First pick
Cal-cheak Recreation Site
Park or garden
44 ha1.3 km of path
15 minto walk all 1.3 km of path
10 km south-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Ruth Hartnup from Vancouver, Canada · CC BY 2.056%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Whistler · parks, protected land & trails
56% of the land within 10 km of Whistler is protected
Within its own boundary, 26% of the town is protected. Swimmers have 8 beaches within 5 km, Fitzsimmon Fan park the nearest. Named trails close by number 3, the Sea to Sky Trail and Rainbow Madeley Trail among them.
Protected land
56%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
11
within 10 km, 10 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest provincial park
At the edge
Garibaldi Park
Walking routes
3
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
8
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
Where Whistler stands out outdoors
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
Protected land all round56% of the land within 10 km, more than 99% of Canadian townsProtected land in town26% of Whistler itself lies in protected areasWalking routes3 named routes within 2 kmA provincial park at the edgeGaribaldi Park reaches the town
For someone who likes to get outside, Whistler’s draw is protected land around it, with protected land inside its own boundary close behind.
Against other towns
Whistler against other Canadian towns
Each figure against the 2,611 Canadian towns and neighbourhoods of 2,500+ (not city hubs or reserves), with the town marked and the typical one’s line. Canada’s grades don’t include the outdoors, so this page compares the figures rather than grading them.
Protected within 10 km56%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town26%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas10Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes3Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches8Beaches mapped on OpenStreetMap within 5 km
CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC, 2026), OpenStreetMap (November 2026). Distances from the town’s outline.
Towns its size
Whistler has the most protected land nearby of 40 towns its size
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (14,824 to 15,359 residents), by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected. Hover for each one’s figures; click for its page.
Protected within 10 km
Whistler56%
Towns its size2.7%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Whistler10
Towns its size6
Towns in British Columbia14
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Whistler3
Towns its size0
Towns in British Columbia1
Typical Canadian town0
Whistler leads its size group for protected land nearby: none of the other 39 has more.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whistler BC | 56% | 26% | 11 | 3 | 8 |
| 2 | Pincourt QC | 33% | 0.6% | 38 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 | Lachine-Ouest QC | 19% | 0.1% | 28 | 0 | 4 |
| 4 | Beauharnois QC | 17% | 2.2% | 32 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Les Rapides QC | 16% | 0% | 34 | 0 | 2 |
| 6 | Arbutus Ridge BC | 15% | 0% | 12 | 2 | 62 |
| 7 | Rivière-Gatineau QC | 13% | 0% | 38 | 1 | 2 |
| 8 | Dupéré QC | 7.7% | 0% | 23 | 0 | 1 |
| 9 | Pointe-Saint-Charles QC | 7.7% | 0% | 24 | 1 | 6 |
| 10 | Middle Sackville NS | 6.4% | 6.5% | 25 | 0 | 2 |
| 11 | Saint-Louis QC | 6.1% | 0.1% | 19 | 1 | 3 |
| 12 | Bécancour QC | 6% | 1.1% | 42 | 1 | 13 |
| 13 | Powell River BC | 5.5% | 0.1% | 5 | 6 | 9 |
| 14 | Saint-François QC | 5.4% | 1% | 56 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 | Vales of Castlemore ON | 5.2% | 21% | 15 | 0 | 1 |
| 16 | Lairet QC | 5% | 0% | 15 | 0 | 4 |
| 17 | Sainte-Adèle QC | 4.8% | 8% | 24 | 1 | 5 |
| 18 | Buttonville ON | 3.2% | 0% | 34 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Limoges ON | 3.1% | 5.7% | 31 | 0 | 2 |
| 20 | Royal Orchard ON | 3% | 0% | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| 21 | Taylor-Massey ON | 2.3% | 13% | 12 | 1 | 15 |
| 22 | Doon South ON | 2.3% | 16% | 22 | 2 | 0 |
| 23 | Springbrook ON | 2.2% | 15% | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | Byron ON | 2.1% | 0% | 14 | 1 | 0 |
| 25 | North Battleford SK | 1.9% | 0% | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | Pleasant View ON | 1.9% | 0% | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | Lawrence Park South ON | 1.7% | 0% | 15 | 2 | 1 |
| 28 | Hamilton Road ON | 1.7% | 0% | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | Stonebridge SK | 1.7% | 0% | 18 | 0 | 1 |
| 30 | Saint-Vincent-de-Paul QC | 1.5% | 0% | 23 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | Des Châtels QC | 1.3% | 0% | 25 | 1 | 2 |
| 32 | Lakewood SK | 1.3% | 0% | 14 | 0 | 3 |
| 33 | Ingersoll ON | 1.1% | 0% | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| 34 | Windermere AB | 1% | 2.3% | 12 | 2 | 0 |
| 35 | Campbellford ON | 0.8% | 0.5% | 24 | 7 | 0 |
| 36 | Carleton Place ON | 0.6% | 0% | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| 37 | Rockwood ON | 0.5% | 0.4% | 27 | 15 | 5 |
| 38 | Central Elgin ON | 0.2% | 0.3% | 8 | 7 | 6 |
| 39 | Laurel AB | 0.2% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 40 | Edgemont AB | 0% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 2 |
The map
Where the green is in Whistler
Green space, woods, protected areas and footpaths in and around the town; tap a number for its park or wood.
