High Note Trail Hike Review: Everything You Need to Know

One of the most scenic alpine hikes in Whistler! The panoramic views are breathtaking with stunning vistas of mountain ranges with snow-capped peaks, valleys and lakes. Best time of the year to visit is July to September. Wildflowers bloom around August, and I highly recommend visiting during that time!

Type of hike: It's a loop, and the trail begins at the top of the Peak Express chairlift. You will need to purchase a ticket for the gondola and Peak Chair here.

Length and time: Around 9.56 km long and usually 3 to 4 hours, depending on how long you take a break at the top of Flute Summit!

Difficulty: I would say moderate because the elevation gain isn't a whole lot, and there are not that many steep parts.

Elevation Gain: 300 meters overall (there are some loss in beginning parts of the trail)

Distance from Vancouver: About 2 hours

Dog friendly? Yes

Parking? Yes, Whistler has many lots.

What to expect for this hike:

• Expect to be dazzled by the beauty of nature all around you, especially if you're lucky to go on a clear sunny day! Photos won't do it justice, so you have to experience this trail for yourself.

• Do be aware the trail is almost completely out in the open, which means no shade at all. The clear sunny day that makes the views so magnificent also means you're likely to get sunburnt if not prepared.

• Also keep an eye on the gondola times. especially the one that goes back down. You don't wanna miss it and spend the night out on the mountain!

• The trail itself is super easy to follow and has lots of markers. Rocky paths, grassy ridges, dirt, nothing too crazy. It's also a very popular hike so it'll be hard to wound up lost on this! If you want extra sense of security, AllTrails has a map you can pre-download here.

• Always practice the Leave No Trace principles.

Suggestions on what to bring:

• Plenty of water! I brought a 3L hydration pack and drank it all. There are areas for water refill though, but just remember to bring your filtration system or tablets.

• Bug spray - it can get pretty buggy up there in the summer months, but dies down after August

• Sunscreen

• Bear spray and bell - this trail is pretty highly trafficked so bears likely won't be a problem, but always good to have just in case!

• Toilet paper - no outhouses on this trail, the toilets are back at the gondolas.

August 16th, 2020

Time: 4 hours 20 mins

Distance covered: 14.2 km

This was the first time I've ever done this trail, and it was one of the most memorable hiking trips that season.

This trail is, without a doubt, one of the most breathtaking I've ever experienced. If you time for just one hike in Whistler, this is the one to choose. You get stunning alpine landscapes, sprawling snow-capped mountains, vibrant wildflowers in full bloom (if you visit at the right time!) and crystal-clear view of the shimmering blue waters of Cheakamus Lake.

The peak chair express lift was not open for the 2020 season so in order to get to the trail head, I took the gondola up to Roundhouse Lodge on Whistler mountain, and trekked up Pika's Traverse and Mathew's Traverse. That took me close to an hour because it was steep incline with almost no flat ground at all, and the reason why I clocked in at a higher distance travelled. This path was full of loose rocks as well so that slowed me down. Some of the ice has not completely melted so it was interesting to see giant chunks of ice underneath the hot sun.

The most incredible views at the trailhead (on the left).

It's nearly impossible to put into words how it felt in that moment. The mountains extended endlessly into the horizon, and the sky was a flawless blue with just a scattering of clouds. I wished I could have stayed here in this moment forever, feeling all at once tiny and humbled by the sheer size of the landscape around me.

There were many trail markers so following the path was easy. There was quite a bit of decent for the first 30 minutes and I was definitely very grateful for my hiking boots because they were able to grip the loose gravel. Since the trail is on the side of the mountain, I would say to be very careful because there are no railings or ropes to hold you back if you slip and fall (and possibly roll down the mountain). On the other hand, being so close to the edge definitely gave me a really euphoric sense of adrenaline rush.

(on the right) Bird's eye view of Whistler!

After the descent, the trail leveled out and stayed fairly flat for the next few kilometers. Since I was there so early, I had the place to myself and it felt like I had the entire mountain to explore. With no one else around, I couldn’t resist running along the trail, arms wide, and singing at the top of my lungs, not caring if anyone actually did see or hear me. As the trail winds around the side of the mountain with no railings, there's always the chance of slipping, which definitely added an extra shot of adrenaline. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so alive.

I did happen to go at the perfect time when the wildflowers are in full bloom!

Around 6 km in, Cheakamus Lake comes into view, and the trail follows its edge for another 3 km. The water is truly mesmerizing, glistening under the sunlight with an almost otherworldly beauty. It looked like something out of a painting—completely surreal.

At around 10km mark, you can either continue on to Flute Summit or start heading back to the Roundhouse Lodge. If you go to Flute, it is one way up and one way down. It only took me an extra 40 minutes around trip, but the incline was definitely steep and full of loose rocks.

