Lost Lake/Green Lake 9k - Whistler Trail Running

Lost Lake is a tranquil and secluded lake that hides in the forest extending from Whistler Village.  Just two kilometres from Whistler Village and you arrive at this beautiful lake.  The wide and paved Valley Trail turns into a wide and gravel trail as you enter Lost Lake Park.  The main trail around the lake is a popular running route from Whistler Village as roundtrip from the Village, around Lost Lake and back to the Village is just 6 kilometres.  If you continue past Lost Lake, however, the trail leads to the far more impressive, Green Lake.

This amazing 9 kilometre route is almost entirely in tranquil forest, along the beautiful Fitzsimmons Creek and past two of Whistler's wonderful lakes.  There are plenty of nice viewpoints along the main trail as well as quite a few short trails that lead to several access points to the lake, some with great places to sit and relax in the sun and take in the view.

Lost Lake has a very popular beach at one end and in the height of summer can get busy as it is the most convenient beach from Whistler Village.  There are several swimming platforms out in the lake as well as a wonderful and huge pier along the right hand side of the lake.  An amazing place to catch the sunsets over Whistler Mountain.

In the winter months when there is snow in Whistler, Lost Lake becomes a cross country and snowshoeing area and there is a charge to access the main trails around the lake.  Usually from mid December to early April.

Just beyond this pier you will come to one of Whistler's disc golf courses.  "Frolf" is free to play and the course is well laid out.  Just bring a disc and walk on.  You will also notice several bike trails, entrances and exits, all along the main Lost Lake trail.

If you like a little exploring, they are amazing.  Many have elaborate ramps and bridges, and the trails always bring you back to the main trail.  Keep and ear out for the occasional bike coming from behind.  Out of courtesy you should keep out of their way as they will be barrelling along, usually pretty fast.

The Sea to Sky Trail runs through Lost Lake Park, and the arm that extends north above Green Lake starts on the Lost Lake Trail where the disc golf course is.  Keep your eyes out for the Sea to Sky Trail sign on your right if walking from the Lost Lake direction.  This amazing, and recently constructed section of the Sea to Sky Trail takes you high above Green Lake and to some breathtaking views.  There are plenty of trail signs along the way and the wonderful views begin only five minutes from the Lost Lake Trail.  The Sea to Sky Trail takes you past Whistler's ghost town, Parkhurst.  A wonderfully untouched logging town abandoned in the 50's.

Lost Lake has such a staggering number of hiking and biking trails that you could easily wander the beautiful forest for hours.  Beyond the disc golf course, if you keep on the Lost Lake trail, you will come to a bridge over Fitzsimmons Creek.  The same Fitzsimmons Creek you would have crossed in the Village.  It runs through the Village separating the Whistler Village with the Upper Village.

If you keep walking the Lost Lake Trail across this bridge over Fitzsimmons Creek, the trail turns sharply left and arrives at the Nicklaus North golf course.  An amazing restaurant in the clubhouse is a great place to stop for a drink.  If you carry on walking past the clubhouse, the now paved, and now Valley Trail continues along the left shore of Green Lake.  The views along this section of boardwalk are beautiful.  Snowy mountains across this amazing and surreal looking, Green Lake.

If you want to stick to the 9 kilometre route, you just have to backtrack toward the bridge over the Fitzsimmons Creek(pictured top right corner on the map below), then you can return to the Village along the opposite(west) side of the beautiful Fitzsimmons Creek.  From this bridge you are about 5 kilometres from Whistler Village or less than an hours walk away.  The trail that runs along the Fitzsimmons Creek is wonderfully scenic and surprisingly unknown.. even to most locals.

It takes you in and out of deep forest along the edge of the Fitzsimmons and ends partway between Lost Lake and Whistler Village, which is likely where you started from!  The trail is well defined and the last, deep forest section of trail running along the Fitzsimmons Creek is called the Fitzsimmons Nature Trail.  There are signs at either end of this easy-to-miss trail, but the way to find it is to keep aiming for the Fitzsimmons Creek and you will have no trouble spotting it.  The second map below, the Green Lake Viewpoint Route map, shows this route in red and despite the several criss-crossing trails, finding your way is easy.

The Lost Lake section of this trail from Whistler Village is well lit at night making it easy to navigate after dark, however, the Fitzsimmons section is not.  Keep in mind also that Lost Lake is reserved for cross-country skiers and snowshoers in the winter(Dec-Mar).  You can still go, but there is an entry fee.  A good place to start, shown on both maps is from the Valley Trail on Blackcomb Way.

There is a large mapboard at the start of the trail here.  There are a few different ways to get to Lost Lake from the Village, but starting here is possibly the nicest.  Just two minutes from this trailhead and you are at the first beautiful bridge over Fitzsimmons Creek and a great area by the river to see before heading across the bridge and along the forest trail leading to Lost Lake.