Have you been planning your bucket list trip to Whistler only to get there and be greeted by an atmospheric river of rain? It happens, a lot, especially during spring and autumn season. But rest assured there are plenty of adventures & places to explore in Whistler - even in the rain!
Let's dive into a few family friendly outdoor activities to do in Whistler on a rainy day.
Chasing Waterfalls
One of my favorite things to do on a rainy day in Whistler is to check out some the local waterfalls. With the amount of rain that we get in the spring & autumn, the waterfalls are huge and just so much more impressive!
Brandywine Falls
Have you been to Brandywine Falls? This waterfall is part of the Brandywine Falls Provincial Park and although you don't need a BC Parks reservation to visit this place, the parking area is only open from mid-May to mid-November.
Getting to the falls is an easy 10 minute walk on a well-marked trail in the woods. Brandywine Falls is about 70 meters high (230ft) and it falls into a luscious green bowl of moss and rocky cliffs in the middle of an old-growth forest. It is one of the most beautiful waterfalls I have ever seen. Even when the weather isn’t the most perfect, this little adventure is guaranteed to make you forget about the rain.
Alexander Falls
Right around the corner from Brandywine Falls you will find the beautiful Callaghan Valley and the lesser-known Alexander Falls.
The road up the Callaghan Valley and to Alexander Falls is long and windy and it will take you about 10 minutes from Highway 99 to get to the falls. Don’t drive too fast on your way up as many Olympians practice roller-skiing on this picturesque road and it could be hard to see them coming around a corner. The view up the Callaghan Valley Road is also worth a few pictures.
Once you get to the top of the Callaghan Valley road, you will find a small sign on your left indicating the entrance to Alexander Falls. There is a beautiful viewing platform and some picnic tables for all to enjoy. This waterfall is also accessible in the winter although parking is limited.
A taste of Whistler's history
The fun thing about hiking in the old-growth forests of Whistler is that the trails are mostly covered, protecting you from the rain. A light rain jacket is always recommended as well as sturdy hiking shoes for safety. The trails can at times be muddy and slippery - good shoes/boots are your number one friend here.
The Whistler Train Wreck
This short 20-30 minute hike is located in the Cheakamus neighborhood just south of Whistler Village. The Whistler Train Wreck walk will take you through a forest of tall pine trees with mountain bike trails all around and calming river sounds along the way.
The suspension bridge that crosses the glacier-fed Cheakamus river is just one of the many gorgeous views along the way.
Once your cross the suspension bridge, you will start seeing the colorful train wagons scattered through the forest.
It was back in 1956 that a train derailed off its tracks and ended up between the Cheakamus River and the railway. It was deemed too costly to remove the wagons therefore they were just left there. With the years, the wagons got covered in colorful graffiti and to this day, they remain a place where it is legally aloud to spray paint the wagons.
Please be mindful of the environment and pack in what you pack out. There are 7 wagons spread out in this forest - will you be able to find them?
This is it for my top 3 suggestions of rainy day activities to do in Whistler. Hope you get to tick these three activities off the bucket list. If there is anything else you would like to share, leave a comment below!