| What a fantastic array of beautiful and | | | | However, continue along and you will come to |
| challenging hiking trails are waiting for you | | | | railroad tracks. Note the sign for Swim Lake |
| at spectacular Whistler. From short little | | | | and CalCheak trails. Cross the track and you |
| strolls to a week of backpacking in the | | | | will see the trail for another whistler |
| mountains. There are trails for every taste | | | | hiking trail called Daisy Lake. That one goes |
| or desire. | | | | off to the left. Shortly you will come to the |
| | | | falls. Note the strange lava rock formations |
| This one is a nice 3 hour hike, and it's not | | | | and basalt rocks up to your left as you enjoy |
| going to pull you away from shopping or | | | | the walk. |
| golfing in Whistler for very long as it's | | | | |
| nearby. | | | | After viewing Brandywine, turn back to the |
| | | | railroad and get to the sign for CalCheak. |
| Brandywine falls Provincial Park is set up | | | | Walk a few paces and turn toward Swim Lake. |
| and maintained by the park's system people to | | | | Just before you reach the lake your trail |
| mainly allow for access to view Brandywine | | | | will become obvious. The trail rises to a |
| Falls. As a wonderful bonus, there have been | | | | ridge where you are going to be viewing the |
| a couple of very nice trails extending from | | | | lake. Here the leftovers from the volcanic |
| the park falls to CalCheak Forest Recreation | | | | action really becomes obvious with ridges of |
| site. This is a loop trail of 8km (5 miles). | | | | shattered columnar basalt popping up |
| | | | everywhere. |
| What you will be walking upon will be a huge | | | | |
| lava bed. This was laid down thousands of | | | | The trail leads through these columns and |
| years ago when a volcano erupted in this | | | | broken basalt is everywhere. Enjoy the |
| area. Along the way you will notice basalt | | | | beautiful forest canopy here especially if it |
| columns that were pushed up by the volcano | | | | is a hot day. Now and again you will see |
| and solidified into grotesque shapes. | | | | ponds of water on both sides of the whistler |
| | | | trail. Soon you will come to the railroad |
| In fact the Brandywine falls show the effect | | | | track. Note the sign for McGuire. This is all |
| that water, falling from a distance will, | | | | that remains of a railroad station that |
| given enough time, cut through rock as it did | | | | existed here many years before. |
| here. This has happened in the interior of | | | | |
| the province at Helmckem Falls as well. | | | | Past the tracks and you are in the beautiful |
| | | | forested trail and soon the sound of the |
| Nairn Falls are formed differently. Not | | | | Cheakamus river as it bustles along its path. |
| through a lava bed but solid granite. These | | | | The next thing you are going to experience is |
| falls are a short distance from Whistler and | | | | crossing Callaghan Creek on the suspension |
| smash their way through a very narrow | | | | bridge. just ahead is the forest recreation |
| channel. They are tough to photograph and | | | | site. The site is accessible from highway 99 |
| look and feel much better when viewed up very | | | | by driving 4km (2.5 miles) past the |
| close. To get to these falls, drive north | | | | Brandywine Park entrance if you are coming |
| from whistler 16 km (10 miles) and pull in | | | | from Squamish or, you may turn onto the old |
| when you reach Nairn Falls Recreation Area on | | | | logging road 9km (5.5 miles) south of |
| the right. It's a beautiful 30 minute walk to | | | | Whistler. Either way you do it be prepared to |
| the falls. | | | | find lots of pot holes on this 1.5 km (1 |
| | | | mile) road into the site. These roads are not |
| Brandywine falls hike. | | | | maintained. |
| | | | |
| One of the best outdoor adventures to do is | | | | The whistler hiking trail back to the parking |
| whistler hiking trails like this one. From | | | | lot is back along the same way you came. You |
| Whistler you will need to turn left onto the | | | | may wish to take the cross country hiking |
| Sea to Sky highway number 99 and drive 13 km | | | | trail back to the lot by going right and |
| (8 miles) where on your left you will find | | | | uphill at McGuire. The trail starts out |
| the sign for Brandywine Provincial Park. Turn | | | | barren but soon the trees will provide shade |
| in here and park. | | | | cover. The trail may be a little wet if the |
| | | | weather has been heavy. Generally it's pretty |
| The main trail crosses the Brandywine creek | | | | good. |
| on the main falls trail. Just beyond the | | | | |
| bridge you will see a track going uphill on | | | | Joe and Irma Mac Millan have enjoyed the |
| the left. That's not where you want to go as | | | | Whistler Mountain and valley area of British |
| that will take you to the cross country ski | | | | Columbia for many years. They have camped, |
| trail. It has a few interesting items to | | | | hiked and skied the mountains and fished and |
| observe if you decide to go a little way on | | | | kayaked the rivers and lakes. Their website |
| that trail. Not very far ahead you will come | | | | One couples guide to the exciting |
| to Lava Lake and you will see some very | | | | Whistler-outdoors is a must for anyone |
| interesting pieces of lava that look like | | | | considering a trip to Whistler as well as the |
| cobblestones. | | | | 2010 Vancouver Olympics. They invite one and |
| | | | all to take a look. |