Five Smaller Runs with Big Rewards in the Sea to Sky
Surrounded by deeply beautiful and wild terrain.
Views that leave me speechless.
Feeling small and mighty all at once.
But returning home long before the sun sets and bedtime chores is much more my speed these days as a parent that lives in Whistler.
As a triathlete and fan of Type-2 fun, I like to choose hiking trails to run. In the Sea to Sky, we can get into remote areas with stunning views and dreamy lakes quickly if you know where to look. For the like-minded, adventure-curious, I’ve rounded up five great mini trail runs between Pemberton, Whistler and Squamish that I have on regular rotation. So pack out what you pack in, don’t pet wildlife and get ready to be transported.
First up, Jurassic Ridge
This trail is hidden in plain sight. If you’ve ever driven past Murrin Lake on the Sea to Sky Highway and wondered why anyone would recreate SO close to the highway, you’re not alone. I was dubious of this area until only recently. Murrin Provincial Park features very short loops of trails. But where the area lacks in kilometers of distance, it makes up in steep, exciting trail access. It’s a bit of hands-on-knees between jogging to get around the dramatic granite cliffs and up to one of many viewpoints. The reward, sweeping views of the baby blue Howe Sound. This trail is a cool hour-long hike for high energy kids or a quick 30-minute blast for adult runners. Bonus points if you can get there for sunset (it’s incredible!) but bring a headlamp as running in the dark is both spooky and hard.
Best for: Summit selfies with rock climbers, brilliant ocean views and surrounding inlet. Total adventure route.
Know Before You Go: As mentioned this area is a popular tourist destination. Go outside typical hiking hours and you’ll most likely have the trail to yourself.
What to Bring: If it is raining or has rained recently, the trail is made of natural root and rock stairs that tend to pool up and cascade with water. Bring Gore-Tex or a full change of clothes in the car for after.
All Trails Murrin Loop and Jurassic Ridge
Joffre Lakes
Yes, I know this place gets a lot of hype. But it’s for good reason. This is an undeniably special place. Joffre Lakes Park lies within the unceded territories of the Lil'wat and N’Quatqua Nations. You’ll find it about 30 minutes outside Pemberton. It can be subject to closures and in high season this trail is known for heavy foot traffic, but don’t write it off just yet! Early mornings or shoulder season is when I’ve often found Joffre Lakes to be quiet and a perfect place to run. This spectacular mission isn’t super far at just over 7.5k nor very long (my most recent run was just over an hour and fifteen minutes round trip) but it packs a delightful punch with 400 meters of climbing.
Best for: Deep blue alpine lakes, views of glaciers and ice fields, quick access to alpine terrain.
Know Before You Go: Check for closures that are weather-related, or to recognize the importance of the Pipi7íyekw/Joffre Lakes Park area to the Líl̓wat Nation and N’Quatqua. Day passes may also be required.
What to Bring: While this trail is popular it is still in remote wilderness. Have a plan for if someone in your crew has an injury on the trail and pack some emergency essentials in your running vest like extra food, an emergency blanket and warm layers. AdventureSmart (used by local Search and Rescue orgs) offers an awesome tool to help build a trip plan.
Whistler Mountain Snow Walls
Liz attempting to simultaneously run, wave and smile through the snow walls on Whistler Mountain
When the snow starts to melt in spring, Whistler Blackcomb carves out an access road from the Roundhouse Lodge on Whistler Mountain up to the Peak. The result is a gravel trail that winds through massive walls of snow. It’s like looking at a core sample of the powder days and groomer laps from the previous season. Very cool. This trail run is just over 7k with frequent steep (read: power-hiking style) sections so come prepared for a grind. This run usually takes me around an hour, but make time for photos with these beautiful walls, they’re fantastic. The route can get busy so aim to go first thing when the gondola opens for sightseeing.
Best for: High alpine views, warm weather snow angels and challenging elevation gain.
Know Before You Go: The snow walls are only accessible in a short window in spring/summer before they melt so plan ahead. Always check WB’s Lift and Terrain Status for closures. A summer lift pass is required to get to the start of this run.
What to Bring: Layers for the quickly changing temperatures in the alpine and sunglasses to ease the heavy squint from light reflecting off of the snow.
AllTrails Matthew’s and Pika’s Traverse on Whistler Mountain
Four Lakes Trail
I like this run because of the electric greens of the forest it travels through in Alice Lake Provincial Park. A gentler elevation profile than most of the runs on this list, the Four Lakes Trail climbs 130 metres over 5k. The beauty of this route is that it doesn’t require a sunny day to take full advantage. Vibrant moss and plant life come alive when it’s dripping with rain. When I’ve raced on this trail during the Squamish Off-Road Triathlon, it took me 30 minutes to loop it counter-clockwise.
Best for: Rainy days and true British Columbian rainforest vibes.
Know Before You Go: The trails can get muddy so pack a change of clothes or shoes in the car. Wildlife has been spotted in the area so check advisories before you go. You can sign up for wildlife advisories here.
What to Bring: This is not a high alpine trail so just bring your normal trail running kit here.
Cheakamus Lake
Gorgeous in any weather, Cheakamus Lake’s access trail is a must do for runners
Set in Garibaldi Provincial Park, the route to Cheakamus Lake is smoother than most trails on this list. A mellow 170+ meter climb over 9k will give this run a dreamy feel. It’s about 4.5k to the lake but runners can continue on until the trail intersects with Singing Creek. Make sure to book your day pass in advance as cell reception can be spotty at the trailhead.
Best for: Stunning in any weather, the sheer size of Cheakamus Lake and deep colours will stop runners in their tracks.
Know Before You Go: This trail is also quite popular so run here off-peak hours. You’ll need a day pass.
What to Bring: All the backcountry essentials you can fit in your running vest. Weather can change quickly and cell reception disappears a few minutes into the run.
It was tricky to distill this list down to five but I find myself coming back to them year after year. The novelty of snow walls, the sheer scale of the alpine and the deep beauty of lush rainforest never seems to wear off. I hope you get the chance to run these trails and if so, do it in a way that is safe and has minimal impact on your surrounding environment… AND Let me know!
I’ve missed your go-to short, but sweet, trail of yours leave it in the comments:
