The gorgeous Garibaldi Lake with turquoise glacial waters, sits at 1450m above sea stage surrounded by snow-capped mountains, alpine meadows, and volcanic constructions. Mountaineering to this lovely lake in Garibaldi Park is a extremely popular day hike from Vancouver and one in every of our favourite day hikes in British Columbia.
It’s not a straightforward stroll to the lake, it’s an 18 km out-and-back hike to the lake, uphill the entire manner that takes most individuals about 6 hours. The 9km path to the lake is huge and well-maintained ascending by way of old-growth forest, passing creeks in a sequence of steep uphill switchbacks. Simple to achieve from Vancouver, Squamish, or Whistler there are a number of wonderful mountaineering choices in Garibaldi Provincial Park together with, Panorama Ridge and mountaineering to the Black Tusk. Garibaldi Lake is a superb tenting spot, the place you’ll be able to swim or hike some extra trails within the park.
Mountaineering to Lake Garibaldi is a tremendous day journey from Vancouver, Whistler, or Squamish.
The Garibaldi Lake trailhead shouldn’t be situated inside Vancouver however is shut sufficient to achieve by automobile or public transport to do day hikes. If you wish to do a difficult hike inside Vancouver, take into account mountaineering Grouse Mountain. If there are non-hikers current, they will all the time take the cable automobile and meet you on the prime!
Garibaldi Lake Hike Statistics
The reported return distance for the hike is eighteen km with 820m elevation achieve, and 4 to 7 hours is the typical time it takes to finish the hike. The mountaineering statistics under had been from my final hike to Garibaldi Lake measured with my Garmin GPS watch.
- Issue: Average
- Distance:
- Whole Distance spherical journey 20 km
- Distance Trailhead to Lake Garibaldi 9km
- Stroll across the lake: 1.6 km
- Max Elevation: Peak 1612 m
- Whole Elevation Acquire: 900 m
- Time: 4 hours 50 minutes
Reserving the Garibaldi Lake Hike 2023
A free day move is required to hike to Garibaldi Lake in season (from June 14 – Oct 9), the move is free and could be purchased forward from 7 am two days earlier than your go to. I perceive the concept behind the passes was to restrict the individuals on the path per day since it may get very busy in season.
Reserve your Garibaldi Lake Day Go Right here
Day passes are required for mountaineering from the next trailheads; Diamond Head (Elfin Lakes) trailhead, Rubble Creek (Garibaldi Lake) trailhead, and Cheakamus trailhead. In case you have a legitimate reservation for in a single day tenting, you do not want a day-use move, simply carry your reservation with you.
How Tough is the Garibaldi Lake Hike?
Strolling up and down a mountain for hours is difficult. The huge, well-maintained essential path is good and straightforward to stroll on all the best way, particularly in the summertime months. This isn’t a technical mountaineering route. The 820m elevation achieve from the beginning of the path makes the hike arduous work, you go up all the best way. A lot of the path is rated by Garibaldi Provincial Park as average going up in a sequence of switchbacks, the primary couple of kilometers are the steepest. In case you are comparatively match it shouldn’t be too arduous. The typical mountaineering time is 4 to 7 hours, however for those who stroll very slowly it may take as much as 10 hours to finish the round-trip hike. Snowshoes and microspikes are really helpful for this path in winter.
Garibaldi Provincial Park
Garibaldi Provincial Park is a wilderness park situated on the coastal mainland between Whistler and Vancouver. Visiting Garibaldi Park was one in every of my favourite issues to do in Vancouver. It’s straightforward to achieve and do lengthy one-day hikes from Vancouver, being situated 70 kilometers, a few 1.5-hour drive, north of the town. The park is called after the glacier-ringed Mount Garibaldi (2,678 meters) and is a hiker’s paradise providing over 90 km of well-marked trails together with a number of of the highest trails in Canada reminiscent of Garibaldi Lake, Black Tusk, Panorama Ridge, and Elfin Lakes.
The Rubble Creek Trailhead
The Rubble Creek trailhead is the primary entry level for a few of the greatest hikes in Garibaldi Provincial Park within the Whistler space together with the Garibaldi Lake mountaineering path. There is a reasonably large parking space on the trailhead, however it fills up shortly in summer time. The trailhead is situated midway between Whistler and Squamish, about 2 kilometers from the Sea to Sky Freeway. The title Rubble Creek refers to an enormous rock slide that swept down the valley about 45 years in the past.
The best way to Get to Garibaldi Lake
It’s straightforward to achieve the Rubble Creek trailhead by automobile from both Vancouver (70 km/44 miles away), Whistler (35 km/22 miles), or Squamish (38 km/23 miles). To get to Garibaldi Provincial Park from Vancouver, take Freeway 99 generally known as the Sea-to-Sky Freeway. For automobile rental choices I like to recommend utilizing Uncover Vehicles to check and e book a automobile from all the primary respected automobile rental corporations in and round Vancouver.
