One Giant Park
Visitors can be forgiven for thinking Whistler—with its wilderness, scenery and menu of outdoor activity— just one giant park. It isn’t, but the town bumps up against an impressive list of provincial parks while having a good share of its own.
Topping the list is the enormous space named in 1927 for Giuseppe Garibaldi. The pyramidal 2,678-metre Mount Garibaldi overlooking the park has made the 19th-century Italian patriot’s name synonymous with immense natural beauty and endless hiking. Whistler is bookended by two smaller provincial parks centered on waterfalls. Just 20 minutes north of Whistler, Nairn Falls offers camping and a short hiking trail to the 60-metre high falls; a similar distance south of Whistler is spectacular 70-metre Brandywine Falls. Mid-sized Callaghan Lake Provincial Park is a year-round backcountry recreation area with lakeside camping, canoeing, fishing and hiking. Visitors can also take interpretive tours, hike, bike or horseback in nearby Whistler Olympic Park, site of the 2010 Winter Olympic Nordic events.
Within Whistler, a diversity of green spaces like Rebagliati and Meadow Parks are popular both for playing and hosting weddings and picnics. But nothing tops the beachside parks strung along the valley’s five lakes—each equipped with washrooms, BBQs, picnic tables, wooden rafts and kids play areas.
At the southern end of the valley in Creekside is Alpha Lake Park, with volleyball and tennis courts, basketball hoop and a small, sandy beach. Then comes Wayside Park on more agreeable Alta Lake, where you can find canoe, kayak and paddleboard rentals. A tad further north is Lakeside Park, also with watercraft rentals. A pleasant 20-minute bike from the Village will get you to Rainbow Park on the west side of the valley. Site of the original Rainbow Lodge, these days its wide-open, Frisbee-tossing grass and beach volleyball courts entertain twenty-something’s who call it “the Day Bar.” Don’t worry, there’s plenty of space and a sandy beach and shallows perfect for kids and families.
The king of Whistler beaches is Lost Lake Park with its concessions, circumnavigating trails and stunning views.
Maybe the whole town is a park after all.