Alta Lake
MU 2-11, Lower Mainland
50.1144° N, 122.9819° W
- Surface area
- 103.9ha
- Maximum depth
- 24.4m
- 80 ft
- Elevation
- 640m
Scenic alpine lake in Whistler with strict catch-and-release rules ensuring excellent resident trout sizes.
Open Alta Lake in the appThe 7-day forecast, max depth and wildfire smoke check, on the lake's own coordinate.
Trophy fish at Alta Lake
Alta Lake is known for trophy Rainbow trout to 5 lb.
- Rainbow trout to 5 lb
- Cutthroat trout to 3 lb
Trophy sizes this lake is known for, not a typical catch. They are historical records from our own big fish list, with no date on file, not recent catches.
Alta Lake at a glance
- Region
- Lower Mainland
- Management unit
- MU 2-11
- Species
- Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Kokanee (last recorded 1995), Dolly Varden (last recorded 1995), Sockeye Salmon (last recorded 1968), Threespine Stickleback, Prickly Sculpin (last recorded 1995), Stickleback (General) (last recorded 1995), Rainbow Smelt (last recorded 1971)The newest of these fish records is from 2026.Species from the province's fish observation records.
- Lake size
- Medium Lake (50 - 500 ha)
- Catch and release
- Yes
- Ice fishing
- Open to ice fishing, confirmed
- Coordinates
- 50.1144, -122.9819
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Gear for rainbow trout
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Fish on record at Alta Lake
| Species | First recorded | Last recorded | Records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rainbow Trout | 1923 | 2005 | 32 |
| Cutthroat Trout | 2000 | 2026 | 22 |
| Kokanee | 1939 | 1995 | 11 |
| Dolly Varden | 1927 | 1995 | 6 |
| Sockeye Salmon | 1968 | 1968 | 1 |
| Threespine Stickleback | 1988 | 2008 | 2 |
| Prickly Sculpin | 1995 | 1995 | 1 |
| Stickleback (General) | 1995 | 1995 | 1 |
| Rainbow Smelt | 1971 | 1971 | 1 |
A year is when the Province last recorded the fish here, not a statement that it is caught today.
How to fish Alta Lake
Fly fishing with damsel nymphs, woolly buggers, chironomids, casting small spinners along drop-offs.
Best times of year at Alta Lake
- May - July
- September - October
Alta Lake fishing regulations
No Fishing Dec 1-Mar 31; Trout/char daily quota combined = 2, no trout over 40cm, no more than 1 char (none under 60 cm); Kokanee catch and release, bait ban, single barbless hook; speed restriction (12 km/h). Source: Province of British Columbia
Getting to Alta Lake
Whistler village parks (Wayside Park, Lakeside Park, Rainbow Park). Public docks and boat launches.
Coordinates: 50.1144, -122.9819
Camping and rec sites at Alta Lake
- Alta Lake Islands
No campsite count on file (BC Recreation Sites and Trails)
Access: Whistler village parks (Wayside Park, Lakeside Park, Rainbow Park). Public docks and boat launches.
Depth chart for Alta Lake
24.4 mdeepest
Alta Lake runs to 24.4 m (80 ft) at its deepest.
The Province sounded Alta Lake and published the depth chart surveyed in 1968.
The ice year at Alta Lake, modelled
Modelled from air temperature, not an ice report. It says nothing about whether ice will hold you.
In the model Alta Lake froze in 65 of the 65 winters since 1960. Freeze-up falls most years between 16 November and 11 December, and ice-off between 20 April and 17 May. The median winter freezes on 26 November and opens on 2 May.
the middle half of modelled winters the median ice cover in the median winter
Winter 2024-25 in the model: frozen from 1 February 2025 to 28 February 2025, 27 days.
Alta Lake is open to ice fishing under the regulations on file.
Whether a lake is open to ice fishing says nothing about whether its ice will hold you. Ice conditions vary year to year and across a single lake. Check locally before going out, every time.
Alta Lake climate, 1960 to 2025
Averaged over a year, the air above Alta Lake is 1.6 C warmer than it was in the 1960s. That is 66 years of daily readings, not a forecast.
- +1.6 Csince the 1960s
- 1.5 Caverage year now
- -0.1 Caverage year then
- -10 daysbelow freezing, change
each yearthe trend across 1960 to 2025
each yearthe trend across 1960 to 2025
This week at Alta Lake
The forecast on this lake's own coordinate, refreshed through the day. The app reads these seven days for fishing and scores each one.
| Day | Sky | High / low | Wind | Rain | Pressure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 20 Oct | Clear sky | 14° / 5° | 4 km/h | dry | Steady |
| Wed 21 Oct | Overcast | 14° / 5° | 6 km/h | dry | Falling (-4.3 hPa) |
| Thu 22 Oct | Fog | 11° / 2° | 8 km/h, gusts 14 | dry | Rising (+1.2 hPa) |
| Fri 23 Oct | Fog | 10° / 1° | 6 km/h, gusts 12 | dry | Rising (+9.9 hPa) |
| Sat 24 Oct | Moderate rain | 8° / 4° | 7 km/h, gusts 26 | 4 mm | Steady |
| Sun 25 Oct | Overcast | 13° / 3° | 9 km/h | dry | Steady |
| Mon 26 Oct | Partly cloudy | 16° / 5° | 6 km/h | dry | Falling (-1.2 hPa) |
Alta Lake, in brief
What fish are in Alta Lake?
Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Kokanee (last recorded 1995), Dolly Varden (last recorded 1995), Sockeye Salmon (last recorded 1968). Species from the province's fish observation records.
Which management unit is Alta Lake in?
Alta Lake is in MU 2-11, in the Lower Mainland. The BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis is organised by management unit; check it before you go.
Trout lakes near Alta Lake
- Nita Lake 2 km away
- Alpha Lake 3 km away
- Lost Lake (Near Whistler) 4 km away
- Green Lake 5 km away
- Showh Lakes 10 km away
All 133 lakes in the Lower Mainland, with today's conditions on each.