Alpine Trail Network

Construction of Whistler’s new Alpine Trail network is now in the fourth year of a five-year project, and phase one is now complete. The following trails opened in August 2017:

• Into The Mystic (8.6 km: 746 m climb; -95 m descent)
• With a Twist (3 km: 218 m climb; -66 m descent)
• On the Rocks (3.6 km: 195 m climb; -141 m descent)
• Happy Hour (2.5 km: 207 m climb; -124 m descent)
• Lord of the Squirrels (6.9 km: 207 m climb; -906 m descent)

Once complete, the network will include almost 40 km of alpine trails connecting the Mount Sproatt and Rainbow Mountain areas. Future developments will include trails heading north to Hanging Lake and back towards the Callaghan Valley. Upgrades to the Rainbow Lake Trail were also completed in 2014 and 2015.

The Alpine Trail network will require hikers and bikers to have a high level of fitness and backcountry knowledge to access pristine, remote alpine habitat via new multi-use intermediate trails. The intent of this initiative is to provide a unique self-propelled alpine hiking and biking experience to add to Whistler’s diverse recreational offerings.

The primary ascending trail in this network is “Into the Mystic”, which starts at the 1,000 m elevation off the Flank Trail. From the top of “Into the Mystic” three other alpine trails—“With a Twist”, “On the Rocks” and “Happy Hour—climb and descend to provide a further 9 km of rolling terrain with endless views. After what seems like a full day and 1,200 m of ascending to the peak of Mount Sproatt, riders will look forward to the epic intermediate single track descent called “Lord of the Squirrels” that eventually leads back to the start of “Into the Mystic” on the Flank Trail. Riders should allow four to six hours to ascend and one to two hours for descending.  

The network also includes the 13.8 km Skywalk hiking trail system that originates from Mountain View Drive in the Alpine Meadows neighbourhood and winds through spectacular forest along 19 Mile Creek with access to the east side of Rainbow Mountain. It offers several route options intended for full day hikes. These trails are not built for and cannot withstand mountain biking. Hikers should allow six hours round trip.

Plans for the Alpine Trail network were developed collaboratively by the Trails Planning Working Group, which included the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW), Alpine Club of Canada – Whistler section, Whistler Off Road Cycling Association (WORCA), Recreation Sites and Trails BC, the Cheakamus Community Forest and the Squamish Lillooet Regional District. Construction of trails was done by staff and volunteers from the RMOW, Alpine Club of Canada and WORCA.

The Alpine Trail network is located in isolated backcountry regions with strenuous climbs.

• Users are asked to respect the area and to pack out all garbage—users should leave no trace.
• There are outhouses on the Rainbow Trail, and signage and cell phone coverage along most of the trails.
• Staying on the marked trails is important for protecting the sensitive alpine vegetation.
• As with all backcountry exploration, people should be prepared for self-rescue and should be mindful of the wildlife in the area.
• Whistler’s fire danger rating is extreme and trail users are reminded that campfires are banned in Whistler.
• Find biking trail maps on the Trailforks app.

The project is funded by the RMOW through the Province of British Columbia’s Resort Municipality Initiative.

Sproatt Alpine Trail Network Access

The Sproatt Alpine Trail network can be accessed from three locations:

1. The start of “Into the Mystic” is located off the Flank Trail at 1,000 m elevation. This is the preferred route and closest access to the Village.
2. The south Function access (tougher climb on a mix of single track and old logging roads) is up the Flank Trail from Function Junction (behind Olives Grocery Store). This section of trail climbs 267 m over 2 km. Turn left on “Don’t Look Back” and climb an additional 165 m over 1 km. Both of these Function sections will test the strongest riders. At 1,023 m elevation you will meet the “Into the Mystic” trail at 1.5 km from its start.
3. To access the Callaghan Valley route to “With a Twist” ride or drive a vehicle 5.2 km south on Highway 99 from Function Junction to Callaghan Forest Service Road, then turn right towards the old Northair Mines at 1,000 m elevation. Here you leave the vehicle and start climbing a logging road to 1,486 m elevation, where you will find the start of “With a Twist”. This trail continues to ascend 218 m over 3 km to meet the top of “Into the Mystic” and the start of “On the Rocks”.
    

Into the Mystic Trail

“Into the Mystic” ascends 746 m over 8.6 km, which leads you through second growth on the lower portion then old growth forests into the subalpine, where the vegetation is lush and the skies start to open up to surrounding peaks. From there you ascend 195 m over 3.6 km on a trail called “On the Rocks”, which takes you to the Tonic Peak at the 1,800 m elevation. From here there are 360 degree views of adjacent mountains Gin Peak, Sproatt Peak and Rainbow Peak. The trail then meanders through alpine tarns, descending 141 m, and eventually arriving at a beautiful subalpine lake. Now you have a choice to ascend another 207 m over 2.5 km to the peak of Sproatt Mountain (recommended) where they will have breathtaking views of the Whistler valley and Village or to start the epic “Lord of the Squirrels” descent.

Find biking trail maps on the Trailforks app.

Lord of the Squirrels Trail

The municipality partnered with the Whistler Off Road Cycling Association (WORCA) to build the descending trail called “Lord of the Squirrels”.

This WORCA trail was designed as multi-use intermediate single track trail for hikers wanting a more direct route to the alpine and the preferred mountain biking descent from Sproatt Mountain. The total descent will be an epic 906m over 6.9 km through subalpine and old growth forests. Riders will enjoy long flowing sections in the subalpine with a mixture of rock roll overs, boardwalks and viewpoints as they traverse through the old growth forests. 

Find biking trail maps on the Trailforks app.

Please be BIKE SMART and RESPECT the trail

Event: Alpine Trail Opening Ceremony at 7pm Friday August 18 at Whistler Olympic Plaza