Whistler Olympic Park

Background

There are two seperate nordic skiing operations in the Callaghan Valley - Whistler Olympic Park and Callaghan Country. Callaghan Country operates the western trails in the Callaghan Creek drainage, and Whistler Olympic Park operates the eastern trails in the Madeley Creek drainage.

Whistler Olympic Park Rules

All backcountry skiing or snowshoeing parties must register at the new Day Lodge in the morning to get a special parking pass. This pass will allow you to park overnight, and/or leave through the gate after normal hours. The parking pass is free.
There is a $6 per person fee to use the XC trails for backcountry access. Only skeirs on AT or Tele gear qualify for the reduced fee (no skinny XC skis). For safety, the normal one way trail rules must be followed. This is the best way to access the backcountry around Madeley Lake, which is about 5km each way on the groomed trails.
There is no fee to access the backcountry without using the groomed XC trails. However, the waiver and free parking pass are still required. Please be careful when crossing XC ski trails and always yield to XC skiers. . There is currently a flagged route that follows the ridge west of Beverley creek then rejoins the creek higher up.
Parties that arrive before the daylodge is open, should look for a sign in book near the door. Sign yourself in with your destination, and leave a note on the dash of your car.
The XC ski trails and the 21 mile creek watershed (Rainbow Lake) are closed to dogs. This closure includes the ski touring loop from Hanging Lake over to Beverley Creek and ascents of Rainbow Mountain from the south and west.
The ski jump service road is closed to backcountry skiers for safety purposes. Please do not use this route. Instead, access Hanging Lake from the Biathlon Spectator Parking Lot.

Please follow the above rules or we may lose access priveledges. In particular, don't get caught skiing on an XC trail without the $6 ticket. If you really want to use the trail, $6 isn't much to ask.

Anyone who is interrested in helping out with developing the trails should contact me. Scott Nelson

Free Backcountry Access Routes

There are 2 suggested BC access routes that minimize XC trail crossings. These routes may be used at no charge, but you must check in and sign a waiver at the Day Lodge first.

During competitive events, one or more of these routes may be closed. Be sure to check with staff at the Day Lodge.

Biathlon Range To Hanging Lake

Park in the Biathlon Spectator Parking lot (P8) located on the left as you drive towards the Biathlon building. Head into the forest east of the Biathlon Range, and climb gradually east parallel to the outermost XC trails. There is a road here which is reserved for snowmobile/snowcat use by the XC area staff. Do not use this road, and do not use the outermost XC trail as it is for downhill traffic only and XC skiers may be going very fast around some blind corners.

Biathlon Range To Beverley Creek

Park in the Biathlon Spectator Parking lot (P8) located on the left as you drive towards the Biathlon building. On the far NW side of lot P8 is a tall light pole. From the pole head NW, crossing the Biathlon connector trail and the Olympic Biathlon loop trail. Turn north down a hill then parallel the Madeley Creek loop trail to a bridge over Beverley Creek. Cross the bridge and head into the forest on the right. Do not go up Beverley creek, but rather head NW into the next drainage to the west where a flagged route begins. The flagged route rejoins higher up, above a canyon section. This access route is closed during all Biathlon competitions, as it crosses the Biathlon race course.

Backcountry Access Routes using XC Trails

These routes require you buy the $6 backcountry access pass:

Day Lodge to Hanging Lake

This area has only one way trails, so the outgoing and incoming routes are different.

Pick up Olympic XC Blue going up from the Daylodge / Stadium area. Follow it to the top of the first hill.
Cross over to Olympic XC Red and turn right.
Take a shortcut on Olympic XC Red to avoid going up and back down a hill
Take another shortcut on Olympic XC Red to stay on the perimeter of the WOP boundary. Follow this trail up then head up the valley on the right. Please Do not use the snowmobile access roads.

To return:

ski down the creek from Hanging Lake until you hit Olympic XC Red. Keep right on this one way trail
An optional shortcut is available to cut off some of the flatter part of the trail
keep on Olympix XC red going downhill until it reaches the stadium area

Biathlon Range to Madeley Lake

Park in Lot P8 and head east past the overpass on the Olympic Biathlon Trail.
Drop down a hill heading north to reach the Madelely Creek Loop trail.
Follow the XC trails north. The recommended route is:
- Madelely Creek trail
- Norweigan Woods
- Lunch Lake
- Madelely Road
Return via the same trails. Norwegian Woods and Madeley Creek are one way trails, but you can take the higher branch of Norwegian Woods then ski against the grain, but off the trails back to the Biathlon Range.

Callaghan Country Rules

Backcountry skiers on telemark or AT gear get free use of the groomed XC trails.
Do not park in the Callaghan Country parking lot, as it is reserved for (paying) customers. There are a few free plowed parking spots on the right near the bridge over Madeley Creek.
Do not use the groomed XC trail that connect into the Whistler Olympic Park area without buying their $6 pass. This pass is only available at the Whistler Olympic Park day lodge, a short drive up the road from the Callaghan Country base area.
Callaghan Country runs a snow coach shuttle up the their lodge at Conflict Lake. If you want to be driven up, a ride cost $31.50. It takes about 1 hour to make the 12.5km trip. Call in advance to make arrangements.

Links

EAO links and documents

Whistler Nordic Centre & Callahagn Valley Master Plan

[1]

Whistler Nordic Centre Homepage

Whistler Olympic Park

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