Jump to: Horseshoe Bay | Squamish | Whistler | Pemberton
The Sea to Sky corridor in British Columbia is a hiker’s paradise. For families with toddlers, it’s also the ultimate classroom, playground, device-free, wonder-full venue for our kids to play in.
Our kids are now 2 and 3. They have outgrown the carrier/backpack stage, which actually made things better for mom and dad to get some extra mileage. Nowadays, our hikes are more of a bumble, but that is fine… seeing the world through their point of view is actually an activity that I (and I’m assuming many other parents) find great joy in practicing.
Having lived in the Sea to Sky corridor for over 22 years, I’ve spent a ton of time in these mountains on foot. But none has helped me really understand the ecosystem like a shortened walk for little legs and an in-the-moment attention span.
Our Favourite Hikes With Toddlers in the Sea to Sky
Here are some of our favourite easy, kid-friendly hikes along Highway 99, from Horseshoe Bay to Pemberton and beyond. They each have something unique to offer, with all of them manageable for little legs.
Horseshoe Bay: Start of the Sea-to-Sky Highway
Seaview Walk
This is an old road that was reclaimed into a trail, and is a favourite for locals to stretch their legs and walk the dog. This isn’t much of a hike, but it’s still a safe spot that is also stroller-friendly, so it’s great if you want to break up a road trip before continuing up the Sea-to-Sky highway, or to get the last ounces of energy out before getting in the ferry lineup.
Whytecliff Park
This park has a large grassy area, a decent sized playground, tennis courts, and a great natural trail system. We do warn that the “cliff” in the park name is not for show — it is a long drop from the cliff’s edge. The good news is that there are plenty of safe access points to the water, including a nice rocky beach with logs and millions upon millions of rocks that one can throw into the ocean.
Kid-friendly Hikes near Squamish
Murrin Park
Murrin Park is right off Highway 99 and one of the best easy hikes near Squamish for families. It’s a perfect stop if there’s heavy traffic heading up the corridor. The trail loops around the lake (about 2km) with ample rock-throwing opportunities along the way, if your kid is into that sort of thing. Getting a parking spot here is half the battle, but pretty easy before 10AM, so try to get there early if you can.
Alice Lake
This is an easy walk around the lake from the main parking lot (which can get incredibly busy in the summer). There are bigger loops one can do with some elevation, but for little legs it’s a nice walk around to the far side of the lake. Parents and bigger kids who mountain bike will want to spend some time on the trails around Alice Lake — they are exceptionally good!
Sea to Sky Gondola
Worth a visit if you’re from out of town, and worth an annual pass if you live around here! The gondola takes people up 800m above sea level to an area with well-cleared trails both short and long. The Alpine Alley trail is made specifically for little ones, with cutout animals along the way and information about local ecology. It’s an excellent way to spend a day, or even just a few hours in the afternoon or evening.
Kid-Friendly Hiking Trails in Whistler
Whistler has it all, from leisurely walks on the Valley Trail to Strenuous overnight backpacking missions in the alpine. Somewhere in-between is a good family-friendly hike that will suit any ability (or energy) level. And the best part is, most everywhere is Dog Friendly.
Lost Lake Park
This is a must for any family visiting Whistler. It’s got everything you want in a good summers day…all packed up into one session. Beach time, easy hikes, and a trail network offering a good progression from beginning to intermediate trails make Lost Lake Park the best all-around spot in Whistler for summer fun. Parking is prohibited in the summer because it’s so busy, but there are shuttles from the village and day lots. Alternatively, it’s a 2km walk from the village, which is stroller and wagon friendly.
Emerald Forest
This is a good hike with toddlers in the fall when the rains come and the mushrooms pop out. Summer is fine, but there isn’t much good water nearby to cool off, unless they are on bikes. There’s a pond but the water isn’t exactly free-flowing. However as a forest, the trails are easy and safe, and you can meander back and forth to kill a few hours easily. There are intermediate trails too if there are older siblings or cousins looking to be entertained.
Train Wreck
This old wreck from way back in the mid-20th century is probably one of the most unique hikes in the Sea-to-Sky corridor. It has become a bit of a graffiti museum and decommissioned bike park. It’s only relatively recently that it was on the radar for everyday visitors, thanks to an upgrade to the trails and a bridge over the river. The result is a very photogenic collection of rusted metal amongst some second-growth forest that hardly even knew the train wreck happened. The bridge over the river is a hit, too.
Extra Adventure: Cheakamus Lake
This one is a bit more than a jaunt, but it’s also stroller or wagon-friendly once the kid’s legs get tired (and they will). But this out-and-back walk takes hikers through some of the most majestic old-growth forest that is easily accessible. It’s an 8km drive up a dirt road from the highway at Function Junction, and then another 3km walk in on a well-cleared trail to the lake.
The old-growth forest starts about 1km in. So it’s not for the faint of heart if you have little ones, but well worth it. That’s where the image in this header is from, and we could go on and on about how magical it is there!
Kid-Friendly Trails in Pemberton
One Mile Lake
Right before you enter town from the south side you’ll see One Mile Lake on the right. This lake has a swimming and picnic area for when it’s hot out, or you can walk the boardwalk and trail around the lake for a good kid-friendly loop. This is a popular spot for birders in the morning, so if you have a loud toddler you might not make any friends… however they are usually gone before most kids are up and going.
Nairn Falls
This is a 2km out-and-back hike that isn’t completely flat, so you’ll want to leave the stroller. The scary parts are fenced in, but it’s nature — if it’s raining or your kid likes to move, just keep them in close range. The falls are stunning and the forest is lovely.
Beyond Pemberton
Joffre Lakes Park
This is the iconic spot that blew up on social media about a decade ago. Nowadays you need a reservation to get there, but it’s well worth it. Whether you just hang out at the first lake or are ambitious enough to get to the third, it’s well worth the drive. The drive itself is worth the effort to get out of cell phone range and into a mountain pass of iconic beauty. The one-hour journey from Pemberton to Joffre Lakes takes you up and into a pass that offers jaw-dropping vistas at every bend in the road, rising over 1000m in a matter of 15 minutes. You will get that iconic shot of the turquoise lake with rocky alpine backdrop within 30 seconds of the parking lot… or you can do the hour-and-a-half hike to get right up close and personal with the landscape at lake three.
The Journey Begins
These zones are really just scratching the surface of where you can hike with a toddler in the Sea to Sky. But it sure is a good start. Checking all of these off your list will give weeks of enjoyment. By then, your family might be ready for a bit more challenge.
See you out on the trails!
Leave a Reply