A hard out-and-back hike to a big view, with water along the way. A real workout, with about 850 m of climbing over 16 km. Plan on 5–7 hours and pack the Ten Essentials. Usually quiet.
Challenging · 16 km out-and-back · +850 m climb · 5–7 hours · Dogs: no dogs
Not yet verified against an official source. Figures are approximate; check the park page before you go. · Sources · Cite this page
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Sea-to-Sky · ~125 min from downtown
Figures approximate. The suggested start helps you finish in daylight. Check Resort Municipality of Whistler before you go.
Schematic: an illustrative shape drawn from total distance and gain, not a GPS trace. Real ups and downs will differ.
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| Region | Sea-to-Sky |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Challenging |
| Season | Summer and fall |
| Trailhead | Alta Lake Rd, Whistler |
| Parking & transit | Little or no transit; plan to drive. |
| Permits & passes | None. |
| Dogs | No dogs |
| Kid-friendly | Better for older, fit kids or adults |
| Highlights | Lakes & water, Views |
| Crowds | Usually quiet |
| Managed by | Resort Municipality of Whistler |
Watershed area: no dogs and no swimming. Check Whistler trail rules.
Numbers are approximate. Check Resort Municipality of Whistler for closures and the AdventureSmart trip plan and Ten Essentials before you go. Tell someone your plan.
About 16 km (out-and-back) with roughly 850 m of elevation gain. Most people take 5–7 hours. Figures are approximate; check Resort Municipality of Whistler before you go.
No. Dogs are not allowed on this trail.
None.
Not easily. Plan to drive or carpool.
See also: Hikes with the best views · Lake hikes · Hikes for July · Hikes for August · Hikes for September · Hikes for October · Sea-to-Sky hikes · Quieter trails · Guides
Hike Vancouver. "Rainbow Lake." Updated October 24, 2026. https://hikevancouver.ca/trails/rainbow-lake/
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Hi, I'm Cam Appleton. I love Vancouver and I love getting out on its trails. When I went looking for a simple, easy hiking guide for around here, I couldn't find one I liked. I also really like helping people, so I built this one.
My day job is real estate. I help people buy, sell and lease. I hope you're enjoying the start of Hike Vancouver. If you're thinking about living closer to trails like this one, I'm happy to talk.
Cam Appleton