I have done this hike on several occasions and it never gets old!…read more Located a short drive from Whistler Village near Function Junction. Best to get there early to grab parking though we found plenty of spots at 11am. A short and easy hike through the Sea to Sky Trail, it is easy for all with no steep drops or climbs through a pretty canopied woods! The trail takes you to a beautiful and picturesque suspension bridge across the Cheakakmus river and ends at the Whistler Train Wreck where an accident pulled several cars off the tracks and they were pulled into the woods to quickly clear the trails - they have become curious pieces of art with graffiti artists adding to the designs over the years! Well worth a visit for this unusual art exhibit in the middle of the woods !

a train wreck from 70 years ago has turned into one of whistler's most unique and surprisingly easy…read morehikes. the whistler train wreck happened on august 11, 1956, when a freight train derailed near what is now function junction. seven boxcars were eventually moved off the tracks and left scattered through the forest, where they've remained ever since. this year marks 70 years since the tragic accident. today, the wreck feels almost surreal, an unexpected open air art gallery hidden among towering trees and mossy forest. the old boxcars sit quietly beneath the canopy, their rusted metal covered in layers of colourful, ever changing graffiti. against the deep greens of the forest, the bright artwork almost feels cinematic, like a series of forgotten railway carriages frozen in time and slowly being reclaimed by nature. the trail itself is short and easy, roughly 2.5 km round trip with only modest elevation gain. even better, it makes for a particularly nice hike in the rain. much of the trail winds beneath a thick canopy of trees, with the sound of raindrops filtering through the leaves and the forest taking on that moody, misty whistler atmosphere. one of the highlights is crossing the suspension bridge over the cheakamus river. below, turquoise glacier fed water cuts through the canyon, rushing past the rocks while the surrounding forest disappears into the distance. the contrast between the vivid blue green water, towering evergreens and grey rainy skies makes the crossing feel like a scene from a movie. the current route and suspension bridge were established in 2016, creating a safe and legal way to reach the wreck without having to walk along the active railway tracks. definitely one of those whistler hikes where the journey is every bit as memorable as the destination, rain falling through the trees, glacier water rushing beneath the bridge and, waiting quietly in the forest, seven graffiti covered boxcars from another era. a little history, a little mystery and a whole lot of atmosphere, all wrapped into a nice easy hike.

This is one of my favorite places to be! After the picturesque Sea to Sky drive you arrive in…read moreWhistler Village and the plaza is at is center flanked by shops, restaurants, coffee shops and the Plaza which in the summer hosts a free concert series and movie night. Formerly the location of the evening Medal ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Olympics, its now a beautiful spot for a morning walk and comes alive in the evening! The movie nights and concerts bring together people of all ages and nationalities to dance, relax and enjoy the fun! It has a stunning backdrop of trees and mountains and I love the fact that our kids loved playing in the park while they were young and now enjoy exploring the village themselves and grabbing a bite to eat before the concert. Plenty of places nearby to grab a bite, covered picnic areas

after years of not being up in whistler, it was nice to be back at whistler and checking out the…read moreolympic plaza and see the iconic olympic rings for the first time. they're one of those unmistakable whistler landmarks and a great reminder of the town's role in the 2010 winter olympic and paralympic games. whistler olympic plaza was the heart of the celebrations during the games, serving as the medals plaza where athletes received their medals during nightly ceremonies. more than half of the olympic medals awarded in 2010 were presented in whistler, which makes this spot a pretty significant piece of the town's olympic history. today, the plaza has become a permanent gathering space in the village, with a lawn, playground, outdoor performance area and public art, while still preserving reminders of the games, including the rings and olympic legacy cauldron. in summer, it's a great place to sit and take in the mountain views, while winter brings the outdoor skating rink and a completely different atmosphere. it's good to be back here after so many years. some places change, but seeing those olympic rings with the mountains in the background makes me wonder why we don't come up here often.