Green: OpenStreetMap parks, gardens, playing fields and woods. Hatched: CPCAD protected areas.© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL); CPCAD (OGL-Canada)
Places to walk
Walk in Whistler: 27 named parks and woods
Largest first: Cal-cheak Recreation Site leads with 44 ha. Numbers match the map.
27 named parks and woods, 128 ha in all
Parks & gardens 84 haWoods 44 ha
The bulk, 58%, is Cal-cheak Recreation Site and Blueberry Hill.
Blueberry Hill
Wood or forest
30 ha1.6 km of path
20 minto walk all 1.6 km of path
0.7 km northfrom the centre
BlueberryWhistler Cay Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Bayly Park
Park or garden
8.8 ha1.4 km of path
20 minto walk all 1.4 km of path
6.2 km south-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Spruce Park
Park or garden
8.9 ha1 km of path
15 minto walk all 1 km of path
2.9 km north-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Rainbow Park
Park or garden
4.3 ha0.9 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.9 km of path
1.3 km north-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Alpha Lake Park
Park or garden
2.5 ha0.5 km of path
2.6 km south-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Myrtle Philip Recreation Ground
Park or garden
2.4 ha0.4 km of path
2.3 km northfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
All 27 named parks and green spaces
Cal-cheak Recreation SitePark or garden · 44 ha · 1.3 km of path
DirectionsBlueberry HillWood or forest · 30 ha · 1.6 km of path
DirectionsBayly ParkPark or garden · 8.8 ha · 1.4 km of path
DirectionsSpruce ParkPark or garden · 8.9 ha · 1 km of path
DirectionsRainbow ParkPark or garden · 4.3 ha · 0.9 km of path
DirectionsMeadow ParkPark or garden · 3.2 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsAlpha Lake ParkPark or garden · 2.5 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsMyrtle Philip Recreation GroundPark or garden · 2.4 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsFruity ForestWood or forest · 2.8 ha · 0.8 km of path
DirectionsKazooWood or forest · 8.1 ha
DirectionsAlta Lake ParkWood or forest · 2.6 ha · 0.8 km of path
DirectionsLakeside ParkPark or garden · 1.2 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsWayside ParkPark or garden · 1.1 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsFlorence Peterson ParkPark or garden · 0.8 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsBottomless Pond ParkPark or garden · 0.9 ha · 0.2 km of path
DirectionsSnowflake ParkPark or garden · 1.0 ha · 0.1 km of path
DirectionsEmerald ParkPark or garden · 1.1 ha
DirectionsLost Lake ParkPark or garden · 0.5 ha · 0.2 km of path
DirectionsTaluswood ParkPark or garden · 0.7 ha
DirectionsWhite Gold ParkPark or garden · 0.5 ha
DirectionsAlpenglow ParkPark or garden · 0.3 ha · 0.1 km of path
DirectionsVillage Park WestPark or garden · 0.3 ha · 0.1 km of path
DirectionsInukshuk ParkPark or garden · 0.4 ha · 0.1 km of path
DirectionsVillage ParkPark or garden · 0.3 ha · 0.1 km of path
DirectionsEva Lake ParkPark or garden · 0.5 ha
DirectionsMillar's Pond ParkPark or garden · 0.4 ha
DirectionsBalsam ParkPark or garden · 0.3 ha
DirectionsSource: OpenStreetMap parks, gardens, commons and woods with a name, in the town or within 400 m, © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Sizes are the mapped outline’s.
Close to home
7 in 10 people in Whistler live near a park
Residents of each 2021 dissemination area, at a point inside it, within 400 m (about a 5-minute walk) of a park or playing field mapped on OpenStreetMap.
Within 400 m (70%)Further (30%)
Whistler70%
Towns in British Columbia72%
Typical Canadian town83%
The typical Canadian town reaches 83%. That leaves about 4,500 people more than a short walk away.
Protected areas
11 protected areas around Whistler
Every protected and conserved area in CPCAD within 10 km of the town’s edge: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and conservation land.
