I’ve day hiked the various routes to Russet Lake several times each, and I’ve backpacked to the lake three times over the last 20 years. (The photos in this post are from various trips.) I keep coming back since it is one of my favourite areas – the mountain and glacier views are amazing (maybe the best in Garibaldi Park!) and access to the alpine is easy if you take the Whistler gondola.

I’m a hiking guidebook author and have backpacked all over BC, so I’ve put together a detailed Russet Lake hiking and backpacking guide for you. It includes:

• Quick facts about hiking to Russet Lake, including distances, how long it takes, best time to go, and more
• Map and elevation profile, plus a downloadable GPX file
• Detailed trail descriptions for each of the three options for hiking to Russet Lake plus tips for skiing and snowshoeing in winter
• Tips for which route to take and taking the gondola, including how to ride it for free
• Extending your trip – day hikes and scrambles from Russet Lake
• Camping and the hut – details on staying at the campground and Kees and Claire Hut, including reservations and fees
• How to get to the Russet Lake trailhead – including parking and bus info
• Russet Lake hiking tips – advice for bears, what to bring, food storage, weather, and more

This is a sensitive wilderness area. Learn how to Leave No Trace to keep the wilderness wild. Make sure you are prepared by bringing the 10 Essentials. Get ready for adventure with this checklist of things to do before every hike.

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

Russet Lake Quick Facts

Route Options: Russet Lake is located in Garibaldi Provincial Park in the mountains above Whistler, BC. You can get there via two different trails from the top of the Whistler Gondola or by the Singing Pass Trail from Whistler Village. I’ve got details on all three below.

Distance: 11.7 to 14.6 km one-way, depending on route choice

Elevation Gain: 665 to 1,450 m, depending on route choice

Difficulty: Moderate

Duration: 9 to 12 hours or overnight

Best Time to Go: Mid-July to mid-September to avoid snow and take advantage of Whistler Gondola’s summer service.

Reservations and Fees: Day hiking is free and does not require a day pass. You must make reservations with BC Parks to backcountry camp. If you camp, you must pay camping and reservation fees. More details in the camping section below.

Indigenous Context: This area is in the traditional territory of the Skwxwu7mesh (Squamish) and Lil’wat Nations. To learn more, see the info sign in the Elfin Lakes campground or visit the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre.

Russet Lake Trail Map and Elevation Profile

For the most part, the main trails to Russet Lake are well-marked and easy to follow. There are signs at all junctions.

I used the Gaia GPS app on my hikes. It is helpful to know where I am on the trail to figure out how much higher I have to climb and where the next viewpoint is. All Trails+ is also great.

I also made you a trail map using Gaia GPS. Click through to zoom in and explore. You can also save it to your routes in Gaia GPS or export the GPX file.

PS: Want to save 10% on a premium subscription to Gaia GPS (the app I use for all my hikes)? Use my link – the discount appears in cart.

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Russet Lake Trail Options

There are three ways to hike to Russet Lake: the Singing Pass Trail, the High Note Trail from the top of the Peak Chair, and the High Note Trail from Whistler Roundhouse. You can also ski or snowshoe to Russet Lake in winter. Below, I’ve got details on each one.

Note: While I usually list distances as a round-trip, this time I‘ve listed distances one-way since this is a hike where you can take different routes there and back. I’ve also included elevation loss stats for the trip to Russet, which become elevation gain stats if you take that route back to the trailhead.

High Note Trail from the Top of the Peak Chair

Distance: 11.7 km one-way

Elevation Gain: 665 m

Elevation Loss: 940 m

Practicalities: Requires taking the Whistler Gondola or the Blackcomb Gondola and the Peak 2 Peak Gondola, and then the Peak Chair.

This is by far the most scenic route to Russet Lake and the route I recommend. You start by taking the Whistler Gondola up to the Roundhouse and then Peak Chair. (More gondola tips in the section below.)

You’ll hike the High Note Trail to Flute Junction, then continue along the Musical Bumps to Singing Pass, then up Cowboy Ridge to Russet Lake.

As you can see in the elevation profile above, the route has some ups and downs, but in general, it is mostly downhill. There are no reliable water sources on this route, so pack all the water you will need for the day.

Key Locations

Route Description

Ride the gondola and then the Peak Chair to the top of Whistler Mountain. Walk across the suspension bridge, then go left and down the stairs to the signed trailhead for the High Note Trail. My High Note Trail Guide has a more detailed description of this trail.

Follow the trail steeply downhill through a rocky section, then across a ski area access road. The trail follows the hillside through beautiful meadows with great views of Black Tusk Peak. Pass the junction with the Half Note Trail at 2.9 km and the Cheakamus Lake Lookout at 3.7 km.

At 4.5 km, arrive at Flute Junction. From here, you’ll go across the Musical Bumps: Flute and Oboe Summits. Go straight and gain 120 m up the hill to Flute Summit at 5.1 km. Be sure to detour south from the summit for the best views of Cheakamus Lake. Continue across the broad summit plateau and then down into a dip 160 m below Flute Summit.

On the other side, gain 150 m uphill to Oboe Summit at 7.2 km. The view from the ridge crest is gorgeous, but frustrating. You can see your trail dropping 225 m down into Singing Pass and then climbing up the other side.

Drop down off the summit and head downhill through meadows and clumps of trees to Singing Pass Junction at 8.7 km. Turn right and begin your ascent of Cowboy Ridge. The 240 m climb has a few switchbacks, so it is never very steep, but it feels tiring at the end of the day. There are great views the higher you climb.

Reach Kees and Claire Hut at 10.9 km in very rocky terrain on the ridge crest. Follow the trail down through rocks and then meadow to the end of the trail at the Russet Lake campground on the north shore of the lake at 11.7 km.

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High Note Trail from Whistler Roundhouse

Distance: 11.7 km one-way

Elevation Gain: 765 m

Elevation Loss: 707 m

Practicalities: Requires taking the Whistler Gondola or the Blackcomb Gondola and the Peak 2 Peak Gondola. Does not include the Peak Chair.

This is another scenic option, but it isn’t quite as picturesque as the main part of the High Note Trail. You can use this option when the Peak Chair isn’t running. (It opens later/closes earlier than the gondola and doesn’t run at all in the fall.) I’ve also used this route when I’m with people who are afraid of heights and therefore don’t want to ride the Peak Chair.

From the Whistler Roundhouse, you’ll hike the bottom part of the High Note Trail in the reverse direction that most people take. Once you arrive at Flute Junction (and meet up with the High Note coming from Whistler Peak), you’ll follow the same route across Flute and Oboe Summits as the High Note Route from Whistler Peak.

While this route doesn’t have much more total elevation gain than the High Note Route from the Peak Chair, it does have a lot more ups and downs.

Key Locations

Route Description

From the Whistler Roundhouse, follow the signs to Harmony Lake, 1 km away and 90 m lower. On the far side of the lake, head uphill, passing under a chairlift, to gain 160 m on a ridge crest.

Drop steeply down from the ridge, losing 90 m, to arrive at Symphony Lake at 3.2 km. This is the last reliable water source on this route, so fill up here just in case.

Head gently uphill, gaining 80 m to Flute Junction at 4.5 km. Turn left to begin the ascent of Flute Summit. From here, you can use the High Note Trail from Peak Chair description above since the route is the same.

Singing Pass Trail

Distance: 14.8 km one-way

Elevation Gain: 1,446 m

Elevation Loss: 263 m

Practicalities: This is the only route to Russet Lake that does NOT require taking a gondola. You start right from Whistler Village.

If the gondola isn’t running, you don’t have the budget for it, or you just like the idea of getting to Russet Lake under your own power, you can take the Singing Pass Trail. While it gains a LOT of elevation, it’s pretty gradual. It is entirely in the forest – you won’t get any views until you get to Cowboy Ridge.

The route starts in Whistler Village, crosses through the Mountain Bike Park, then follows an old road and then a trail uphill to Singing Pass Junction. From there, you take the same route up Cowboy Ridge as you would if you came from Whistler Mountain.

There are lots of water sources on this route, so you don’t have to worry about carrying much with you.

Key Locations

Singing Pass Trail Description

The trailhead is on Blackcomb Way in Whistler Village next to the Gondola bus stops. From the info sign, walk around the yellow gate into the Whistler Mountain Bike Park. Follow the access road up the hill through the bike park. Watch for service vehicles on the road.

When the road forks at the top of the open area, go left on a road into the forest. Watch out for a bike trail crossing the road. Follow the road gently uphill past a reservoir building with glimpses of bike trails on both sides of the road. Watch for another bike trail crossing the road at 1.5 km.

Past here, you’ll be walking on an old road that is overgrown and eroded in places. In places, there are wide bridges over creeks and ditches. These bridges help keep the route open for skiers in winter.

About 3.8 km from the start, pass through an area overgrown with alder. If you look carefully, there is an old outhouse on the left. Until the late 1990s, you could drive up this old road. You are now at the former trailhead and parking area.

Continue the trail, passing under the Peak 2 Peak Gondola at 4.6 km. Cross Harmony Creek at 5.3 km. This area is the site of a huge washout and is unstable, so use caution, especially during times of snowmelt or heavy rain.

A few minutes later, cross an unnamed creek in a steep gully and then pass a sign welcoming you to Garibaldi Provincial Park. Cross Flute Creek on a sturdy metal bridge at 7.1 km. At 8.2 km, cross Oboe Creek on a deteriorating Bridge. This crossing can also be difficult at higher water.

Past here, the vegetation begins to change and transition to more alpine species like Mountain Hemlock and Subalpine Fir. You can also hear Melody Creek downhill to your left.

As you approach Singing Pass junction at 11.9 km, the trees start to thin out and patches of meadow start to appear. From Singing Pass junction, turn left and follow the directions above for the final ascent of Cowboy Ridge.

Skiing and Snowshoeing to Russet Lake in Winter

Russet Lake is a popular spot for backcountry skiing in winter. It is part of the Spearhead Traverse, a multi-day backcountry ski trip between Blackcomb and Whistler Mountains. As well, many people ski or snowshoe to the Kees and Clair Hut in the winter.

If you’re coming to Russet Lake in winter, you need to have avalanche training and experience since both routes to the lake travel through avalanche terrain.

Skiers can pay to take the Whistler Gondola and lifts, ski across the Musical Bumps to Singing Pass, and then head up Cowboy Ridge to Russet Lake. The Spearhead Huts site has advice on which chairlifts and routes to take through the ski resort. Snowshoers are not allowed on the lifts or in the resort, so they can’t take this route.

The other option in the winter is to come in via the Singing Pass Trail from Whistler Village. This route is open to both skiers and snowshoers. Depending on snow levels, you may have to hike the bottom section of the trail. Skiers should use caution if descending this way because there are lots of tight turns with drop-offs as well as narrow bridges.

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Whistler Gondola Tips and Route Choice

If you have the cash for it, the Whistler Gondola has by far the best views in the Whistler area and is a great way to start your hike to Russet Lake.

If you’re splashing out on the gondola, you should get your money’s worth. I recommend riding the Blackcomb Gondola first, then the Peak 2 Peak Gondola to the Whistler Roundhouse. That way, you can get the most views before you start hiking to Russet Lake.

I do recommend taking the Peak Chair up to Whistler Peak to enjoy the Suspension Bridge and views from there. (And because the High Note Trail has the best views.) However, it’s not a great option for people who are afraid of heights since it is an open chair (your legs dangle) and it goes over a cliff. (More details on that in my High Note Trail Guide.

If the price of the gondola is too steep for you, you can ride the gondola for free! There is a bit of a catch, though: you have to hike up the Singing Pass Trail for free, then up across the Musical Bumps and along the High Note to the Peak Chair or to the Whistler Roundhouse.

From there, you can go down the Peak Chair and the Peak 2 Peak, Whistler, and Blackcomb gondolas for free – as of 2025, they don’t check for tickets for downloading – only for uploading! I’ve heard this policy may change next year, but it’s been free to download every year as long as I’ve been hiking here (over 20 years).

Extending Your Trip: Hikes From Russet Lake

There are no official trails starting from Russet Lake. However, if you are comfortable with scrambling and off-trail travel, you have a few options for exploring from the hut or campground.

Adit Lakes

An informal cairned route leads from the campground to the Adit Lakes to the north, nestled in a rocky bowl. From the outhouse, pick up a faint trail across the bottom of the scree slope. Watch for cairns as the trail contours along the side of the ridge before arriving at the lakes. It’s about 1 km each way.

Cowboy Ridge

The gentle ridge above the lake makes for easy off-trail travel and exploring. The easiest place to gain the ridge crest is near Kees and Claire Hut. There are great views from the top as well as lots of wildflowers and curious marmots. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also head over to Russet Ridge to the north.

Whirlwind Peak and Overlord Peak Scrambles

While Gaia GPS and AllTrails show a trail from the campground to Whirlwind Peak and beyond to Overlord Peak, there is no trail. In places, there is a cairned route. However, you must be comfortable with route finding and exposure on steep slopes if you choose these routes. Unless you are an experienced scrambler, you may find these routes too challenging and scary.

It’s 6.5 km round-trip to Whirlwind with 600 m of elevation gain. Add another 4 km and 500 m of elevation gain if you continue to Overlord.

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Where to Stay at Russet Lake: Camping and Hut

Russet Lake Backcountry Campground

The Russet Lake campground has 20 tent pads spread out around the creek on the north side of Russet Lake.

The tent pads are simple clearings in the grass and gravel with low rock walls to block the wind. Each campsite has a metal post with a number on it. Many are a bit lumpy or slanted.

While BC Parks policy permits up to 2 tents per pad, this won’t be easy or possible at many of the Russet Lake campsites. In most cases, the second tent will be on a very lumpy, rocky, or slanted area or won’t fit at all.

There is a urine-diversion outhouse next to the campground. Store your food on the food storage poles, which have cables and pulleys. Collect drinking water from the lake or the stream. Avoid the algae-choked parts of the stream.

Fires are never allowed in Garibaldi Park. This is a fragile alpine ecosystem, and fire scars can take decades to regrow.

Camping Reservations and Fees

Since Garibaldi Park has some of the most popular backcountry campgrounds in BC, advance reservations are required. Camping costs $25 per person per night plus a $6 reservation fee for each tent pad.

Reservations open three months before your trip. That means if you want to camp on August 1, you can reserve starting on April 1.

See my tips for booking backcountry camping for pointers on how to navigate the site. Be ready to book as soon as reservations open because popular dates will sell out in minutes.

Your booking can include up to 3 tent pads on the same reservation. Keep in mind that you are allowed to have up to two tents and four people per pad.

If you didn’t get a reservation, keep checking back as people cancel and spots open up, especially within a week or two of their trip. A more efficient way is to sign up for a camping cancellation notification app like Campnab or Schnerp. Read my guide to camping cancellation apps to find out how they work and which one I recommend.

Kees and Claire Hut at Russet Lake

Opened in 2019, the Kees and Claire Hut is a large, modern, and frankly, kinda fancy, backcountry hut. It sits at the top of Cowboy Ridge above Russet Lake. A group of local mountaineering clubs run the hut as part of the Spearhead Hut Society.

The hut has 38 bunks spread across 6 rooms. Cooking and eating supplies and sleeping mats are provided. The hut also has LED lighting and urine-diversion toilets. While the hut has heaters, it is kept cold at night, so you will need a 3-season sleeping bag.

Reservations are required at Kees and Claire Hut. Hut reservations open 60 days before the first day of your trip. Bunks cost $60/night. If you are a member of BCMC, ACC Vancouver, or ACC Whistler, you can book 90 days in advance and use a promo code to get a discount.

How to Get to Russet Lake Trailhead

The Russet Lake Trailhead is in the heart of Whistler Village, right next to the gondola. It’s easy to get to by car or on the bus.

Driving Directions

From Vancouver, drive Highway 1, then Highway 99 north to Whistler. The drive takes about 1.5 hours. Once in Whistler, take the Lorimer Way exit to get to the parking lot. (More on parking below.) Here are Google Maps driving directions.

Russet Lake Parking

If you are doing a day hike, you can park in any of the parking lots. Day Lot 1 is the most convenient, but I usually park in Day Lot 4 since it is cheaper. There is no free parking in Whistler Village. Here is more info about locations and rates for parking in Whistler.

If you are staying overnight at the campground or hut, there is a special area of Day Lot 4 you need to park in. You must display your hut or camping reservation number on your dash and pay for each day you will be parked using Lot #4078 in the Pay by Phone app. Here is more info about overnight parking.

Getting to Russet Lake By Bus

Russet Lake is one of the best car-free backpacking trips in BC. You can get to Whistler from Vancouver using the Epic Rides or YVR Skylynx buses. They drop you off at Gateway Bus Loop in Whistler. From there, it’s a 5-minute walk through the village to the gondola and trailhead.

Tips for Hiking to Russet Lake

Check gondola hours and trail status: Check to make sure that the gondola and chairlifts are open and the alpine trail conditions, if you plan to come in from Whistler Mountain.

Food Storage: The campground has a pole with pulleys for food storage. Bring a waterproof bag to store your food in case it rains overnight. I always keep my food in a lightweight dry bag. The pulleys have clips, but some are broken – carry a carabiner as a backup.

Mosquitos and Black Flies: Bugs can be bad on the trail in July and early August. Bring bug spray and a head net.

Bears: This is black bear country. Bring bear spray, make noise while hiking, and store your food securely. See my bear safety tips for more info.

Dogs: Not allowed in Garibaldi Park.

Fires: Not allowed in Garibaldi Park.

Check the weather before you go: The high mountains are notorious for fickle weather. Rainstorms can blow in at any time. Expect overnight lows near freezing on some summer days. City weather forecasts are useless in the mountains. Use an algorithmic spot forecast for Russet Lake like Spotwx. (Read my guide to weather apps for hikers for more tips.)

Bring a rain jacket and warm clothing just in case. It can be much colder and rainier in the mountains than in the city. If you are staying overnight, you will need to bring typical backpacking gear. Use my backpacking checklist to make sure you have everything you need.

Wear trail running shoes or hiking boots. The trail is rocky and loose in places. Regular running shoes don’t have enough grip or ankle support.

Bring water and snacks. It is not safe to drink the water from the lakes without boiling, filtering, or treating it because you never know if people or animals have pooped or died upstream. Gross! (I use a Katadyn BeFree.)

Bring the 10 Essentials. These are key safety items you should have on every hike.

Final Thoughts

The Garibaldi Lake, Elfin Lakes, and Cheakamus Lake areas of Garibaldi Provincial Park get lots of attention (rightly so), which means that many people miss out on visiting Russet Lake. Honestly, I think the glacier views from the High Note Trail and Musical Bumps on the way to Russet Lake are actually even better than the views at Garibaldi and Elfin.

While Russet Lake does get booked up on weekends, it’s easier to book than Garibaldi Lake. And you are almost guaranteed to see adorable marmots near the lake. These furry guys are my favourite! I love watching them munch on alpine plants or take naps on the rocks.

If you’ve got questions about visiting Russet Lake, ask me in the comments. I’m happy to help.

READ NEXT:

• High Note Trail in Whistler (By a Season’s Pass Holder)
• Visiting Whistler, BC in Summer (By a Local)
• The Best Hikes in Whistler: A Guide to All the Trails
• 30 Best Backpacking Trips in BC

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The post Russet Lake Hiking and Backpacking Trail Guide appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

I spent four days hiking the Skoki Loop in Banff National Park near Lake Louise, and I was blown away – I didn’t expect to like the area this much! I went in August, so the wildflowers were in bloom, but I think I’d also like to go in the fall to see all the larches turn gold.

