The Whistler Train Wreck Trail is one of the most accessible hikes from Whistler Village. The trailhead is a mere 10 minute drive from town, and the hike itself is short and easy. It took us about an hour in total, including the time we spent exploring the train cars. Given the ease of access, we were pleasantly surprised by the lack of people on the trail. If you’re looking for a quick hike to get out of the house near Whistler, the Train Wreck Trail should be at the top of your list.
When we arrived at the trailhead, the parking lot across the street was fairly full. Luckily for us, most of the occupants seemed to be enjoying the sled hill nearby, instead of the trail. We had originally planned to snowshoe, but due to the high traffic on the trail, the snow was packed enough to just walk instead.
The trail itself is relatively short and flat, snaking through the forest until it reaches a suspension bridge crossing the Cheakamus River.
While we were there, the trail was pretty slippery due to the compact snow. Fortunately the trail is free of any major inclines, so we were able to scoot through the icy sections.
Shortly after the suspension bridge, the trail arrives at the first train cars.
According to Anna, these train cars are the remanence of a crash that occurred during the 1950’s. After the train was derailed, the cars were simply moved out of the way and left to remain in the forest. In total, we came across 7 different cars from the wreck. Today, each car is covered in graffiti, which gives the area an interesting urban feel in the middle of the forest. Apparently the train wreck was even transformed into a mountain biking trail at one point.
We enjoyed exploring the train wreck for about 20 minutes before making the quick hike back to the car.
