Photo via Shutterstock
Whistler is renowned for its world-class skiing and year-round mountain adventures, but did you know that just north of Whistler Village lies an abandoned ‘ghost town’ in the woods? The former townsite of Parkhurst, British Columbia sits on the shoreline of Green Lake, hidden under the forest’s canopy. And you can hike, bike, or even paddle to it, according to Tourism Whistler!
The first non-Indigenous settlement in the Whistler area, Parkhurst was once an active mill town dating back to 1902, when the Parkhurst family built a small home at the north end of Green Lake.
As logging settled into the area, Parkhurst eventually evolved into a plethora of homesteads, gardens, and families, who enjoyed unobstructed views of Rainbow Mountain.
In 1956, the mill officially closed, and the town’s homes and buildings were used as “a sanctuary for ski bums,” according to Tourism Whistler.
Flash forward to today, and there are a few remnants of the townsite’s once-thriving community. Three standing buildings and old vehicles remain, reclaimed by the old growth that covers the area.
As a result, snow tends to linger in the area for longer, making May to the end of October an optimal time to visit.
So there you have it, Vancouver. Your next adventure off the beaten path awaits!
How to get there: Drive two hours from Vancouver to Whistler Village via BC-99 N. From Whistler, head north on Highway 99 for 10.4 kilometres. Turn right at the Wedgemount Lake hiking sign and cross Green Lake River, turn right onto Riverside Drive for around 1.6 kilometres at the T intersection.
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