Lord of the Squirrels
True alpine epic. 3,000 feet of descent from meadows through mossy old-growth forest. Rock rolls, tight switchbacks, root sections. One of the best trails in BC, period.
Trail beta
Park at Cheakamus Crossing or Function Junction. Mountain View Drive and Valley Drive parking is extremely limited and has no washrooms. From Function, climb Rainbow-Sproatt Flank for ~2 mi, turn left on Don't Look Back, then gain 500+ ft to Into the Mystic (the machine-built climbing trail), then On The Rocks to reach LOTS drop-in. The climb to the alpine is 3-4 hours of pedaling. Bring food, 3L of water, layers, and wind shell. Descent is 4.3 km of downhill-primary flow through the subalpine with huge Coast Range views. Bail if thunderstorms are building.
When to go
High-alpine backcountry trail on Resort Municipality of Whistler land, managed by WORCA. Typically open late July through early October due to lingering snow in the alpine. Late-August rides can still encounter patchy snow in shaded sections. WORCA explicitly requests riders avoid alpine use during extended rain or early/late season before the trail dries. E-bikes and dogs prohibited in the alpine section.
Shuttle
Backcountry trail: no shuttle or lift access. Climb via Into the Mystic. Big day, big reward.
E-bikes
E-bikes are BANNED on this trail and all alpine trails above Flank Trail (WORCA policy: environmental protection and grizzly bear management).