Garibaldi Lake Hike

Snow melt on Garibaldi Lake, in Garibaldi Provincial Park, Whistler, British Columbia

The hike to Garibaldi Lake is a cruisy 9 km walk up from Rubble Creek car park (just south of Whistler) on a well graded trail through towering Douglas-fir and western red cedar before leveling out to expose stunning views of Garibaldi Provincial Park and the valley below.

Stunning view during hike at Garibaldi Provincial Park, Whistler, BC

We started relatively early- just after 9am – and whilst walking under the cover of mountain hemlock, we soon heard the calling sounds of marmots and encountered some rare mountain goats.

Expect some friendly banter and smiles on the way up- trail upgrades are currently taking place on the Garibaldi Lake trail and the welcoming workers will draw your attention to any wildlife or adverse conditions further on.

Picnic Lunch at Garibaldi Lake

Just past the 7 km mark the remnants of winter comes into full swing so expect snow all the way to the lake. Wear decent hiking boots- I wore trail shoes and was soaked (not to mention baltic toes) by the time we landed up at the actual lake!

But all of that fades when you make it to the top. Lake Garibaldi is simply stunning. Crunching along the snowy path you will be in a daze, gazing in awe at the sight before you. Pockets of crystalline aquamarine water greet you before you behold the mighty lake in all its grandeur.

It’s the stillness that grabs your attention first. Sitting silently, soaking up the beauty of Mount Garibaldi and its environs, you feel you could have travelled days to reach somewhere as serene.

We rested for an hour on the (pseudo) boardwalk (embraced a few star-jumps to warm up the toes), ate our lunch and dazed at the pristine iridescence of the lake.

If you are looking to camp close to Garibaldi Lake go to the Camping & RVing BC website, click on Where to Camp and type in Whistler or Squamish.

Published: July 17th, 2013