Whistler Valley Trail Enhancements
Two popular sections of the Whistler Valley trail will re-open for summer use. The multi-use trail has a number of noticeable gaps that the RMOW is working hard to close.
The Valley Trail from the north end of Lorimer Road to Rainbow Park, which has been closed intermittently since the fall is anticipated to permanently re-open mid-July. This section of the trail has been closed to accommodate the completion of installation of the new Lorimer Road pipeline, a significant upgrade to Whistler's water system.
Dave Patterson, Manager of Parks Operations for the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW), notes that the municipality’s work on the Valley Trail is ongoing, from planning extensions of the trail to maintenance of sections that are over 20 years old.
“The Valley Trail is a core amenity in the community. It’s a major draw for people,” says Patterson, noting that the trail enjoys four-season usage. “We try to make it as accessible as possible and are working toward our vision to connect all neighbourhoods in Whistler.”
Work on sections of trail between the Riverside Campground and Spruce Grove neighbourhoods is expected to be complete in the fall of this year, with much of this work being funded through developer commitments. The existing trail between the Rainbow Development site and Whistler Secondary School is scheduled to complete on June 15. As well, future expansion plans include work north of Alpine and south of Spring Creek.
The RMOW has budgeted funding for construction of a bridge across 19 Mile Creek, west of the existing bridge on Highway 99 in the Five-Year Financial Plan. This would provide a valley trail access between Alpine Meadows and Rainbow neighbourhoods.
“The completed lit section of the trail will be a desirable link once [Rainbow’s] up and running as a community,” says Patterson.
The RMOW received $375,000 in federal and provincial funding from the Towns for Tomorrow program to complete the Valley Trail from Function Junction to Spring Creek. This funding will assist making Whistler’s newest, post-Games neighbourhood accessible via the Valley Trail, encouraging residents to walk or cycle. The trail will link Whistler Village to the new Cheakamus Crossing neighbourhood as well as the Sea to Sky Trail.
The Valley Trail is a valuable community resource for both recreation and transportation. With motorized vehicles prohibited, the Valley Trail offers a quiet alternative for people’s commutes, as well as a recreational amenity for residents and visitors alike.
The 35 kilometre multi-use community trail runs from Spring Creek in the south to Emerald Estates in the north. Designed to connect Whistler’s neighbourhoods to Whistler Village, Creekside and the community’s numerous destination parks, the Valley Trail provides an essential part of the Sea to Sky Trail. The vision for this project is to see the completion of a 190-kilometre trail extending from Squamish to D’Arcy, connecting communities throughout the corridor with an off-road path for self-propelled use.