Inside Whistler26%
Within 10 km56%
Towns in British Columbia6.7%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
10 of the 11 belong to a government or an Indigenous nation. Biggest of the named areas: Garibaldi Park, 188,667 ha. One more area within 10 km is private land, held by a landowner or a conservation group: counted here, not named.
Garibaldi ParkProvincial park · 188,667 ha · reaches Whistler
Brandywine Falls ParkProvincial park · 420 ha · reaches Whistler
Blackcomb Glacier ParkProvincial park · 221 ha · reaches Whistler
5483 Stonebright PlNature reserve · 130 ha · reaches Whistler
Callaghan ConservancyProtected area · 8,081 ha · 0.9 km from the edge of town
Upper Soo ConservancyProtected area · 11,306 ha · 7.7 km from the edge of town
Callaghan Lake ParkProvincial park · 2,691 ha · 8.5 km from the edge of town
3 areas recorded only by their type (provincial layers such as wildlife habitat areas) are counted, not listed.
Source: Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD) 2.9.0, Environment and Climate Change Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
National & provincial parks
Garibaldi Park meets Whistler
National parks (Parks Canada) and provincial or territorial parks by direction and distance from the town’s edge: every one within 10 km, and the nearest of each within 100 km.
National parkProvincial park
Provincial park
Garibaldi Park
At the edge1,887 km²since 1920
Provincial park
Brandywine Falls Park
At the edge4.2 km²since 1973
Provincial park
Blackcomb Glacier Park
At the edge2.2 km²since 1990
Provincial park
Callaghan Lake Park
8.5 km north-west27 km²since 1997
There is no national park within 100 km; for big parks, Whistler has its province’s. There are 4 provincial parks within 10 km.
Source: CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC): areas and outlines, distances outline to outline; directions from the town’s centre point.
Footpaths and woods
736 km of paths in and around Whistler
OpenStreetMap footpaths, paths, bridleways and steps, and tracks open on foot, in the town and 1 km around it; woods as mapped (landuse=forest, natural=wood).
Footpaths
736 km
in and around the town (317.1 km²)
Woodland
74%
about 234.3 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
WhistlerTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths2.3
01.53 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
WhistlerTowns in British ColumbiaTypical Canadian town
Woodland74%
0%50%100%
Few places match it for paths: more than 61% of Canadian towns have fewer. More of it is wooded than in 93% of Canadian towns.
Source: OpenStreetMap, © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Mapping varies by place: a dense figure can mean keen local mappers as much as many paths.
Walking routes
3 mapped routes to walk from Whistler
Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.
RegionalOther waymarked
Sea to Sky Trail78.2 km
Rainbow Madeley Trail16.0 km
Upper Panorama1.2 km
For a longer outing, the Sea to Sky Trail runs 78.2 km.
Source: OpenStreetMap (route relations hiking, foot and walking), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Trans Canada Trail sections as OSM maps them.
When to get out
The best months for walking in Whistler: April to September
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 1991–2020 normals from Squamish (39 km), and daylight at the town’s latitude. Good months: 12½+ hours of daylight, highs of 15–30 °C, little rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 8.5 | 10.0 | 11.7 | 13.7 | 15.4 | 16.4 | 16.0 | 14.5 | 12.5 | 10.6 | 8.9 | 8.1 |
| High (°C) | 0 | 4 | 10 | 16 | 21 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 22 | 13 | 4 | 0 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 379 | 195 | 246 | 150 | 88 | 67 | 48 | 54 | 125 | 271 | 383 | 340 |
Summer highs reach 28 °C in July; in January they stay near 0 °C. November is the wettest month (383 mm) and July the driest (48 mm). The climate in Whistler →
Beaches
8 beaches within 5 km of Whistler
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
Fitzsimmon Fan parkin town
DirectionsLost Lake Beachsand · in town
Directions6 more are mapped without a name. No national or provincial register of beach water quality is published as open data, so check the local health unit before swimming.
Source: OpenStreetMap (natural=beach), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Things to do
Viewpoints and waterfalls near Whistler: 37 and 9
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
37Viewpoints17Hills and peaks9Waterfalls1Nature reserves4Picnic sites21Playgrounds4Dog parks8Campsites1Slipways
Viewpoints lead the count with 37. Mount Trorey tops the hills nearby, 2,461 m.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 37
Green Lake Lookoutin town
DirectionsLarry's Viewpointin town
DirectionsRainbow Mountain Paraglide Launchin town
DirectionsBrandywine Falls Lookout0.4 km from town
DirectionsPlus 33 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 17
Blackcomb Peak2,436 m · in town
DirectionsHorstman Peak2,360 m · in town
DirectionsLittle Whistler2,118 m · in town
DirectionsMount Sproatt1,834 m · in town
DirectionsPiccolo Summit2,043 m · in town
DirectionsThe Spearhead2,457 m · in town
DirectionsTonic Peak1,803 m · in town
DirectionsWhistler Mountain2,181 m · in town
DirectionsPlus 9 hills and peaks without a name on the map.
