Jane Lakes Trail

Jane Lakes Trail in Whistler, British Columbia is a solid choice if you want a quieter, more remote hike away from the usual resort crowds. It’s a 10.8 km out-and-back with about 650 m of elevation gain, rated challenging mostly because of the access and steady climbing, not because of any sketchy exposure. Plan on around four hours on the move, a bit more if you stop at the lake to hang out.

The start of the Jane Lakes Trail is on a rough logging road, which feels more like a grunt than a hike, but stick with it because the character changes once you hit the forest. After the road section, the trail becomes a more classic Whistler singletrack, weaving through trees and climbing toward the lakes, with a calm, backcountry feel and no lift noise or highway hum in the background.

Recent hikers report that access feels very remote, so don’t expect clear signage or crowds to follow, and make sure your map is downloaded before you lose service. The reward is Jake Lake, which is genuinely beautiful and a great spot to cool off, though you won’t get much of a view of Jane Lake itself from the trail. Best season for Jane Lakes Trail is late spring through fall once the snow has melted off the higher sections, and you’ll want sturdy footwear, extra layers, and enough water and snacks to be self-sufficient out there.