When it comes to easy hikes in Whistler, not many people know where to recommend. Whistler is known mostly as a world-class skiing destination and so come the summer in Whistler, people are full of ideas for long challenging hikes high up in the beautiful alpine but easy hikes in Whistler? Well, they can be a little bit harder to find.
Luckily, I’ve spent years exploring the trail around Whistler while living in Vancouver and I’ve tried both harder hikes in Whistler as well as some easy Whistler hikes.
After a full day of mountain biking or a long drive stuck in traffic on the Sea to Sky highway you sometimes just need to stretch your legs and that’s where I’ve managed to fit in one of these easy Whistler hikes.
Whether you’re looking for a shorter, easy walk, or a hike with kids in Whistler this guide to the best easy hikes in Whistler BC has you covered.
From easy Whistler waterfall hikes to those going over suspension bridges and even to a ghost town or train wreck in the middle of the forest, you’ll find plenty of hiking inspiration in this Whistler hiking guide!
Table of Contents
What to know before hiking in Whistler
- Whistler is bear country. NEVER go hiking without bear spray. Need bear safety tips?
- Practice leave no trace ethics and never leave anything behind on the trail.
- Always tell somewhere where you’re going and when you expect to be back so they can get help if they don’t hear from you.
- Pack bug spray — trust me, you’ll want it! Especially on hikes near water.
AllTrails is my go-to hiking app for finding, planning, and navigating while I’m out on the trails. With offline maps on AllTrails+ you can be confident you’re still on the right track, even without mobile signal.
Best easy hikes in Whistler BC
The Whistler Train Wreck hike
The Whistler Train Wreck trail was one of the first hikes in Whistler I did and it was such a cool one to do it’s a short hike in Whistler with a cool attraction at the end.
The trail takes you through some beautiful forest before you come out at a colorful train wreck right in the middle of the trees.
It’s believed the train derailed in the 1950s and now it’s become covered in graffiti and has become a tourist attraction in Whistler in its own right.
Train Wreck Whistler trail stats:
- Distance: 2.5 km
- Duration: 1-2 hours
- Elevation: Minimal
- Trail map
Lost Lake Park
Lost Lake, Whistler, is super close to the center of Whistler Village and you can get there easily by walking or biking along the Valley Trail.
It’s one of my favorite easy hikes near Whistler in the summer when I just want to stretch my legs or enjoy one of the best Whistler coffees in a beautiful setting.
Once you’re at the lake, there’s a trail that takes you all the way around, and you can stop partway for a swim or relax on the docks.
If you want to add on some additional distance, a huge network of multi-use trails wind their way around the area. A few of them also go to viewpoints. Just watch out for mountain bikes since there are some popular mountain biking trails in this area too!
In the summer (late July-ish), the Lost Lake trail Whistler, is home to loads of frogs, and some of the beach areas are cordoned off to allow them to move around safely. They’re tiny and very easy to step on if you’re not paying attention!
For easy hikes near Whistler Village, I highly recommend this one! It’s also a great spot for snowshoeing in Whistler if you’re visiting in the winter.
Lost Lake hike stats:
- Distance: 4km (around the lake)
- Duration: 1-2 hours
- Elevation: 103 m
- Trail map
Alexander Falls
Taking a hike to Alexander Falls in Whistler was one of my favorite non-skiing Whistler activities we did during one of my birthday weekends.
Alexander Falls is in the Callaghan Valley region near Whistler Village and it’s where the 2010 Winter Olympic Nordic events took place.
The waterfall is easy to access by car and the viewing platform is right next to the parking lot, so no walking or hiking is required but if you do want to hike you can hike to the bottom of the falls.
You’ll need to pay for a trail pass to access the trails in winter and this is done at the huts as you park up by the falls.
It’s one of the best easy hikes around d is stunning all year round but especially in spring when the waterfall is at peak flow. I also loved this as an option n for walks in the Whistler winter season.
Alexander Falls trail stats:
- Distance: 2.4 km
- Duration: 1-2 hours
- Elevation: 78 m
- Trail map
Nairn Falls Trail Whistler
Nairn Falls is a great easy Whistler hike that can be done from mid-spring to fall. If you’re looking for short hikes in Whistler, this one is awesome.
The Nairn Falls hike starts from the appropriately named Nairn Falls parking lot and it’s easy to follow. As you walk along the trail you’ll be going alongside the beautiful Green River that flows into Green Lake and it’s a nice sound that gets louder the closer you get to the falls.
Avoid walking down onto the rocks as they can be deceivingly slippery and you don’t want to fall into the river since that can be super dangerous.
However, there are plenty of viewing decks where you can admire the falls and, sometimes feel the mist from them on your face.
Nairn Falls trail stats
- Distance: 3 km
- Duration: 0.5 0 1.5 hours
- Elevation: Minimal
- Trail map for Nairn Falls
Brandywine Falls Hike Whistler
Brandywine Falls is one of the most famous and beautiful waterfalls in Whistler.
