Brandywine Meadows                                                         Whistler Hiking Trails

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Brandywine Meadows is a nice hike in a massive flower filled valley high up in the Callaghan Valley.  Located 40 minutes south of Whistler, this tough and sometimes muddy trail gains a huge 550 metres of elevation in just 3k (trailhead to valley).  The trailhead is tricky to find and involves a fairly long gravel road journey that is passable without a 4x4, but barely.  The route is strewn with potholes and some loose rock sections.  Brandywine Meadows is used mainly for snowmobiling in the winter months and the bumpy ex-logging road to the trailhead is in poor condition in the summer.

The hike takes you to the beautiful Brandywine Meadows stretching into the distance along a cute, meandering river.  The valleys far end leads to Brandywine Mountain.

The mountains in the area, including Brandywine are hike-able, though the trails, if any are faint and unmarked.  There are no camping facilities in Brandywine Meadows, however, the seemingly endless valley offers plenty of tent sites.

If you plan on camping before mid July, you will likely be on snow as the valley is snow filled until mid summer most years.  The meadows are somewhat notorious for mosquitoes so avoiding the area in August is a good way to avoid the swarms.

September and even October are possibly the best months to explore Brandywine Meadows.  No snow, bugs or hikers to take away from the wonderful solitude of this great spot in the Callaghan Valley.  As the Callaghan Valley is outside of Garibaldi Park, dogs a welcome in Brandywine Meadows.

How to Get to the Brandywine Meadows Trailheads:

There are two trails to Brandywine Meadows.  The regular, official trail is near the end of a very rough, though 2WD passable vehicle.  The shorter and more interesting route is at the end of a very dodgy 4x4 only ex-logging road.  Both routes are difficult to find due to infrequent signs after leaving paved roads.  Follow the signs that direct you to Brandywine Valley and "snowmobilers".

1.  14k south of Whistler Village, on Highway 99, turn right at this sign: Brandywine Valley >>

2.   Turn left almost immediately at another sign for Brandywine Valley <<

Drive down the road that passes to the left of the Waste Transfer Station

3.  Follow this road for about 1k as it passes through the very large snowmobile parking lot.  At the far end of this parking lot (pictured here) follow the gravel road to the right.

4.  Follow this logging road for about 4k and you will come to a junction and sign "Chocolate Bowl".  Straight goes 2k to the official Brandywine Meadows trailhead, (shown on map as TH1).

To go to the shorter, easier trailhead (shown on map as TH2) next to the snowmobile hut, turn right here, then left after you pass the large parking lot on your right.

This section of logging road, 3k to "snowmobile hut" is very bad and requires a good 4x4 vehicle.

Whistler Hiking - List of the Best Trails >>