Watersprite Lake (Winter Route)

Watersprite Lake (Winter Route) near Squamish is a solid choice if you want a real workout with a big payoff. This 15.3 km out-and-back route climbs about 743 m to roughly 1470 m, and most people take just over five hours. It’s rated challenging for a reason, but the grade is mostly friendly until the final push, where things get steep and spicy.

The winter route to Watersprite Lake starts out fairly flat along old roads and gentle forest, then gradually funnels you into the valley with big Coast Mountain views opening up. Once you hit the boulder and meadow sections and start climbing toward the lake, the terrain gets rougher and more confusing, especially with criss-crossing ski and snowshoe tracks. On a clear day the views at the lake are huge, with a dramatic alpine bowl and a small hut sitting right above the shoreline, though you need to pre-book and pay through BCMC if you want access to the hut interior.

Current reports say you should treat this as a true winter objective, not a shortcut to the summer Watersprite Lake trail. The winter route can be poorly marked and overgrown when snow is low, and it’s easy to get off track if you’re breaking trail after a storm, especially near the valley bottom and final climb. Snowshoes are usually needed from the start, poles help a lot on the last steep section, and you’ll want solid navigation plus a high-clearance AWD or 4x4 with winter tires and possibly chains for the rough Manquam Forest Service Road to the trailhead.