With lots of snow and a paved, plowed road to 875m, the Callaghan Valley is a great area for Backcountry Skiing and Snowshoeing.

Fees

There are two nordic ski operators at the head of the valley: Callaghan Country and Whistler Olympic Park. Together, they jointly operate the ski area called “Ski Callaghan”.

Whistler Olympic Park charges a $10 per vehicle parking and access fee for backcountry users. Even if you park in overnight parking lot at Alexander Falls you still have to pay the fee to access the backcountry through Whistler Olympic Park. Backcountry users may use a few short sections of the groomed nordic ski trails to reach the designated backcountry trailheads for Hanging Lake and Beverley Creek. To use other nordic ski trails, you must purchase a nordic trail ticket.

On Weekends, Callaghan Country offers a shuttle service to take skiers up to Callaghan Lake for $46. A nordic trail pass is included in the price for the ski back down to the base area.

Parking

Due to heavy snowfall, parking is limited to designated areas off the main road.

Whistler Olympic Park

Gate hours are 9-4:30 on weekdays, 8:30-4:30 on weekends. Overnight parking is not permitted.

Day Lodge parking

Park here for Hanging Lake. The Day Lodge has change rooms, showers, food and a fireplace to dry out at the end of a wet day. Note that backcountry users are not allowed to use the route up the ski jump cat road that is suggested in John Baldwin’s guidebook, Exploring the Coast Mountains on Skis. Follow signs to the Hanging Lake trailhead instead.

Biathlon Range parking

Park here for Hanging Lake or Beverley Creek. There is a public washroom in the Biathlon Building. The route to Hanging Lake starts on the far side of the Biathlon Penalty Loop. For Beverley Creek, head west under the bridge and pick up the trail heading down hill on the other side.

Callaghan Country

The Callaghan Country parking lot is for users purchasing nordic trail tickets only. Park here for Telemagique Ridge or the Callaghan Lake shuttle.

Alexander Falls Recreation Site

This parking lot can be used for early morning starts, late returns or overnight trips. It’s a 200m walk along the side of the road to pick up the XC trails near Callaghan Country base area. Parking here will add about 2km of groomed XC trails each way to Hanging Lake, and 1.5km each way to Beverley Creek. You can use these trails with a Backcountry Parking and Access Ticket from Whistler Olympic Park.

Metal Dome

Parking for Metal Dome is 2km south of Ski Callaghan, before the bridge over Callaghan Creek. Turn left onto a road marked for Blackcomb Dog Sled tours. A small parking area is cleared just past the turnoff for backcountry users. Follow the road from the top of the parking lot heading NW to reach the NE side of Metal Dome.

Trails and suggested ski tours

For more information see the VOC Wiki pages on Whistler Olympic Park and Metal Dome

Useful Links

Hanging_lake_sign

Scott Nelson with sign posted at Hanging Lake Trailhead