Standing at an impressive 70 meters tall, you’ll get an awesome view from the viewing area which is a short, easy walk from the parking lot.
To reach the waterfall, you’ll cross some train tracks and arrive at the high-view platform. If you continue walking to the left, you’ll find another viewing deck with a different perspective.
I’d recommend viewing the falls from both since neither is far or difficult to get to.
Although there is no official hiking trail down to Brandywine Falls, it is possible to reach it. The hike, suitable for those who are physically able, is not overly difficult, and there are different routes you can take.
To access the trail, go behind the second viewing platform on the left side of the first platform. You’ll notice an opening in the fence, which serves as the trail entrance. It’s important to note that since this is not an official trail, you enter at your own risk.
The trail to the bottom of Brandywine Falls goes down over some rocks using a rope. You’ll want to make sure you’re confident in doing this (and getting back up) and are wearing sensible hiking shoes.
To help guide you along the way, you’ll find trail markers such as pink tape tied to trees and green spray paint markings on the trees so keep an eye out for them.
Brandywine Falls trail (not to the bottom of the falls)
- Distance: 1.3 km
- Duration: 0.5 0 1.5 hours
- Elevation: 56 m
- Trail map
Cheakamus Lake hike
The Cheakamus Lake trail in Whistler is another fantastic easy hike and is often one of the first hikes to become snow-free making it a great early summer hike. The lake is, as with many in this area and Garibaldi Provincial Park, is stunning!
Though there’s a minimal elevation gain on this trail, it is much longer than the other easy hikes on this list. So, if you’ve been getting out hiking recently and want to go a bit further but with not much elevation, this is a great Whistler hiking trail to try.
What makes this trail different from similar hikes around Whistler, is that you’re allowed to ride a bike to it. You’ll want a mountain bike or a good gravel bike, but being able to cycle the mostly flat trail is a fun way to explore the area.
It’s also got a couple of Whistler camping areas along the trail where you can wake up to the beautiful views of Cheakamus Lake. You’ll need to book in advance since they’re popular places to camp in Whistler, but if you manage to get a spot you’re in for a treat.
Note: In early summer/late spring, the campsites are usually closed due to flooding. In later summer they often get closed due to a habituated bear. So aim for somewhere in the middle (late June, or early July!)
If you’re looking for a harder hike, you can combine this trail with a hike out to Garibaldi Lake through Helm Creek or even up to Panorama Ridge and Black Tusk.
- Distance: 14 km round trip
- Duration: 2-4 hours
- Elevation: Minimal
- BC Parks day pass or camping reservation needed
Rainbow Falls Trail Whistler
Rainbow Falls Whistler is a fab easy hike away from most of the popular tourist spots of Whistler. The trail is mostly flat and wide, following the creek until you reach the falls.
It’s also one of the best easy dog-friendly hikes in Whistler, as long as they remain on a leash.
Begin your hike to Rainbow Falls at the small parking lot on Alta Lake Road. As you hike along the trail, you’ll come to a junction where you’ll take the right-hand path for a beautiful stroll alongside the river.
At another fork in the path, again take the right to come out to a viewpoint of the falls.
- Distance: 2.1 km round trip
- Duration: 1-2 hours
- Elevation: 140 m
- Trail maps on AllTrails
Ancient Cedars Trail Whistler
If it rains you can still enjoy the outdoors by heading to Whistler’s Ancient Cedars trail which takes you out to a grove of ancient cedar trees that partly protect you from the rain and are super relaxing to walk through.
The trail does have some uphill sections, though nothing too steep, and there’s some rougher terrain that’s similar to patches of Vancouver’s north shore hiking trails.
You can’t fail to be impressed by the width and height of these beautiful cedar trees so make sure you add this to your hikes to do in Whistler list.
You can continue your walk as long as you want in this area. There are waterfalls, a lake, and more beautiful forests to be explored.
- Distance: 4.3 km round trip
- Duration: 2+ hours
- Elevation: 300 m
- Trail maps on AllTrails
Note: the road to the trailhead is best for 4×4 or AWD drive vehicles with high clearance.
Loggers Lake Trail Whistler
The Loggers Lake trail in Whistler was a trail I added to the end of my bike ride to Cheakamus Lake one summer while exploring Whistler’s Interpretive Forest.
You access this trail system from the Whistler Interpretive Forest area and it’s a short and easy Whistler hike with just one steep section to climb up to the Lake.
The access road is a gravel road so you’ll want to take your drive quite slow, and there’s limited parking on the side of the road at mini-pullouts.
You’ll also cross over the Whistler Suspension Bridge over Cheakamus River which is pretty cool in itself. And, if you don’t want to climb the hill up to Loggers Lake then you can just wander through the forest and alongside the river.
The Lake itself is quite small and there’s a path the entire way around so you can take a walk around it, find somewhere to relax and even take a refreshing swim before heading back to your car.
It’s a nice peaceful spot to enjoy and one of the best hikes in Whistler Canada.
