Plan Your Trip Pacific Northwest Road Trips - Washington, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest - page 72

Why Go
The coastal scenery here is magnificent, as are the deep forests, crashing waterfalls and
lofty mountains. You can see it all in a day, making this trip nearly too good to be true.
Green-forested hillsides tumble down around the village of Horseshoe Bay, which has
a pleasant small-town vibe. Grab some organic coffee and head up on Hwy 99 north to
Porteau Cove Provincial Park, once a Native American fishing site and now a haven for
divers and beachcombers.
Next up is Britannia Beach, an old copper-mine site where you can visit the Britannia
Mine Museum and take a mine tour. Just north, Shannon Falls torpedoes 1100ft down,
and Brackendale is home to the largest population of wintering bald eagles in North
America. Nearby, Alice and Brohm Lakes offer hiking and swimming.
Further north is Tantalus Lookout, a viewpoint that looks across the Tantalus Mountain
Range and Squamish peoples' old hunting grounds. Now go 14 miles to Brandywine
Falls Provincial Park, where a dramatic waterfall plunges 230ft into a pool. Your last stop
is gorgeous Whistler, famous for skiing in winter and hiking and mountain biking in
summer - along with plenty of upscale shopping and restaurants.
When to Go
Visit from June to September for hikes, or November to March for snow.
The Route
It's a straight shot from Horseshoe Bay to Whistler, along Howe Sound's coastline and
up Hwy 99 through mountainous forests.
Time & Mileage
You'll go 82 miles over one or two days on this route.