I’m a hiking guidebook author and have backpacked all over BC and the Canadian Rockies, so I’ve put together a detailed Skoki Loop hiking and backpacking guide for you. It includes:

• Quick facts about the Skoki Loop, including distance, how long it takes, best time to go, and more
• Map and elevation profile, plus a downloadable GPX file
• Detailed trail description, broken down into sections with distances and elevation gain
• Side trips and alternative routes so you can see the best scenery
• Skoki Loop itinerary options, from 2 to 4 days
• Camping and where to stay – details on every campground plus the Skoki Lodge
• Reservations and fees – key dates plus booking tips
• How to get to the Skoki Loop – including parking and bus info
• Skoki Loop hiking tips – advice for bears, food storage, weather, and more

This is a sensitive wilderness area. Learn how to Leave No Trace to keep the wilderness wild. Make sure you are prepared by bringing the 10 Essentials. Get ready for adventure with this checklist of things to do before every hike.

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

Skoki Loop Quick Facts

Route Overview: The Skoki Loop is a long day hike or multi-day backpacking route that makes a lollipop-shaped loop through the backcountry near Lake Louise. It goes over three passes and visits gorgeous alpine lakes.

Distance: 33.5 km

Elevation Gain: 1,295 m

Difficulty: Moderate

Duration: 3 days

Best Time to Go: Mid-July to mid-September when the trail is snow-free. Early to mid-August is wildflower season, and September is larch season.

Reservations and Fees: You must make reservations to camp. You must also pay National Park entry fees, backcountry camping fees, and a reservation fee. More details below.

Indigenous Context: The Skoki area is in the traditional territory of the Tsuut’ina, Blackfoot/Niitsítapi, Stoney Nakoda, Ktunaxa, and Métis. The government forced Indigenous people to leave when Banff National Park was created in 1885. Today, the park works with several Indigenous groups to facilitate access for traditional, ceremonial, and cultural activities, including harvesting.

Skoki Loop Trail Maps and Elevation Profile

For the most part, the main trails on the Skoki Loop are well-marked and easy to follow. There are signs at most junctions. However, there are a few unofficial trails and easy scrambling routes that aren’t marked with signs and aren’t on the Lake Louise and Yoho Map from Gem Trek. (Otherwise, it’s a great map!)

I used the Gaia GPS app on my hike. It was helpful to know where I was on the trail to figure out how much higher I had to climb and where the next campsite or landmark was. All Trails+ is also great.

I also made you a trail map using Gaia GPS. Click through to zoom in and explore. You can also save it to your routes in Gaia GPS or export the GPX file.

PS: Want to save 10% on a premium subscription to Gaia GPS (the app I use for all my hikes)? Use my link – the discount appears in cart.

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Skoki Loop Trail Description

If you look online, you’ll find several different versions of the Skoki Loop. I’ve chosen to describe the most popular and most scenic version here. It goes from the trailhead to Baker Lake, then around Fossil Mountain to the Skoki Lodge. To complete the loop, you’ll hike from Skoki Lodge over Packer’s Pass, then rejoin the main path to the trailhead.

You might find other Skoki Loop descriptions that include Deception Pass or go around Skoki Mountain via Red Deer Lakes. I don’t recommend those routes since they aren’t as beautiful. But I do have details on them in the alternative routes section below.

Read on for my detailed description of the Skoki Loop hike.

Key Locations

Trailhead to Halfway Hut/Hidden Lake Camp

Distance: 7 km

Elevation Gain: 540 m

Elevation Loss: 30 m

From the parking area, walk past the info signs and gate onto the wide gravel road. This road is part of the Lake Louise Ski Area and is closed to public vehicles and bikes. However, you will see vehicles from the ski area, Skoki Lodge, and guided tour companies. Unfortunately, none of them will give you a ride!

Continue up the road, which is steep in places. Ignore a left fork at 1.2 km. Cross a bridge at 2.4 km. At 3.6 km, reach a parking area and info kiosk just after passing under a ski lift. This is as far as the Skoki Lodge and guided tour companies can go.

Stay on the road for a few more minutes as you cross a ski run and the road curves uphill to the right. The road turns into a trail 3.9 km from the trailhead as it heads steeply uphill.

Follow the trail across another ski run and back into the trees. The trail stays in the forest for the next few kilometres while continuing to climb gradually. Cross creeks on small bridges at 4.3 km, 5.7 km, and 6.5 km.

Cross a creek at 7 km. On the other side, a side trail straight up the hill goes to Halfway Hut. The main trail to Hidden Lake Camp goes left.

Halfway Hut is a historic log cabin, originally constructed as a stopping point along the winter ski route between Lake Louise and Skoki Lodge. Today, it’s a good place to stop for lunch, especially if it’s raining. There is an outhouse here, too.

The junction with the trail to Hidden Lake and Hidden Lake Campground is 100 metres away along the main trail. Hidden Lake Campground is another 100 meters along the side trail.

Halfway Hut/Hidden Lake Camp to Baker Lake Camp

Distance: 5.8 km

Elevation Gain: 235 m

Elevation Loss: 195 m

Past the Hidden Lake junction, the forest starts to thin out, and you’ll start to get glimpses of alpine meadows. The vegetation also starts to change, and alpine larch trees become more numerous.

The trail skirts a huge rock slide below Redoubt Mountain with lots of enormous boulders. Reach the crest of Boulder Pass at 8.5 km. The huge expanse of Ptarmigan Lake stretches out in front of you. This is a great place for a break to enjoy the incredible views.

Keep following the trail as it skirts around the northwest edge of Ptarmigan Lake. At 9.3 km, you may be able to spot the unmarked junction with the Packer’s Pass Trail. This is your return route. For now, continue along the main trail as it stays in the grassy meadows above Ptarmigan Lake.

At 10.3 km, reach the marked junction with the Deception Pass Trail. This is an alternative (and more direct) route to Skoki Lodge. However, my recommended route continues east, since it is more scenic.

Follow the trail through grassy meadows, speckled with wildflowers. Descend to the north shore of Baker Lake, then follow the trail through low bushes along its length. Arrive at the turn-off to Baker Lake Campground at 12.8 km.

Baker Lake Camp to Skoki Lodge

Distance: 6.5 km

Elevation Gain: 145 m

Elevation Loss: 285 m

From Baker Lake Camp, follow the trail east to a junction, then turn left to go north on the Cotton Grass Pass Trail. The first few minutes are in the trees, but the trail quickly emerges into a wide, grassy valley. There are great views of Oyster Peak to the east. The wavy ridge of the mountain did kind of look like an oyster shell!

Reach a junction at 15.7 km. The trail continues straight up the valley to Red Deer Lakes 2.9 km away. However, my recommended route goes left between Fossil and Skoki Mountains. The narrow trail climbs gradually through tight forest before crossing a creek in a wet meadow at 18.2 km. This is Jones Pass.

From here, follow the path slightly downhill through the forest. When the trees start to thin out, reach a junction with the trail from Deception Pass at 18.8 km. Turn right and walk a few more minutes through the open forest and meadow to Skoki Lodge at 19.3 km.

The benches and chairs outside the historic lodge are the perfect place to take a break. The lodge is a Canadian historic site, dating back to 1933, and is the first backcountry ski lodge in North America. If you aren’t staying in one of their rustic log cabins, you can buy snacks and drinks (including alcohol) from them between 2 and 4 pm. They accept cash and cards.

If you are staying at Merlin Meadows Campground, it’s 1 km away on the trail to the north.

Skoki Lodge to Zigadenus Lake

Distance: 3.1 km

Elevation Gain: 135 m

Elevation Loss: 30 m

To continue your hike around the Skoki Loop, follow the signs in front of the lodge to cross the bridge over the creek. At 19.5 km, reach a literal fork in the trail – there is a huge wooden fork propped against a tree! The route to Merlin Lake heads right, but your route goes left towards Packer’s Pass.

The Packer’s Pass Trail is not an official Parks Canada trail and does not appear on most maps. However, it is easy to follow.

The trail goes through forest and patches of meadow. After the trail leaves the forest and contours below a rock slide on the Wall of Jericho, rock hop across a wide creek at 21.3 km. Follow the trail through another patch of meadow.

Cairns take you up through a talus field beside a waterfall. It looks like the trail disappears, but it actually tucks in behind a rock fin. You’ll clamber up between the narrow rock walls of a chimney, passing under a chock stone. There is one tricky move with a big step. Some hikers may wish to take their packs off and pass them up through here. And some hikers may need a boost up the step. But in general, it is very easy scrambling.

At the top of the chimney, follow cairns southwest towards Myosotis Lake at 21.7 km. Several side trails lead you down to the lake shore. Myosotis is the Latin name for forget-me-nots – you might spot these blue flowers in alpine meadows.

The trail continues along the east side of the lake, popping in and out of the forest. On the south side of the lake, follow cairns across a talus field, then head south up a short, steep hill.

Reach the shores of Zigadenus Lake at 22.4 km. The huge tilted rock slab holds back the lake’s western edge. It reminded me a bit of the sloped concrete edge of a half-empty swimming pool! The lake gets its name from mountain deathcamas, a whitish green flower that used to be classified in the Zigadenus genus. Together, Myosotis and Zigadenus Lakes are referred to as the Skoki Lakes.

Zigadenus Lake to Packer’s Pass

Distance: 1.1 km

Elevation Gain: 195 m

Elevation Loss: 0 m

Past Zigadenus Lake, the trail climbs steadily uphill through open meadow and patches of larch trees. As you approach the pass, the vegetation ends, and you walk over bare gravel.

Reach Packer’s Pass at 23.5 km. This is the high point of the Skoki Loop. The pass takes its name from hired workers who packed supplies into Skoki Lodge on foot. While horses had to take the more gentle (and slightly longer) trip through Deception Pass, the packers could take the quicker Packers Pass since they could navigate the chimney at Myosotis Pass on foot.

Packer’s Pass has the best views on the entire Skoki Loop. Look back the way you came to the Skoki Lakes with the Wall of Jericho rising behind them. In front of you, look down at Ptarmigan Lake and Redoubt Lake with Redoubt Mountain towering overhead. For even better views, scramble up the trail-less Packer’s Pass Peak. (More details on that in the side trips section below.)

Packer’s Pass to Trailhead

Distance: 10 km

Elevation Gain: 40 m

Elevation Loss: 825 m

From the pass, follow the path downhill through the gravel, then meadows, to rejoin the main trail at 24.2 km. Retrace your steps along Ptarmigan Lake to reach Boulder Pass at 25 km.

Head downhill and back into the forest, passing Halfway Hut and Hidden Lake Camp junction at 26.5 km. Keep hiking downhill to re-enter the Lake Louise ski area and start the road walk at 29.6 km. Finish your hike on the Skoki Loop back at the parking lot at 33.5 km.

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Side Trips and Alternative Routes on the Skoki Loop

Instead of rushing through your trip, I recommend building time into your itinerary to tackle some of the side trips or alternative routes. Details on those are below.

Merlin Lake Loop Side Trip

Distance: 6.7 km loop

Elevation Gain: 330 m

The Merlin Lake Loop is the most popular day hike in the Skoki area. The trail starts at Skoki Lodge. Go right at the famous “fork” in the trail, and ascend through the forest. From here, the trail cuts across steep gravel slopes on the north side of the Wall of Jericho. Lawrence Grassi, the architect of the renowned Lake O’Hara Alpine Circuit, built this trail in the 1940s.

Follow the narrow trail along the steep mountainside to a spot where it heads directly uphill into a chimney. Scramble up the chimney, following stacked rocks to stay on track. At the top, head across rock slabs to the shores of the gorgeous lake at 2.6 km. The glaciers of Mount Richardson tumble down the cliffs on the far side.

You can retrace your steps from here, or take the trail at the lake’s northeast corner to make a loop. I recommend the loop since it avoids having to down climb the chimney. Plus, it’s more interesting to make a loop.

For the loop, follow the trail from the lakeshore as it descends steeply through the forest before reaching the marshy valley bottom. Continue along the trail beside the stream, then cross a narrow log bridge. Turn right and take the trail through Merlin Meadows Camp, then back to the lodge to finish the loop.

Skoki Mountain Side Trip

Distance: 3.9 km round trip

Elevation Gain: 505 m

The informal trail to Skoki Mountain starts behind the outhouses at Skoki Lodge. Since the higher sections traverse scree without a real trail, it’s a scramble, but you never need to use your hands. The first part of the trail climbs steeply through the forest, where you will clamber over several fallen trees. As you get higher, the vegetation turns to open meadows, and then to scree.

Cairns mark your route as you climb higher on the mountain’s slope. In places, it is very steep and loose, so watch your footing carefully. The summit has great views of Merlin Lake to the west, the Skoki Lakes to the southwest, and Red Deer Lakes to the northeast. Watch for fossils in the rocks.

Packer’s Pass Peak Side Trip

Distance: 1.1 km round trip

Elevation Gain: 95 m

Packer’s Pass Peak is a quick side trip from Packer’s Pass. There is no trail, but you will find a vague footbed in a few places. Just follow the path of least resistance up the grassy slopes from the pass.

The southwest side of the peak from the pass is gentle, making for a straightforward ascent. But the north side drops off precipitously, so take care on the summit. Reaching the peak will give you great views of Baker Lake, Brachiopod Mountain and Heather Ridge to the southeast, as well as Fossil Mountain to the east. This was my favourite viewpoint on the Skoki Loop.

Red Deer Lakes Loop Alternative Route

Distance: 8.9 km one way

Elevation Gain: 145 m

If you want to make the Skoki Loop a little longer, you can continue north on the Cotton Grass Pass Trail to Red Deer Lakes. From there, you’ll go northwest around Skoki Mountain, then south through Merlin Meadows to Skoki Lodge. This route is 8.9 km from the Cotton Grass/Red Deer Lakes junction to Skoki Lodge instead of the 3.6 km direct route through Jones Pass.

I haven’t taken this route, but I’ve heard that it is beautiful along the Cotton Grass Pass Trail. However, once it gets to Red Deer Lakes, I hear that it is marshy and a bit overgrown. As well, I’ve heard that the section from Red Deer Lakes to Merlin Meadows is in the trees and isn’t anything special.

On my trip, we opted for the direct route through Jones Pass so we could spend the rest of the day doing a day hike to Merlin Lake instead of doing the longer route through Red Deer Lakes.

Deception Pass Alternative Route

Distance: 3.5 km

Elevation Gain: 80 m

The route from the Baker Lake Trail via Deception Pass is the traditional and most direct route to the Skoki Lodge. This is the route to take if you don’t have time for the loop around Fossil Mountain via Baker Lake, Cotton Grass Pass, and Jones Pass, or you don’t want to climb the chimney on the Packer’s Pass Route. Horses also use the Deception Pass Route.

I didn’t take the Deception Pass route since I heard that the Cotton Grass/Jones Pass and Packer’s Pass routes were much more scenic. If you take Deception Pass, you’ll miss the incredible Skoki Lakes!

The route climbs up to the pass through open meadows, then descends gently through more meadows with views of Fossil Mountain.

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Skoki Loop Itineraries

While strong hikers with an early start can do the Skoki Loop as a day hike, I recommend spending a few days in the area to do some of the side trips. Here are some sample itineraries.

Recommended 3-Day Skoki Loop Itinerary

This is the itinerary I used and the one I recommend. It includes the Skoki Loop and has time for a side trip.

Day 1: Trailhead to Baker Lake Camp – Distance: 12.8 km, Elevation Gain: 775 m, Elevation Loss: 225 m, Time: 4 to 6 hours.

Day 2A: Baker Lake Camp to Merlin Meadows Camp via Jones Pass – Distance: 7.5 km, Elevation Gain: 145 m, Elevation Loss: 285 m, Time: 2 to 3 hours.

Day 2B: Merlin Lake Loop day hike – Distance: 6.7 km, Elevation Gain: 330 m, Elevation Loss: 330 m, Time: 2 to 3.5 hours.

Day 3: Merlin Meadows Camp to Trailhead via Packer’s Pass – Distance: 15.4 km, Elevation Gain: 440 m, Elevation Loss: 850 m, Time: 4.5 to 7 hours. Optional: Add Packer’s Pass Peak for and extra 1.1 km with 95 m of elevation gain and loss.

3-Day Base Camp Skoki Loop Itineraries

If you’d rather hike the bulk of the Skoki Loop with a day pack (or you can’t get a booking at Merlin Meadows), you can use Baker Lake or Hidden Lake campgrounds as a base camp to do the Skoki Loop.

Baker Lake Base Camp:

Day 1: Trailhead to Baker Lake Camp – Distance: 12.8 km, Elevation Gain: 775 m, Elevation Loss: 225 m, Time: 4 to 6 hours.

Day 2: Day hike Baker Lake Camp to Baker Lake Camp via Jones Pass and Packer Pass – Distance: 14.9 km; Elevation Gain: 520 m, Elevation Loss: 520 m, Time: 5 to 6 hours. Optional: Add Packer’s Pass Peak for and extra 1.1 km with 95 m of elevation gain and loss.

Day 3: Baker Lake Camp to Trailhead – Distance: 12.8 km, Elevation Gain: 225 m, Elevation Loss: 775 m, Time: 3.5 to 5 hours.

Hidden Lake Base Camp:

Day 1A: Trailhead to Hidden Lake Camp – Distance: 7 km, Elevation Gain: 540 m, Elevation Loss: 30 m, Time: 2 to 3 hours.

Day 1B: Day hike to Hidden Lake from Hidden Lake Camp – Distance: 2.6 km, Elevation Gain: 120 m, Elevation Loss: 120 m, Time: 1 to 2.5 hours

Day 2: Hidden Lake Camp to Hidden Lake Camp via Baker Lake, Jones Pass, and Packer’s Pass – Distance: 19.6 km, Elevation Gain: 725 m, Elevation Loss: 725 m, Time: 6 to 8 hours.Optional: Add Packer’s Pass Peak for and extra 1.1 km with 95 m of elevation gain and loss.

Day 3: Hidden Lake Camp to Trailhead: Distance: 7 km, Elevation Gain: 30 m, Elevation Loss: 540 m, Time: 2 hours.

2 or 3 Day Skoki Direct Itinerary

This route isn’t really the Skoki Loop since it doesn’t go around Skoki Mountain… but it is still a little bit of a loop since it uses both Deception and Packer’s Passes. You can do it as a 2-day route, or add on an optional third day for day hikes.

Day 1: Trailhead to Merlin Meadows Camp via Deception Pass – Distance: 15.3 km, Elevation Gain: 825 m, Elevation Loss: 415 m, Time: 5 to 7 hours

Optional Day 2: Merlin Lake Loop day hike – Distance: 6.7 km, Elevation Gain: 330 m, Elevation Loss: 330 m, Time: 2 to 3.5 hours AND/OR Skoki Mountain day hike – Distance: 6 km, Elevation Gain: 570 m, Elevation Loss: 570 m, Time: 2.5 to 4 hours

Day 2 or 3: Merlin Meadows Camp to Trailhead via Packer’s Pass – Distance: 15.4 km, Elevation Gain: 440 m, Elevation Loss: 850 m, Time: 4.5 to 7 hours. Optional: Add Packer’s Pass Peak for and extra 1.1 km with 95 m of elevation gain and loss.

Camping and Where to Stay on the Skoki Loop

There are several campgrounds along the Skoki Loop as well as the Skoki Lodge. Here are details on each one:

Hidden Lake Campground

Located 7 km from the trailhead, you can use this campground as a base camp to hike into the core Skoki area, but it’s a bit far. If you’re with a slower group, you could also use this campground as a way to break up the journey into a longer trip. It’s also a great base for day hikes to Hidden Lake.

