Garibaldi Provincial Park
- Good for Kids:
- No
3 reviews for Garibaldi Provincial Park
3 reviews in English
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Review from wanderlust c.
Vancouver, BC
9/14/2008
Great Hike. Great Views. Great trails.
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Review from Emma L.
10/19/2010 2 photos
Lovely park with beautiful views, nice amenities, and lots of traffic!
We hiked up to Elfin Lakes last weekend. I'm not much of a hiker, but it was a very manageable 11k. There's a shelter at Red Heather about 5k in where you can stop and have a snack, and after walking along a ridge for another 6k you get a great view of the Elfin Lakes and your saviour, the Elfin Lakes shelter.
This is a heated shelter that can sleep 34 people comfortably, and more uncomfortably. When we were there all the bunks were full and a couple people were sleeping on the floor. Bunks are upstairs, and the downstairs has the furnace, 4 propane stoves, tables and benches, and some big pots for boiling water or snow.
One of the lakes is for gathering drinking water (you should still boil it!) and one is for swimming/bathing, although be careful because sometimes you think you've walked to the second lake, but really it's just the other side of the first lake. Oops.
There's also a campground near the Elfin Lakes shelter, but sometimes bears are in the area, so be careful.
Some great hikes from the shelter, including 3k of steady incline to the Gargoyles, and about a 6k hike to Opal Cone -- just be aware of possible washouts for that one.
It's also totally doable to walk to the lakes and back as a day hike, and you'll see many people doing just that, or enjoying the trail on their mountain bikes.Listed in: Get outta town
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Review from Kat S.
7/12/2010 3 photos
This is a beautiful park, and because of its proximity to Vancouver and Whistler, it is heavily used.
A day hike up to Garibaldi Lake is totally doable, but if you want to continue on to Black Tusk, or Panorama Ridge, it's best to camp overnight at the lake. Overnight camping is permitted at the lake, and you pay at the parking lot before starting your hike. There are usually rangers present, and there are cooking shelters for use, as well as pit toilets. Pack out what you packed in! No garbage facilities are provided.
There is a great view point along the trail up to Garibaldi Lake, with views of the Barrier and distant peaks. The rest of the trail is mostly sheltered by large coniferous trees. There are two smaller lakes on the way to Garibaldi Lake; Barrier Lake and Lesser Garibaldi Lake. There are fishing opportunities at these lakes, as well as the main lake. Bring your licence if you intend to fish.
The only drawbacks to this park are the sheer number of people that use it and the overly aggressive Whiskey Jacks (Gray Jays). The Garibaldi Lake trail seems to be a common choice for first time hikers. The trail is in good condition, and despite the elevation (810 m to get to the lake), it's pretty easy going. So this leads to a lot of people with brand new gear attempting their first wilderness experience, overloaded with equipment, or people hiking in flip flops, under prepared. The trail also attracts hard-core fitness enthusiasts who seem to think this the path is an appropriate place for them to go running and then get testy when hikers are in their way.
