Pemberton Area Running Options

Pemberton is a small town 30 km north of Whistler that’s a popular spot for cycling, hiking, trail running, and backcountry skiing. The town itself lies in a valley surrounded by towering mountains. It’s also a significant farming community, with numerous organic farms stretched along Meadow Rd. Our recommendations for running in Pemberton:

Pemberton Meadows. This is a fantastic spot for a long, flat, open run with great views. Pemberton Meadows Rd. heads out Pemberton and goes for 20+ km until turning into a forest service road. Open farmland, barns, mountains views, and a river — all in one run! The road is relatively traffic-free and there’s a good shoulder. Start at the Community Barn downtown. After 1 mile, turn LEFT to stay on Pemberton Meadows Rd. A ~10 km destination is the The Beer Farmers (farm brewery and tasting room). We’ve mapped the first 15 km one-way, to the intersection of Lillooet Forest Service Rd., where Meadows Rd. turns to gravel and becomes more wooded. Note: Pemberton micro-climate often features a headwind, heading toward Pemberton on the road.  ROUTE MAP

Valley Loop. A gorgeous run right from downtown and the easiest of Pemberton’s numerous trail running options. It’s an 8 km loop, with great views of farmland, meadows, and mountains. It’s mainly a gravel bike path, with options for a parallel narrower, wooded trail along the river in sections. For a longer run, connect to the One Mile Lake loop, and trails for Nairn Falls (below). Numerous access points.  TRAIL MAP

One Mile Lake and Nairn Falls. Just south of Pemberton off Highway 99, this is a spot for a scenic and gentle trail run. A 1-mile dirt path follows the perimeter of One Mile Lake. Then, a section of the Sea to Sky Trail called the Nairn Falls Connector connects to Nairn Falls Provincial Park, where a wide, gentle trail leads to a spectacular waterfall. We’ve mapped a combo route of 9.4 km RT. The Nairn Falls trail itself is 3 km out and back. Note: At the north end of One Mile Lake, the sign for Nairn Falls provides options for easier or hillier routes there.

Trail Running Options. Pemberton has a growing network of mountain bike trails. These can be used for trail running as well, but keep an eye out for bikers. For gentler, more accessible trail running, we recommend sticking to the ‘green’ colored trails. The Valley Loop (above) is a popular option. We suggest picking up an updated trail map at the Visitor Center or at The Bike Co. shop right in town. Downloadable Trail Map, courtesy of the Pemberton Valley Trails Association.

Post-run treat: Blackbird Bakery has fabulous stuff, or enjoy the local Pemberton Brewing Company selections at area restaurants.