I wish they still have some wildflowers but they are already gone at September 2, 2023…read more We started hiking from Whistler Village, walking the side of ski slope. It's well maintained and simple trail. First 7-8km, you will walk in the forest and last few km will be wide open space and totally different scenery. At Singing pass summit, there is sign for Musical bumps. What I heard is it will be 9.5 km up and down hike to the gondola station. And you will be able to use free gondola ride to Whisler village. I had no energy left to up and down hike, I chose to go down where we passed already. Singing pass is beautiful for Alpine meadow view but I recommend to go up to the Russel lake. 3km uphill. 360 degrees, you will be surrounded by a glacier view.

Yes watch out for the bears but keep an eye out for bear poop! You're more likely to step in it…read morethan run into them! Seriously the bears come down here to $hit on the roads and valley trail, its like a toilet for them. I don't blame the bears, we built up a recreational park in their back yard so its only fair they get back at us with that. Alpha Lake Park has its amazing moments during spring and summer but mother nature does need to get a grip on her meds to keep her mood swings in check. One day its cold and rainy then it will be that way for a week and all of a sudden it'll be sunny and humid, then switch again. So if you're planning a trip up here, look up the weather forecast. Its no fun being here in the rain, it gets swampy and buggy. We love this park for the enclosed off leash dog park with a separate deck/dock that extends out into the lake for your fur baby to jump in. We have been told that it's ok to go into. I personally would not go into that water. It is shallow and you can see all types of green algae slimy nastiness in there. The park provides free bio degradable dog bags for poop, so there is no excuse not to pick up after your pet and the municipality collects that stuff in bins for compost. This is a nice place to spend the afternoon, if you have kids, there is a playground, awesomely placed picnic tables and benches for great views of the mountains while you picnic, and this park connects to Pine Point Park which you'll see across the lake next to the private bridge that connects to the lake island. Be careful if you go out that way, the train runs in the afternoon around 4:30pm ish and the tracks are in that area. We come here a lot for the tennis courts which are typically busy, but take a walk around if they are, people here are very nice about not hogging the courts and sharing. #WhistlerWonderland #Whislife #ExploreBC

Ever have moments in nature where you're in complete and utter awe of what just happened? Well…read moreAlpha Lake gave that and more ... so much more where I'm going 'oh $#!t... literally. Damn you bear, I didn't need to see that.' The warnings of Alpha Lake Park being bear territories are very real. I encountered one teenage bear just walking 3 meters from me before turning his (or her) butt towards me and well... now I can answer the meme if a bear $#its in the woods. Yes... yes they do... a lot... and no I dont want to see that again ever. There isn't enough eye bleach in the world for that. So special thanks to Berneta, my fav BC yelper, I am forever in your debt now that I saw bears ... crap all over the streets. Aside from that blah, Alpha Lake is a picturesque and serene lake side park that has of clear paths from the nearby resort housing to the waters edge. It's so well maintained with all paths nicely cleared and paved for you to easily run (from bears), bike (from bears), or walk slowly to see the cute little family of ducks on sunning on a log. The lake itself is kinda gross as you get further from the little beach area ... it looks like to be stagnant sitting water but it is incredibly still. This makes it the most wonderful mirror to the trees, hills, and stupidly amazing house that sits on an island in the middle of it. Aside from the short walk around the lake, you'll find a well fenced and clean dog area that goes to the lake shore. A nice tennis court and basketball half court. A good clear area where a lot of the locals were just sitting and sunning themselves in the sun on a lazy Monday afternoon. There's also a really big playground with a cool looking modern art-esque play castle (Toronto ones look so utilitarian compared to this one). This place is just so chill as everyone sat nearby the water. I felt this place was much more relaxed than the Rainbow Lake but also much more cozy. It isn't a big spot but just a good place for a nice easy day in the sun. Just keep your eyes out for bears and their crap. You never know when they show up. *gags*

Rented E bikes from their Whistler Village location. Bikes worked great, staff was friendly, easy…read moreexperience and recommend. Allow us to see a few lakes in the creek nearby much more efficiently than walking.

