Parkhurst Ghost Town Loop

Parkhurst Ghost Town Loop in Whistler is a quirky mix of forest walk, old logging relics, and Green Lake views, wrapped into a mellow 7.6 km loop. With only about 230 m of gain and a max elevation around 743 m, it’s an easy hike on paper and usually takes just over 2 hours, but it feels more like an exploration than a simple stroll. The draw here isn’t big mountain scenery so much as the weird, fading history of the abandoned Parkhurst logging town.

Hiking the Parkhurst Ghost Town Loop counterclockwise gives you the more interesting terrain first, with shaded forest, short ups and downs, rocky sections, and a neat little waterfall by an old bridge. You’ll cross train tracks, wander past mossy cars and the last standing cabin, and can drop down to the shore of Green Lake for a quiet viewpoint. The second half trends easier and more open, often along dirt road and under power lines, so most people agree the “fun” part is the first half and the “get back to the car” part is the return.

Recent hikers report a mix of conditions: some sections are well marked, others overgrown, with fallen trees, spider webs, and a few confusing junctions, so download a map app and keep it handy. In summer it can be buggy, dusty, and a bit brushy; in winter and shoulder season, snowshoes or microspikes may be needed, and the ghost town can vanish under deep snow. You can drive a bit farther up the road with a higher-clearance vehicle to shorten the approach, but expect rough bridges, roots, and the odd detour, and don’t come here for polished views—come for a quiet, slightly scruffy wander just outside Whistler.