5,279 ft

Distance

-1,066 ft

Descent

00:12:48

Avg time

Supporters, Builders, Maintainers & Land Managers of Howler (lower) Trail

Zander Strathearn
Builder

Howler (lower) Details

Activities
- Mountain Bike
- E-Bike
- Hike
- Trail Running
Riding Area

Westside - Rainbow
Whistler, British Columbia
Difficulty Rating

Black Diamond rate
Trail Type

Singletrack
Bike Type

AM
Direction

Downhill Primary
Popular direction shown
Physical Rating

Moderate
Season

Jun-Oct
Dogs Allowed

Yes
eBike Allowed

Yes up to Class 1
TTFs on Trail

Rock Face
Ride in Rain

Yes
Global Ranking
#1243 in Mountain Biking [+]
- #14493 in E-Biking
- #17957 in Trail Running
- #12296 in Hiking
Local Popularity
75 in Mountain Biking [+]
- 75 in E-Biking
- 50 in Trail Running
- 60 in Hiking
Year Opened

2013

This trail is a great wet weather trail, Lower Howler is in low angle terrain compared to the upper two sections but still, have great views. The is just enough tech to keep you on your toes, but with enough flow you can open it up and really enjoy it, knowing there are no major features, drops, or jumps, to catch you unawares. The rock up there, however, is sharp so bring spare tubes

Access Info

Starting from the very top of Alpine Way (no parking), climb Cultured Climb to Rick's Roost (name of the access road, not an actual trail) until you don't want to climb any more. You will pass Cat Scratch Fever, Green Monster, and the Flank turn-off to Billy Epic. Keep going. Past the Flank, the trail mellows until you reach a big bridge over 19 mile creek. Shortly after the creek, you will pass the Skywalk Hiking trail on your left and you will see a motor-vehicle gate straight ahead, take the right towards Lower Skywalk and Lower Howler. The access is an old low angle slightly wet skidder road that contours, expect to see hikers as its the primary access to the hiking trail network, continue along the roadbed until you reach Howler.

Local Trail Association

Whistler Off Road Cycling Association
IMBA Canada
Please consider joining or donating to the local trail association to support
trail development & maintenance.
donate to earn trail karma!

Traditionally Indigenous Territory

More Stats for Howler (lower) mountain bike trail trail

Altitude change

-1,066 ft
Altitude min

2,455 ft
Altitude max

3,521 ft
Altitude start

3,521 ft
Altitude end

2,454 ft
Grade

-20.2%
Grade max

-44.9%
Grade min

2.5%
Distance climb

92 ft
Distance down

5,151 ft
Distance flat

36 ft
Avg time

00:12:48
view trail stats

Status:

on Dec 15, 2022

Snow Covered

Avg: 4.3 (45 votes)

Your vote: 0

view (3,277)

Directions to howler-lower trailhead (50.162570, -122.973110)

update trails status or condition

Howler (lower) Trail Reports

status	date	description
	Dec 15, 2022 @ 8:12pm Dec 15, 2022
	Oct 24, 2022 @ 6:13pm Oct 24, 2022	Snow covered in the open areas, wet otherwise. Did some armouring and rehab of eroded areas on upper half of Howler Mid the last two days.
	Sep 17, 2022 @ 11:49am Sep 17, 2022
	Aug 28, 2022 @ 1:32pm Aug 28, 2022
	Aug 10, 2022 @ 1:55pm Aug 10, 2022	No bears, lots of mosquitos

view all reports »

Recent Ridelog Activity on Trail

Past Week

0 rides

6 Months

158 rides
12 miles avg distance

All

3,136 rides
Last: Jun 28, 2022

Photos

117 |

Jun 20, 2020 @ 11:10pm

Jun 20, 2020

75 |

Jun 20, 2020 @ 11:09pm

Jun 20, 2020

102 |

Mar 29, 2020 @ 5:04pm

Mar 29, 2020

83 |

Mar 29, 2020 @ 5:04pm

Mar 29, 2020

Trail Lists

BM list
93 trails
Whistler
83 trails

Routes with this trail

title	distance
The Arbutus Routes - Howler (Advanced)	15 miles
The Arbutus Routes - Howler (Advanced)	17 miles
The Back Forty Stage 3	9 miles
Whistler Relive Your Rides Westside Rainbow Howler Classic	7 miles

Trail Products

WORCA Trail Pass
Trail Pass

9 Reviews & Comments

Score Time Post Comment

RBlackfelner

(Aug 27, 2022 at 14:31)

Loose steep trail with no features, tight turns, pointy rocks and no flow. Very reminiscent of riding down an arid hiking trail in Southern California. I guess it’s something different for the area.

[Reply]

Samuryan

(Aug 3, 2020 at 15:19)

Great trail to dip your toes into the black diamond category... Some super fun, steep and technical sections make this worth the climb!

[Reply]

Kirnlawkid

(Jul 24, 2019 at 21:45)

Awesome trail, felt like Tweed Valley Golfie with major rocks added, wonderful

[Reply]

deln78 (Jul 7, 2019 at 10:24)

Challenging trail. I did the middle and lower sections. The middle section is harder, with steep, tight switchbacks. Lots of steep chutes and a ock chunk. Consistently technical the whole way. Well worth the pedal up.

[Reply]

BudGreen (Jul 14, 2018 at 21:55)

This trail is generic and not worth the amount of pedaling. It's pretty much just steep switchbacks with no interesting features. To get to it, you pedal past one of the best trails in the area: Green Monster. I wouldn't pedal past Green Monster if I were you.

[Reply]

v102013 (Jun 5, 2018 at 20:36)

Awesome Trail reel good flow but still fairly challenging in places pretty rocky near the top but all in all a great Trail!

[Reply]

R26 (Sep 12, 2017 at 23:54)

Like all Whistler trails at the moment, this one is very dry, very loose and has suffered from all the traffic. Having said that, it was so much fun! I can only imagine how nice it would be without the axle deep ruts and with a bit of actual traction - when you get into the steep chutes in the middle of the trail, your smile won't fit in your helmet.

This is up near the top of my favourite Whistler descents.

[Reply]

Below threshold threads are hidden