at Alta Lake, Rainbow Park, and Lost Lake.
There are a few waterfalls of note.
Brandywine Falls https://bcparks.ca/explore/parkpgs/brandywine_falls/
It’s off of Highway 99 just before you get into Whistler. From the parking lot there is a short 1km hike to the falls, so definitely worth the stop on your way in or out of town.
Nairn Falls is another gorgeous waterfall and can be added onto a hike around One Mile Lake in Pemberton. https://bcparks.ca/explore/parkpgs/nairn_falls/
Cheakamus River and Cheakamus Lake are on the easier side and can be hiked in and out in a few hours. Cheakamus Lake is the easiest glacial turquoise lake to hike to in Whistler. (Not including Green Lake that is off the highway on the way to our place.) Be sure to check on the BC Parks website for daily condition and trail closures.
One of my all-time favourites turquoise lakes is Garibaldi Lake. This hike can take between 6-8 hours out and back. (Rubble Creek Trail Head) Panorama Ridge and Black Tusk are up there too, but it can bump your total distance to about 32kms. So, you’d need to budget time and bring extra food and water. I’ve done it all in one day, so it’s totally do-able.
***Again, for the major trails, be sure to check with BC Parks to see if you need a free day pass.
The sightseeing gondola up Blackcomb mountain is something that you shouldn’t miss in the summer- even if it seems touristy. (You don't need a reservation or day-pass.) You can take the peak-to-peak gondola from the top of Blackcomb to the top of Whistler and hike the High Note Trail. (16km) Oh, and you’ll see so many cute marmots!
If you want a more relaxing day, the Scandinavian Spa is a great spot to stop in. There are hiking trails around Lost Lake that can be accessed from the Spa.
There's also this cool night walk/ light show called Vallea Lumina. It's just 5 minutes down the road from our house. It's a super cool production on a clear night. https://vallealumina.com/
Our house is right at the base of Wedge Mountain, so that is on my list of recommendations. That being said, it’s a steep ascent. Many people say it’s the hardest trail in Whistler. Takes about 6 hours to the top and down.
We are also on the sea to sky trail, so you can pick that up in either direction right from the house.
A little farther out there is Joffre Lakes Provincial Park. This also requires a day pass. There are three lakes at different elevations along the 5km trail. Each lake is a different colour as they are fed through glaciers, rivers, and mountain run off. It's a busy, but beautiful trail about a 30-minute drive north of our house.
If you have any other interests that I haven't touched on, just let me know and I'll do some more brainstorming.
Winter:
I highly recommend going up the mountain in the winter. Even if you are not skiing, there is a sightseeing pass that you can buy, and you can take the gondola to the top of Whistler or Blackcomb mountains and ride the peak to peak gondola across. There are restaurants at the top that would make a special lunch stop. Christine's restaurant at the summit of Blackcomb is really nice.
Depending on how adventurous you are feeling, you can also take dog-sled tours and snowmobile tours.
The village is always decorated so nicely for the winter season, and just strolling around the village in the evening looking at all the lights is quite romantic.
The Scandave Spa is a nice relaxing day. It's especially nice in the winter to be sitting in the hot tubs outside during a snowfall.
There is snow shoeing and x-country skiing at the Olympic Park at Callaghan, and you can check out the slide centre for bobsledding/ luge/ skeleton.
The Fairmont also does a nice apres with live music.
Dining
During the shoulder seasons, spring and fall, many restaurants offer prix-fixe menus.
For Fancy dining: Il Caminetto, Rim Rock, Red Door Bistro, Araxi and Joe Fortes are all great options.
For a mid-range, cheerful vibe: Caramba, The Mallard Lounge at the Fairmont, Pizzaria Antico, and Basalt.
Best cocktails: Raven Room in the Pan Pacific hotel.
Hanging out with the cool kids: The Longhorn (Lower Village), RMU (Upper Village)
Best Sushi: Nagomi Sushi, Samurai Sushi for Takeout
Breakfast: Portabello, Elements
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Whistler
Spring, Summer, Fall
If you want an easy stroll, you can cruise along the valley trail which is an expansive paved pedestrian/ bike path that winds through the neighbourhoods of Whistler, around golf courses, and edges the lakes. There’s about 40kms of paved trails accessible from the Emerald Development on Green Lake to Cheakamus Crossing. There are maps along the trail, so you can see where you are at any given point. The Valley Trail is the best place to spot bears April to November from a safe distance. (They usually hang around the golf courses) On a nice day, a picnic at one of the lakes is a fun thing to do. There are often food trucks parked at Alta Lake, Rainbow Park, and Lost Lake.