The campground has clumps of trees and patches of meadow. There is a stream on the west side of the campground for water. It has 10 tent sites on wood-framed dirt platforms, a cooking area, an outhouse, and food storage lockers.

Baker Lake Campground

Baker Lake Campground is 12.8 km from the trailhead on a bluff at the east end of Baker Lake. It’s a good first night’s stop on the Skoki Loop. You can also use it as a base camp if you want to do the Skoki Loop without packs.

The campground is set in a clump of trees on a bluff with 10 wood-framed dirt tent pads, an outhouse, and a cooking area with tables, benches, and food storage cables. But it’s a 2-minute walk down the hill to the lakeshore, which has incredible views of the surrounding mountains. You can collect water from the lake.

Merlin Meadows Campground

This is the best campground for day hikes in the Skoki area. I spent two nights here so we could do day hikes to Merlin Lake and Skoki Mountain. The campground itself is kinda meh – both the tent area and the cooking area are in the trees. However, you can walk out in the meadows by the creek for good views.

There are no tent pads here – instead, you just choose a clearing in the trees. There are two outhouses near the tenting area.

The cooking area has four tables with benches and one food storage pole with cables. The main trail runs right through the cooking area. There are more food storage cables near the tenting area. There are several informal paths down to a creek to collect water north of the campground.

Red Deer Lakes Campground

Choose Red Deer Lakes if you can’t get a booking at Merlin Meadows or if you want a bit of solitude. It’s further from the Skoki core area, so it doesn’t make a great base camp. Despite the name, the campground is not on the lakeshore.

This campground does not have designated campsites – camp in the clearings along Red Deer River, which is the water source. It has an outhouse and food hanging cables.

Skoki Lodge

This historic Skoki Lodge dates back to the 1930s and is one of the oldest backcountry lodges in Canada. You can stay in the main lodge or one of the log cabins. They have room for up to 22 guests at once. Your stay includes all meals. Prices start at about $300/person/night. The lodge is in high demand, so you need to book about one year in advance.

Skoki Loop Reservations and Fees

Since the Skoki area has some of the most popular backcountry campgrounds in Banff National Park, advance reservations are required.

Reservations for the entire summer season open in January or February each year. In 2026, reservations open on January 26, 2026, at 8 a.m. Mountain Time. You must book on the Parks Canada Reservations website.

See my tips for booking backcountry camping for pointers on how to navigate the site. Be ready to book as soon as reservations open because popular dates will sell out in minutes.

Your booking can include up to 10 people and up to 3 tent pads on the same reservation. Keep in mind that you are only allowed to have one tent per tent pad and four people per tent.

Step-By-Step Reservation Instructions

To make a reservation, select:

• “Backcountry” at the top (with the hiker icon), the
• “Backcountry Zone” button
• “Banff, Kootenay, and Yoho” from the Park drop-down.
• Access point “Fish Creek Trailhead” from the Access Point drop-down.

Have the following info ready to go when you make your reservation:

• preferred itinerary with campgrounds and dates, plus backups
• number of tent pads and people you are booking for
• credit card

If You Didn’t Get a Reservation

If you didn’t get a reservation at your chosen Skoki area campgrounds, keep checking back as people cancel and spots open up. On my trip, there were empty tent pads in the campgrounds two out of the three nights, so it seems that cancellations do happen.

A more efficient way is to sign up for a camping cancellation notification app like Campnab or Schnerp. Read my guide to camping cancellation apps to find out how they work and which one I recommend.

Fees

You must pay a few different fees to hike the Skoki Loop. The cost breakdown is as follows:

• Backcountry camping reservation fee: $11.50 per booking (for up to 10 people and up to 3 tent pads)
• Backcountry camping fee: $13.50/person/night
• Yoho/Banff/Kootenay National Parks entry fee: $11/person/day (or $22 per car/day with up to 7 people)

Most people spend three days/two nights in the Skoki area. In that case, a solo hiker would pay $71.50. Per-person costs decrease if you hike in a group since you can share the expense of reservations and national park entry fees.

How to Get to the Skoki Loop

The Skoki Loop is located in Banff National Park near Lake Louise. The trailhead is near the Lake Louise Ski Area on the east side of Highway 1.

The trailhead is a 5-minute drive from the Lake Louise Visitor Centre. To get there, take the Lake Louise exit from Highway 1, then go east towards Lake Louise ski hill. Just before you get to the ski hill, take a gravel road to the right, marked with a sign for Skoki Lodge. Follow it for 1 km to a parking area.

You can park in the lot on the right or along the road. There are port-a-potties in the parking lot. You must have a valid national park pass on your dashboard to park here.

If you don’t have a car, you can take a shuttle bus to Banff, then take Roam bus route 8X from Banff to Lake Louise village. From there, it’s a 3.2 km walk to the trailhead with 120 m of elevation gain.

If you’re looking for a place to stay before your trip, I recommend booking a hotel in Golden. It’s only one-hour away and it is sooo much cheaper than Lake Louise or Banff. Basecamp Lodge Golden is a good mid-range pick. If you’re on a budget, stay at the basic Rondo Motel.

Tips for Hiking the Skoki Loop

Cooking Areas: Each campground has a communal cooking area with a few tables. It was nice to have a place to sit down each evening! But don’t hog the tables – they are for everyone to share. The cooking areas are separate from the tenting areas for bear safety. Please don’t eat or cook near your tent.

Food Storage: Most campgrounds have a pole with pulleys for food storage. Bring a waterproof bag to store your food in case it rains overnight. I always keep my food in a lightweight dry bag. The pulleys have clips, but some are broken – carry a carabiner as a backup.

Mosquitos: Bugs can be bad on the trail in July and mid-August. Bring bug spray and a head net.

Bears: This is black and grizzly bear country. Bring bear spray, make noise while hiking, and store your food securely. See my bear safety tips for more info.

Porcupines: Some campsites (especially Baker Lake) are notorious for porcupines who will chew your gear. Hang packs, poles, and boots out of their reach at night or bring them into your tent.

Dogs: Allowed on leash.

Fires: Not allowed in the backcountry.

Check the weather before you go: The high mountains are notorious for fickle weather. Rainstorms can blow in at any time. Expect overnight lows near freezing on some days. City weather forecasts are useless in the mountains. Use an algorithmic spot forecast for Skoki Mountain like Spotwx. (Read my guide to weather apps for hikers for more tips.)

What to Bring: This is a remote hiking trip, so you will need to bring typical backpacking gear. Use my backpacking checklist to make sure you have everything you need. For Skoki, I recommend a warm sleeping bag, a lightweight tarp for eating under (I use the MEC Scout UL Silicone Tarp), and a head net for bugs.

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Final Thoughts

I’m often a one-and-done hiker – I finish a trail and don’t think about repeating it for years, or even decades. However, the Skoki Loop was so beautiful (and easy) that I’m already thinking about doing it again. I even want to splurge and stay in the Skoki Lodge so I can hike in and out with a smaller backpack!

While the Skoki area is popular, it does seem easier to book than some other Rockies backpacking trips, and it never felt busy or crowded, even with Skoki Lodge guests out on the trails.

Do you have questions about backpacking the Skoki Loop? Ask in the comments and I’ll help you out.

READ NEXT:

• 11 Best Backpacking Trips in the Canadian Rockies
• Egypt Lake in Banff Hiking and Backpacking Guide
• Backpacking Checklist: Gear You Need To Go Backpacking
• Bear Safety for Hikers, Campers and Backpackers
• The Best Weather Apps for Hiking

The post Skoki Loop Hiking and Backpacking Trail Guide appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

The route leads you through lush coastal rainforest, past rushing rivers, and beside swimmable lakes. It also passes right through downtown Squamish and Whistler Village, so that you can stop for a civilized coffee break. However, there are a few short stretches where the trail is not complete, so you’ll have to walk on roads or Highway 99.

The trail is multi-use, open to both hikers and cyclists. I’ve done both, covering the trail’s entire length on a series of hikes and bike rides over the years. My husband, an avid bikepacker, also helped with this post.

There isn’t much info on the Sea to Sky Trail online (and what is online is a bit dated since several new trail sections have been built in the last few years). In this guide, I’ve got everything you need to know about the Sea to Sky Trail, including:

• Quick facts about the Sea to Sky Trail: distance, best time to go, how long it takes, and more
• An up-to-date map and elevation profile, plus a downloadable GPX file
• Detailed trail description, broken down into sections with distances and elevation change
• My recommended itineraries for hiking and biking
• Camping and where to stay along the trail
• Sea to Sky Trail tips, including water access and specific tips for hikers and bikers
• How to get to the Sea to Sky Trail and between trailheads
• My honest opinion of the trail and whether I recommend it

This is a sensitive wilderness area. Learn how to Leave No Trace to keep the wilderness wild. Make sure you are prepared by bringing the 10 Essentials. Get ready for adventure with this checklist of things to do before every hike.

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

Sea to Sky Trail Quick Facts

Route Overview: The Sea to Sky Trail runs from Squamish to Whistler in a route that parallels the Sea to Sky Highway (Highway 99). It is a multi-use trail that is open to hikers and bikers and strings together sections of trail and road to create the Sea to Sky Trail.

Not the Sea to Sky Gondola: Lots of people get this trail confused with the trail that goes from the base of the Sea to Sky Gondola to the top. That one is called the Sea to Summit Trail – the Sea to Sky Trail is a different trail!

Distance: 107.4 km

Elevation Gain: 2,435 m

Surface Breakdown: Single-track trail: 52.8 km; Paved multi-use trail: 20.1 km; Gravel road: 19.4 km; Paved road: 11.5 km; Paved Highway: 10 km

How Long to Spend: Cyclists should plan on 2 to 3 days. Hikers can complete the trail in 4 days.

Best Time to Go: May to October for the best weather and no snow.

Indigenous Context: The Sea to Sky Trail is on the traditional territory of the Squamish and Lil’wat Nations. Be respectful in this special place.

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Sea to Sky Trail Maps and Elevation Profile

When I was researching my trips, I had trouble finding good info about the routing of the Sea to Sky Trail. Some sections are really straightforward, but others are not. This is because the trail has been rerouted in a few places to avoid roads or to take paths that are bikeable versus just hikable.

After digging through the Sea to Sky Trail section of the Squamish-Lilooet Regional District website, the Trans Canada Trail interactive map, Trailforks, and Gaia, I’ve put together what I think is the most complete and accurate (for now) map of the Sea to Sky Trail.

Here is my custom Sea to Sky Trail map, made using Gaia GPS, my fave mapping app. Click through to zoom in and explore (and to download the GPX file).

PS: Want to save 10% on a premium subscription to Gaia GPS (the app I use for all my hikes)? Use my link – the discount appears in cart.

When you’re hiking or biking the trail, you will usually come across Sea to Sky Trail markers at important junctions. The markers aren’t huge, but they are there if you look for them. However, keep in mind that sometimes the markers will take you on older versions of the trail so use the markers along with my map to stay on track.

Sea to Sky Trail Description

Which Direction to Go?

When I was researching this trip, it seemed like most people (both hikers and cyclists) chose to start in Squamish and go north to Pemberton. But then I looked at the elevation profile and realized that if I started in Pemberton and went south, the first 30 km would be uphill, but then the rest would be downhill. So I started in Pemberton.

However, I don’t know that I would necessarily recommend that strategy. The 30 km from Pemberton to the high point above Green Lake involves lots of climbs, some of which are steep. Starting in the north means you have your hardest day first. If you start in Squamish, yes, you’ll be going uphill, but it’s much more gradual.

So, in summary, I don’t recommend one direction over the other.

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Key Locations

Squamish Waterfront to MTN Fun Basecamp

Distance: 10.9 km

Elevation Gain: 100 m

Elevation Loss: 70 m

The trail starts at Sp’akw’us Feather Park near downtown Squamish. It’s a new beachfront park accessed via Loggers Lane. It has washrooms, a water bottle refill station, and incredible views of the Stawamus Chief. You’ll find a small “Sea to Sky Trail” sign on the road near the parking area, but otherwise, there is no other info about the trail.

From the beach, head west along the paved path through the park. Exit the park at the northwest corner, following a gravel trail along a narrow inlet littered with remains of Squamish’s industrial past.

About 1.5 km from the start, emerge onto the pavement in downtown Squamish. Use Logger’s Lane or Cleveland Avenue to head north to Pemberton Avenue, then turn right. Take the path under the bridge. On the other side, stay on the paved Corridor Trail beside the Mamquam Blind Channel.

Follow the Corridor Trail as it parallels Loggers Lane, then crosses the Mamquam River beside Highway 99. About 7 km from the start, the Corridor Trail passes in front of Garibaldi Village shopping centre. This is a good place to get a snack or go to the bathroom at one of the quick-service restaurants. The Purebread cafe here is a great place for a treat.

The Corridor Trail ends at the 9.9km mark. From here, follow signs for the Through the Looking Glass Trail through the woods. Those on bikes should be prepared for a steep first few minutes and some tight switchbacks at the end.

At the 11 km mark, exit the trail onto Depot Road. MTN Fun Basecamp Campground is located here.

MTN Fun Basecamp to End of Paradise Valley Road

Distance: 15.4 km

Elevation Gain: 155 m

Elevation Loss: 90 m

Cross Highway 99 at the traffic light, then turn right onto the Ray Peters Trail. A minute later, go left to take the left branch of the Ray Peters Trail (right continues beside the highway). You’ll follow this packed gravel and dirt path through the forest as it parallels Ross Road and Government Road.

Exit the Ray Peters Trail at the intersection of Government Road and Squamish Valley Road at the 14.5 km mark. From here, you have a long road section, first paved, then gravel. Thankfully, traffic is light.

Head west on Squamish Valley Road to the bridge over the Cheakamus River. Fergie’s Cafe is on your right – it’s a great brunch or lunch spot if you have time. Sunwolf Riverside Cabins are also on the same property.

On the other side of the bridge, at the 16.1 km mark, turn right onto Paradise Valley Road. The first section of this road is gorgeous with lots of big leaf maple trees overhead. Pass the Paradise Valley Campground at 19.7 km just after crossing a bridge over the Cheakamus River.

The road turns to gravel at 21.5 km. Unfortunately, this section isn’t very scenic, and it can be dusty. The road gets rougher as it reaches its end at 26.5 km. There is an informal drive-in camping area at the end of the road that is popular on weekends. However, it has no toilets, food storage, or other facilities.

End of Paradise Valley to Chance Creek FSR

Distance: 9.9 km

Elevation Gain: 455 m

Elevation Loss: 235 m

From the end of the road, follow the Cheakamus Canyon Trail uphill into the forest – it’s one of my favourite hikes in Squamish. This is one of the biggest climbs on the trail. The trail is steep and loose in places. Cyclists will have to hike-a-bike through here. There is a large barrier at a railway crossing that bikes will need to be lifted over.

Reach Starvation Lake at 28.6 km, having gained about 115 m since leaving the road. I love swimming here. There is a clearing in the trees on a spur trail on the north side of the lake that makes a good informal campsite. It has no toilet, food storage, or other facilities.

Continue uphill past the lake. In places, you can see the railway line and Cheakamus River in the canyon below you. In one short section, traverse a wire mesh catwalk suspended on the side of a cliff. The trail has steep drop-offs in places, but it is wide, so you can always stay far back from the edge. Some short, steep hills with loose gravel may require pushing your bike.

The trail ends at Highway 99 at the 32 km mark, having climbed another 100 m up from the lake. From here, you have a 3.9 km segment of Highway 99 to deal with. Hikers can stay on the west shoulder, in some places on the other side of the concrete barrier. Bikers will need to cross the highway carefully, then bike on the shoulder, which is reasonably wide.

Turn left onto Chance Creek FSR at the 36.1 km mark.

Chance Creek FSR to Brandywine Falls

Distance: 10.5 km

Elevation Gain: 260 m

Elevation Loss: 125 m

Follow this gravel road for 0.2 km, then turn right back onto the Sea to Sky Trail. The trail climbs up under a power line and passes near Lucille Lake. (Take a trail branching left to visit the lake, which has good swimming.) It then heads back under the same powerline and follows old double-track roads to Shadow Lake.

Shadow Lake is part of the larger Daisy Lake Dam complex, so there are pumphouses and other infrastructure in this section. Stay on the old double track on the west side of the lake, then follow the road as it becomes a trail and heads into the forest. Some trailside clearings near a bridge over Roe Creek could work as informal campsites. There are no toilets, food storage, or other facilities.

The trail becomes old double track again as it crosses the railway tracks and swings north to follow the powerlines. Reach paved Retta Lake Road at the 41.5 km mark. This road accesses two gated communities of private homes.

Go north on Retta Lake Road until you reach Highway 99 at the 43 km mark. Next up is the longest Highway section. You’ll be on the road for 4.1 km. Cyclists have a left turn lane to cross the highway, but the shoulder in this section is quite narrow. As well, it’s uphill – you’ll gain almost 100 m. Hikers can stay on the west shoulder, facing traffic, which is a bit wider.

Turn right into Brandywine Provincial Park at 46.9 km.

Brandywine Falls to Cal-Cheak Campground

Distance: 5.2 km

Elevation Gain: 155 m

Elevation Loss: 135 m

Brandywine Falls Provincial Park has lots of trails, but you’ll use just a few of them. Head through the parking lot, past the outhouses, and over the bridge across Brandywine Creek. Follow the wide main trail southeast and across the railway tracks. On the other side, detour for a few hundred metres to visit the Brandywine Falls viewpoints.

The Sea to Sky Trail continues east just south of the railway tracks. The wide gravel trail heads through the forest and down a small hill before climbing back up into more open terrain as you pass under powerlines and past old lava flows pockmarked with little lakes.

Arrive at the Bungee Bridge at 46.9 km. It’s worth waiting at the viewpoint to watch someone jump. Cross the bridge when the bungee staff tell you it’s safe to do so. Cyclists will have to carry their bikes up a short flight of stairs.

On the other side, follow the trail down to the Daisy Lake/Cal-Cheak FSR and head north on the wide gravel road.

Reach the southern entrance to Cal-Cheak Campground at 52.2 km at the intersection of the Cheakamus River and Callaghan Creek. This large campground has three main areas, each with tent sites and outhouses.

Cal-Cheak Campground to Function Junction

Distance: 8 km

Elevation Gain: 250 m

Elevation Loss: 150 m

Continue along the gravel road, watching for the Sea to Sky Trail to branch off to the right at 52.6 km, just past the spur road to the north campground.

The next section of trail travels through beautiful shady woods and past several rockslides, a relic of the area’s volcanic history. There are some short, sharp climbs with tight switchbacks that require careful bike handling. A long, straight section follows a former logging railway. Cross the Cheakamus River on a suspension bridge at the 55 km mark.

On the other side, the trail starts with a climb and then winds across a series of rolling hills. Expect to see lots of hikers as you approach Trainwreck junction at 58.3 km.

You can take a short detour down the hill to the Whistler Trainwreck, a set of abandoned train cars suspended over the side of the Cheakamus River Canyon. From the junction, follow the busy trail east to Jane Lakes Road at 58.8 km.

Go northeast on Jane Lakes Road, then take the Valley Trail across the Cheakamus River near the intersection with Legacy Way. At 60 km, stay on the Valley Trail as it heads northeast on the east side of Highway 99. If you need a break, detour across the Highway into Function Junction to grab a treat from Purebread or beer and pizza from Whistler Brewing.

Function Junction to Lost Lake

Distance: 11.6 km

Elevation Gain: 270 m

Elevation Loss: 175 m

You’ll be on the Valley Trail all the way through Whistler. It is a paved multi-use trail, so expect to share it with other cyclists, joggers, and walkers. Even though it crosses many streets and Highway 99, the trail is fairly easy to follow with signs at every junction – just follow the arrows to Whistler Village.