Ever feel like the challenges of life are closing in on you? Sometimes it just feels like it is…read moreonly a matter of time before you succumb to those pressures and demands. It feels not so much a question of if, but when, you'll finally be consumed by them. And then, often by accident, life takes an unexpected turn and you are provided an opportunity to choose to push the eject button (that's been right in front of longer than you realized) and propel yourself into what feels like an alternative universe. A place that allows you to unplug from the breakneck pace of today's society, take a deep breath, and finally linger in the bliss of just being present. No chirping cell phones, no calendar reminders, no bills to receive, no health concerns to ponder, and no need to make plans for the future. An all too brief respite from what emotionally entangles you and seeks to rob you of your peace and your purpose. Without planning it, we fell into such a rabbit hole while floating down the River of Golden Dreams (its actual name). A little rowing (and a lot of just floating) later, we arrived at Green Lake and just allowed the wind to help us drift across glacial waters so green we felt like they can be seen from outer space. We dipped our hands into that water, splashed it around a bit, and pondered just how much time and attention it voluntarily sacrifices to the stresses of today. It whispered its response back to us, "None." So what to do if Green Lake doesn't happen to be in your backyard, and yet an escape is exactly what you need right about now? Good question! We're on this journey right alongside of you, so while we're pursuing our "Green Lake escape", we wish you good fortune in discovering yours! (In keeping with Canadian tradition, we were careful to pack an "Oh Henry!" bar as part of the emergency rations for us and our tour guide Peter.) And that's...Henry's Take. #celebratelife #justbreathe #wetadventures

Brandywine Falls is located about a 15-minute drive south of Whistler. We stopped by on a Sunday at…read morearound 2:30 on the drive back to Vancouver. They have a parking lot, and we had no issues with finding a spot at that time. It's a short, easy trail to the falls - maybe about 10 minutes. The falls are big but is unfortunately partially blocked by foliage and rocks. If you keep going, you'll get some views of the mountains and a greenish blue lake. It's a nice and quick stop if you're driving on the way to something else, but probably not something worth making a stop specifically for.

This is a super easy trail that quickly leads to the plummeting falls! The park contains a violent…read moregeological past, and its volcano left signs of eruptions along the trail. Formerly hot lava, basalt columns surrounded the entrance sign. After crossing a wooden bridge, we walked next to a steep slope of large volcanic boulders. Then we hobbled over train tracks towards a wooden deck overlooking Brandywine Falls. The water that pooled at the bottom of the waterfall had a gorgeous turquoise color. The only downside here was the large crowd. Other things to do at Brandywine Falls: - Restroom break by the parking lot! - Walk your dog (on a leash) - Walk past Brandywine Falls to view Daisy Lake and surrounding mountains - Hike to Cal-Cheak Suspension Bridge - Picnic - Mountain bike to Cal-Cheak Forest Recreation Site Brandywine Falls had the easiest walk towards a scenic body of water along our Sea to Sky Highway road trip. (Part 5)

This park is like a scene out of a movie. It's breathtaking during winter and summer, only with…read morethe water changing to a pretty cool looking aquamarine green during the summer time. Fitzsimmons Fan Park is tucked away on the right side of Green Lake in front of Nicklaus North Golf Course. Its an easy stroll from Table 19 restaurant on the course and if you are not visiting the course, you'll need to park in the parking lot designated for Dream River Park. The main area of this park is a sandy Delta that sticks out quite far into the lake. Its a great area for those that love fishing and this park is very dog friendly. Its almost like a sandy beach in the middle of a lake and my three fur babies love getting their feet wet in the water and digging holes. I have seen many owners allows their dogs to roam around off leash so I think its ok to do that, just make sure to watch your surroundings for bears. There have been many bear sightings by others in this area and I've seen the trail leading up to the sandy delta covered in bear poop. The views behind the lake of mount currie are spectacular and even during the summer time, the peaks up there are still snow capped. It makes for amazing photos and a different contrast between beautiful blue water and sky and the snow of the mountains. It's also nice to set up a few beach chairs, have lunch and watch the seaplanes fly in from Victoria and Vancouver. Overall this is a spectacular spot to take in the lake and mountain beauty of Whistler!

