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Lost Lake Whistler – Everything YOU need to know
Whistler’s Lost Lake Park is the perfect place to go for ALL occasions. Located 5 minutes by car, Whistler’s Lost Lake is home to an array of easy-hard Hiking, Biking & Walking trails. It is also home to a beautiful lake for swimming. With modern facilities, water pontoons and well maintained hiking & mountain-biking trails, it is hard to ignore Lost Lake. If you are looking for an easy and the best hike in Whistler, then Lost Lake is for you.
The following blog post will provide insight into EVERYTHING YOU need to know before heading to Lost Lake. Here’s why you should go to Lost Lake next time your in Whistler, British Columbia…
- Map of Lost Lake
- How to get to Lost Lake
- Best things to do at Lost Lake
- Facilities at Lost Lake
- Bear Safety
- Cultural & Historical Information
Looking for a different destination? Head to our Explore The World page to find your next destination!
Map of Lost Lake Whistler
How to get to Lost Lake
Walking/Biking, Driving, Public Transport
To get to Lost Lake you can either walk or catch the bus from Whistler Town. There is no parking at Lost Lake only a drop off and pick up zone. People have parked on the side of Blackcomb Way and walked the 5 minutes down to Lost Lake. This has been known to be regularly checked and parking tickets are issued often.
Walking/Biking –
Walking to Lost Lake is a popular activity. You can get there via the signs that are scattered through the village. Otherwise, you can use a map from the information center or your phone. You will walk along the paved valley trail which is a well-paved, well-maintained concrete path. Becoming immersed by lodgepole pines and other local flora that surrounds the path from Whistler village to Lost Lake Passivhaus. From there you can continue to walk or bike to Lost Lake which is roughly 2km. You can hire a bike from some of the many bike rental stores found in the village.
Car –
There is parking in the village at Parking lots 1-5. Here you can pay a small fee from $2-$5 CAD for a few hours or half a day to park there (you will not find any free parking in Whistler). There are signs on how to pay either at the pay-stations or by using an app called paybyphone. Staying in Whistler? If you will be paying for parking regularly, the app is recommended. You can then either walk or bus to the day area of Lost Lake. However, if you’ve got the time I would recommend walking the Whistler Valley Trail. It is only around 20-30 minutes.
Bus –
If you do not have access to a car and do not feel like walking, you can catch the shuttle. The bus number is #5 and is run by BC Transit, it picks up and drops off from 2 main locations. Either Gondola exchange in the village or Olympic Plaza bus stop (next to parking lot 4). It’s around a 5 minute shuttle to Lost Lake Lodge. From there, you can get off and follow the signs down to Lost Lake. The shuttle is FREE during the summer (Roughly April-November). It may be free during the winter but that may change. The shuttle runs every 10-20 minutes and is wheelchair accessible. A detailed time schedule for the #5 bus can be found here. The buses also have an allocated bike holder at the front of the bus.
A well-maintained and wide gravel path provides ample space for users. Well-marked signs stretch throughout the trail. The well-marked signs and loop design make it hard to get lost on this easy trail.
Best things to do at Lost Lake
Summer –
Summer in Whistler is an amazing time of year. With beautiful glacier fed lakes, an array of easy-hard walks & stunning scenery. If you like to mountain bike then Whistler is the place for you. If you enjoy the sunshine then there are multiple walks, lakes, hikes and summer activities for you to enjoy. And Lost Lake has it all in one place.
Swimming – Swimming at Lost Lake is one of the most popular things to do at Lost Lake. With multiple pontoons and water that isn’t FREEZING, Lost Lake is a popular water hole for the locals of Whistler. Most lakes in Whistler are Glacier fed meaning that any water that isn’t freezing is the place to be. Lost Lake has no lifeguards. There is one main sandy beach located at the southeast end of the lake. Next to the main entrance near car drop-off and pick-up. Which is also home to a large grass area with picnic tables, washrooms and an outdoor shower. There is also a main dock. Which is always busy with people sun tanning and jumping off into the water. This main dock is occupied often by nudists from time to time so be aware.
The beach does not permit dogs. However, everywhere else around the lake allows dogs. From May to September, on Fridays through Mondays, food trucks set up in the picnic area. Food trucks also operate at other Whistler parks from 11 am to 5 pm. Whistler’s Parks Eats Program introduced this innovative approach in 2023, and it will continue through 2024.
Agri Mexican Cantina & Fried Chicken
Folie Crepes
Lucia Gelato
The Island Oasis
Whistler Wood Fired Pizza
The Schedule was posted for this year on Whistlers Council site and will likely be posted again next year.
Walks/Hikes – Compared to some of the many hikes in Whistler, the trails around Lost Lake are easy with no elevation. As an easy 4.5km loop along the nature trail, locals frequently use the main hiking trail. This can take anywhere from 30 minutes – 120 minutes to complete. Sections of the trail hugs right along the shoreline, making for a real immersed experience. The main trails are multi-use so there are multiple people using it daily for all different reasons, walkers, runners, mountain bikers and cyclists. You can use maps on your phone to stay on track or use Trailforks app.
Mountain Biking –Mountain biking enthusiasts find Whistler’s mountains to be the ultimate destination. However, for passionate beginners, Whistler offers an abundance of trails, with some fantastic ones located at Lost Lake. These trails, known as Zappa trails, derive their names from Frank Zappa’s inspiration. For instance, you can explore trails like “Pinnocchio’s Furniture,” “Dwarf Nebula,” and “Zoot Allures.”
With little elevation you can peddle to each run and all runs are completely free. The difficulty for the runs at Lost Lake range from green (easy) to blue (moderate) which is why you will find many beginners here. Riders can traverse the trails in both directions, meaning you should anticipate oncoming traffic from either direction while riding.