At 64.5 km ride through Alpha Lake Park. Pass through Wayside Park at 66.2 km and Lakeside Park at 66.7 km. All three parks have bathrooms and swimming areas. Wayside Park and Lakeside Park are also launch points for paddling the River of Golden Dreams.

Use the underpass to cross Highway 99 at 69.2 km to enter Whistler Village. You must walk your bike through the village. This is a great place to stop for something to eat – there are seemingly endless cafes and restaurants. It’s a bit fancy, but I love the sandwiches at Provisions on Village Stroll.

Make your way through the village, aiming for the Valley Trail between parking lots #1 and #2. After crossing the parking lots, take the Valley Trail north towards Lost Lake – ignore the branch that crosses Fitzsimmons Creek on the covered bridge.

Stay on the Valley Trail as it parallels the parking lots and passes underneath Lorimer Road. Cross Fitzsimmons Creek on a wide bridge, and arrive at the entrance to Lost Lake Park and the Lost Lake Passivhaus at 70.7 km.

Follow the wide gravel trail into the park, then go right to stay on it towards Lost Lake Beach. There are more bathrooms and another swimming area here.

Lost Lake to Wedgewoods

Distance: 8.4 km

Elevation Gain: 245 m

Elevation Loss: 335 m

Stay on the wide gravel trail as it heads up the lake’s east side.

From here, you’ll be on a series of mountain bike trails that traverse the slopes high above Green Lake. If you follow the signage correctly, you’ll stay on easy green-rated trails or old logging roads. But if you get lost, you could end up on a challenging black diamond-rated trail. Pay attention!

At the end of the Lost Lake Trail, take Gandy Dancer for 400 m to Siwash Trail for 200 m to the Green Lake Loop. Stay on the Green Lake Loop as you reach the Sea to Sky Trail’s high point at 758 m.

As you get towards the north end of Green Lake, the trail network can be confusing. Look for signs that say Sea to Sky Trail or Green Lake Loop. When in doubt, the wide gravel road will also take you where you want to go. If you want an interesting detour, you can head northwest on the Parkhurst Trail to explore the abandoned ghost town of Parkhurst.

Eventually, you’ll descend to the Green River Road, also called Riverside Drive. Turn right and follow this road as it parallels the railway tracks and the Green River.

At 80.4 km, reach the Riverside Dispersed Camping Area near the railway tracks and Highway 99. This informal drive-in camping area has an outhouse but no food storage or other facilities.

Follow the gravel road northeast from the junction. In a few minutes, ignore the uphill branch that goes to the Wedgemount Lake Trailhead. Instead, stay left and follow the road into the Wedgewoods neighbourhood.

Wedgewoods to Gord’s Garden

Distance: 5.8 km

Elevation Gain: 90 m

Elevation Loss: 185 m

A wide paved path runs beside Riverside Road through this high-end subdivision. Follow it across a bridge over the Green River. Just before the road curves left to meet up with Highway 99, turn left on Skier’s Rest Lane. Turn left again into an unmarked driveway for the complex’s trash storage building, and find the Sea to Sky Trailhead at 82.7 km.

The next section of trail sticks close enough to Highway 99 that you can often hear it or see it. The path heads through tight second-growth forest and rambles underneath the powerlines.

Emerge on Highway 99 at 86.1 km and turn right to cross the railway tracks, then turn right onto Soo Valley Road. You’ll be on the Highway for less than 100 m.

Gord’s Garden to Green River Motocross

Distance: 8.4 km

Elevation Gain: 150 m

Elevation Loss: 295 m

Find the Gord’s Garden Trailhead on your left almost immediately after leaving the highway. This section is named for Gordon McKeever, one of the early champions of the Sea to Sky Trail. Follow the trail steeply up the hill and under the power lines. There are tons of dirt bike trails in this area – follow the Sea to Sky Trail signs to stay on track.

After reaching a high point under the power lines, the trail descends gradually. Watch for a left turn into the forest. The trail continues to descend until it reaches the banks of the Green River.

The next few kilometres are my favourite part of the Sea to Sky Trail. The path follows the Green River with lots of spots to stop for a break or stick your toes in the water. There are also some lovely groves of giant trees.

There are even a few clearings big enough to work as informal campsites. The best one near the 90 km mark has a picnic table, but there are no toilets, food storage, or other facilities.

Starting near the 90.5 km mark, the trail passes through an ancient rockslide. A spur trail leads to a viewing platform. In places, the trail builders have shored up the trail to create a smooth pass across large boulders. It’s a spectacular sight.

Around 91.7 km, the trail passes a sandy area called Mystery Beach. While the river is cold and fast, locals do dip here.

Emerge on the gravel Mount Currie Road at 92.3 km. There is an outhouse here. Turn left and follow the flat road past the oval of the Pemberton Speedway and the jumps of the Green River Motocross Track, both on your right. They both have outhouses.

Green River Motocross to Nairn Falls Provincial Park

Distance: 8.3 km

Elevation Gain: 260 m

Elevation Loss: 350 m

Turn right on Highway 99 at 94.7 km to start your last highway section. It’s 1.9 km long. The shoulder is moderately wide here, and traffic is lighter here than south of Whistler, so it’s not a high-stress section. Follow the Highway across the Soo River Bridge. Pass the Sea to Sky Soils Compost Plant – hopefully it’s not too smelly.

Immediately after crossing the Rutherford Creek bridge, turn left onto North Rutherford Creek Road at 96.6 km. Walk uphill on the steep gravel road, passing an outhouse. About 500 m from the highway, turn right onto the Sea to Sky Trail. This newer section provides an alternative route to the highway (which is scary to ride/walk), but does involve lots of short, sharp climbs and descents.

The trail climbs up onto a bluff with a view down to the river. Then it descends into an open and flat area under the power lines. Next, the trail goes into some beautiful cedar woods as it passes several creeks and the remains of an old cabin.

Stay on the trail as it swings close to the highway, then climbs up onto another bluff under the powerlines. Cross the entrance road to the gun range, and continue along the trail as it climbs under powerlines. Descend to Highway 99 and cross it at a railway crossing at 102.2 km.

From here, a new trail parallels the highway on the east side and brings you into the parking lot for Nairn Falls Provincial Park at 103.1 km. The trail to the falls is one of my favourite hikes in Whistler.

Nairn Falls Provincial Park to Pemberton

Distance: 4 km

Elevation Gain: 95 m

Elevation Loss: 140 m

Head into the campground, then turn left to follow the northernmost campground road to the northeastern corner of the campground, where you rejoin the Sea to Sky Trail. You’ll pass several outhouses and a water pump.

The trail winds through the woods and zigzags up a hill. You’ll enter a zone with several mountain bike trails joining from the right – ignore them and stay on the main Sea to Sky Trail. The trail also passes through a challenging and wooded disc golf course.

At 105.7 km, reach One Mile Lake. A spur trail to the left leads to the beach, parking lot, and toilets. Turn right and follow the trail around the east side of the lake. At the north end of the lake, take the trail north to a bridge over Pemberton Creek.

Stay on the trail as it becomes Vine Road, passes McDonald’s, and then crosses Highway 99. Congratulations, you’ve finished all 107.4 km of the Sea to Sky Trail from Squamish to Pemberton.

If you’re really keen, the trail continues to the tiny town of D’Arcy. However, most of the trail is on a boring paved road, so I haven’t done it.

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Sea to Sky Trail Itineraries

Hiking Itineraries

If you’re planning to hike the Sea to Sky Trail as a backpacking trip, stopping to camp along the way, it makes sense to do it as a four-day/three-night trip.

Here is my recommended itinerary for hikers:

Day 1: Sp’akw’us Feather Park to end of Paradise Valley Road: 26.5 km, 255 m gain, 160 m loss

Day 2: End of Paradise Valley Road to Cal-Cheak Campground: 24.9 km, 870 m gain, 495 m loss

Day 3: Cal-Cheak Campground to Riverside Dispersed Camping: 28.3 km, 765 m gain, 660 m loss

Day 4: Riverside Dispersed Camping to Pemberton: 27.6 km, 595 m gain, 970 m loss

You can also create other itineraries by using car shuttles or taxis, since there are lots of places to access the trail from Highway 99. See the camping and where to stay section below for accommodation options along the trail.

Biking Itineraries

Strong gravel riders or mountain bikers can ride the Sea to Sky Trail in a single day. However, it is a common bikepacking destination, and most bikepackers will ride in two days.

Here is my recommended itinerary for biking the Sea to Sky Trail:

Day 1: Sp’akw’us Feather Park to Cal-Cheak Campground: 51.4 km, 1125 m gain, 655 m loss

Day 2: Cal-Cheak Campground to Pemberton: 55.9 km, 1360 m gain, 1630 m loss

You can also stretch out the trip to three or even four days using the accommodation options listed in the camping and where to stay section below.

Camping and Where to Stay on the Sea to Sky Trail

There are lots of accommodation options along the Sea to Sky Trail, including campgrounds, hostels, and hotels. My guide to hotels in Squamish and my guides to camping in Squamish and camping in Whistler have more info.

Please note that I’ve included some dispersed and informal camping areas that have no facilities. In these areas, you will need to go to the bathroom the Leave No Trace way, filter water, pack out your trash, and store your food/toiletries/garbage securely in a bear hang or Ursack.

Below, I’ve got a breakdown of the major campgrounds and hotels arranged in the order you will encounter them along the trail.

Squamish Area Camping and Hotels

Downtown Squamish Hotels and Hostels: There are several hotels and the Squamish Adventure Inn Hostel in downtown Squamish between the 1.5 and 2.8 km marks on the trail. I recommend Howe Sound Inn and Brewing Company.

Mamquam River Campground: Located a few blocks east of the trail near Brennan Park Rec Centre at the 5.9 km mark. Both drive-in and walk-in sites. No water or showers. Reservations are required.

Garibaldi Estates Hotels: There are two hotels along the northern part of the paved trail through Squamish: The Executive Suites Hotel and Resort (8.7 km mark) is my top pick, but the Sea to Sky Hotel (at the 7.5 km mark) is right next to shops and restaurants.

MTN Fun Basecamp Campground: Located at the 10.9 km mark. Drive-in sites. Free hot showers. Reservations required.

Sunwolf Riverside Cabins: Hipster cabins and a famous brunch spot next to the Cheakamus River Bridge near the 16 km mark.

Paradise Valley Campground: Located at 19.7 km. It has a few walk-in sites and lots of drive-in sites. Pay showers. Reservations required.

End of Paradise Valley Road: An informal dispersed camping area with drive-in access next to the river at the 26.5 km mark. No toilets or other facilities.

Starvation Lake: There is an informal dispersed camping area near the north end of the lake at the 28.6 km mark. No toilets or other facilities.

Shadow Lake: There is an informal dispersed camping area north of the lake near Roe Creek at the 40 km mark. No toilets or other facilities.

Whistler Area Camping and Hotels

Cal-Cheak Campground: This drive-in campground at the 52.2 km mark has 55 first-come, first-served sites spread over three loops next to a creek and a river. It has bear-proof food lockers and outhouses, but no water taps or showers.

HI Whistler Hostel: Located near the 59.4 km mark in the Cheakamus Crossing neighbourhood.

Whistler Hotels: There are lots of hotels located between the 65 and 70 km marks in Whistler Village and Creekside. My favourite is the Summit Lodge since it is quiet and has large rooms but isn’t too pricey (by Whistler standards anyway).

Parkbridge Riverside Whistler Campground: Take a 1 km detour off the trail at the 74 km mark in the Lost Lake Trail system to reach this luxury drive-in campground with showers. In addition to tent sites, they have log cabins and yurts. Reservations required.

Riverside Dispersed Camping: There is informal camping along Riverside Road/Wedge FSR near the intersection with Highway 99 at the 80.4 km mark. You’ll find lots of vanlifers on the road and tents down along the Green River. There is an outhouse here, but no other facilities.

Pemberton Camping and Hotels

Gord’s Garden Dispersed Camping: There are several informal campsites with no facilities on the banks of the Green River along the Gord’s Garden section of the trail between the 89 and 91.5 km marks. The best one is near 90 km.

Nairn Falls Provincial Park: A big drive-in campground at the 103.1 km mark. It has outhouses and a water pump. Reservations required.

Pemberton Hotels: There are two hotels in downtown Pemberton near the 107.4 km mark. I recommend the Pemberton Valley Lodge, which is near the trailhead.

Tips for Hiking and Biking the Sea to Sky Trail

General Tips

Black bears are common in some sections of the trail. Carry bear spray in an easy-to-reach spot and know how to use it.

If you choose to use one of the informal camping areas, stow all food, toiletries, and garbage securely at night to protect them from bears, birds, and other critters. You can rig a bear hang in a tree, but I prefer to use an Ursack with a smell-proof liner.

There is cell phone coverage on most of the trail, but there are dead zones. Download offline maps ahead of time. Leave a trip plan with a friend or family member so someone knows where you’ll be.

Water Access on the Sea to Sky Trail

The trail passes lots of creeks, rivers, and lakes, so it’s usually fairly straightforward to get water. However, some smaller water sources will be dry in July, August, and early September. Unless you are filling from a tap or pump, you’ll need to filter or treat your water. I use a Katadyn BeFree since it is light, compact, and fast.

Below, I’ve identified the easiest places to fill up. These are all reliable year-round water sources.

• Sp’akw’us Feather Park (0 km): Water fountain next to the washroom building.
• Brennan Park Recreation Centre (5.7 km): Water fountain and washrooms inside.
• Cheakamus River Bridge (16 km): Access the river by walking through Sunwolf/Fergie’s.
• Cheakamus River Bridge (19.3 km): Access to the river on the north side of the bridge.
• End of Paradise Valley Road (26.5 km): Access to the Cheakamus River on the gravel flats at the north end of the informal camping area.
• Starvation Lake (28.6 km): Easy access to the west and north sides of the lake.
• Roe Creek (40.2 km): Water access next to a bridge, a few minutes north of Shadow Lake.
• Bungee Bridge Lake (49.8 km): Small lake on the west side of the trail just before the bungee bridge.
• Cal-Cheak Campground (52.2 km): Access to Callaghan Creek from the campground.
• Alpha Lake Park (64.5 km): Washroom building.
• Wayside Park (66.2 km): Washroom building.
• Whistler Village (69.2 km): Washrooms and water bottle refill stations at Olympic Plaza and Gateway Bus Loop.
• Lost Lake Passivhaus (70.7 km): Washrooms and water bottle refill station.
• Lost Lake Beach (72 km): Washroom building.
• Riverside Dispersed Camping (80.4 km): Access to the Green River.
• Gord’s Garden (89 to 91.5 km): Several spots to access the Green River.
• Nairn Falls Provincial Park (103.1 km): Water pump.

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Hiking Tips

The trail is mostly hard surfaces (packed gravel, pavement, logging roads), so big hiking boots are overkill. I wore big boots for the section I backpacked and regretted it – I would do it in low-cut hiking boots or trail runners next time.

The Highway sections aren’t that long but, they can be intimidating. Wear bright clothing. Next time, I would wear my headlamp on blinking mode and a blinky bike light on the back of my pack.

In a few places, you can walk on the other side of the concrete Highway barrier from traffic, which helps. While walking facing traffic is the safest option, in some places the shoulder is wider on the other side of the Highway, so you might want to cross over. But do it carefully, of course.

Biking Tips

The trail is intermediate/challenging for most bike packers. The hike-a-bike section near Starvation Lake (including lifting your bike over the railway barrier) and a few steep, punchy climbs just south of Nairn Falls are the main obstacles.

You will also want to be a confident bike handler, especially fully loaded, because in places the trail passes close to steep drops off or river banks.

Unlike many other bike packing or cycling touring routes, there is a lot of semi-technical single-track. Mountain bikers will find this terrain easy, but those unused to riding off road will find it challenging.

Most of the trail is packed gravel single track, dirt roads, or pavement, making it great for gravel bikes and hard-tail mountain bikes. In general, you’ll want wider tires – at least 38 mm but ideally 45+ mm or 2″ MTB tires. You’ll also want gearing for the steep climbs.

A bikepacking set-up is ideal for the bumpy terrain. You could do it with panniers, but they will get jostled around a lot. Don’t go too heavy, or you will hate the hills.

The Highway sections are short, but in places the shoulder is narrow and traffic is fast. Consider bringing a blinky light and wearing bright clothing to keep yourself visible. Take extra care crossing the highway.

How to Get to the Sea to Sky Trail (And Between Trailheads)

There are a few ways to get from Vancouver to Squamish, Whistler, and Pemberton and between these towns.

Driving

It’s an easy (and beautiful) 1-hour drive to Squamish from Vancouver via the Sea to Sky Highway. It’s another hour to 45 minutes to Whistler, and then a further 30 minutes to Pemberton.

Biking

You can bike the Sea to Sky Highway from Vancouver to Pemberton, passing Squamish and Whistler, but it’s not for everyone – many cyclists will appreciate driving or taking the bus to skip the highway, especially between Vancouver and Squamish.

The section between Vancouver and Squamish is about 68 km with about 650 m of elevation gain. In some places, there is little to no shoulder. There are sharp turns, and traffic is very fast.

The section between Squamish and Pemberton is 93 km with 830 to 1050 m of elevation gain (depending on which direction you are going). It has more shoulder than the southern section, but there are still some tight spots.

Buses

There are four bus services you can use to get between Vancouver, Squamish, Whistler, and Pemberton. The bus stops in Squamish and Whistler are on the Sea to Sky Trail. In Pemberton, the bus stop is 1 km from the trail. Getting to Squamish or Whistler is easy, but you’ll have to transfer in Whistler to get to/from Pemberton.

• Epic Rides: Stops in Whistler and downtown Vancouver. Takes bikes on a rear rack or in a box/bag. No charge for bikes.
• YVR Skylynx: Stops at YVR Vancouver airport, downtown Vancouver, Squamish, and Whistler. Takes bikes if they are in a box or bag.
• Squamish Connector: Stops at downtown Vancouver and Squamish. Takes bikes on a rear bike rack if you call or email ahead of time to reserve.
• BC Transit: Public transit between Pemberton and Whistler via the 99 Commuter bus route. Takes bikes on a front rack for free, but space is limited.

Taxis and Ride Shares

Squamish and Whistler have taxi services you can use to get between trailheads or to road crossings along the trail. Depending on the distance travelled, it can get expensive.

Whistler and Squamish do not have Uber or Lyft. However, you may be able to find a ride via Poparide, a carpooling app that is popular locally.

Squamish Trailhead

The Squamish Trailhead is located at Sp’akw’us Feather Park in downtown Squamish. The Sea to Sky trail ends/begins here next to the ocean.

The best place to park overnight is the gravel lot next to the Adventure Centre on Loggers Lane. It’s right on the Sea to Sky Trail and is 3.5 km from the trailhead. You can walk, bike, or take a taxi to the trailhead. Here are Google Maps directions to Sp’akw’us Feather Park.

Pemberton Trailhead

There isn’t a designated trailhead in Pemberton since the trail technically continues onward to D’Arcy. However, since that section isn’t finished and is essentially just a road, I recommend starting or ending in Pemberton rather than continuing to D’Arcy.

I consider the big “Pemberton” sign outside Mile One Eating House at the intersection of Highway 99 and Pemberton Portage Road to be the trailhead. It’s about 1 block from the trail, and there’s something cool about saying that you hiked or biked from downtown Squamish to downtown Pemberton. Here are Google Maps directions to the Pemberton sign.

