Trails

Whistler Interpretive Forest

Difficulty Level: Physically moderate/ Technically easy to difficult.

Self Sufficiency: Low. - Season: Mid-May through mid-November.

Download: .doc

Synopsis: The Whistler Interpretive Forest is a working demonstration forest in the upper Cheakamus Valley, at the southern boundaries of Whistler. In the past two years a fantastic network of multi-use trails has been developed, providing some great riding. While some of the trails are quite technical, the majority are wide, fast and smooth.

Trailhead Access: Ride or drive 7.5 km south from the Village, past Whistler Creek to the Whistler Industrial Park, more commonly known as Function Junction, which is marked with a large wooden sign. Turn left off of the highway, away from Function Junction, and you will immediately see a large information sign and a small parking lot. If you drove, park here and begin the ride; if you rode, check out the maps on the info sign and then begin the ride.

The Ride: There are trails leading directly from the parking lot that lead to the bridge over the Cheakamus River (this leads to the dump). Cross the bridge, and immediately on the left another trail will be seen (all the trails in the Interpretive Forest are well marked). The Riverside Trail follows the river up the valley for several kilometers, with occasional sections along the Eastside Main road. Eventually you will arrive in a dirt parking lot, from which trails head in several directions. The Riverside Trail continues to parallel the river, while directly across the road a gated road climbs steeply up to Logger's Lake and the Ridge Trail Also across the road a new trail heads off below the cliffs of the Crater Rim (Logger's Lake sits in the crater of an extinct volcano) until it reaches the Basalt Spur Road.

At this point one has the option of continuing on the single-track, directly across the road (it climbs up to meet the Eastside Main road again, then continues up the valley to Helm Creek), or turning right on the Basalt Spur Road for a steep climb up the back of the crater to join the Crater Rim Trail. This technical single-track follows the narrow crater rim, then descends to Logger's Lake. From the lake the Ridge Trail provides a fast, fun blast back to the dump, at the bottom of the hill.

On the other side of the valley, the Westside Main road climbs up to the Cheakamus Lake Trail, on of the few legal single-tracks in Garibaldi Provincial Park. Along the way several new loops have been cut that drop down to the river, then back to the road. There is also a short trail with a long title, the Biogeoclimatic Loop Trial (whew!).

The Interpretive Forest is still under construction, and new trails are being added all the time, so be sure to check the map on the sign right by the highway. There are usually pocket guides to the area here as well.