Trail stats
Distance: 22.5 KM (approx)
Elevation gain: 1,210m (AllTrails recorded 519m to the lake + 691m return to Roundhouse Lodge)
Time needed: 6-7 hours
Difficulty level: Moderate-Difficult (overnight pack makes the incline on the return more difficult)
Parking: Yes, you can park in Whistler overnight at 4321 Village Gate Boulevard. It costs $32 for 24 hours in the underground lot.
Getting to the trailhead
The easiest way to get to the trailhead is by taking the gondola up to the Roundhouse Lodge, and then taking the Whistler Peak chair up to the very top of Whistler mountain. You will be following signs for the High Note Trail which usually begins after crossing the suspension bridge, however there is a detour in place due to rockslide (this was the case when we went, Aug 2026), so once you get off the chairlift, walk straight and you’ll see the sign for the detour that heads left.
There are a few other options for the trail. You could start from the Roundhouse Lodge if the Peak chair isn’t running, however this adds slightly more elevation. We did this on the return to avoid the steep section at the end to get back to the Peak chair, it was very picturesque and also cool to walk along the runs that we normally ski down in the winter.
The last option if you don’t want to pay for the gondola at all is the Singing Pass Trail which is a total of 1,446m elevation gain to Russet Lake.
The Trail
The trail begins following the Burnt Stew ski run which most people will know is one of the most scenic runs in Whistler/Blackcomb. The views expand to beautiful meadows with Black Tusk peak towering in the background.
The route traverses rocky terrain but there are little white flags and yellow hiking signs to guide you down the right path.
Within 3.7 KM, you will approach the Cheakamus Lake Viewpoint which was genuinely reminiscent of Lake Louise from the Beehive Lookout. This is where the incline begins to appear for the first time on the trail. There are some metal steps and a chain to get up and across a narrow section, and once you’re through this part, the first uphill pull awaits. This trail is known as Musical Bumps and there are two main summits you will reach.
The first being Flute Summit which sits at 2,015m elevation. Here, there is a sign indicating you are now in Garibaldi Provincial Park. The path evens out for a bit until you get to Oboe Summit where you’ll have an amazing view of the vast meadowed landscape, but you will also see the path laid out in front of you and how far it drops (225m) as well as how much incline you’ll have to regain on the other side.
This hike is kind of annoying in the sense that it’s not just an uphill battle, but a constant up and down the whole way. So as you enjoy the easy walk downhill, know that you’ll have to climb right back up sooner or later. As always, the scenery makes it all worthwhile as you will be walking through meadows, surrounded by glacial peaks.
The last pull is around 240m over 2.5 KM but since you’re following switchbacks, it’s not as bad as it seems. Black Tusk is still within view to your right, until you eventually turn a corner and you’ll see the Kees and Claire Hut and Russet Lake campground on the north side of the lake. There are 20 sites that are numbered but they also all have a little stone wall on one side so it’s easy to identify the suitable areas to set up camp. There are two bear hangs and one outhouse, along with a stream for drinking water.
The Way Back
We followed the same route back until we reached the sign posts at around 6 KM that give you two options: one to return to the Peak chair, and the other to Roundhouse Lodge. The distance was pretty similar for both, with the Roundhouse Lodge being a couple hundred meters more, but we figured it may be less elevation as there was an incredibly steep downhill section right at the beginning of the trail on the Burnt Stew run that I really did not want to climb back up. Also, by taking the route to Roundhouse we would be completing the full loop of the High Note Trail and it would allow us to see some different views than what we had on the way there.
The trail is around 4.8 KM from here and travels across Whistler mountain, so there are some great views of Blackcomb to your right, and it was cool seeing the terrain that we are so used to seeing covered in snow during the winter. There was still a lot of incline on the return route, again it is a constant up and down that kind of felt never-ending especially with an overnight pack.
Once you reach Harmony Lake, you’re in the home stretch and the trail is paved out as this is a very popular spot for tourists. The High Note trail was noticeably busier and once we reached Harmony, there were lots of families who made it difficult to pass them as there is a narrow wooden platform to take you around the lake. Thankfully, it is a very short part of the hike and once you cross to the other side, the path widens out and it is much easier to overtake. It was a cloudy, gloomy day when we did this, so I can only imagine how busy it would be on a nice summer’s day!
You will soon be at Roundhouse Lodge and can take the gondola back down to Whistler village.
Tips / Advice
Get the summer pass for Whistler – it is $110 for a day pass at Whistler vs $170 for a summer pass. We ended up in Whistler 3 days in total over the summer so it made more sense to just get the summer pass. Also, the pass allowed us a 20% discount for guests getting a day ticket
Park underground at 4321 Village Gate Boulevard
Remember you are at a high altitude so it gets very cold at night
Book your camping permit for Russet Lake three months in advance through BC Parks
If you wish to stay at the hut instead of camping, there is info on Kees and Claire here: https://spearheadhuts.org/kees-and-claire-memorial-hut-1
Keep an eye out for marmots!
