Whyte Lake via Old Helipad Route and Nelson Creek Trail

Whyte Lake via Old Helipad Route and Nelson Creek Trail in West Vancouver is a solid step up from the standard Whyte Lake walk. This 5.1 km loop has about 261 m of gain and tops out around 344 m, so it’s rated moderate and usually takes around 1 hour 50 minutes, especially if you stop at the lake. It’s a nice mix of quiet, rough singletrack and the more social, well-used main Whyte Lake and Nelson Creek trails.

Clockwise is the way to go on this loop. The Old Helipad Route on the west side is steeper, more rugged, and has short rock scrambles, exposed roots, and some degraded sections near the Arbutus grove, with cool microclimates, arbutus trees, mushrooms, and flowers to keep it interesting. Once you drop back to the main Whyte Lake trail, the grade eases off, the path gets wider, you’ll see more people and off-leash dogs, and you roll down along Nelson Creek with easier footing and some highway noise in the background.

Right now, expect muddy and slippery patches, especially after rain, and some rock sections that are sketchy when wet, so sturdy footwear and poles beat sandals, despite what a few people manage in summer. The Old Helipad start can be confusing and isn’t well marked, and one path near the lake is broken so you’ll need to detour, but overall navigation is reasonable once you’re past the first bit. There’s pay parking at the small Westport Road lot that fills quickly, the trail sees fewer people on the west side, and Whyte Lake itself has a dock that’s great for a break or a cold dip, even though signs technically say no swimming; spring through fall is best, and in winter the rocks and roots can turn icy fast.