From Vancouver, the paths in Garibaldi Nationwide Park could be reached by public transport utilizing the Parkbus. The bus service is at the moment $95 for a return ticket to the Rubble Creek parking space on the trailhead (Might 2023). The bus leaves early within the morning and offers you about 10 hours to hike earlier than the return bus picks you up, this must be sufficient time to do any of the paths.
In case you are alone and don’t wish to hike alone you’ll be able to all the time attempt to hook up with somebody on the bus since everyone seems to be on the identical itinerary, most individuals go to hike to Garibaldi Lake.
The Garibaldi Lake Mountaineering Path Route
The hike to Garibaldi Lake begins from the Rubble Creek car parking zone, situated between Whistler and Vancouver. The mountaineering distance to the lake is 9 km (18 km return). It’s a huge well-maintained path that will be arduous to lose.
Rubble Creek Parking Lot to the place the Path Forks
The path is well-marked with kilometer markers on the best way. The path forks solely as soon as the place you will need to select which route to go. The primary 6 kilometers are steep and rated as “strenuous” by Garibaldi Provincial Park ( with a grade higher than 15%). The elevation achieve over this primary part is 770m. There may be one small creek the place you’ll be able to refill your water bottle about 2 km into the path. The primary kilometer is the steepest a part of the path with a sequence of switchbacks from kilometers 3 to five. Across the 5-kilometer mark, there’s a lookout level over The Barrier, a lava dam. It’s a huge, clear, well-maintained path to Garibaldi Lake. The route winds by way of a forest of largely Western Crimson Cedar and Douglas Fir bushes.
The Junction to Taylor Meadows Campground
Shortly after the 6km mark, you attain the Taylor Meadows Junction, there’s a map of the encircling space right here. The steepest climb is over at this stage and many individuals cease right here for a little bit of a break. From the junction to Garibaldi Lake campground is 3 kilometers, this half has a average grading with an elevation achieve of 130 meters over the past 3 km. Taylor Meadows Campsite Route – Going left takes you thru Taylor Meadows, a lovely space with colourful alpine flowers throughout the late summer time and early fall. You additionally stroll this solution to head to Black Tusk Mountain. The path good points about 125 m in altitude over 1.5 km as you ascend to Taylor Meadows Campground. Passing the campground itself (with a bit picket cook dinner shelter) you’ll attain one other junction, flip proper and re-enter the bushes to a well-maintained path. Going proper on the junction is the direct path to Garibaldi Lake. Heading to the lake you’ll move two smaller lakes Barrier Lake and Lesser Garibaldi Lake over the past 3 km earlier than reaching Garibaldi Lake. Barrier Lake is a pure dam shaped by lava flows hundreds of years in the past.
Garibaldi Lake
The lake is massive, it’s 5 km lengthy and 4 km huge. A few hundred meters stroll on the lakeshore there’s a picket doc, it is a good spot to swim from and to only sit and benefit from the lovely lake. The right turquoise coloration of the lake originates from glacial flour suspended within the meltwater from its two major inflows, the big Sphinx Glacier and the Sentinel Glacier. Alongside the lake, there are cooking shelters, pit bogs, and a campsite. There are some trout within the lake so fishing could be finished right here. To get again to the trailhead simply observe the identical manner down. Strolling on trails subsequent to the lake added one other 1.6 km to my hike.
Swimming in Garibaldi Lake
The dock subsequent to the lake is a superb spot for lunch and to take a swim! The right blue water was a bit chilly, however not freezing. The water in Garibaldi Lake was good for a fast dip. We had been a few individuals swimming on a cloudy day in late August.
Garibaldi Lake Tenting
Tenting on the Garibaldi Lake hike is allowed all 12 months on the Garibaldi Lake campsite and at on the Taylor Meadows campsite. In the event you spend the evening within the campsite there are some incredible mountaineering choices. You possibly can climb up Panorama Ridge for wonderful views of the lake or do the hike to Black Tusk and return to the campsite earlier than sundown. The campsite may be very in style and fills up shortly in summer time so make reservations nicely upfront. Make reservations for Tenting right here. The campsite can accommodate 35 tents, an extra 40 tent pads on the Taylor Meadows campsite which should even be reserved. Each campsites have pit bogs, nevertheless, there isn’t a working or drinkable water and all rubbish should be packed out with you. The campsite at Taylor Meadows has a hut the place you’re allowed to retailer meals, however sleeping within the hut shouldn’t be allowed. The space from Taylor Meadows campsite is much like Garibaldi Lake campsite from the Rubble Creek trailhead, about 9 km. It is usually attainable to hike into Taylor Meadows from the Cheakamus Lake car parking zone through Helm Creek. That is apparently a tricky hike and is normally finished as a multi-day tenting hike. The tenting charges are $6 per tent pad and $10 per evening for every grownup (16+).