I don’t have a great recommendation for overnight parking in Pemberton since we got dropped off. However, Pemberton’s bylaws allow anyone to park on the street for up to 72 hours, so you should be fine to leave your car in street parking. There is also a parking lot next to the Pemberton Skate Park on Pemberton Portage Road that could be ok to leave your car.

Sea to Sky Trail Review: My Opinion

I have to be honest: I have some mixed feelings about this trail (especially for hikers), and I don’t necessarily recommend it. However, it has enough redeeming features that I thought it was worth writing a guide. My opinion can be broken down into two broad themes:

It’s Not a Wilderness Trip

For the most part, the trail is surrounded by stunning natural scenery: forests, rushing rivers, lakes, etc. But the Sea to Sky Trail crosses Highway 99 and other car-accessible roads over 25 times. The farthest you will ever be from a car accessible road is 3 or 4 km on the Cal-Cheak to Trainwreck, Gord’s Garden, and Green Lake sections.

That’s great because it gives you flexibility for resupplying or getting on and off the trail. But it also means this is definitely not a wilderness experience. It’s not an urban trip either – it’s something in between. If you’re looking to detach yourself from the world and head into the bush, this trip isn’t that.

But I also loved the way that the Sea to Sky Trail shows you that despite being close to a rushing Highway, the entire corridor is full of wilderness. On my trips, I spotted lots of wildflowers, berries, old-growth trees, and animal tracks, often within sight or sound of Highway 99. It was great to slow down and enjoy walking and biking through a landscape that is usually rushed through in a car. So it’s not a wilderness experience… but there is still lots of nature.

And honestly, being close to population centres can also be great. You can stop for coffee, sandwiches, groceries, etc. You can have friends shuttle you and/or your gear between sections so you don’t have to carry heavy packs. An overnight in a hotel with a real bed and a shower is also possible!

It’s Better as a Bikepacking Trip Than a Backpacking Trip

In general, the Sea to Sky Trail is much better for cyclists. Even though it is bumpier and more technical than many bikepacking routes (which usually use gravel roads), it is quite scenic in places, and the single-track sections are a nice change of pace. Bikes can also get through the highway sections quickly.

As you can see in the surface breakdown at the top of this post, only 51.8 km of the 107.4 km is single-track trail. The rest of the trail is paved surfaces or hard-packed gravel roads, which are fun for cyclists but boring for hikers. Those hard surfaces are also killer on hikers’ feet.

That doesn’t mean that hikers shouldn’t do this trail. It just means that I recommend you understand what you’re signing up for. As well, if you’re doing it as a backpacking trip, I think the Sea to Sky Trail is best for spring or fall when other destinations are too snowy. Don’t waste prime summer weather on this trip.

Do I Recommend the Sea to Sky Trail?

For bikepackers looking for something a bit different than the usual gravel logging roads, yes, I recommend the Sea to Sky Trail. If you’re up for single track, a bit of hike-a-bike, and short, steep climbs, it’s great. The campground at Cal-Cheak (the typical overnight on a 2-day bikepacking itinerary) is also very nice.

For hikers, I don’t necessarily recommend the Sea to Sky Trail. If you’re already in Vancouver or the Sea to Sky region and are looking for a unique spring or fall trip, give it a go. Otherwise, I think there are so many other backpacking destinations in BC that are better.

The main reason I don’t recommend this trip for hikers is that there is too much road and paved trail. As well, many of the unpaved trail sections are under powerlines, which you’ll pass through quickly on a bike, but as a hiker, they get tiresome. And finally, the way that the campsites are spread out on the trail means you’ll have to do 20+ km days each day, which can be a lot for fully-loaded backpackers.

Final Thoughts

While the Sea to Sky isn’t my favourite trail, as a local, I do still have a soft spot for it. I love that the trail lets us see the plants, animals, and scenery that most people drive through the region without slowing down to appreciate. It’s also pretty cool to be able to go backpacking or bikepacking from the centre of one town to another!

If you’ve got questions about the trail, I’m happy to help. Hit me up in the comments.

READ NEXT:

• 30 Best Backpacking Trips in BC
• 60+ Things to do in Squamish
• Visiting Whistler, BC in Summer
• 22 Places to Camp Near Squamish
• 18 Places to Camp Near Whistler
• 10 Best Hotels in Squamish
• The Best Hikes in Squamish
• The Best Hikes in Whistler

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It’s a moderate hike to the Egypt Lake campground, which makes a great base camp for exploring. It’s a tough backcountry camp to reserve, so some people do it as an overnighter. But if you can book for more than one night, do it! You’ll get to do some great day hikes.

After having this hike on my list for the last few years, I finally made it happen. On my late-August trip, we spent three nights at the campground and visited all of the nearby lakes. We had some soggy and cloudy weather, but some patches of sun too.

In this post, I’ve got everything you need to plan a trip to this beautiful area. My guide to backpacking to Egypt Lake includes:

• Quick facts about Egypt Lake including distance, how long it takes, best time to go, and more
• A map and elevation profile, plus a downloadable gpx file
• How to get to the trailhead including info about parking and shuttle buses
• Egypt Lake reservations: key dates plus booking tips
• How much does it cost to go backpacking at Egypt Lake A detailed budget breakdown
• Detailed trail description, broken down into sections with distances, times, and camping info
• Alternative routes to get to Egypt Lake including trails from Sunshine Meadows and Highway 93
• Day hikes from Egypt Lake campground including Mummy Lake, Pharaoh Peak, and more
• Egypt Lake hiking tips: advice for bears, food storage, weather, and more

This is a sensitive wilderness area. Learn how to Leave No Trace to keep the wilderness wild. Make sure you are prepared by bringing the 10 Essentials. Get ready for adventure with this checklist of things to do before every hike.

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

Egypt Lake Quick Facts

Trail Overview: This area is one of the most popular spots in the backcountry of Banff National Park. It is a collection of small lakes set below dramatic peaks. The Egypt Lake campground makes a good base camp for exploring.

What’s With That Name? When A.O. Wheeler, the founder of the Alpine Club of Canada, hiked through here in 1913, the Pharaoh Peaks had already been named for their pyramid shape. Wheeler kept with the theme and gave other features in the area Egyptian names.

Route Options: The most direct route to Egypt Lake is via the Healy Creek Trail, described in this trail guide. But there are also other options, described in the alternative routes section.

Distance: 24.6 km round-trip (plus side trips)

Elevation Gain: 1,135 m round-trip

Difficulty: Moderate

How Long to Spend: You can do it as an overnight trip, but I recommend 3 or 4 days so you have time for day hikes from your base camp at Egypt Lake.

Best Time to Go: Mid-July to mid-September when the trail is snow-free. For wildflowers aim for early August. For golden larches, go in mid- to late-September.

Reservations and Costs: You must make reservations and pay National Park entry fees, backcountry camping fees, and a reservation fee. More details are in the reservations and costs sections below.

What to Bring: This is a remote hiking trip with no services. Use my backpacking checklist to make sure you have everything you need.

Wildlife: The trail is in black and grizzly bear country. Carry bear spray, hike in a group, and make noise. Use campground cooking areas and store all your food and toiletries in the food lockers. Read my bear safety tips for backpackers for more info.

Dogs: Banff National Park discourages bringing dogs into the backcountry because they can trigger aggressive behaviour from wildlife. But dogs are allowed on leash.

Fires: Not allowed in the backcountry.

Indigenous Context: The Egypt Lake area is in the traditional territory of the Tsuut’ina, Blackfoot/Niitsítapi, Stoney Nakoda, Ktunaxa, Secwépemc, and Métis. Before Europeans arrived, the nearby Bow Valley was an important travel and trading corridor. The government forced Indigenous people to leave when Banff National Park was created in 1885 and prohibited them from accessing their traditional territory. Today, the park works with several Indigenous groups to facilitate park access for traditional, ceremonial, and cultural activities including harvesting.

Egypt Lake Trail Map and Elevation Profile

The trails in the Egypt Lake area are well-marked and easy to navigate with signs at all junctions. If you want a paper map, the Banff and Mount Assiniboine Map from Gem Trek is the best one.

I used the Gaia GPS app on my hike. It was helpful to know where I was on the trail to figure out how much higher I had to climb and where the next campsite or landmark was. All Trails+ is also great.

I also made you a bunch of trail maps using Gaia GPS. Click through to zoom in and explore. You can also save it to your routes in Gaia GPS or export the gpx file. There are more maps in the route options section.

How to Get to the Healy Pass Trailhead

Egypt Lake is located in Banff National Park on the west side of Highway 1 between Banff and Lake Louise. Most people start the hike at the Healy Pass Trailhead at the Sunshine Village ski area parking lot. (I’ve got info on other trailheads in the alternative routes section below.)

The trailhead is a 20-minute drive from the town of Banff. To get there, go west on Highway 1 and then take the Sunshine Road exit. Follow that road until its end at the Sunshine Village base. Here are Google Maps driving directions.

You can park anywhere in the large parking lot, but you need to display a valid National Parks pass on your windshield.

If you don’t have a car, Sunshine Village offers a free shuttle from downtown Banff several times a day.

The Healy Pass trailhead is located on the west side of the main Sunshine Village gondola building. Walk around the back past the hotel guest check-in doors. There is a large info sign with a map and trail info. The trail starts by crossing the wide wooden bridge.

Reservations

Since Egypt Lake is one of the most popular backcountry campgrounds in Banff National Park, advance reservations are required.

Reservations for the entire summer season open in January or February each year. In 2026, reservations open on January 26, 2026, at 8 a.m. Mountain Time. You must book on the Parks Canada Reservations website.

See my tips for booking backcountry camping for pointers on how to navigate the site. Be ready to book as soon as reservations open as popular dates will sell out in minutes.

Your booking can include up to 10 people and up to 3 tent pads on the same reservation. Keep in mind that you are only allowed to have one tent per tent pad and four people per tent.

Step-By-Step Reservation Instructions

To make a reservation, select:

• “Backcountry” at the top (with the hiker icon), the
• “Backcountry Zone” button
• “Banff, Kootenay, and Yoho” from the Park drop-down.
• Access point “Sunshine Village” from the Access Point drop-down.

Have the following info ready to go when you make your reservation:

• preferred itinerary with campgrounds and dates as well as backups
• number of tent pads and people you are booking for
• credit card

If You Didn’t Get a Reservation

If you didn’t get a reservation at Egypt Lake Campground, keep checking back as people cancel and spots open up. A more efficient way is to sign up for a camping cancellation notification app like Campnab or Schnerp. Read my guide to camping cancellation apps to find out how they work and which one I recommend.

You can also camp at Healy Creek Campground 7.1 km from Egypt Lake Campground, or Pharaoh Creek Campground (4.8 km away). From those camps, you can day hike into the Egypt Lake area.

Fees

You must pay a few different fees to hike to Egypt Lake. The cost breakdown is as follows:

• Backcountry camping reservation fee: $11.50 per booking (for up to 10 people and up to 3 tent pads)
• Backcountry camping fee: $13.50/person/night
• Yoho/Banff/Kootenay National Parks entry fee: $11/person/day (or $22 per car/day with up to 7 people)

Most people spend three days/two nights at Egypt Lake. In that case, a solo hiker would pay $71.50. Per-person costs decrease if you hike in a group since you can share the expense of reservation and national park entry fees.

Egypt Lake via Healy Pass Trail Description

The most direct way to backpack to Egypt Lake is to to an out-and-back trip via the Healy Pass Trail. That’s what I did and what is described below. For other options, see the alternative routes section below. Below is a section-by-section breakdown of the Healy Pass Trail.

Healy Pass Trailhead to Healy Creek Camp

Distance: 5.3 km

Time: 1.25 to 2 hours

Elevation Gain: 335 m

Elevation Loss: 30 m

The first section of the trail from the parking area to Healy Creek Camp climbs gradually in the valley. The ascent is steady, but in most places barely perceptible.

From the trailhead, cross the bridge over the creek and follow the wide road-like trail. The Sunshine Village access road is up the steep bank to your left and you might occasionally see ski hill maintenance vehicles on the road.

About 0.9 km from the start the trail dips down into a ravine and crosses Sunshine Creek on a long, narrow bridge.

On the other side, the path begins to look less like a road and more like a wide trail.A brief climb at the 1.5 km mark kicks the grade up for a few minutes, but the trail ascends more gently through the forest.

Reach the bridge over Healy Creek at the 3 km mark. There is a good spot for a break if you need one.

From the bridge, the trail meanders through the flattish valley bottom. The trail is mostly in the forest, but you pass through several avalanche paths. Healy Creek is off to your left. You can sometimes hear but it remains out of sight in the bushes.

Healy Creek Camp

Reach Healy Creek Camp at 5.3 km. It is set in the valley bottom near the junction of Healy Creek and an unnamed creek. The campsite is in a somewhat open forest. It’s a good spot to camp if you need to split up the trek over two days or if you can’t get a reservation for Egypt Lake Camp. Otherwise, it’s pretty meh.

The campground has five dirt tent platforms and a newish outhouse. There is a cooking area on a spur trail to the east. It has one big picnic table and food lockers. Get water from Healy Creek via one of the brushy side trails from the cooking area or camping area.

Healy Creek Camp to Healy Pass

Distance: 3.8 km

Time: 1.25 to 2 hours

Elevation Gain: 380 m

Elevation Loss: 3 m

From Healy Creek Camp to the pass the trail begins to climb more than the route to camp. However, the ascent is never very steep – it’s a steady plod uphill.

Follow the main trail out of the campground. Reach a junction with the trail to Simpson Pass 5.7 km from the trailhead. Go straight to stay on the main Healy Pass Trail.

From here the climbing starts. Ascend steadily through the forest. As you begin to break out of the trees, reach another junction about 7.5 km from the start. Go right to stay on the Healy Pass Trail – the trail to the left is another route to Simpson Pass, Sunshine Village, and Eohippus Lake.

Past the junction, the scenery really improves. Make your way uphill through patches of meadow and clumps of larch trees. They hadn’t started to turn on my late August trip, but by early October they are spectacularly golden.

The wildflowers had finished by the time I got here in late August, but I’ve seen photos from other years, and it looks like you can get a great display through here from late July through mid-August.

There are several unnamed tarns nestled in the meadows to your left (southwest) in front of the impressive peaks of the Monarch Ramparts with The Monarch behind them. If there aren’t too many clouds, you can also see the Matterhorn-like peak of Mount Assiniboine to the south.

Reach the 2360 m high pass about 9 km from the start. It is marked by a sign. Looking west you can spot Egypt Lake and Scarab Lake below the imposing Pharaoh Peaks.

Healy Pass to Egypt Lake Camp

Distance: 3.3 km

Time: 1 to 1.5 hours

Elevation Gain: 15 m

Elevation Loss: 370 m

Your route to Egypt Lake Campground is all downhill. From the pass take the trail heading northwest – ignore the trail to the south that goes towards the Monarch Ramparts.

The first kilometre of the descent is in a sub-alpine meadow with clumps of larch trees. The descent gets a little steadier once you transition into the forest. It’s pretty much a straight shot downhill to the northwest. I don’t have any photos of this part because it was raining in this section on my hike in AND my hike out!

About 11.7 km from the trailhead the path starts to flatten out a bit as you get into the Pharaoh Creek valley. Pass a ranger hut at the 12 km mark, then cross the bridge over Pharaoh Creek at 12.1 km.

There are two trails from the bridge heading up the small rise. The first trail (northwest) goes to the Egypt Lake campground cooking area. The second trail (southwest) goes to the tenting area. Arrive at the campground 12.3 km from the trailhead.

Egypt Lake Camp

Egypt Lake Camp is set in a patch of meadow above Pharaoh Creek. It’s important to note that it is NOT at Egypt Lake – the lake is about 0.75 km away.

It’s a good base camp for day hikes to the nearby lakes, passes, and peaks. (More on that in the day hikes section below.)

There are 15 dirt tent pads spread out along the main trail to Egypt Lake. Some of the tent pads have good views of Healy Pass. There are two elevated outhouses in the centre of the campground between clusters of tent pads.

Until 2023, the Egypt Lake Shelter used to be next to the outhouses. It was aging so they tore it down. Parks Canada has indicated that they intend to replace the shelter at some point, but I can’t find any info with a timeline. For now, there is a rectangular patch of grass where the shelter used to be.

The cooking area is located along the Pharaoh Creek trail about 150 m north of the tent area. It has three large picnic tables and two clusters of food lockers. The picnic tables and food lockers are spread out along a maze of rooty trails. Head down to the bridge over Pharaoh Creek to collect water.

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Alternative Routes to Egypt Lake

There are a few other routes to Egypt Lake that are popular enough to mention. I haven’t done these routes myself, but I did a lot of research leading up to my trip to figure out which way we wanted to hike in.

Here is a quick overview of the routes to Egypt Lake (one-way)

Sunshine Village/Simpson Pass Route

Distance: 12.6 km or 13.6 km

Time: 3.5 to 5.5 hours

Elevation Gain: 510 m or 370 m

Elevation Loss: 675 m or 740 m

This route starts from the top of the Sunshine Village Gondola (which I have ridden – it’s gorgeous up there! Read my Sunshine Meadows hiking guide.) Since it starts high, there is a bit less elevation overall, but it’s a rolling route. This route is also more expensive since you have to pay for the gondola. There are no backcountry campgrounds along this route.

From the top of the gondola, you can take the Meadow Park Trail up to Monarch Viewpoint (2,350 m). From there, you descend to Simpson Pass, then climb up to Healy Pass where you follow the Healy Pass Trail directions above.

You can also add an extra kilometre and lots more scenery to this route by taking the Standish Chair from the top of the gondola up to the viewing deck. After enjoying the incredible views of Rock Isle Lake, take the Twin Cairns Trail to Monarch Viewpoint, where you meet up with the main Sunshine Village/Simpson Pass route.

Gibbon and Whistling Passes Route

Distance: 26.4 km

Time: 2 days

Elevation Gain: 1,585 m

Elevation Loss: 1,270 m

This route starts at the Arnica Lake Trailhead on Highway 93. It passes Arnica Lake, Twin Lakes, Gibbon Pass, Shadow Lake, and Whistling Passes before arriving at Egypt Lake. Most hikers using this route do it as a traverse, starting at Arnica Lake Trailhead and finishing at Healy Pass trailhead (or the reverse).

There are backcountry campgrounds at Twin Lakes, Shadow Lake, and Ball Pass Junction to split up the journey.

From everything I’ve read about this route, it is spectacular, with incredible scenery, especially at the passes.

This option requires arranging a car shuttle or an expensive taxi from Banff or Lake Louise. I thought about doing this route (and it does look incredible) but the logistics of trying to line up campsites and the car shuttle as part of an already-packed three-week roadtrip to the Rockies scared me off. Next time though!

Redearth and Pharaoh Creeks Route

Distance: 19.4 km

Time: 6 to 8 hours

Elevation Gain: 855 m

Elevation Loss: 265 m

See the map in the Gibbon and Whistling Pass section above to visualize this route or view it in Gaia GPS.

This route follows the Redearth Creek and Pharaoh Creek trails to Egypt Lake. It’s entirely in valley bottoms so it isn’t as scenic or popular. However, it is usually snow-free earlier in the year.

Along the way, you will pass by Lost Horse Creek and Pharaoh Creek Campgrounds. You can also make a detour off of this route to stay at Shadow Lake Camp.

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Day Hikes from Egypt Lake Camp

Egypt Lake Campground has a great base camp for day hiking. There are lots of options in the area. I’ve got lots of options below. All stats assume you start at Egypt Lake campground.

Egypt Lake

Distance: 1.4 km round-trip

Time: 20 minutes

Elevation Gain: 20 m

Egypt Lake is a quick hike from the campground. It’s short enough that you can do it the same day you arrive. From the middle of the campground near the outhouse, follow the trail southwest through the tenting area.