Waterfalls 9
Callaghan Fallsin town
DirectionsCheakamus River Waterfallsin town
DirectionsRainbow Fallsin town
DirectionsWedge Creek Fallsin town
DirectionsBrandywine falls0.4 km from town
DirectionsPlus 4 waterfalls without a name on the map.
Nature reserves 1
Whistler Interpretive Forestin town
DirectionsPicnic sites 4
Plus 4 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Dog parks 4
Plus 4 dog parks without a name on the map.
Campsites 8
Cal Cheak Callaghan Campin town
DirectionsCal Cheak Central Campin town
DirectionsCal Cheak North Campin town
DirectionsCal Cheak South Campin town
DirectionsRiverside Resort Campgroundin town
DirectionsRiverside Dispersed Camping0.9 km from town
DirectionsRusset Lake Campgrounds1.6 km from town
DirectionsCheakamus Lake Campground1.7 km from town
DirectionsSlipways 1
Plus 1 slipway without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Next door
Next to Whistler
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page. No closer places have figures: these lie 26–45 km from Whistler.
PembertonElectoral Area C, Squamish-LillooetMount CurrieSquamishElectoral Area D, Squamish-LillooetWhistler
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whistler | 56% | 11 | 3 | 8 |
| Pemberton 26 km | 41% | 12 | 0 | 2 |
| Electoral Area C, Squamish-Lillooet 27 km | 48% | 38 | 5 | 13 |
| Mount Currie 33 km | 40% | 10 | 0 | 2 |
| Squamish 44 km | 30% | 20 | 3 | 20 |
| Electoral Area D, Squamish-Lillooet 45 km | 42% | 46 | 7 | 85 |
Whistler holds its own on protected land: no neighbour has twice its share. More routes are mapped around Electoral Area D, Squamish-Lillooet (7).
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Private land. Areas held by land trusts or private owners stay unnamed here, though they count in the shares.
- Walking routes. A route counts when 300 m or more of it lies within 2 km of the town. Coverage of trails on OpenStreetMap varies by region.
- Beaches. Beaches are OpenStreetMap’s, named or not; in the north many are unnamed shoreline imports.
- National and provincial parks. Distances run from the town’s edge to the park’s, so 0 km means they touch.
- Protected land. The 10 km band starts at the town’s outline, not its centre, so a large municipality reaches further than a small town.
Questions about the outdoors in Whistler
Which is the biggest protected area near Whistler?
Garibaldi Park, a provincial park of 188,667 ha.
Is there a provincial park near Whistler?
Garibaldi Park begins at the town’s edge.
What is the nearest beach to Whistler?
The nearest is Fitzsimmon Fan park, in town.
Are there hiking trails near Whistler?
OpenStreetMap maps the Sea to Sky Trail, Rainbow Madeley Trail and Upper Panorama close by, with others.
How much land around Whistler is protected?
Within 10 km, 56% of the land lies in protected areas.
How far is Whistler from a national park?
No national park lies within 100 km of Whistler.
What is the best season to get outdoors in Whistler?
April to September, on the 1991–2020 normals and the daylight: long days, highs of 15 °C or more, light rain for the place.
Sources
Where Whistler’s outdoors figures come from
Protected areas: Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD) 2.9.0, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 2026: every area within 10 km and the nearest national and provincial parks, measured outline to outline.
Walking routes and beaches: OpenStreetMap, November 2026: named hiking, foot and walking route relations within 2 km and beaches within 5 km.
Towns: Statistics Canada 2021 Census boundaries and populations; the comparison is the Canadian towns and neighbourhoods of 2,500+, not city hubs or reserves.
When to go: Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020, from the nearest station that publishes them.
Green space, paths, woods, things to do: OpenStreetMap (Geofabrik’s Canada extract), November 2026: parks, gardens, playing fields, woods, footpaths, the coastline and things to do in and around each town.
Residents: Statistics Canada 2021 Census dissemination areas (population, boundaries), each at a point inside it.
Walking routes and beaches © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database Licence (ODbL).
Not on this page: trailheads and trail grades, and beach water quality. No open Canadian dataset gives these for every town yet.
Adapted from Statistics Canada (Census of Population 2021, population estimates 2025, 2021 census boundaries) under the Statistics Canada Open Licence; this does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada. Neighbourhood names in some cities © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).