There are plenty of moderately challenging Vancouver hiking trails to choose from. These are five trails that stand out from the rest. Not too difficult, yet all have sensational views. Hollyburn, Dog Mountain and Mt Seymour are at the end of beautiful drives to reach the trailheads.
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 lake up close, you quickly come to believe it. The lake sits in an almost cartoonish looking, volcano-shaped bowl, with one side of the bowl a crumbling array of truck sized boulders leading down to the lake.
The crater that Logger’s Lake sits in was a volcano that pushed through the glacial ice in this valley about 10000 years ago. As the lava cooled it formed the wonderful basalt ridge that is crumbling into valley. As Logger’s Lake sits deep in this ancient volcano's vent, it is sheltered from the wind and soaks up the suns rays into the dark boulders all around. As a result makes it the warmest lake in Whistler, though most other lakes around are glacier fed(via rivers and creeks), so the comparison is not entirely fair. The surrounding cliffs and forest also add to the tranquility of the lake. Located a bit off the radar for most and requiring a short logging road drive and then a very steep, but short hike to get to also contributes to its serenity. This serenity is broken at least once a year, however, when a new tradition formed in 2012. A yearly "Flash Mob Floatie Party" began, where hundreds congregate at Logger’s Lake, most with rubber boats for an outdoor party, DJ an all. But aside from that one hilarious day, Logger’s Lake is a secret-feeling oasis. Another, though unexpected draw to Logger’s Lake, is its good fishing. Occasionally the lake is stocked with rainbow trout and because of the steep shoreline, casting from almost anywhere along the shore is easy and effective. The ridge directly behind you, if you are facing Logger’s Lake and the log pier is an excellent place to hike. Appropriately named the Crater Rim Trail, this trail takes you quickly up to a tremendous vantage point over the lake. Further along and up the ridge you reach the outer edge of the volcano vent and can look outward across the valley in the direction of Cheakamus Lake. The trail then bends to the right and ascends back towards Logger’s Lake. Bearing left at the next junction takes you further along the Crater Rim Trail, while bearing right takes you back down to Logger’s Lake.
Parking and Trails to Logger's Lake
With construction in Cheakamus Crossing blocking driving access to the Logger's Lake trailhead parking until at least 2024, you now have to park further away and hike in. Most park in the big Whistler Interpretive Forest parking lot just off the Sea to Sky Highway and hike 3.9 kilometres to Logger's Lake which takes about an hour. A good alternative if you want to park closer is to park at the small, unmarked parking area near MacLaurin's Crossing a couple kilometres up the Cheakamus Lake FSR. This is an excellent option and the hike to Logger's Lake is just 1 kilometre and only takes about 20 minutes. At Logger's Lake you then can continue on the easy Logger's Lake trail which loops around the lake in just 1 kilometre, or venture up the more challenging Crater Rim trail which is also a loop trail which brings you back to the lake in 4 kilometres.
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