In a clearing, turn left onto the marked Egypt Lake trail. It’s another few minutes winding through the forest and past some seasonal ponds to the lakeshore. The lake is gorgeous and has a great waterfall coming in from Scarab Lake.

Scarab and Mummy Lakes

Distance: 7.1 km round-trip

Time: 3 to 4 hours

Elevation Gain: 500 m

See the map in the Egypt Lake section above to visualize this trail or view it in Gaia GPS.

Follow the trail from the campground to the Egypt Lake junction, but continue straight.

The trail climbs steeply on switchbacks beside scree slopes and through the forest. (Watch for adorable pikas in the rocks.) About 1.4 km from camp there is a good viewpoint on an open rock bluff.

Reach a junction 1.8 km from camp and go left, descending through patches of meadow to the shore of Scarab Lake. (The scarab beetle was an important symbol in ancient Egypt.) The lake has great views of Scarab Peak.

Follow the trail uphill through larch forest, then beside a scree slope. Descend into a pocket of meadow.

From there, follow cairns southwest uphill through rocks and rubble to the shore of Mummy Lake. You may have to do a bit of route-finding here to stay on track. Arrive at the lakeshore and enjoy the incredible turquoise lake and isolated moonscape setting.

Pharaoh Peaks Scramble

Distance: 7.7 km round-trip

Time: 4 to 6 hours

Elevation Gain: 795 m

See the map in the Egypt Lake section above to visualize this trail or view it in Gaia GPS.

If you’ve seen incredible photos of the Egypt Lake area, they were likely taken from the Pharaoh Peak scramble. I was recovering from an ankle sprain on my trip, so I didn’t do the scramble, but two of my friends did. If you’re up for this scramble, I highly recommend it. It has by far the best views in the whole area.

To do this scramble, follow the trail from the campground to the Scarab Lake junction. Continue along the trail for another kilometre as it side hills through forest and patches of meadow. Just before Whistling Pass, turn right and leave the trail.

From here you will be on an unmarked and unmaintained route. It is steep, but there is no exposure. Follow an obvious gully up to a saddle. It is loose, but not technical. At the top of the gully, reach a saddle. Turn right and make your way through talus and boulders to the summit. The view is insane!

Pharaoh and Black Rock Lakes

Distance: 5 km round-trip

Time: 1.5 to 2 hours

Elevation Gain: 245 m

The trail to these two lakes seemed to be less trodden than the other lakes in the area. We had the whole area to ourselves!

To get there, head north from the campground cooking area on the Pharaoh Creek Trail. A few minutes after leaving the cooking area, turn left onto the Pharaoh Lake Trail. Follow it steeply uphill through the forest and then alongside a scree slope.

Arrive at the shore of Pharaoh Lake about 1.4 km from camp. The sheer face of Pharaoh Peak drops dramatically into the lake.

Continue north along the lakeshore and back into the forest to the northwest to get to Black Rock Lake. The last few minutes of the trail follow a pretty little stream with lots of wildflowers. The black rock face of the northern Pharaoh Peak gives the lake its name.

Egypt Lake Hiking Tips

Cooking Areas: The campground has a communal cooking area with three big picnic tables. It was nice to have a place to sit down each evening! But don’t hog the tables – they are for everyone to share. The cooking areas are separate from the tenting areas for bear safety. Please don’t eat or cook near your tent.

Food Storage: The campgrounds have metal food lockers for food storage. Each locker has a number which corresponds to the number posted at your tent pad. Use your numbered locker – it gets chaotic and confusing otherwise.

Mosquitos: Bugs can be bad in July and early August. Bring bug spray and a head net.

Bears: This is black and grizzly bear country. Bring bear spray, make noise while hiking, and store your food securely. See my bear safety tips for more info.

Check the weather before you go: The campground is at 2000 m and you have to crest a 2,260 m pass to get there. The entire area has fickle mountain weather. In July and August, the average high temperature is 21°C and the average low is 4°C. Sudden rain storms are common. Use an algorithmic spot forecast like Spotwx. (Read my guide to weather apps for hikers for more tips.)

Check trail conditions on the Banff National Park website. This is especially important in early summer or fall when the trail can be icy or snowy.

Check Sunshine Village opening hours if you plan to use the Sunshine gondola to get to the Simpson Pass route to Egypt Lake.

Off-trail travel is not allowed between Sunshine Meadows and Healy Pass on both the Simpson Pass and Healy Pass Trails. This rule is in place to protect grizzly bear habitat.

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Final Thoughts

Egypt Lake has been on my list for a few years and I’m glad we finally made it. The lakes were all so gorgeous and despite this being one of Banff’s bigger backcountry campgrounds, the trail and camp never felt crowded.

While my visit was great, it wasn’t enough. I’d love to go back and do the full traverse from Highway 93, finishing at Egypt Lake. I’d also like to come back in the fall for larch season – from the photos I’ve seen, Healy Pass is incredible once the larches turn golden in the fall.

Is there anything else you need to know about backpacking at Egypt Lake? If I missed something, ask in the comments. I’d love to help.

READ NEXT:

• 11 Best Backpacking Trips in the Canadian Rockies
• Hiking at Sunshine Meadows in Banff – Is it Worth It?
• Mount Assiniboine Hiking Guide
• Skoki Loop Hiking and Backpacking Trail Guide
• Backpacking Checklist: Gear You Need To Go Backpacking
• Bear Safety for Hikers, Campers and Backpackers
• The Best Weather Apps for Hiking

The post Egypt Lake in Banff Hiking and Backpacking Guide appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

I had been to the valley before to see spectacular Takakkaw Falls, but I wasn’t prepared for how gorgeous the rest of the valley is. The whole valley is rimmed with glacier-capped peaks. The steep terrain means there are lots of waterfalls. And the well-built trails take you to tons of incredible viewpoints.

The Yoho Valley Loop is not an official trail – instead, it is a collection of trails that make a circular route that takes in all of the highlights in the valley. It includes the classic Iceline Trail as well as the Whaleback and Twin Falls.

I’m a hiking guidebook author and have backpacked all over BC and the Canadian Rockies. I hiked this route over three days in late August and was blown away by the beauty – and trust me, I’ve been to some gorgeous places!

My guide to backpacking the Yoho Valley and Iceline Trail includes:

• Quick facts about the Yoho Valley Loop including distance, how long it takes, weather, and more
• A map and elevation profile, plus a downloadable gpx file
• How to get to the Yoho Valley including info about parking and road closures
• Yoho Valley reservations: key dates plus booking tips
• How much does it cost to go backpacking in the Yoho Valley? A detailed budget breakdown
• Detailed trail description, broken down into sections with distances, times, and camping info
• Yoho Valley itinerary options from 2 to 4 days
• Yoho Valley hiking tips: advice for bears, food storage, weather, and more

This is a sensitive wilderness area. Learn how to Leave No Trace to keep the wilderness wild. Make sure you are prepared by bringing the 10 Essentials. Get ready for adventure with this checklist of things to do before every hike.

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

Yoho Valley Loop Quick Facts

Trail Overview: The loop strings together the Iceline, Little Yoho Valley, Whaleback, and Yoho Valley Trails in Yoho National Park to create a route that hits all the highlights in this part of the park. There are five campgrounds and one backcountry hut along the route.

Distance: 29.4 km loop (But there are options to make it longer or shorter)

Elevation Gain: 1,430 m (But there are options with less elevation gain)

Difficulty: Moderate/Challenging. Most of the trail is moderate but there are challenging ascents and descents on the Iceline and Whaleback sections.

Duration: 2 to 4 days.

Best Time to Go: Mid-July to mid-September when the trail is snow-free.

Yoho Valley Weather: Most of the trail is above 2000m on the Continental Divide and has fickle mountain weather. In July and August, the average high temperature is 22°C and the average low is 5°C. Thunderstorms are common. Use my picks for the Best Weather Apps for Hiking to see the forecast for your trip.

Reservations and Costs: You must make reservations. You must also pay National Park entry fees, backcountry camping fees, and a reservation fee. More details are in the reservations and costs sections below.

What to Bring: This is a remote hiking trip, so you will need to bring typical backpacking gear. Use my backpacking checklist to make sure you have everything you need.

Wildlife: The trail is in bear country (both black bears and grizzly bears). Carry bear spray, hike in a group, and make noise, especially in brushy areas. Use campground cooking areas and store all your food and toiletries on the food storage poles. Read my bear safety tips for backpackers for more info.

Dogs: Allowed on leash.

Fires: Not allowed in the backcountry.

Indigenous Context: The Yoho Valley is in the traditional territory of the Tsuut’ina, Blackfoot/Niitsítapi, Stoney Nakoda, Ktunaxa, Secwépemc, and Métis. Before Europeans arrived, the nearby Kicking Horse Valley was an important travel and trading corridor. The government forced Indigenous people to leave when Yoho National Park was created in 1886 and prohibited them from accessing their traditional territory to hunt, fish, gather, and conduct cultural practices. Today, the park works with several Indigenous groups to facilitate park access for traditional, ceremonial, and cultural activities including harvesting.

Yoho Valley Loop/Iceline Trail Map and Elevation Profile

The trails in the Yoho Valley are well-marked and easy to navigate with signs at all junctions. If you want a paper map, the Lake Louise and Yoho Map from Gem Trek is the best one.

I used the Gaia GPS app on my hike. It was helpful to know where I was on the trail to figure out how much higher I had to climb and where the next campsite or landmark was. All Trails+ is also great.

I also made you a trail map using Gaia GPS. Click through to zoom in and explore. You can also save it to your routes in Gaia GPS or export the gpx file.

How to Get to the Yoho Valley

The Yoho Valley is located in Yoho National Park in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. The trailhead is at the end of Yoho Valley Road near Takakkaw Falls, which is 13 km from Highway 1 near the small town of Field, BC.

The trailhead is 35 minutes from Lake Louise, Alberta in the east or 1 hour from Golden, BC in the west. There is no public transportation to the trailhead so you will need to drive yourself. It may be possible to get a taxi from Lake Louise, Banff or Golden, but it will be expensive. Here are Google Maps driving directions.

The parking lot has a designated section at the north end for campers. However, it is not big enough so you may have to park in the main parking lot. As well, the parking lots here can get very busy in the middle of the day since it’s where you park to visit Takakkaw Falls. There is additional overflow parking along Yoho Valley Road near the turn-off to the Whiskey Jack Hostel.

If you want to stay overnight nearby before your trip, you can book a walk-in campsite at Takakkaw Falls Campground near the trailhead or a drive-in campsite at Kicking Horse Campground near the start of Yoho Valley Road. I stayed at Takakkaw Falls before my trip and Kicking Horse after (because it has showers!)

The Whiskey Jack Hostel is also next to the trailhead, but it is currently closed for repairs with no announced re-opening date.

You can also stay in a hotel in nearby Field, BC (25 min from the trailhead). Charlie’s Guesthouse gets great reviews. If you want to splurge, Cathedral Mountain Lodge is mountain luxury at its best.

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Yoho Valley Loop/Iceline Trail Reservations

Backcountry Camping Reservations

While backcountry campgrounds in Yoho National Park aren’t as competitive as some in nearby Banff National Park, advance reservations are required.

Reservations for the entire summer season open in January or February each year. In 2025, reservations open on January 26, 2026, at 8 a.m. Mountain Time. You must book on the Parks Canada Reservations website.

See my tips for booking backcountry camping for pointers on how to navigate the site. Be ready to book as soon as reservations open as popular dates will sell out in minutes.

You need to book each campsite when you make your reservation. Prepare a couple of different itinerary options and dates. (Use my suggested itineraries below.)

Your booking can include up to 10 people and up to 3 tent pads on the same reservation. Keep in mind that you are only allowed to have one tent per tent pad.

To make a reservation you will need to select the “Backcountry Zone” button and then “Banff, Kootenay, and Yoho” from the drop-down. Your access point is “Takakkaw Falls Trailhead”.

Have the following info ready to go when you make your Yoho Valley Loop/Iceline reservation:

• preferred itinerary with campgrounds and dates as well as backups
• number of tent pads and people you are booking for
• credit card

If you didn’t get a reservation, keep checking back as people cancel and spots open up. A more efficient way is to sign up for a camping cancellation notification app like Campnab or Schnerp. Read my guide to camping cancellation apps to find out how they work and which one I recommend.

Stanley Mitchell Hut Reservations

Reservations are required to stay in the Stanley Mitchell Hut. (More info on the hut in the trail description below.) You must make reservations on the Alpine Club of Canada website. ACC members can make reservations up to 180 days in advance. Non-members can make reservations up to 90 days in advance.

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Yoho Valley Loop Fees

You must pay a few different fees to hike the Yoho Valley Loop. The cost breakdown is as follows:

• Backcountry camping reservation fee: $11.50 per booking (for up to 10 people and up to 3 tent pads)
• Backcountry camping fee: $13.50/person/night
• Yoho/Banff/Kootenay National Parks entry fee: $11/person/day (or $22 per car/day with up to 7 people)
• Stanley Mitchell Hut fee: $60/person/night for ACC members or $70/person/night for non-members

Most people hike the Yoho Valley/Iceline in three days/two nights and stay in backcountry campgrounds. In that case, a solo hiker would pay $71.50. Per-person costs decrease if you hike in a group since you can share the expense of reservation and national park entry fees.

Yoho Valley Loop/Iceline Trail Description

Which Direction to Hike?

When I was researching this trip, I debated which direction to hike. Either way, you have some steep climbs and descents. In the end, we decided to start with the Iceline Trail at the south end of the loop and work our way around clockwise. That way you get the hardest climb out of the way first.

You can definitely do the loop counter-clockwise, which means a more gradual ascent on the first day but a brutal knee-mashing descent on the last day. Pick your poison!

Since I went clockwise, that’s the way I will lay out the trail description below.

Takakkaw Falls Trailhead to Yoho Lake Camp Junctions via the Iceline Trail

Distance: 3.3 km

Time: 1 to 2 hours

Elevation Gain: 445 m

Elevation Loss: 0 m

Alternative Route: Add 4.5 km if you head south to Yoho Lake Camp along the Highline Trail

The route starts from the Takakkaw Falls Parking lot. Head south on the wide paved trail along the Yoho River for a few minutes. When you reach the bridge and a view of the falls, don’t cross it towards Takakkaw Falls. Instead, head right on the gravel trail that goes up a small rise.

Follow the trail through the forest and then out into an open area. Cross the Yoho Valley Road about 0.8 km from the start and follow the driveway for the Whiskey Jack Hostel to a sign for the Iceline Trail about 100 m away.

From here, the trail begins to climb steeply through lots of short switchbacks. The path stays in the forest, but there are occasional peek-a-boo views of Takakkaw Falls.

Reach a junction with the spur trail to Hidden Lakes (some unremarkable marshy ponds) about 2 km from the start.

Keep climbing and intersect junctions with the Highline Trail at 2.2 km and 3.3 km. Both branches of this trail lead south to Yoho Lake Camp, an alternative camping location. It’s 2.4 km to the camp via the lower branch and 2.1 km via the upper branch.

Yoho Lake Camp

Yoho Lake is small and is below the treeline in mixed forest and subalpine meadow. It is famous as the location of the first-ever mountaineering camp for the Alpine Club of Canada in 1906, but otherwise, it’s not a major destination. However, it does have a pair of iconic Parks Canada red chairs and a great view of Mount Wapta.

Yoho Lake Camp has cleared dirt tent pads, an outhouse, and a cooking area with picnic tables and food storage poles. Collect water from the lake.

Yoho Lake Camp Junction to Little Yoho Camp via the Iceline Trail

Distance: 8.1 km

Time: 4 to 5 hours

Elevation Gain: 428 m

Elevation Loss: 295 m

Alternative Routes: Skip Little Yoho Valley Camp/Stanley Mitchell Hut via the Celeste Lake Trail. From the top of the Celeste Lake Trail, you can take the Whaleback Trail (11.5 km) or Marpole Lake Trail (8.4 km) to Twin Falls Camp or the Little Yoho Valley Trail to Laughing Falls Camp (6.1 km).

Continuing on from the upper Highline Trail junction you’ll still be climbing, but it’s a bit more gentle. As well, the trees start to melt away and you will start to appreciate the open terrain of the Iceline.

Look across the valley to Takakkaw Falls and the Wapta Icefield. The rocky summits of Michael Peak, The President, and The Vice President loom above you to the west. Below them, pockets of the Emerald Glacier gleam in the sunlight and gush meltwater down the slopes.

The next section of the trail treats you to some of the most spectacular scenery in the entire Yoho Valley. Pass the first of several turquoise blue glacial tarns about 5.3 km from the start. These tarns and their meltwater streams are good places to refill your water bottles. However, be sure to filter or treat your water – you never know if people or animals have pooped upstream. I use a Katadyn BeFree filter.

The streams do not have bridges. Sometimes you may be able to rock hop across, especially later in the summer. But earlier in the year be prepared to ford – bring sandals or Crocs to keep your boots dry.

There are tons of good photo opportunities in this section and it felt like we stopped a thousand times to take pics. One of the best places is a short spur trail to a viewpoint along a glacial mound.

About 6.6 km from the trailhead reach a junction near another lake. Your route along the Iceline continues straight. But if want to head directly to Twin Falls Camp or Laughing Falls, you can take the alternate route to the right on the Celeste Lake Trail.

Continue along the Iceline Trail, climbing gently past two lakes to the Iceline Summit 7.5 km from the start. Follow a short steep side trail to the top of a mound of glacial till for an incredible view of the Yoho Valley.

From here, it’s all (mostly) downhill to camp. Stay on the Iceline Trail as it works its way through more gravel and past a final turquoise lake. Climb a small hill (which will feel tough since you’ll be mentally done with elevation gain), and then follow the trail as it makes a left and descends into the forest.

The trail parallels the gravel slopes for a little bit before diving downhill on a series of steep switchbacks that lessen as you lose elevation. At the bottom, cross the Little Yoho River on a wooden bridge and arrive at the Stanley Mitchell Hut 11.1 km from the trailhead. If you are camping at Little Yoho Camp, turn left at the hut and hike another 0.4 km west up the valley to the campground.

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Stanley Mitchell Hut

The Stanley Mitchell Hut is a rustic self-catering backcountry hut run by the Alpine Club of Canada (ACC). It has a propane cooking stove and lighting. The hut sleeps 22 people in bunk beds and includes mattresses. There is an outhouse nearby and you can collect water from a creek.

The hut was built in 1940 and is a federal heritage building. It is named after Stanley Mitchell, one of the founding members of the Alpine Club of Canada and its Secretary-Treasurer for several decades.

Little Yoho Camp

Little Yoho Camp sits at the end of the Little Yoho Valley Trail next to the Little Yoho River.

There are two outhouses at the entrance to the campground.

There are no formal tent pads – instead, there are about ten clearings in the forest and meadow. Some of the clearings are a bit rooty or sloped, but a few have good views of the river. I found it a bit frustrating to find a campsite here since it wasn’t clear which campsites were official and which were not. (And the unofficial campsites were eroding the fragile meadows.)

There is a designated cooking area with picnic tables and poles with pulleys for food storage. Collect water from the Little Yoho River.

If you have energy for a day hike, you can follow a faint trail on the other side of the river up to Kiwetinok Pass and Kiwetinok Lake about 2.8 km away. The route is steep and only sporadically marked with cairns.

