Whistler Parks and Lakes IconNita Lake is a tranquil little lake located in Creekside, just 4 kilometres south of Whistler Village.  Whistler's beautiful Valley Trail runs right along the edge of Nita Lake and continues past the beautiful Nita Lake Lodge.  A small gravel beach with a creek flowing through it gives the park consistently good fishing.  Two picnic tables sit in a forest clearing next to the creek.  At the end of the lake there are two piers.  One is a public pier and the other is for Nita Lake Lodge guests.

Whistler & Garibaldi Hiking

Easy Hiking Trail WhistlerAlexander Falls  Moderate Hiking Trail Whistler Dog FriendlyAncient Cedars  Moderate Hiking Trail WhistlerBlack Tusk  Pay Use Hiking Trail WhistlerBlackcomb Mountain  Easy Hiking Trail WhistlerBrandywine Falls  Moderate/Hard Hiking Trail Whistler Dog FriendlyBrandywine Meadows  Moderate/Hard Hiking Trail Whistler Dog FriendlyBrew Lake  Easy Hiking Trail WhistlerCallaghan Lake  Moderate Hiking Trail WhistlerCheakamus Lake  Whistler Hiking Trail EasyCheakamus River  Whistler Hiking Trail HardCirque Lake  Whistler Hiking Trail EasyFlank Trail  Moderate Hiking Trail WhistlerGaribaldi Lake  Moderate Hiking Trail WhistlerGaribaldi Park  Moderate Hiking Trail WhistlerHelm Creek  Moderate Hiking Trail Whistler Dog FriendlyJane Lakes  Joffre Lakes Hike in Whistler in SeptemberJoffre Lakes  Moderate Hiking Trail Whistler Dog FriendlyKeyhole Hot Springs  Hiking Trail Hard Dog FriendlyLogger’s Lake  Whistler Hiking Trail EasyMadeley Lake  Moderate/Hard Hiking Trail Whistler Dog FriendlyMeager Hot Springs Easy Hiking Trail WhistlerNairn Falls  Whistler Hiking Trail HardNewt Lake  Moderate Hiking Trail WhistlerPanorama Ridge  Whistler Hiking Trail EasyParkhurst Ghost Town  Hiking Trail Hard Dog FriendlyRainbow Falls  Moderate Hiking Trail WhistlerRainbow Lake  Moderate/Hard Hiking Trail Whistler Dog FriendlyRing Lake  Moderate Hiking Trail WhistlerRusset Lake  Whistler Hiking Trail EasySea to Sky Trail  Easy Hiking Trail WhistlerSkookumchuck Hot Springs  Easy Hiking Trail WhistlerSloquet Hot Springs  Sproatt East  Moderate Hiking Trail WhistlerSproatt West  Moderate Hiking Trail WhistlerTaylor Meadows  Whistler Hiking Trail EasyTrain Wreck  Hiking Trail Hard - Whistler TrailsWedgemount Lake  Pay Use Hiking Trail WhistlerWhistler Mountain

Whistler Parks & Lakes

Whistler Parks and LakesAlpha Lake Park  Whistler Parks and LakesAlta Lake Park  Whistler Parks and LakesBlueberry Park  Whistler Parks and LakesGreen Lake Park  Whistler Parks and LakesLakeside Park  Whistler Parks and LakesLost Lake Park  Whistler Parks and LakesMeadow Park  Whistler Parks and LakesNita Lake Park  Whistler Parks and LakesRainbow Park  Whistler Parks and LakesWayside Park

Nita Lake is comparatively quiet as compared to other Whistler lakes and parks.  The main reason is that it lacks a sizable beach and facilities to go along with it.  Though this may seem like a drawback, it is also an attraction.  On a busy summer day you may find hundreds of people in and around the neighbouring Alpha Lake, yet less than a dozen on Nita Lake.  It is relaxing and serene when everywhere else is not.  Nita Lake Park is just 4 kilometres from Whistler Village along the Valley Trail and walking, running or biking there is a great option.  From the Village the Valley Trail takes you along the edge of Whistler Golf Course, then past Blueberry ParkLakeside Park and Wayside Park.  Blueberry Park is a wonderful, deep forest and secluded feeling park on the edge of Alta Lake.  Lakeside Park is a big, lively and fun park on Alta Lake with boat rentals, concession stand, piers and a sandy beach.  Wayside Park is similar to Lakeside Park, though a bit smaller, and is near the end of Alta Lake.  Alta Lake and Nita Lake are separated by just a few dozen metres and the Valley Trail branches in three directions here.  Nita Lake to the south and to the north the Valley Trail goes on either side of Alta Lake.