Flute Summit offers 360 degrees view of all the mountains in the area:

Flute Summit connects to the Musical Bumps trail, which ventures into Garibaldi Park territory. I actually did that trail the following week, right here. I wished I did not have to rush to take the gondola because I would have loved to spend a lot more time up here. The elevation is around 2012m. Being so high up alone really gave me a sense of profoundness. I wanted to appreciate it more.

After coming down from Flute, I started the second half of the trail back to the Roundhouse Lodge. The alpine meadows are just so damn beautiful, plenty of colourful wildflowers, making the scenery so enjoyable . The trail goes up and down a fair bit but nothing particularly strenuous .

About 30 minutes later, I reached Symphony Lake (and the creek next to it).

Eventually I reached a fork in the trail - one is the Harmony Lake Loop, which is the easiest way back to the Lodge and would take around 30 minutes, and the other is through Harmony Meadows, which is labeled difficult and would take around 45 minutes.

I was glad to take Harmony Meadows because it gave me a bird's eye view of Harmony Lake from up top (it is rated as difficult because of the few steep switchbacks). That's the photo at the bottom on the right.

After the switchbacks, the trail flattens out and from there it is a walk in the park back to the Lodge.

Meeting nice strangers

It was truly refreshing to encounter such friendly people on the trail. Back home in Vancouver, I faced racism during Covid, but here, I experienced none of that. While some hikers still kept their distance, they took the time to stop and chat, and everyone I met was genuinely kind.

I actually ran into a particularly nice man three times along the trail. He encouraged me to make the trek up to Flute Summit. Having moved to Vancouver just over a year ago, I hadn’t explored Whistler on my own, so my knowledge of the mountains was quite limited. He patiently explained where Blackcomb was (I had thought Blackcomb and Whistler were the same) and highlighted the main peaks that are part of Garibaldi. He mentioned that it was one of his training days, as he was preparing to tackle the Musical Bumps with friends the following weekend. Despite being at least 35 or 40, he exuded an impressive energy and enthusiasm.

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Aug 30th, 2020

Time: 5 hours (including time spent up top)

Distance covered: 14.2km

I loved this trail so much I decided to do it again before the season ended. Again, the peak chair express lift was not open. I had to hike up Pika's Traverse and then Mathew's Traverse, which again added another hour and more kilometers to my time. The weather this time wasn't as good, and even started to rain towards the end.

Since summer was almost over, the wildflowers have started to wilt. The gorgeous landscape views of sprawling mountains made up for it, even though the clouds got in the way. I felt the same rush of excitement as I did last time. This trail clearly will never get old for me. 

At some point during the trail, you have to use the rope to hoist yourself over some rocks and walk across a metal plank. It is not difficult but if you have small children with you, best be careful so they do not slip. 

Last time I was at Flute Summit was when I did the Musical Bumps. I found a beautiful spot that overlooks the Cheakamus Lake and wanted to have lunch there but did not have time (another PSA: check gondola times!!). This time, I made it my mission to put aside 30 minutes for myself up there. 

By this point, the weather had really taken a turn for the worse, and I could feel the drizzle coming. I started speed walking, hoping it would warm me up and get me back to the gondola faster.

Right as I approached the fork in the trail between Harmony Lake Loop and Harmony Meadows, I tripped and fell forward. I was so cold that I couldn’t react fast enough to brace myself. I landed hard on my right hip and elbow, and my elbow ended up with a gash that kept bleeding for the next 30 minutes, even after I got back to the gondola. Lesson learned: don’t try to rush on a trail when you’re freezing!

Because of the fall, I opted to take the Harmony Lake Loop since it was supposed to be the quickest route back. But honestly, I think it’s longer than Harmony Meadows. The trail takes you down to the lake, but then you have to climb back up to the gondola, which felt endless. With Harmony Meadows, you get 15 minutes of steep switchbacks, and then it levels out. I’d definitely recommend Harmony Meadows over the Lake Loop— you knock out the tough part first and get a nice bird's-eye view of the lake from up high.

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Aug 12th, 2022

Time: 3 hours 30 minutes

Distance: Around 9.4km

Had to do this trail again at some point! It is easily one of my all-time favourite hikes. It just never gets old and is an absolute gem of a hike. I loved the feeling of being surrounded by snow-capped peaks, vibrant meadows full of wildflowers, and the unreal turquoise waters of the lake.

This time, the Peak Express chairlift was open (thank god) so we were able to just start from the actual trailhead for once.

The weather was just as stunning as the first time! Clear skies with a scattering of clouds make it even more picturesque.