Alexander Falls is an under the radar waterfall situated just off Sea to Sky Highway, located about…read more24 kilometers east of Whistler, British Columbia. I liked the view and perspective of Alexander Falls. In fact, this whole section within the great outdoors of BC, Canada boasts some frequent and picturesque looking waterfalls. I combined this Alexander Falls with a bunch of other waterfalls including... - Nairn Falls. - Rainbow falls. - Brandywine Falls. - Shannon Falls. As long as you're driving Sea to Sky Highway...you should bump into all these natural wonders without having to venture too far off the beaten path. At the most...you may have to hike 1 kilometer or so at a few of the waterfalls. For myself, I decided to make my journey along Sea to Sky Highway a "waterfall themed" adventure trying to capture as many falls as I could within my travels. In my opinion, it's just fun to view waterfall, after waterfall, after waterfall, lol. Even if they're not so spectacular or epic looking, I think getting out into nature and admiring them from afar puts people in a good mood, like for me, it felt like I was allocating my time appropriately during my explorations eventually down to Vancouver. But for this Alexander Falls, you make a turn onto Callaghan Road, just off Sea to Sky Highway and...before arriving, you make one last left hand turn into the Alexander Falls Parking Lot. This last bit of road was extremely bumpy, filled with massive potholes. I arrived in late September on a Saturday at about 9am and was the only person here. After exiting my car, Alexander Falls was already in full view. It was that easy. I did look for hiking trails to possibly get a closer angle of the waterfall but there were clear signs warning visitors that walking past the viewing platform could be unpredictable and unstable. It was highly suggested to hang out by the overlook. So...the vista point view you get of Alexander Falls is pretty much undisturbed. If I had to describe anything in the moment, I'd say I was standing a little too far away. It would have been nicer to be positioned closer. Regardless, I still had ample time to appreciate the setting without strangers getting in the way, lol. Some facts about Alexander Falls according to Wikipedia... "Alexander Falls is a waterfall in the Callaghan Valley area of the Sea to Sky Country of southwestern British Columbia, Canada. The falls are located just below a bridge on the access road to Callaghan Lake Provincial Park, at the head of the valley, which lies to the west of the resort town of Whistler. The falls consist of three drops that total up to 141 feet (43 m) in total. The falls are about 40 feet (12 m) wide". I only needed about 20 minutes to get in some photos before feeling content and moving on. In total, I enjoyed Alexander Falls' appearance, especially since Nairn Falls and Rainbow Falls were relatively disappointing prior to stopping here. And after Alexander Falls, 13 kilometers south is the best of em all and that being...Brandywine Falls! So, for those trying to check off as many waterfalls as possible in this part of Sea to Sky Highway, I'd put Alexander Falls in the middle-to-upper echelon in terms of worthwhileness. I think you'll be pleasantly satisfied with your visit.

Bears are awake again! Why don't we sleep the entire winter like them? It's like hitting the fast…read moreforward button to summer. None of this snow nonsense! The drive from sea to sky on Callaghan Road is around 15 minutes however it is known as the best unofficial place to see bears in Whistler. The road was paved for the 2010 olympics and grass was planted on either side that apparently grows clover (which bears love). So be careful out there and whatever you do don't get out of the car if you see one. If you visit Alexander falls in spring there is still 3-4 feet of snow on the ground so snow boots or snowshoes will help you get to the lookout. But once you get there because you're standing on 3-4 feet of ice you're above the railing of the lookout so you'll get great shots! (Just be careful to not fall over) This is another example of why Whistler is one of the most beautiful places in BC to visit. Towards the end of spring the tap to the waterfall is turned on full blast because of melting ice and snow so it's a really pretty show and you'll also get to see the rainbow effect on clear days like at Brandywine falls. There really is no hike here only an easy five minute stroll from your car to the look out and picnic tables to munch on grub. There are bathrooms here but I'd hold it until you get to a real one because these are outhouse styled. This is definitely one of mother nature's creations that you shouldn't miss if you visit Whistler. #WhistlerWonderland