In recent years, Whyte Lake has become a popular year-round hiking spot for locals. It's a wonderful destination for a wet-weather or shoulder-season day, especially when you don't have the time or inclination do something higher or farther.
I've hiked to the lake on three occasions. It's now protected as part of , which at 124 hectares is the largest park administered by the District of West Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»(in the territories of the Musqueam, , and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations).
Hiking to Whyte Lake. Photo: Stephen Hui.
During my most recent visit, we enjoyed a pleasant loop that began at the trailhead off Westport Road, south of the Upper Levels Highway. On the way to the lake, we crossed the old Highway 1 bridge and took the less-travelled path, west of Nelson and Whyte creeks. After lunch on the viewpoint dock, we followed the back the start.
We reached the lake, which is also home to a celebrated outhouse, in 1.5 hours. The round trip lasted 2.5 hours.
Trail to Whyte Lake viewpoint. Photo: Stephen Hui.
That's a very short hike. For a longer and more challenging excursion, continue past the lake to find the . A right turn will take you up Black Mountain and into , where worthwhile destinations, such as the and , await.
