Hike Rating 8Russet Lake is a surreal little paradise that lays at the base of The Fissile. The Fissile is the strikingly bronze mountain visible from Whistler Village.  From the Village look into the distance at the Peak2Peak Gondola hanging between Blackcomb Mountain and Whistler Mountain and you will see The Fissile. Its pyramid shape in the distance perfectly separates the two mountains.

  • At least 5 amazing routes to this hidden paradise
  • The Fissile looms ominously over the lake
  • Overlord Glacier fills the valley below and across
  • Modern Kees and Claire Hut at the lake
  • Every direction you look is shockingly beautiful
  • Adit Lakes is a hidden world nearby
  • Scrambling routes up & beyond the Fissile!
  • Musical Bumps Trail to Russet is very beautiful
  • Russet Lake is not as beautiful as other lakes
  • The old 5k access road is inaccessible due to slide

Whistler & Garibaldi Park

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Hiking by Month

  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

Though Russet Lake is not terribly impressive in terms of size or colour, the valley around it is remarkably beautiful. The colours change from moment to moment in and extraordinary way. The distinctive colour of The Fissile and the stark grey of the mountains around contrast amazingly with the blue of the lake and green grass in the valley. So many different factors fill the place with colour.  There are several ways to get to hike Russet Lake.  The Singing Pass trail from the base of Whistler Mountain near the Whistler Gondola. The Musical Bumps trail that begins near the top of the Whistler Gondola. The High Note Trail that begins at the top of the Peak Chair on Whistler Mountain. There is an increasingly popular route that begins from Blackcomb Mountain.  And finally, a very infrequently hiked route from Cheakamus Lake that runs along Singing Creek. In short, the three ways to get to Russet Lake are 1. Musical Bumps (direct route and beautiful), 2. High Note Trail (a bit longer but even more beautiful), and the Singing Pass trail (not as nice as the previous two and constantly uphill, but no expensive gondola charge).  All three routes are have signs and well established trails. None are very difficult with the exception of being long trails. Though each can be done in a day, 28 kilometres of hiking in one day is quite a long way.  Russet Lake is a beautiful place to camp.  The recently built Kees and Claire hut is available to sleep in for a fee.

There is a considerable amount of exploring available in the valley around Russet Lake. The Fissile is a difficult but very feasible hike from Russet Lake.  Below Russet Lake is a very accessible glacier as well as a bonanza of glacier formed landscape features, inviting hours of interesting exploration.  Above Russet Lake there is a beautiful snow covered ridge that commands incredible views all around and if you have the energy makes for a spectacular tent site.

Russet Lake Map v20

Musical Bumps Trail to Russet Lake

Russet Lake Via Musical Bumps

Musical Bumps Flute Summit

Aerial View of The Fissile and Russet Lake

Overlord and The Fissile

Russet Lake Sunset

Whistler Mountain Russet Lake Map v20

Discover Russet Lake at HikeInWhistler.com

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