Whistler, BC is located in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia and is just a two-hour drive North of Vancouver. It has one of the biggest ski resorts in North America and played host to the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. Whistler’s stunning landscape includes glacier-fed lakes, old-growth forests, waterfalls, parks, and paved trails perfect for walking or biking.
Although mostly known as a ski destination, Whistler has many hiking trails and is a super fun summer destination for active families.
Check out 3 awesome hikes that you can do with kids. You don’t have to go far to see gorgeous waterfalls, spectacular views, lush ancient forests, and unique historic sites.
Train Wreck Trail
This short trail is one of Whistler’s most unique spots and a favorite with hikers, mountain bikers, photographers, and graffiti artists. It takes less than 15 minutes to drive to Whistler Village and less than 30 minutes of walking to get to the train wreck.
This beautiful hike takes you over a fun suspension bridge over an aqua-colored river to old train boxcars strewn in the middle of the forest. One of the coolest hikes we’ve ever been on! The story of how these old boxcars ended up there is that back in 1956, the train was going way over the speed limit in an area under repair and derailed, sending three cars into the canyon below. These cars were eventually dragged back up into the forest and are still there today.
The boxcars are spray-painted with cool graffiti art and you can climb on top of them and explore the inside. If you’re into photography, this is a great spot to take pictures!
Parkhurst Ghost Town
Another cool and unique hike, this trail leads you to an old ghost town in the forest. Parkhurst used to be an old logging town in the 1920’s and was abandoned in the 1960’s. Historical artifacts such as an intact cabin, flattened buildings, abandoned vehicles and even an old stove still remain.
This trail is located near Green Lake, about a 10-15 minute drive from Whistler Village. To get there, you drive North on the Sea to Sky highway to the end of Green Lake and follow the signs for Wedgemount Lake trail. You take the Wedge Creek Forest Service Road over the Green River, drive past Whistler paintball and park. The trail is a bit tricky to follow so make sure you download the Alltrails app to navigate it. You can either hike or mountain bike the trail. Plan for 3-4 hours here if you are hiking, and about 2 hours if you are biking.
Another way to see the town would be to park at Green Lake Park and paddle over by kayak or paddle board. This is the shortest route to the town and Green Lake is beautiful!
Nairn Falls
Whistler has some stunning waterfall trails and this was one of our favorites! The parking lot to Nairn Falls is about 25 minutes from Whistler Village and the hike is short at only 2.6km (1.6mi). It’s a beautiful out and back trail along the aqua marine colored green river. The trail leads you to two viewing platforms overlooking the upper and lower falls. Each fall is about 30 metres (98 feet) and quite powerful. This trail is super easy for kids as young as 3. You can stop along the river in a calm area and skip rocks too! If you’re into camping, there’s a nice campground here as well.
We’ve written a detailed travel guide for Whistler that you can find in our Shop section if you’re planning an active vacation here.
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