Little Yoho Valley Camp to Twin Falls Camp via the Whaleback

Distance: 11.1 km

Time: 4.5 to 7 hours

Elevation Gain: 463 m

Elevation Loss: 870 m

Alternative Routes: If you want to skip the Whaleback, follow the Marpole Lake Trail to Twin Falls Camp (7.5 km) or the Little Yoho Valley Trail to Laughing Falls Camp (5.2 km).

From Little Yoho Valley Camp, hike back downstream past the Stanley Mitchell Hut. Continue following the trail as it descends next to the Little Yoho River for the next three kilometres.

Reach a pair of junctions 14.8 km from the trailhead. Go left at the second junction to begin your ascent of the Whaleback. (If you want to skip the Whaleback, continue straight to head to Twin Falls Camp via the Marpole Lake Trail or directly to Laughing Falls.)

The Whaleback Trail has unrelentingly steep switchbacks. The path ascends through sparse forest and scree, so it is open to the sun. After about 30 switchbacks, reach your high point on the shoulder of Whaleback Mountain.

There is a surprisingly large plateau here at the edge of the ridge – be sure to wander around to take in the views south towards the Iceline and north into the heart of the Yoho Valley.

From the high point, the trail descends gradually through open forest and patches of meadow. It’s a sharp contrast to the bare rocks and gravel of the Iceline Trail.

Reach the Whaleback Bridge over Twin Falls Creek about 18.2 km from the trailhead. This bridge is only in place seasonally – check trail conditions online in early and late summer to be sure it is in place. If it is not, the crossing is impassible due to dangerously high water.

The bridge makes a great spot for a break. Follow faint trails along the side of the creek to look down at the top of Twin Falls, but be careful – it’s a very long way down the sheer cliff!

When you are finished at the top of the falls, continue along the trail as it makes a slow rising traverse to avoid some impassable cliffs. About one km after the falls, the trail swings right and starts to steeply switchback down the slope. The terrain is steep and a little bit loose in places – the original trail builders must have been mountain goats to find this route!

The grade starts to ease about halfway down as you hike through thick forest with lots of huckleberry bushes.

Arrive at a junction 20.7 km from the start. Turn right to follow a spur trail to the base of Twin Falls. The twin ribbons of the falls drop 120 metres down the cliffs. The base gets a lot of spray so you might want to put your rain jacket on.

After enjoying the falls, backtrack to the junction and continue to Twin Falls Chalet 100 m away. Built in 1923, this building is a National Historic Site of Canada.

For decades Fran Drummond ran a teahouse and lodge for hikers here. Her last season was in 2019 and the tea house has sat vacant ever since. The Alpine Club of Canada was awarded a licence to run the tea house in 2022, but so far, they haven’t reopened. Even if the teahouse isn’t open, it’s worth a quick visit to see this cool old log building.

From the tea house, continue along the Yoho Valley Trail towards Twin Falls Campground. (Don’t take the Marpole Lake trail over the bridge – it leads back to the Little Yoho Valley.)

The trail descends gradually through the forest, often within earshot of the rushing waters of Twin Falls Creek. Reach the Twin Falls Campground on the banks of the creek 22.5 km from the trailhead.

Twin Falls Camp

Twin Falls Camp is set on a gravel bar on the north side of Twin Falls Creek. The campsites are along a trail in the forest just back from the creek. There are no designated tent pads, but there are about half a dozen distinct clearings in the trees, most of which are quite flat and well-drained.

The outhouse is on the east side of the campground, just past the small bridge.

The cooking area is on the open gravel bar next to the creek. There are picnic tables and a food storage pole with pulleys. Collect water from Twin Falls Creek or from the unnamed creek on the east side of the campsite.

Twin Falls Camp to Laughing Falls Camp

Distance: 2.3 km

Time: 30 minutes to 1 hour

Elevation Gain: 37 m

Elevation Loss: 91 m

Head east out of the campground, following the trail past the outhouse and up a small hill. Ignore a junction with the Yoho Glacier Trail heading left. The trail swings around to the southeast and heads gradually downhill through subalpine forest. Twin Falls Creek is often nearby.

Cross the creek 24.4 km from the trailhead. A few minutes later, ignore a junction with the Little Yoho Valley coming in from the right. Immediately after that, follow a signed spur trail to the right to the base of Laughing Falls. The waters of the Little Yoho River spill over the 30-metre-tall falls.

Reach the Laughing Falls Camp at 25.1 km, just past the trail to the falls.

Laughing Falls Camp

Laughing Falls Camp is the nicest campground on the Yoho Valley Loop. It has designated dirt tent pads in a small loop where the Little Yoho River meets the Yoho River. Several of the sites are right on the river.

The cooking area is located in an open area with peek-a-boo views of Laughing Falls on one side and the Yoho River on the other. It has picnic tables and food storage poles with pulleys. Collect water from the Little Yoho River.

The outhouse is in a clump of trees near the cooking area.

Laughing Falls Camp to Takakkaw Falls Camp

Distance: 3.7 km

Time: 45 minutes to 1.5 hours

Elevation Gain: 50 m

Elevation Loss: 116 m

Leaving Laughing Falls Camp, cross the bridge over the Little Yoho River. Continue south on the Yoho Valley Trail, which soon swings away from the river. Reach a junction with the side trail to Duchesnay Lake at 25.7 km. The short trail leads to a shallow lake that dries up in late summer.

Continue along the trail through the forest to a 4-way intersection at 27 km. A short trail to the right (west) leads to Point Lace Falls, a small spread-out waterfall.

Another short trail to the left (east) leads to the edge of the Yoho River where you can look across to Angel’s Staircase Falls on the slopes above. It dries up in late summer and there wasn’t much to see on my late August trip.

Back on the main trail, head straight (south) to continue on the Yoho Valley Trail. Past the intersection, the trail widens and begins to look like an old road. It also flattens out as you trudge along beside the Yoho River.

Cross a broad outwash plain littered with rocks and debris at 28.5 km. This area is the result of regular avalanches and floods from the glaciers on the Iceline Trail. At the end of the outwash plain, cross a bridge and arrive at the Takakkaw Falls Campground 28.7 km from the trailhead.

Takakkaw Falls Camp

The Takakkaw Falls Campground is classified as a frontcountry walk-in campground, not a backcountry campground, since it is such a short walk from the trailhead. It’s so short that Parks Canada actually provides wheelbarrows to make it easier to haul your stuff from the parking lot.

It has 35 crushed gravel sites. Most of the sites are fairly small by frontcountry standards and will fit only a 4-person tent. (They are big by bakcountry standards.)

Each site has a picnic table and there is also a covered communal cooking shelter with more picnic tables. You can store your food in bear-proof lockers at the centre of camp. There is also a food storage building with shelves that will fit coolers.

There is a washroom building with pit toilets. The campground also has a sink with potable water.

Takakkaw Falls Camp to Takakkaw Falls Parking Lot

Distance: 0.5 km

Time: 5 to 10 minutes

Elevation Gain: 0 m

Elevation Loss: 10 m

The walk from Takakkaw Falls Campground to Takakkaw Falls Parking Lot is an easy stroll on a wide gravel road.

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Yoho Valley Loop Itineraries

A note for all of these itineraries: Since they are loops, you can do any of the itineraries in the reverse direction. However, that usually means a steeper descent (harder on the knees) and a gentler climb. I prefer to save my knees, which is why my itineraries have the climb first.

Classic 3-Day Yoho Valley Loop Itinerary

This is the itinerary described in this post. It’s the one that I used, and if I did this trip again, this is what I would choose to do because it hits all the highlights in the area.

While the distances on this itinerary are fairly short, the scenery is incredible and we spent a lot of time on the trail taking photos, snacking, and enjoying the views.

Day 1 – Takakkaw Falls to Little Yoho Valley Camp via the Iceline Trail – Distance: 11.4 km, Elevation Gain: 873 m, Elevation Loss: 295 m, Time: 5 to 7 hours

Day 2 – Little Yoho Valley Camp to Twin Falls Camp via the Whaleback Trail – Distance: 11.1km, Elevation Gain: 463 m, Elevation Loss: 870 m, Time: 4.5 to 7 hours

Day 3 – Twin Falls Camp to Takakkaw Falls – Distance: 6.5 km, Elevation Gain: 87 m, Elevation Loss: 217 m, Time: 1.5 to 2.5 hours

As an alternative, you could hike to Laughing Falls on Day 2 instead of Twin Falls Camp.

Quick 2-Day Yoho Valley Loop Itinerary

This itinerary uses the same route as the 3-day itinerary but compresses the last two days into one. This itinerary is good for strong hikers who don’t mind finishing late on day 2.

Day 1 – Takakkaw Falls to Little Yoho Valley Camp via the Iceline Trail – Distance: 11.4 km, Elevation Gain: 873 m, Elevation Loss: 295 m, Time: 5 to 7 hours

Day 2: Little Yoho Valley Camp to Takakkaw Falls via the Whaleback – Distance 17.6 km, Elevation Gain: 550 m, Elevation Loss: 1087 m, Time: 6 to 9.5 hours

Leisurely 4-Day Yoho Valley Loop Itinerary

If you want to split up the loop further, you can add on a night at Yoho Lake to make a 4-day trip.

Day 1 – Takkakaw Falls to Yoho Lake Camp – Distance: 4.6 km, Elevation Gain: 348 m, Elevation Loss: 52 m, Time: 1.5 to 2.5 hours.

Day 2 – Yoho Lake Camp to Little Yoho Valley Camp – 10.3 km, Elevation Gain: 597, Elevation Loss: 340 m; Time: 4 to 6 hours

Day 3 – Little Yoho Valley Camp to Twin Falls Camp via the Whaleback Trail – Distance: 11.1km, Elevation Gain: 463 m, Elevation Loss: 870 m, Time: 4.5 to 7 hours

Day 4 – Twin Falls Camp to Takakkaw Falls – Distance: 6.5 km, Elevation Gain: 87 m, Elevation Loss: 217 m, Time: 1.5 to 2.5 hours

As an alternative, you could hike to Laughing Falls on Day 3 instead of Twin Falls Camp.

Iceline Only 2-Day Yoho Valley Loop Itinerary

This itinerary gets you the full Iceline experience but skips Twin Falls and the Whaleback.

Day 1 – Takakkaw Falls to Little Yoho Valley Camp via the Iceline Trail – Distance: 11.4 km, Elevation Gain: 873 m, Elevation Loss: 295 m, Time: 5 to 7 hours

Day 2 – Little Yoho Valley Camp to Takakkaw Falls via the Little Yoho Valley Trail – Distance: 9.6 km; Elevation Gain: 58 m, Elevation Loss: 612 m, Time: 3-4 hours

Half Iceline 2-Day Yoho Valley Loop Itinerary

This itinerary skips Little Yoho Valley, which means you do half of the Iceline and skip the Whaleback. You still get to see most of the incredible scenery of the Iceline and to visit the base of Twin Falls.

Day 1: Takakkaw Falls to Twin Falls Camp via the Iceline and Celeste Lake Trails – Distance 15.1 km, Elevation Gain: 881 m; Elevation Loss: 737 m, Time: 6 to 8 hours

Day 2 – Twin Falls Camp to Takakkaw Falls – Distance: 6.5 km, Elevation Gain: 87 m, Elevation Loss: 217 m, Time: 1.5 to 2.5 hours

Laughing Falls 3-Day Basecamp Itinerary

If you’re up for some great day hikes but don’t want to carry your gear too far, base camp at Laughing Falls for a few days.

Day 1 – Part 1: Takakkaw Falls to Laughing Falls via the Yoho Valley Trail – Distance: 4.2 km, Elevation Gain: 126 m, Elevation Loss: 50 m, Time: 1 to 1.5 hours

Day 1 – Part 2: Day hike to the Whaleback and Twin Falls via the Little Yoho Valley, Whaleback, and Yoho Valley Trails – Distance: 11.7 km loop, Elevation Gain: 773 m, Elevation Loss: 773 m, Time: 5 to 7 hours

Day 2 – Day hike the Iceline via the Celeste Lake and Little Yoho Valley Trails – Distance: 15.5 km, Elevation Gain: 742 m, Elevation Loss: 742 m, Time: 7 to 9 hours

Day 3 – Laughing Falls to Takakkaw Falls via the Yoho Valley Trail – Distance: 4.2 km, Elevation Gain: 50 m, Elevation Loss: 126 m; Time: 1 to 1.5 hours.

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Yoho Valley Loop Hiking Tips

Cooking Areas: Each campground has a communal cooking area with a few picnic tables. It was nice to have a place to sit down each evening! But don’t hog the tables – they are for everyone to share.

Food Storage: All campgrounds have a pole with pulleys for food storage. Bring a waterproof bag to store your food in case it rains overnight. I always keep my food in a lightweight dry bag. The pulleys have clips but some are broken – carry a carabiner as a backup.

Mosquitos: Bugs can be bad on the trail in July and early August. Bring bug spray and a head net.

Bears: This is black and grizzly bear country. Bring bear spray, make noise while hiking, and store your food securely. See my bear safety tips for more info.

Check the weather before you go: The high mountains are notorious for fickle weather. Rainstorms can blow in at any time. City weather forecasts are useless in the mountains. Use an algorithmic spot forecast for the Yoho Valley like Spotwx. (Read my guide to weather apps for hikers for more tips.)

Check trail conditions on the Yoho National Park website. This is especially important in early summer or fall when the trail can be icy or snowy. You’ll also want to make sure that the Whaleback Bridge is in place for the season.

Check Yoho Valley Road conditions on the Yoho National Park website. The road is closed due to avalanche hazard from mid-October to mid-June each year.

Final Thoughts

To be honest, I didn’t expect that much from the Yoho Valley – I knew it was going to be pretty because it’s in the Canadian Rockies. But I was blown away by how gorgeous this area is! It’s quickly become one of my favourite backpacking trips in the region (second to the Rockwall Trail I think).

Since the Yoho Valley isn’t as popular as some other Rockies backpacking trips, it also doesn’t feel as busy and is a bit easier to get reservations.

If you have questions about backpacking the Yoho Valley Loop and Iceline Trail, let me know in the comments – I’m happy to help.

READ NEXT:

• 11 Best Backpacking Trips in the Canadian Rockies
• 32 Best Backpacking Trips in BC
• Things to Do in Yoho National Park
• Rockwall Trail Guide: Everything You Need to Know
• Backpacking Checklist: Gear You Need To Go Backpacking
• Bear Safety for Hikers, Campers and Backpackers

The post Backpacking the Yoho Valley Loop/Iceline Trail appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

I’ve hiked this trail countless times and the view at the end always amazes me. While the first half of the trail is fairly straightforward, the second half is rough and if you aren’t paying attention, you might get off track.

Since I’ve hiked this trail so many times (and it’s in my book, Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia), I can help you plan the best route to St. Mark’s Summit and give some tips on how to find all the viewpoints.

In this guide, I’ve got everything you need to know to hike to St. Mark’s Summit. It includes:

• Trail stats including how long it takes, difficulty, best time to go, and more
• Tips for hiking to St. Mark’s Summit including what to pack and how to prep
• Trail map that shows all the key locations I mention in this post
• How to get to St. Mark’s Summit – detailed driving directions
• Step-by-step hiking directions so you know what to expect
• Winter hiking and snowshoeing tips for St. Mark’s Summit

This is a sensitive wilderness area. Learn how to Leave No Trace to keep the wilderness wild. Make sure you are prepared by bringing the 10 Essentials. Get ready for adventure with this checklist of things to do before every hike.

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

St Marks Summit Trail Stats

Here are the basic stats that you need to know about hiking the St. Mark’s Summit Trail:

Location: The St Marks Summit Trail is located on the southern part of the Howe Sound Crest Trail in Cypress Provincial Park in West Vancouver. It starts next to the lodge at Cypress Mountain Ski Resort.

Duration: 3.5 to 4.5 hours

Distance: 11.5 km

Difficulty: Moderate

Elevation Change: ~600 m of elevation gain

Best Time to Go: Mid-June to early November when the trail is snow-free. Pick a clear day to enjoy the views. The trail has significant avalanche danger in the winter (see the snowshoeing section below.)

Day Passes: As of 2024, you do NOT need a BC Parks day pass to hike to St. Mark’s Summit. A few years ago, you did need a day pass for Cypress Provincial Park, but that hasn’t been the case since 2021. Read my guide to BC Parks day passes for more info.

Toilets: There are toilets in the Black Mountain Lodge and Cypress Creek Lodge next to the parking lot. There are no toilets on the trail.

Dogs: Dogs are allowed on this trail but BC Parks rules require them to be on a leash. Use caution near the viewpoints – a dog nearly died here a few years ago when it slipped out of its harness and went over the edge of the cliff.

Bears: This area has black bears. Hike in a group, make noise, and carry bear spray.

Indigenous Context: The St Marks Summit Trail is in the traditional territory of the Skwxwu7mesh (Squamish), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ təməxʷ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

What’s with the name? Sometimes spelled “Saint Mark’s Summit”, the peak got its name because for many years St. Mark’s Anglican Church operated a summer camp in Lions Bay below the mountain.

Tips for the St Marks Hike

• Check the weather before you go. City weather forecasts are useless in the backcountry. Use an algorithmic spot forecast for Saint Mark’s Summit like Spotwx. (Read my guide to weather apps for hikers for more tips.)
• Check trail conditions online using AllTrails or Instagram. This is especially important in the spring or fall when the trail can be icy or snowy.
• Bring a rain jacket and warm clothing just in case. It can be much colder, windier, and rainier in the mountains than in the city.
• Wear trail running shoes or hiking boots. The trail is very rocky and rooty in places. It can also be muddy. Regular running shoes don’t have enough grip or ankle support.
• Bring water and snacks. It is not safe to drink the water from the creeks without boiling, filtering, or treating it because you never know if people or animals have pooped or died upstream. Gross! (I use a Katadyn BeFree to filter water.)
• Bring the 10 Essentials. These are key safety items you should have on every hike.
• Pack out all your garbage. There are no garbage cans here so you must take your garbage home with you. Leaving it on the trails attracts animals.
• Bring a camera – it’s gorgeous and you will want tons of pics! But leave the drone at home. Drones aren’t allowed in BC Parks without a commercial filming permit.
• Be Bear aware: There are black bears in this area. Hike in a group, make noise, and carry bear spray. Read my bear safety tips for more info.

St Marks Summit Trail Map

While the first half of the trail is easy to follow, the second half is rough and can get confusing. Pay close attention to trail markers, especially on the switchbacks. There have been lots of Search and Rescue call-outs for hikers who accidentally went off-trail. I recommend using a GPS mapping app like All Trails+ Gaia GPS to stay on track.

I made a map of the St Mark’s Summit Trail for you using Gaia GPS. Click through to zoom in (and download the GPX track).

You can also use the Cypress Provincial Park map, but it isn’t very detailed so I don’t find it very helpful.

St Marks Summit Driving Directions

The trailhead is about 45 minutes from Vancouver. There is no public transportation to the trailhead so you will need to drive yourself. You can also take a taxi or an Uber, but it can be expensive and sometimes drivers won’t want to come pick you up afterwards.

Here are step-by-step driving directions to the St Mark’s Summit trailhead:

• From Vancouver, go north over the Lions Gate Bridge.
• Follow signs along Marine Drive and Taylor Way to get onto Highway 1 westbound.
• Take Exit 8 onto Cypress Bowl Road.
• Follow Cypress Bowl Road up the mountain to its end at the Cypress Creek Lodge. There is lots of parking in the huge lot.

Here are Google Maps driving directions.

St. Marks Summit Hiking Directions

The route to Saint Mark’s Summit is mostly on the Howe Sound Crest Trail. However, there are a few different options for starting the hike.

My recommended route below adds about 0.5 km more distance than the most direct route. But it includes a walk through a unique subalpine meadow and a great viewpoint. On the way back, my route takes the most direct way to the parking lot.