Garibaldi Lake tenting provides 4 day-use shelters, every with 2 picnic tables, washing sinks, and pit rest room amenities. Taylor Meadows Tenting provides two day-use shelters, with two picnic tables, a wash sink, and pit rest room amenities.
Tenting in Garibaldi Nationwide Park is a well-liked weekend getaway from Vancouver. For an ideal weekend of mountaineering and tenting hike to Garibaldi Lake and arrange camp right here as a base for the weekend. Hike to Panorama Ridge on in the future and Black Tusk on the subsequent earlier than breaking apart camp and returning to your trailhead.
Vital ideas
- Carry your personal clear water or plan to boil water for ingesting as there isn’t a clear water in Garibaldi Provincial Park. Even water from the creek at Taylor Meadows shouldn’t be really helpful to drink with out therapy. I carried a Lifestraw filter bottle for treating water.
- There may be very restricted cell service within the park
- It’s a nationwide park, and no canine are allowed in Garibaldi Provincial Park.
Bears on the Garibaldi Lake Path
Each black and grizzly bears are current within the space surrounding Garibaldi Lake. Grizzly bears are not often seen. It’s best to hold bear spray to guard your self, particularly in case you are tenting in a single day.
Are Canine Allowed within the Garibaldi Provincial Park?
To guard the biodiversity and for bear security considerations canine and different pets should not allowed within the park.
Greatest Time to Hike to Garibaldi Lake
Garibaldi Provincial Park is open for mountaineering all 12 months spherical. Hikers are typically discovered on the path from Might till October, however one of the best time to go to the lake is the second half of July or early August. Throughout winter, the path is mostly coated in snow, carrying winter boots and carrying microspikes and snowshoes with you is really helpful. The entry street to the Rubble Creeks is plowed, however can nonetheless be coated in snow and troublesome to drive.
Lodging in Squamish and Vancouver
I’ve hiked in Garibaldi Nationwide Park from Vancouver and Squamish, and reaching the trailhead was straightforward from each areas. It is a nice weekend journey from Vancouver
- Lodging Squamish
- Extremely rated lodging in Vancouver with a superb location.
Extra Nice Hikes in Canada
Garibaldi Park has some good tenting choices, however if you wish to do some longer backpacking journeys Vancouver Island is the place to go. The well-known West Coast Path is a brutal 6-day hike all alongside the coast. We noticed so many animals on the path from killer whales to bears, all up shut! The Juan de Fuca Marine path getting into the other way on the identical coast of Vancouver Island was additionally a incredible hike with some extra flexibility. The gorgeous Vancouver Island provides unbelievable nature with lovely cities and thrilling actions, see our Greatest Issues to do on Vancouver Island submit.
Banff Nationwide Park in Alberta is dwelling to a few of the most lovely one-day trails that I explored in Canada. I stayed in Banff and Lake Louise for greater than per week mountaineering wonderful routes round Banff, Lake Louise, and Moraine Lake day-after-day.
Packing for Mountaineering in Garibaldi Nationwide Park
Garmin Fenix 5 GPS Watch is a superb software for mountaineering measuring velocity, elevation, coronary heart price, mapping, and extra useful and vital mountaineering parameters.
For footwear for mountaineering your essential selections are path runners, mountaineering sneakers, or boots.
Mountaineering sneakers or path runners work nicely on the Garibaldi Lake path if there isn’t a snow since it’s a well-established path that’s normally not too muddy.
Merrell Moab 2 Waterproof is a incredible mountaineering shoe that works nicely in quite a lot of circumstances.
For longer hikes and in snow, we want boots and dry ft.
My Salomon X Extremely Prime gortex boots are a tremendous pair of shoes, for winter, summer time, mud, snow, and rain snug, mild, and fully waterproof.
Women mannequin, Alya loves her Women Salomon X Extremely boots. I you need mountaineering sneakers we had been very impressed with Merrell Moab 2 Waterproof Alya walked 3000 km in hers earlier than they had been completed.
For mild rain jacket the North Face for girls or North Face Resolve for males are nice merchandise.
Columbia mountaineering pants for males and Columbia mountaineering pants or yoga stretch pants for girls are good fast dry pants for trekking.
I all the time pack a BUFF Multifunctional Headwear – for solar and wind safety (doubles as a face masks).
Trekking Poles are very useful within the mud or whether it is slippery on the path, TrailBuddy Mountaineering Sticks are very well-rated, good worth for cash, aluminum trekking poles.
Planning to spend the evening on the campsite? I really like our MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2-Individual Light-weight Backpacking Tent, a incredible, straightforward mild, tremendous high quality tent.
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The robust half of Stingy Nomads, a nomadic aquaman that will be completely satisfied to spend all his life within the water diving, browsing and spearfishing however usually has to compromise with Alya and go mountaineering as a substitute. Campbell is accountable for all our marine adventures and following them with write-ups. He loves touring, braai (BBQ in South Africa), pink wine and spending the day in a wetsuit.