On foot, expect to take an hour or two to walk from the Village to Nita Lake.  On a bike you could easily bike there in 20 minutes.  If you would rather drive you can park at the end of Drew Drive, just steps from the public pier.  This is also the best place to park if you have a canoe, paddleboard or boat to use on the lake.  There are two interesting information boards in Nita Lake Park.  One depicts the the amazing work of the Whistler Fisheries Stewardship Group.  Established in 1996, the group assessed local creeks to find potential spawning habitats.  Development in the area of Nita Lake in the past century disturbed what was once a thriving kokanee and rainbow trout population.

Best Whistler Parks - Nita Lake Park

In 2000, the group went to work restoring spawning areas in the hopes of encouraging kokanee to return to spawn.  In 2009 they reported success and continuing efforts are underway to protect and enhance the areas fish population.  Another informational board tells of the construction process involved in building the Valley Trail past the lake...  "The construction of the Valley Trail was no easy task.  It called for the excavation of land in areas that were difficult to access and blasting through substantial amounts of rock.... One morning Jack Demidoff worked his excavator along the shoreline, he lost his grip on a tree he was attempting to remove.  The 20,000 pound excavator tipped backwards and fell towards the lake, breaking through eighteen inches of ice and sinking to the bottom.  Jack managed to maintain his composure enough to remain in the machine until it came to a rest, break a window and swim to the surface.  Apart from cold and shock, the only injury he sustained was a missing finger."

Nita Lake Park Map

There are a few parking options for Nita Lake Park and all of them are pretty good.  The dead end of Drew Drive has a room to park just steps from the lake.  This is the best place if you have a canoe or paddleboard to drop in the lake.  There is the main above ground and underground parking area in Creekside near the base of Whistler that is convenient and free to use and just a short, 5 minute walk to the lake.  Keep in mind that some sections have a two hour time limit on parking.  You can also park at the beautiful Nita Lake Lodge parking lot, however you should be staying or eating at the hotel to do that, which of course is a great idea.  Just a 5 minute walk from the Nita Lake Lodge is Alpha Lake, where you will find lots of room for parking and Nita Lake Park is just a 10 minute stroll along the beautiful Valley Trail.

Best Whistler Parks - Nita Lake Park

Nita Lake Park is dog friendly, especially as it sits on the beautiful, huge and very dog friendly Valley Trail system.  Other Whistler parks such as Rainbow and Alpha Lake, that have specific areas within them that are dog friendly.  At Blueberry Park the whole place is a dog paradise.  Dogs are not welcome in many of the nearby hiking trails such as the Rainbow Lake trail as well as all of the Garibaldi Provincial Park trails, so finding a hiking trail in Whistler to go with your dog can be annoyingly restrictive.  Some good dog friendly trails in Whistler to try are the Sea to Sky Trail, Whistler Train Wreck, Nairn Falls Provincial Park, and Ancient Cedars.

Best Whistler Parks - Nita Lake Park

There are no toilet facilities at Nita Lake Park, however, there are excellent toilet facilities at nearby Alpha Lake Park.  Proper toilets and sinks located at the main beach area next to the kids play park.  These are open during daylight hours.  If they are closed, you will find washrooms just a short 5 minute walk away from Alpha Lake, along the Valley Trail at the beautiful Nita Lake Lodge.  It has an amazing restaurant with views of Nita Lake as well as a fantastic lounge area with excellent food that is surprisingly reasonably priced considering the upscale atmosphere and views.  There is also a great little take-away sandwich shop near the entrance to the hotel with a great selection of sandwiches.  The Nita Lake Lodge is adjacent to Whistler's train station which has convenient restrooms as well.  If you are on the Valley Trail you will see the train station between Alpha Lake and Nita Lake.  It is hard to miss as there is an enclosed pedestrian overpass, over the Valley Trail.

Whistler Train Station at Nita Lake

Nita Lake Park is very small and not for camping.  If you want a place to put up your tent you have to look a little beyond Creekside.  Whistler Train Wreck is a great place to try, just four kilometres south of Creekside.  Green River has some amazing spots for a tent near the turnoff to Wedgemount Lake 8 kilometres north of Creekside.  Parkhurst Ghost Town is amazing for camping, located on the far side of Green Lake not far from the Sea to Sky Trail.  These are free places to camp so don't expect visible camping facilities or signs.  Hotels, B&B's and hostels are of course plentiful in Whistler.  Nita Lake Park is located in Creekside, four kilometres south of Whistler Village.  The Nita Lake Lodge is a beautiful hotel that sits at one end of the lake and a great, though expensive place to stay.  Legends Hotel is a short, five minute walk away at the base of Whistler Mountain.

