Brohm Lake Interpretive Forest Hike

On a hot summer day, Brohm Lake is a great place to stop for a quick dip on your way to or from Whistler. Being just a few minutes north of Squamish right next to the Sea-to-Sky highway, the beach area gets busy at times, though the trails generally are not. The water is warm but refreshing, and there are some rocky beach areas near the parking lot that have good swimming access and nice picnic spots. If you have some more time, Brohm has much more to offer than just a roadside swimming hole; there are hiking and biking trails with great views and educational signage as well as rope swings and cliff jumping spots that are well known to Sea-to-Sky locals. Jumping off cliffs is always dangerous, and several people have lost their lives here. Be aware of the inherent dangers and always check for underwater hazards before jumping off of anything.

Brohm Lake is one of three Interpretive Forests in the Sea-to-Sky Corridor. These forests have been designated by the province as outdoor classrooms for teaching recreational users about the resource management practices, cultural history, and ecology of the region. The trails around Brohm Lake are filled with visible evidence of logging activity. The trails follow old spur roads that cut through the forest and pass through homogenous patches of deciduous trees, and if you look closely you'll see some rusty cables and equipment lying around as well. The area was also important for the Squamish First Nations who occupied this territory prior to the arrival of European settlers and continue to have a strong presence to this day. The ecology of the area is on display at Brohm Lake as well, particularly at the south end of the lake, a wetland ecosystem that is home to a diverse array of flora and fauna.

The trails around Brohm are best suited for hiking, although biking and horseback riding are permitted on some of the trails as well. The best option is the 3.5-kilometer loop around the lake: start from the parking area and circle the lake counter-clockwise. After 3 kilometers you’ll come to an intersection with a right turn heading steeply uphill while the trail to the left continues alongside the lake. If you’re short on time, take the low trail back to the bridge and then take a left on the far side to head back to the parking area. If you’d like to extend your loop, head uphill to the Tantalus Viewpoint, continue following the High Trail around, and return via the Bridge Trail. Or, to further extend your hike, add on the Cheakamus Loop and Alder Trail as well. The trails are fairly easy to follow with signage at each intersection, and there is a detailed map at the trailhead.