Hike Rating 9Keyhole Hot Springs(sometimes called Pebble Creek Hot Springs) is located 100 kilometres from Whistler(Village Gate Blvd). Though most of the 100 kilometres is on logging roads, it is driveable by most cars without any trouble. The massive Innergex hydroelectric project has turned this once quiet wilderness into a war-zone. On the plus side, the old logging roads near Keyhole Hot Springs are now well maintained and smooth.

  • Beautiful drive to get there with lots of sights
  • Pools at the edge of Upper Lillooet River
  • Evidence of Mt Meager's eruption 2400 years ago
  • Wild & free place in a gorgeous setting
  • Campsite is large, spread out & scenic
  • Drive through the debris field from 2010
  • Trail is packed with geological curiosities
  • The impressive Keyhole Falls is nearby
  • Upper Lillooet River is beautiful!
  • Often crowded or closed by park wardens

Whistler & Garibaldi Park

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/Hard 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  Easy Hiking Trail WhistlerParkhurst Ghost Town  Hiking Trail ModerateRainbow 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  Moderate/Hard Hiking Trail Whistler Dog FriendlySproatt 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

  Winter Hiking GuideJanuary  Winter Hiking GuideFebruary  Spring Hiking GuideMarch  Spring Hiking GuideApril  Spring Hiking GuideMay  Summer Hiking GuideJune  Summer Hiking GuideJuly  Summer Hiking GuideAugust  Fall Hiking GuideSeptember  Fall Hiking GuideOctober  Fall Hiking GuideNovember  Winter Hiking GuideDecember

2014 saw the permanent closing of the old hot springs trail and a new trail built. Another benefit of the construction is the year-round maintenance of the access road which allows access to the springs even in the winter.  The spectacular Keyhole Falls is located just a couple kilometres upriver from the hot springs and very close to ground zero of the Innergex mammoth construction effort. If you are brave enough to drive to the Keyhole Falls trail, just continue driving past the Lillooet River Trail. You will see a large, unmarked parking area and hard to find trail just before the km 50.  If you have doubts that you are parking in the right spot, just get out of your vehicle and listen for a moment. The deep rumbling of Keyhole Falls can be faintly heard from where you park. Climb the gravel embankment(don't cross the vehicle bridge) and look for the faint trail, then follow the faint rumbling from the falls as it soon becomes a thundering echo far below. The trail is just a couple hundred metres long from the parking area. The reason you have to be brave to get to Keyhole Falls is because of the colossal war zone you have to drive through to get to it.  It is a bit daunting, however, access to the area is still allowed.  You just have to be very aware of being considerate to the massive construction vehicles scrambling to get the job done.  There are large signs indicated where you cannot go, which makes navigating to the falls more manageable. Back at the Lillooet River Trail, you will find a trailhead parking area, a small sign and permanent outhouse.  A new sign now marks the start of the route to Keyhole Hot Springs.

This new trail is 2 kilometres long and moderately challenging as it skirts the rugged terrain along the Upper Lillooet River.  A couple of sections are very steep, and it is easy to stray from the trail. Along the trail there are at least two fantastic and inviting areas along the trail (beside the river) perfect for camping.  Closer to Keyhole Hot Springs, the very nice camping area high up, overlooking the river is still as it has always been.  Nice, rustic, wild and of course, unmaintained. The new Lillooet River Trail is well marked with flagging tape and tree reflectors as well as the occasional bench to sit on.  Just like the old trail, this new trail is often challenging to navigate. Though it is rarely steep, as the old trail mostly is, this one is a zig-zag through a thick forest and occasional scramble through truck sized boulders.  The trail, at a moderate pace should take about a half an hour from your car to the springs. If you have any interest in geology, however, the trail may take you hours.  The crumbing cliffs reveal an astounding array of recent volcanic activity and you find yourself staring in amazement at the extraordinarily beautiful rocks.

Keyhole Hot Springs Map v33

Trail to Keyhole Hot Springs

Keyhole Hot Springs

Keyhole Hot Springs

Keyhole Hot Springs

Keyhole Falls From Above

Driving to Keyhole Hot Springs v2

Discover Keyhole Hot Springs at HikeInWhistler.com

Garibaldi Park Camping Gear Rent

Hike in Whistler 11

 

St Mark's Summit is a relatively easy way to get hiking deep into Vancouver's amazing mountains.  Starting this hike at Cypress means you drive most of the elevation.  Even though you still have another ...
Read more
The Goldie Lake Trail in Mount Seymour Provincial Park is a cute, self-guided interpretive trail that runs around this small mountain lake. Although it is less than 4 kilometres for the normal loop trail, ...
Read more
This easy and strikingly beautiful park is yet another locals favourite.  So close to downtown Vancouver at only 30 minutes away, yet you feel as if you are in a remote forest.  There are a few different ...
Read more
Coliseum Mountain is one of several beautiful hikes in the Lynn Valley's beautiful Lynn Headwaters Regional Park.  It's not terribly difficult, but it is very long.  12 kilometres from the trailhead to the ...
Read more

The Ancient Cedars trail is well marked and well worn and only gradually uphill for the 2.5 kilometre hike.  At the Ancient Cedars forest there is a short circle trail that takes you throughout the giants ...
Read more
Whistler has an absurd number of wonderful and free hiking trails and Parkhurst Ghost Town certainly ranks as one of the most unusual, exotic and interesting. Parkhurst was a little logging town perched on ...
Read more
Logger’s Lake is an amazing little lake hidden up in the deep forest above the more well known Cheakamus River. The lake, almost unbelievably exists in a long extinct volcano. However, as soon as you see the ...
Read more