Brandywine Falls: a walk in the park

It’s just a gentle 10-minute walk through the forest to the mighty Brandywine Falls, which thunder down a staggering 220-foot (70-meter) steep-sided gorge.

And the falls are only a short 15- to 20-minute drive south of Whistler Village, just off Highway 99 – definitely worth visiting when driving to or from Whistler.

Brandywine Falls

You may know Whistler as a top ski and snowboard resort in North America.

Year after year, Whistler (site of Vancouver’s 2010 Winter Olympic downhill and cross-country competitions) is ranked North America’s No. 1 ski resort by scads of magazines like Freeskier, Conde Nast Traveler, National Geographic and TransWorld SNOWBOARDING.

What you may not know is that Whistler boasts many lovely hiking and nature trails. Such as… Brandywine Falls.

We usually stop in at the falls at least once each year (after all, they are almost in our back yard).

Brandywine Falls

The falls are most magnificent when viewed from the first viewing platform.

It juts out over the gorge. Spray rises, enveloping the carved volcanic bowl girdling the falls with mist, often throwing off delicate rainbows.

In winter, it’s another spectacle again. Snow weighs heavy on the branches of fir and pine trees, and icicles cling to the gorge walls.

Route to Brandywine Falls

There’s no chance of getting lost. Brandywine Falls Provincial Park is well-visited and well-signed.

From the parking lot, cross a covered footbridge over Brandywine Creek, then follow the trail to the right, crossing the BC Rail train tracks before coming to the first viewpoint of the falls, a large platform built in 2006. Continue on a short distance to reach another viewpoint of the falls.

Beyond that is a third viewpoint overlooking turquoise Daisy Lake far below and the dark, jagged Black Tusk Mountain. Retrace your steps to return to the parking lot.