Fishing – Lost Lake permits fishing and is one of the only lakes you can use live bait. Lost Lake is home to Rainbow Trout, making it a popular spot for fishing. Before fishing at Lost Lake make sure to read the areas Fishing Regulations and get a Fishing License.
Winter –
The Winter in Whistler provides a magical experience unlike any other. Lost Lake is a place to escape the heat during the summer, as for winter, its a place to escape the noise and bustling mountains of Blackcomb and Whistler. With awesome cross-country skiing and snowshoeing tracks it is a must see during the Winter!
Snowshoeing / Cross Country Skiing – During the winter Lost Lake’s walking trails combined with Fairmont Chateau’s & Nicklaus North Golf courses turn into a 40km long course of cross country ski and snowshoe trails. The trails are well maintained and are accessible for a small price. Below is a map of the trails. These trails are a good escape from the bustling Mountains and is a nice change in scenery with its thick rugged forest and rolling terrain. The snowshoeing at Lost Lake during the Winter is also a must do.
Facilities at Lost Lake
Lost Lake has a car pick-up & drop-off zone and is otherwise accessible by walking, biking or public transport. There is a large toilet facility at Lost Lake entrance next to the main beach and large picnic area. During certain times of the year there are food trucks which occupy the large grassy picnic area of Lost Lake. More information can be found in the Best Things to Do at Lost Lake section.
Bear Safety
Always be aware of the appropriate bear safety procedures when in Whistler all year round, but especially during the Summer as during this time the bears of the area come down the mountain and into and around the village looking for food. 2023 had more bears then usual in the area with multiple grizzly sightings. Click here – Bear Safety – for more information. And Click here – Black Bear or Grizzly Bear? -for information on a Black bear vs a Grizzly Bear.
Cultural & Historical Information
The original content creators hold all rights to the following information, which was gathered through research. The original pieces of information can be accessed via the provided green links for a more in-depth understanding of the topics discussed.
How Lost Lake Was Nearly Lost –
During the 1960s, the entire region faced the threat of logging. Don MacLaurin, a dedicated advocate for the local forest, advocated the cause of preserving the lake as a park, opposing its potential logging or sale for waterfront property development, a fate that had befallen other lakes in the Whistler area.
During the 1970s, they constructed a network of cross-country ski trails, and in the 1980s, they cleared the beach area for public enjoyment. Notably, in the late 1970s and early 1980s, they erected a wooden ski jump, enabling summer practice jumps into the lake.
For a more detailed account of Lost Lake’s history, I recommend checking out the Whistler Museum blog. (And, by the way, visiting the Whistler Museum is among my top recommendations for affordable activities in Whistler.) ITS FREE!
How Lost Lake came to be Lost Lake –
For both residents and visitors, Whistler’s parks represent a cherished destination for enjoying a summer day. Each park offers its unique attractions, whether it’s the playground at Alpha Lake Park or the historical insights provided by the cabins at Rainbow Park. Lost Lake Park, in particular, caters to a wide range of interests, offering opportunities for swimming, biking, nature walks, and even disc golf.
Interestingly, the development of Lost Lake Park in 1982 stirred a debate about the extent of its offerings, prompting consideration of expanding its amenities.
The journey to establishing Lost Lake Park as we know it today was not without challenges. In the 1960s, the impending expiration of two timber licenses in the area had developers eyeing the waterfront property. Recognizing the impending threat, Don MacLaurin took action and reached out to his friend Bill in the Parks Branch. With Bill’s assistance and support from other contacts, the provincial government assessed and reserved the area around Lost Lake for potential use, recreation, and enjoyment by the public
A Popular Destination
By 1980, Lost Lake had become a popular destination for residents, regularly used for recreational activities. During the summer, freestyle skiers trained and even hosted competitions on the ski jump, while the winters saw the Alta Lake Sports Club engaging in cross-country skiing. They had initiated their first course in 1976. In August 1980, the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) received official approval for the transfer of the UREP surrounding Lost Lake. This transfer aimed to enable the RMOW to establish a municipal park. Plans were formulated to clear a beach area at the southern tip of the lake and enhance the existing trail network.
These plans were still in progress as of June 1982 when Municipal Parks Planner Tom Barratt was formulating a five-year plan for Lost Lake and its surroundings. This comprehensive plan encompassed clearing the beach area and improving the trail system while preserving the area’s “wilderness character.” While most people seemed to support these aspects of the plan, there was a diversity of opinions among residents regarding the proposal to include a permanent concession stand at Lost Lake Park. This concession stand would offer snacks, drinks, and paddleboard rentals, sparking varied reactions from the community.
An editorial published in the Whistler Question on June 3, 1982, highlighted the contentious nature of opinions regarding further development at Lost Lake. The community displayed a “sharply divided” stance on the matter. While the editorial did not side with those who advocated for preserving Lost Lake in its natural state without municipal intervention, it did express a concern. The concern was that they comprehended the initial concept for Lost Lake, which entailed clearing, landscaping, seeding, and enhancing its overall appeal. However, they were unable to endorse plans that might potentially transform this pristine area into Whistler’s version of Coney Island.
In another letter to the editor, dated June 1982, the argument was made that creating a beach for visitors was acceptable, but providing “paddleboards, rubber rafts, canoes, rowboats, fishing rods, towels, and fast food” was seen as excessive. The letter posed a question, “How big do our elected members think the lake is?” On the other hand, a different letter expressed support for constructing a modest concession stand that could also serve as a warming hut during winter. To gain a broader perspective on this matter, the Whistler Question conducted a “Whistler’s Answers” feature by asking six residents about their thoughts on the proposed concession stand. While some residents were open to the idea of food and drink sales, most did not support the inclusion of boat rentals.