Product Review

Whistler is a Christmas ornament of a village, amid a sweeping wilderness of ancient forests, craggy peaks, and ponderous glaciers. From atop the local peaks, the village appears no less isolated than Shangri-La. The mountains continue in every direction, far beyond those within view.

Despite its lustrous, hard-candy appearance, Whistler is a simple, pantheist village at heart. What draws people here from all over the world is nature worship. They come to kneel at her altar in a setting where she's clearly omnipresent and omnipotent.

Some do it on skis. Others on mountain bikes. But the truly reverent, those most intent on expressing their devotion to nature, do it on foot, by hiking the trails that spin off from Whistler in all directions, like mantras from a prayer wheel.

Your time is short, so here you go: the ten Whistler-area dayhikes most likely to make you say WOW! Plus our boot-tested opinions: why we recommend each trail, what to expect, detailed trail maps, and how to enjoy the optimal experience.