Best Whistler Parks Map

Whistler Parks & Beaches!

Lakeside Park on the shore of Alta Lake in Whistler is a beautiful beach park just a short distance from Whistler Village.  Located on the Valley Trail, it ...
Read more
Wayside Park in Whistler is one of several idyllic parks along the shore of Alta LakeRainbow Park, Lakeside Park and Blueberry Park are also along the ...
Read more
Rainbow Park is one of Whistler's most popular sightseeing, picnicking, dog walking, relaxing and swimming beaches and for good reason.  The beach is south ...
Read more
Alpha Lake Park is a beautiful little park on the shores of Alpha Lake in Creekside, just 5 kilometres south of Whistler Village.  Located partway along ...
Read more

Whistler's Best Hiking Trails!

Helm Creek is a cute, meandering creek that winds its way from beyond Black Tusk, down the valley to the wonderful campground that takes its name. From the Helm Creek campground, Helm Creek descends further ...
Read more
Sloquet Hot Springs is a wonderfully wild set of shallow, man-made pools fed by a small, all natural, and very hot, waterfall. The pools stretch from the waterfall to the large and crashing Sloquet River. The ...
Read more
Panorama Ridge is easily one of the most amazing hikes in Garibaldi Provincial Park.  The 15 kilometre(9.3 mile) hike from the trailhead at Rubble Creek to Panorama Ridge takes you through beautiful and deep ...
Read more
Whistler has an absurd number of wonderful and free hiking trails and Parkhurst Ghost Town certainly ranks as the most unusual and interesting. Parkhurst was a little logging town perched on the edge of Green ...
Read more

Whistler & Garibaldi Park Best Hiking by Month!

December hiking in Whistler is mainly done on snowshoes, though not always. If it hasn't snowed much recently then trails such as Whistler Train Wreck and ...
Read more
There are plenty of beautiful and free snowshoe trails in Whistler and Garibaldi Provincial Park.  From the surreal paintings of Whistler Train Wreck to ...
Read more
February is a great month for snowshoeing in Whistler and Garibaldi Park. The days slowly get longer, but the temperatures stay consistently cold.  Expect ...
Read more
March is usually a snowy month in Whistler, though in 2024 not a whole lot of snow has fallen. Snowshoes are already not necessary for lots of trails in and ...
Read more

The Amazing West Coast Trail

Explore BC Hiking Destinations!

Whistler Hiking Trails

Hiking in Whistler is spectacular and wonderfully varied. Looking at a map of Whistler you see an extraordinary spider web of hiking trails that are unbelievably numerous. Easy trails, moderate trails and challenging hiking trails are all available. Another marvellous ...
Read more

Squamish Hiking Trails

Squamish is located in the midst of a staggering array of amazing hiking trails. Garibaldi Provincial Park sprawls alongside Squamish and up and beyond Whistler. Tantalus Provincial Park lays across the valley to the west and the wonderfully remote Callaghan Valley ...
Read more

Vancouver Hiking Trails

Vancouver is surrounded by seemingly endless hiking trails and mountains to explore.  Massive parks line up one after another.  Mount Seymour Provincial Park, Lynn Canyon Park, Grouse Mountain, Cypress Park and the enormous Garibaldi Park all contribute to Vancouver ...
Read more

Clayoquot Hiking Trails

Clayoquot Sound has a staggering array of hiking trails within it.  Between Tofino and Ucluelet, Pacific Rim Park has several wilderness and beach trails, each one radically different from the last.  The islands in the area are often Provincial parks on their own with ...
Read more

Victoria Hiking Trails

Victoria has a seemingly endless number of amazing hiking trails.  Most take you to wild and beautiful Pacific Ocean views and others take you to tranquil lakes in beautiful BC Coastal Rainforest wilderness.  Regional Parks and Provincial Parks are everywhere you turn in ...
Read more

The West Coast Trail

The West Coast Trail was created after decades of brutal and costly shipwrecks occurred along the West Coast of Vancouver Island.  One shipwreck in particular was so horrific, tragic and unbelievable that it forced the creation of a trail along the coast, which ...
Read more