Loggers Lake Trail Stats
- Distance: Under 3km
- Duration: 30 mins – 1 hour
- Elevation: 108m
- Trail map
Parkhurst Ghost Town Trail Whistler
Looking for an unusual hike in BC? Parkhurst Ghost Town could be the answer!
You can take a short hike in Whistler out to the ghost town just behind Green Lake. The town of Parkhurst was abandoned in the 1960s. At its peak, about 70 people were working and living in this former logging settlement.
You can still see some of the old machinery and buildings that were used at the time.
Parkhurst Ghost Town hike stats
- Distance: 7.5 km
- Duration: 2 hours
- Elevation: 242 m
- AllTrails map
Alta Lake trail
Alta Lake in Whistler is one of my favorite lakes in Whistler.
It’s also the first one I ever visited and we went kayaking on it during my first trip to Whistler not long after we’d moved to Vancouver.
This is more of an urban hike than some of the others on this list, but it’s pretty nonetheless.
Plus, Alta Lake is one of the best swimming lakes in Whistler with so many little beach areas where you can blow up your inflatables, have a picnic and chill off in the lake with friends.
The route I’ve given details for loops around Alta Lake on a mix of paved flat walking paths and some trails to Blueberry Trail in the woods along the lake on the east side. It also makes a great cyclist route.
If you’re looking for hiking in Whistler in June, this is a great option since the whole thing will be snow free.
Alta Lake trail hike stats
- Distance: 7.5 km
- Duration: 2+ hours
- Elevation: 214 m
- AllTrails map
Whistler Alpine Walk Trail
If it’s views you want you can’t get much better than the views from the Whistler Alpine Walk trail which you get to by taking the Blacgraveleddola.
It’s gravelled and fairly wide most of the way, with one section that gets quite narrow as you climb over some rock. There are scenic views, wildlife, and alpine flowers to see (usually in August).
Alpine walk trail Whistler
- Distance: 1.4 km
- Duration: 0.5 hours
- Elevation: 78 m
- AllTrails map
- You’ll need a gondola pass for this hike.
What to pack for hiking in Whistler
What to pack for this hike depends on what season you’re hiking in.
- Check out my day hike packing list here.
- If you’re hiking in summer you should pack sunscreen, sunglasses, layers, water and bug spray as well as everything in the 10 essentials for hiking list.
- Here is what to wear hiking in hot weather
- Check out this post on the best leggings for hiking or what to wear hiking in summer for more details and my gear recommendations.
- If you’re hiking in winter after the snow has started falling you’ll need microspikes at the very least. If there is a lot of snow you will probably need snowshoes.
- You should also take plenty of layers including a fleece layer, a puffy insulated jacket and a wind and waterproof outer layer. Hats and gloves are also necessary as well as a good backpack to keep everything in.
- You should also pack water and some snacks too to keep you going as they’re part of the 10 essentials for hiking!
- Planning a hiking date? Check out what to wear on a hiking date but still look cool.
FAQs about the best easy Whistler hikes
What is the easiest trail at Whistler British Columbia?
One of the easiest hiking trails in Whistler is the Lost Lake Trail or the trail to the Whistler Train Wreck. Brandywine Falls is also a good option for an easy waterfall hike in Whistler.
What is the easy hike lake in Whistler?
ost Lake is the easiest hike to hike around in Whistler. Another option is Cheakamus Lake but this is significantly longer at 16 km vs 4 km for Lost Lake.
Can you hike at Whistler for free?
Yes! All the easy hikes in Whistler on this list are free to hike. You can also hike in the alpine for free if you’re prepared to hike up the Singing Pass trail.
Do you need a pass to hike in Whistler?
That depends. If you’re hiking in the Alpine and want to take the gondola, you’ll need a lift ticket for the gondola. If you’re hiking in Garibaldi Provincial Park you need a free day-use pass.
Final thoughts about easy hikes in Whistler
Whistler Blackcomb is a great place for hiking near Vancouver in the summer months and not all the hikes are challenging trails with 1000s of meters of elevation gain. In fact, some of my favorite parts of Whistler are those I’ve discovered while taking an easy walk.
The easy hikes Whistler offers are often less crowded than some of the busier, harder ones and mean you can enjoy a leisurely walk whether you’ve tired yourself out from other adventures or are visiting Whistler with kids and friends.
Want more Whistler hikes? Check out this guide to the best hikes in Whistler (including hard Whistler hikes!)
Hannah started That Adventurer after graduating back in 2013 and has documented all of her adventures since then. From backpacking South America to city breaks in Europe, a 3 month road trip across the USA in a self-converted van and 6 years living in Canada, you’ll find posts on all of this.
Hannah specialises in active travel and on That Adventurer you’ll find hiking, walking, biking, skiing and all sorts of active travel guides to allow you to see a destination in an adventurous way.
Now back in Europe, you’ll find new guides as Hannah and her husband spend the next year ‘digital nomading’ from Norway to Portugal, Switzerland to Scotland and places in between.