Whyte Lake Trail Vancouver
Whyte Lake is an easy Vancouver hike that takes you through the forest to a relatively secluded lake.
Since the forest shelters you for the majority of the way, it’s a great option for rainy-day hiking in Vancouver, as well as a nice spot when the sun comes out!
This is a perfect hike for people who don’t hike often or for families looking for hikes with kids near Vancouver.
Whyte Lake is also in my guide to the best lakes near Vancouver.
You can take your dog on this Vancouver hike too (I took the one I was house-sitting for the weekend), and sometimes in the winter, you can even see people ice skating on the lake!
Whyte Lake West Vancouver is also one of the best transit friendly hikes near Vancouver.
Whyte Lake West Vancouver
Whyte Lake can be accessed from several trailheads but the easiest Whyte Lake trailhead is probably from the gravel parking area just off Westport Road.
Though the hike itself isn’t usually too busy, this Whyte Lake parking lot can fill up, so plan to arrive early, or later on in the afternoon.
From here, you follow the gravel path and it takes you underneath highway 1 (the Sea to Sky).
The trail begins to climb at this point, but the climb is short. The path bends to the left and you should spot a water tower.
Keep an eye out to your right as there’s a sign pointing you further into the woods that you’ll want to follow!
At this point, you’ll join the Trans Canada Trail, a trail that crosses the whole of Canada!
There are sections of it in downtown Vancouver too though this section is arguably more picturesque.
Enjoy walking through the second-growth forest and admire the height of the trees.
In about 20 minutes you’ll reach another sign pointing you to the left. Take this path as it goes down a short hill.
Continuing on, you’ll come to a wooden bridge which you should cross over., then a second.
Here you’ll see a sign directing you to the right and to Whyte Lake itself.
In a few short minutes, you’ll reach the lake and a wooden boardwalk area.
To return from Whyte Lake Park, just follow the path you took back to the parking lot and your car.
If you’re looking for a longer hike in the same area, check out the West Knob hike which has a bit of a view over Horseshoe Bay.
There’s also the Eagle Bluffs hike from Horseshoe Bay though this is much more strenuous and involves crossing a boulder field.
Whyte Lake from Nelson Creek
There are other routes from which you can start to do this hike to Whyte Lake.
You can combine the hike with Cypress Falls, which is a cool canyon-like area with some pretty impressive waterfalls in West Vancouver.
Or, you can start from Nelson Creek to make this a slightly longer, yet still relatively easy hike.
You can see a Whyte Lake trail map for this route on AllTrails.
How to get to Whyte Lake Trailhead
The Whyte Lake trailhead is near Highway #1 in West Vancouver, just east of Horseshoe Bay. From Vancouver, take the Lions Gate bridge to the North Shore exit to West Vancouver, and join Highway 1 towards West Vancouver.
Take exit #4 Woodgreen Drive to Caufield, turn left onto Woodgreen Drive, and go straight at the all-way stop to Westport Road. Drive under the highway, and turn right into a gravel parking area. The trail begins from the metal gate.
Whyte Lake Hike Stats
Below is some basic information about this trail and what to expect.
- Elevation: 160 m
- Whyte Lake trail length: 5 km
- Duration: 1-3 hours
- Difficulty: Easy
- Whyte Lake trail camping: Not allowed
- Whyte Lake Trail map
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.
Other trails near Whyte Lake Vancouver
There are several other hikes that can be accessed from the Whyte Lake trailhead.
To get to West Knob and then Eagle Bluffs up on Cypress Resort, you simply continue along the Whyte Lake Trail past the lake and across the wooden boardwalks to a junction.
Go left and slightly downhill to join up with the Baden Powell Trail.
Go right at the Baden Powell trail and follow it uphill. The route to West Knob and Eagle Bluffs is pretty steep and long so should be reserved for experienced hikers.
If you do want to do Eagle Bluffs, it’s much easier to go from the Cypress Mountain parking lot.
Important things to know about Whyte Lake
- Dogs are allowed on leash.
- Always practice leave no trace ethics.
- While Whyte Lake swimming is possible, it didn’t look the best when I visited.
- Take bear spray, you’re hiking in bear country! And remember your bear safety tips.
- Be adventure smart: Remember to respect the terrain, environment, and other users while you are enjoying the trails. Follow the three Ts—trip planning, training, and taking the essentials AdventureSmart is a great resource to help you get informed before heading outdoors.
What to pack for this Vancouver hike?
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 on the Whyte Lake Hike
Can you swim in Whyte Lake BC?
Yes, you can swim in the lake, but it’s cold. You access the water from a very small slightly submerged dock. It didn’t look like the best place for swimming when I visited.
Final thoughts on Whyte Lake in West Vacouver
The Whyte Lake North Vancouver trail (or actually West Vancouver) is a great year-round hike in Vancouver that’s also accessible on pubic transit and allows you to take your dog with you too.
If you’re looking for spring hikes in Vancouver, fall hikes near Vancouver, or even Vancouver winter hikes, this trail is a great option.
Its low elevation means it stays snow-free most of the year (except on rare occasions when the city sees snow), and there’s a wide path that does not have much of an elevation gain so it’s also a great Vancouver hike with kids.
Last Updated on September 14, 2023 by Hannah
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.