There are a few waterfalls of note.
Brandywine Falls https://bcparks.ca/explore/parkpgs/brandywine_falls/
It’s off of Highway 99 just before you get into Whistler. From the parking lot there is a short 1km hike to the falls, so definitely worth the stop on your way in or out of town.
Nairn Falls is another gorgeous waterfall and can be added onto a hike around One Mile Lake in Pemberton. https://bcparks.ca/explore/parkpgs/nairn_falls/
Cheakamus River and Cheakamus Lake are on the easier side and can be hiked in and out in a few hours. Cheakamus Lake is the easiest glacial turquoise lake to hike to in Whistler. (Not including Green Lake that is off the highway on the way to our place.) Be sure to check on the BC Parks website for daily condition and trail closures.
One of my all-time favourites turquoise lakes is Garibaldi Lake. This hike can take between 6-8 hours out and back. (Rubble Creek Trail Head) Panorama Ridge and Black Tusk are up there too, but it can bump your total distance to about 32kms. So, you’d need to budget time and bring extra food and water. I’ve done it all in one day, so it’s totally do-able.
***Again, for the major trails, be sure to check with BC Parks to see if you need a free day pass.
The sightseeing gondola up Blackcomb mountain is something that you shouldn’t miss in the summer- even if it seems touristy. (You don't need a reservation or day-pass.) You can take the peak-to-peak gondola from the top of Blackcomb to the top of Whistler and hike the High Note Trail. (16km) Oh, and you’ll see so many cute marmots!
If you want a more relaxing day, the Scandinavian Spa is a great spot to stop in. There are hiking trails around Lost Lake that can be accessed from the Spa.
There's also this cool night walk/ light show called Vallea Lumina. It's just 5 minutes down the road from our house. It's a super cool production on a clear night. https://vallealumina.com/
Our house is right at the base of Wedge Mountain, so that is on my list of recommendations. That being said, it’s a steep ascent. Many people say it’s the hardest trail in Whistler. Takes about 6 hours to the top and down.
We are also on the sea to sky trail, so you can pick that up in either direction right from the house.
A little farther out there is Joffre Lakes Provincial Park. This also requires a day pass. There are three lakes at different elevations along the 5km trail. Each lake is a different colour as they are fed through glaciers, rivers, and mountain run off. It's a busy, but beautiful trail about a 30-minute drive north of our house.
If you have any other interests that I haven't touched on, just let me know and I'll do some more brainstorming.
Winter:
I highly recommend going up the mountain in the winter. Even if you are not skiing, there is a sightseeing pass that you can buy, and you can take the gondola to the top of Whistler or Blackcomb mountains and ride the peak to peak gondola across. There are restaurants at the top that would make a special lunch stop. Christine's restaurant at the summit of Blackcomb is really nice.
Depending on how adventurous you are feeling, you can also take dog-sled tours and snowmobile tours.
The village is always decorated so nicely for the winter season, and just strolling around the village in the evening looking at all the lights is quite romantic.
The Scandave Spa is a nice relaxing day. It's especially nice in the winter to be sitting in the hot tubs outside during a snowfall.
There is snow shoeing and x-country skiing at the Olympic Park at Callaghan, and you can check out the slide centre for bobsledding/ luge/ skeleton.
The Fairmont also does a nice apres with live music.
Dining
During the shoulder seasons, spring and fall, many restaurants offer prix-fixe menus.
For Fancy dining: Il Caminetto, Rim Rock, Red Door Bistro, Araxi and Joe Fortes are all great options.
For a mid-range, cheerful vibe: Caramba, The Mallard Lounge at the Fairmont, Pizzaria Antico, and Basalt.
Best cocktails: Raven Room in the Pan Pacific hotel.
Hanging out with the cool kids: The Longhorn (Lower Village), RMU (Upper Village)
Best Sushi: Nagomi Sushi, Samurai Sushi for Takeout
Breakfast: Portabello, Elements