To help keep you on track, here is a brief overview of the key distances on the hike to St. Mark’s Summit:

Trailhead to the HSCT Junction Info Kiosk

To start the hike, walk through the parking lot and past the lodge. Depending on when you visit, the restaurant and cafe here may be open. Just past the end of the lodge, go straight onto the Yew Lake Trail leading into the trees. A minute later, follow the trail as it goes around the bottom of the ski lift and continues into the forest.

Ignore a trail heading left a few minutes later. It goes uphill to Black Mountain, Cabin Lake, and Eagle Bluffs. Continue straight. The trail here is part of wheelchair accessible loop so it is wide and flat. The babbling waters of Cypress Creek are to your left.

A few minutes later, arrive on the shores of marshy Yew Lake, which is more of a pond. Stay on the trail as it goes around the lake and then curls right into a swampy meadow with some small ponds. Ignore a trail going right – this is the other half of the Yew Lake Trail.

Instead, to straight onto the Old Growth Trail. Walk back into the forest, which includes some huge Old Growth trees. At a fork, you can go either right or left – they meet up again less than 100 m later. A minute after the two trails meet up, emerge onto an old gravel road. This road is also known as the Howe Sound Crest Trail West (HSCT West).

Turn left and follow the road for a few minutes until the road ends and a trail goes right. Head uphill on switchbacks. This is the first real climb of the hike and it is steep in places. About 0.6 km later after gaining about 90 m, reach another junction.

Turn left and follow the trail gently downhill to Bowen Lookout. There is a great view down to Howe Sound, Bowen Island, and the Sunshine Coast. The trees are growing up a little bit and starting to block the view, but it’s still a great place to take a break.

When you are ready to continue, retrace your steps back to the HSCT West. Turn left and follow it uphill for a few minutes to a junction. There is a large info kiosk sign here with a trail map. The HSCT East heads downhill to the right.

HSCT Junction Info Kiosk to Strachan Meadows

From the info kiosk, turn left onto the main Howe Sound Crest Trail. There is a brief gap in the trees here with a distant view of the Lions.

Follow the trail down a small hill. The trail curls north and stays fairly flat for the next kilometre. Keep an eye out for some huge trees through here.

You’ll cross two creek gullies. In the early season, these will be wet, but they mostly dry up by the end of summer. When you pass through these gullies notice how there are bushes here instead of trees. That’s because avalanches roar through here every winter and spring.

About 3.9 km from the start, reach a bridge in an open area known as Strachan Meadows. If you need water, this is the only reliable place on the hike to get it. But be sure to filter or treat it first as it is not safe to drink.

Strachan Meadows to the Summit

The first few minutes after the bridge continue along on the same wide and well-maintained gravel trail you have been following since the beginning. The trail heads up a few switchbacks and eventually, the smooth gravel disappears and the trail becomes very rough, rooty, rocky, and eroded.

BC Parks has slowly been working on upgrading this trail for over 10 years, but due to chronic underfunding, they are only able to fix a few dozen meters of trail per year. And the remaining trail keeps getting more and more eroded. If you want to help make a change, write to your MLA to ask them to increase the BC Parks budget and focus on trail maintenance projects.

Pay close attention to trail markers as you work your way up the deteriorating trail. Many hikers have gotten lost in this section when they accidentally went off-trail. About 4.8 km from the trailhead, the trail reaches the top of a ridge.

The next few minutes are almost flat as you walk through the forest on a broad ridge top. But about half a kilometre later the trail starts to climb again, sometimes with the help of wooden stairs.

About 6 km from the start the trail starts to flatten out and you go through some mucky areas and past some tiny ponds. There are some sections of boardwalk to keep you out of the mud, but in other places, its unavoidable.

Reach the main viewpoint 6.3 km from the trailhead. You can scramble up onto the rock outcropping to the left of the trail to get a great view of Howe Sound and its islands. You can also look across to a clifftop perch jutting out to the north and slightly lower. That’s the lower viewpoint.

To get to the lower viewpoint, continue on the main trail for a few more minutes, then follow a faint trail to the left. This trail is not officially maintained and in a couple of places is very steep. Be careful as you follow it down to the viewpoint. There are actually several trails here so choose the most travelled and safest options.

You’ll get a panoramic view from the lower viewpoint, but be careful as the drop-offs are deadly. A dog nearly died here a few years ago when it slipped out of its harness. And please make room for others at the viewpoint. It might seem like a great place to chat and have lunch, but you’ll be preventing other people from enjoying the view if you sit down here.

When you are done, make your way back to the main trail. Some trails from the lower viewpoint go north to connect with the HSCT on its way to Unnecessary Mountain and beyond to the Lions and eventually Porteau Cove. Make sure you are going south if you want to get back to the parking lot!

Note: None of the viewpoints are at the true peak of St. Mark’s Summit. It’s about 20 minutes higher in the trees to the east of the trail. There are a few faint boot paths through the trees to get there, but the summit itself is in the forest with no views, so few people bother.

Summit Back to the Trailhead

To get back to the trailhead, retrace your steps past the main viewpoint, down past the mucky ponds, across the ridge, and down the switchbacks. Continue on the smoother trail over the bridge in Strachan Meadows, and then through the gullies in the flat section.

Arrive back at the Info Kiosk Junction 9.9 km into your hike. You can follow your earlier route back to the parking lot, but instead, I recommend a more direct route.

From the kiosk, go straight on the HSCT East (don’t turn right onto the HSCT West towards Bowen Lookout). Follow the trail downhill. Within a few minutes, it turns into a gravel road. A few hundred metres later, look for a sign pointing to a trail going right. You can stay on the gravel road and follow it onto a ski run, but the trail is much nicer.

Turn right onto the trail and take it downhill into a beautiful forest. The trail emerges onto another gravel road next to a huge green water tower a few minutes later. Follow the road (which is actually a ski run) downhill. At an open area on your right about 200 m later, you can choose to stay on the ski or go right onto a forest trail one last time.

The ski run route and the forest trail route meet up in front of the lodge within a few minutes. Follow the path along the side of the lodge to head back to the parking lot and finish the hike.

Winter Hiking and Snowshoeing to St Mark’s Summit

With plowed road access to the trailhead thanks to its location at Cypress Mountain ski area, it can be tempting to think that St Mark’s Summit makes a great snowshoeing destination.

However, it is a much more challenging and potentially dangerous trip in winter. The trail markers are harder to see, so it is easy to get off track. You will need to be comfortable with navigation. I use All Trails+ or Gaia GPS.

Each winter there are several Search and Rescue call-outs for lost skiers and snowshoers in this area. It has lots of steep cliffs and terrain traps. Several people have died when they got lost in the snow and then either succumbed to hypothermia or fell off cliffs looking for a way back to the trail.

The trail also has dangerous avalanche terrain, especially between the junction of the two branches of the HSCT and the bridge in Strachan Meadows. Right after the junction, the trail passes through several avalanche chutes. Each winter, avalanches come roaring down these chutes, right across the trail. One year a friend of mine was crossing one of these chutes in the spring and was knocked down by a small avalanche. Thankfully the outcome wasn’t worse!

The first part of the trail up to Bowen Lookout makes a great snowshoe trip since it isn’t in avalanche terrain (and it’s on my list of the best places to snowshoe near Vancouver).

But you should not attempt the trail to St Mark’s Summit past Bowen Lookout in winter unless you have winter navigation experience and avalanche training. Check the avalanche forecast before your trip.

The trail to Saint Mark’s Summit is one of the most popular trails in Vancouver, which isn’t surprising since it has such an amazing view. If you have questions about the trail, ask them in the comments. I’d love to help.

READ NEXT:

• The 10 Best Hikes in Vancouver – A Local’s Guide
• BC Parks Day Passes 2024 – Everything You Need to Know
• Where to Go Snowshoeing in Vancouver
• Get my book: Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia
• The Best Hikes in Squamish, BC (From a Local)
• The Best Hikes in Whistler: A Guide to All the Trails

The post St. Mark’s Summit Hike in West Vancouver appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

While the scrambling sections make the trail a bit of an adventure, it’s doable for most hikers. And since this is a loop hike, you don’t have to go back down the scary scramble sections. Instead, you’ll walk down a logging road that could be boring but actually has great views most of the way.

High Falls Creek is one of my favourite hikes in Squamish – I try to hike every year or two. In this guide, I’ve got everything you need to know to hike the High Falls Creek Trail. It includes:

• Trail stats including how long it takes, difficulty, best time to go, and more
• Tips for hiking to High Falls Creek including what to pack and how to prep
• Trail map that shows all the key locations I mention in this post
• How to get to the High Falls Creek Trail – detailed logging road driving directions
• Step-by-step hiking directions so you know what to expect

This is a sensitive wilderness area. Learn how to Leave No Trace to keep the wilderness wild. Make sure you are prepared by bringing the 10 Essentials. Get ready for adventure with this checklist of things to do before every hike.

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

High Falls Creek Trail Stats

Here are the basic stats that you need to know about hiking the High Falls Creek Trail in Squamish, BC:

Location: The High Falls Creek Trail is located off the Squamish River Forest Service Road west of Squamish.

Duration: 3-4.5 hours

Distance: 8.3 km loop (although if you track it yourself the canyon walls will cause your GPS signal to bounce around a lot so your GPS track will be about 10 or 11 km)

Difficulty: Moderate/Challenging

Elevation Change: 525 m of elevation gain

Best Time to Go: April to November when the trail is snow-free. Pick a clear day to enjoy the views. Avoid wet weather which will make the trail slippery and dangerous.

Toilets: There are no toilets on the trail or anywhere nearby. Brush up on your Leave No Trace bathroom skills: Bring a trowel to dig a cat hole well off the trail to bury your waste. Pack out your used toilet paper.

Drinking Water: There is no access to water on the trail: Pack all the drinking water you will need. While you are hiking in a creek canyon, the water is not accessible.

Dogs: Dogs are allowed on this trail but due to the steep terrain, roped sections, and sheer drop-offs, this might not be the best trail to bring dogs. You would likely have to carry them in some areas.

Bears: This area has both black bears and grizzly bears. Hike in a group, make noise, and carry bear spray.

Indigenous Context: The High Falls Creek Trail is in the traditional territory of the Skwxwu7mesh (Squamish) Nation. To learn more about Skwxwu7mesh history and culture, visit the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre.

Tips for the High Falls Creek Hike

• Check the weather before you go. City weather forecasts are useless in the backcountry. Use an algorithmic spot forecast for High Falls Creek like Spotwx. (Read my guide to weather apps for hikers for more tips.)
• Check trail conditions online using AllTrails or Instagram. This is especially important in the spring or fall when the trail can be icy or snowy.
• Bring a rain jacket and warm clothing just in case. It can be much colder, windier, and rainier in the mountains than in the city.
• Wear trail running shoes or hiking boots. The trail is rocky and loose in places. Regular running shoes don’t have enough grip or ankle support.
• Bring the 10 Essentials. These are key safety items you should have on every hike.
• Pack out all your garbage. There are no garbage cans here so you must take your garbage home with you. Leaving it on the trails attracts animals.
• Be Bear aware: There are black bears and grizzly bears in this area. Hike in a group, make noise, and carry bear spray. Read my bear safety tips for more info.
• Be ready for steep terrain: If you have a fear of heights, this trail will challenge you. There are lots of areas with steep drop-offs near the trail. And you have to climb up some fixed ropes and scrambly slopes. Since it is a loop, most people (even those who hate heights) are ok going up the steep parts since they know they don’t have to go back down. The first roped parts are the scariest – if you can get up those, you’ll do fine on the rest of the trail.

High Falls Creek Trail Map

Some sections of this trail don’t have very many trail markers and it is easy to get confused when the trail braids. I recommend using a GPS mapping app like All Trails+ or Gaia GPS to stay on track. The trailhead is also not that obvious, and All Trails+ can help with that too.

I made a map of the High Falls Creek Trail for you using Gaia GPS. Click through to zoom in (and download the GPX track).

High Falls Creek Driving Directions

The trailhead is about 1 hour and 45 minutes from Vancouver and about 45 minutes from Squamish. There is no public transportation to the trailhead so you will need to drive yourself. The last section of the drive is on a gravel road that is bumpy, but suitable for all vehicles. You’ll be fine in any 2WD vehicle.

Here are step-by-step driving directions to the High Falls Creek trailhead:

• From Vancouver go west on Highway 1, then switch to Highway 99 north. Drive through the communities of Lions Bay, Furry Creek, Britannia Beach and Squamish.
• Just after leaving Squamish, go left onto Squamish Valley Road at the flashing light. (The turn-off to Alice Lake Road is on the other side of the highway.)
• Follow Squamish Valley Road for a few minutes to the bridge over the Cheakamus River. On the other side, keep left at the fork to stay on Squamish Valley Road.
• Follow the road through lots of twists and turns. About 19 km after the fork, the road becomes gravel and switches names to become the Squamish River Forest Service Road.
• Continue on the Squamish River FSR. Drive past the Cheakamus Generating Station about 3.5 km from the end of the pavement. The trailhead and parking area about about 1 km further, just after a small bridge over a branch of High Falls Creek. (If you go over a second bridge, you’ve gone too far.)

Here are Google Maps driving directions. However, you will lose cell service a few minutes after leaving the highway. I recommend using All Trails+ or Gaia GPS for navigation.

Parking

The trailhead is on the right side and is marked with a small sign that can be easy to miss. There is room for a few cars to park in a pull-out at the trailhead and a few more at a pull-out on the other side of the road.

There are also several other pull-outs back the way you came. You can also parallel park on the side of the road, but be sure to pull over as far as you can.

High Falls Creek Hiking Directions

There are three main parts to the High Falls Creek Trail: the canyon (1.5 km), the forest (1.1 km), and the road walk (5.7 km).

High Falls Creek is usually hiked as a loop since the canyon section of the trail is so steep that descending it can be scary and even dangerous. While the road walk section is long and a bit tedious, it does have great views. And it’s much more enjoyable and safe than making an out-and-back hike that descends back through the canyon.

Key Distances

Canyon Section

The trail begins as a wide path through the forest. But within the first minute, it narrows and crosses a bridge over High Falls Creek. Soon after the flat section ends.

Follow trail markers steeply up a series of rocky bluffs. There are fixed ropes and chains to help you up. This is the steepest section of the entire trail and can be daunting for those with a fear of heights. However, there is no real exposure. Take your time and climb carefully.

Continue following the steep trail upwards parallel to the canyon. There are a few more scrambly sections with more ropes and chains to assist you. In a few places the trail braids – choose the widest, most trodden path to stay on track.

There are also a few faint spur trails to the right with views of the canyon. Most of the views are obscured by trees or the sheer steepness of the drop, but you can get some views of the waterfall that gives the creek its name. Be careful near the edges as a slip would be fatal.

About 0.75 km from the trailhead, watch for an obvious spur trail to the right. This leads to the main view of the falls. You can look along the length of the canyon to see the falls shooting off a ledge.

Continue along the trail as it stays beside the edge of the canyon and climbs up more cables. You will get more views of the falls through the trees here, but the growth prevents you from getting a clear view.

Be sure to follow a trail to the left to a great viewpoint on a rock slab for great views of the Squamish Valley and the Tantalus Mountains on the other side. You can also see Crooked Falls on the other side of the river.

Keep climbing uphill through the forest and patches of rock slabs. Reach a large rock cairn that marks a junction. Go right for a few minutes to reach the Upper Falls viewpoint. You can look down into the pool at the top of High Falls Creek Falls and upstream to a smaller waterfall just above the main falls.

Retrace your steps back to the cairn and stay on the trail as it continues uphill with the help of another rope. Reach another scenic viewpoint on a rocky outcrop 1.5 km from the trailhead.

Forest Section

Follow the trail up a rock slab and into the forest. You have finished most of the climbing. Stay on the trail (marked with orange squares) as it meanders through old-growth forest. Watch for several gorgeous large Western red cedars and Douglas firs. There are also lots of mushrooms in fall.

Reach a junction 2.4 km from the trailhead and turn left. This is a short-cut up to your return route on the road. The original High Falls Creek Trail continues for another kilometre through the forest, but the scenery is similar and not worth hiking. These days most people take the shortcut so the original route is not very well travelled.

Follow the shortcut trail uphill through the forest for a few minutes until you pop out on a gravel road.

Road Section

The remainder of your hike is on gravel forest roads. While the road walking is fairly boring, there are some great views, so it’s worth it. In places the road is steep and loose, but for the most part, it is easy walking.

From the spot where the shortcut trail meets the road, turn left and follow the road downhill through regenerating forest. You are on Branch 200 FSR which sees a little bit of vehicle traffic from hikers and 4x4ers heading to the Tricouni Peak and Cloudburst Peak areas. Listen for vehicles approaching and get out of the way.

About 4 km from the trailhead the road emerges into a talus field. There are great views in this section as you look north down the Squamish River Valley to the glaciers around Icecap Peak.

Ignore Branch 220 going uphill to the right at 4.6 km and continue downhill on Branch 200 as it goes around a hairpin curve. Reach the junction with the Squamish River FSR about 6.8 km from the trailhead.

Turn left and walk along the alder and big leaf maple-lined Squamish River FSR for about 1.5 km back to the trailhead. This road sees a lot more traffic, so be sure to walk on the left facing traffic and stay well to the side. This part of the road can flood during the spring melt or fall storms and is dusty in summer.

You’ll pass the entrance to the High Falls Recreation Site campground halfway between the end of Branch 200 and the trailhead. If you want to go down to the river, walk through the campground and onto the river bank for another great view. (Psst! This campground is on my list of places to camp in Squamish.)

Arrive back at the trailhead and your vehicle about 8.3 km from your start to finish the High Falls Creek Trail loop.

The High Falls Creek Trail is one of my favourite Squamish hikes for spring or fall days when I want great views and a bit of an adventure. If you’ve got any questions about the trail, ask me in the comments.

READ NEXT:

• The Best Hikes in Squamish, BC (From a Local)
• Camping in Squamish, BC: 22 Places to Camp Near Squamish
• 70+ Things to do in Squamish (By a Local)
• Hike to Crooked Falls in Squamish

The post High Falls Creek Hike in Squamish (By a Local) appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

You also don’t have to sweat to get there – instead, you can ride the gondola up the mountain from Whistler Village. You can also combine a trip to the hiking trails on Blackcomb with the Peak 2 Peak Gondola (which is one of my picks for the best things to do in Whistler.)

There are so many hikes in Whistler that it can be hard to choose. And honestly, some of the other trails get all the hype. That’s why I think the Blackcomb Alpine Trails are underrated. They have incredible views, easy trails, easy access via the gondola, an otherworldly above-treeline alpine location… and a fraction of the traffic!

I have an annual summer season’s pass for the Whistler Blackcomb Gondola so I’ve hiked this trail quite a few times. This guide includes:

• Blackcomb Hiking Trails Basics including how long it takes, difficulty, cost, best time to go, and more
• Are the Blackcomb hiking trails worth it? My honest opinion on these trails vs. other trails on Whistler Mountain.
• Tips for hiking the Blackcomb Trails including what to pack and how to prep
• Blackcomb Hiking Trails map that shows all the key locations I mention in this post
• How to get to the Blackcomb Hiking Trails including parking and which gondola to take
• Step-by-step hiking directions and tips for where to get the best views

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

This is a sensitive wilderness area. Learn how to Leave No Trace to keep the wilderness wild. Make sure you are prepared by bringing the 10 Essentials. Get ready for adventure with this checklist of things to do before every hike.

Blackcomb Hiking Trails Basics

There is a great network of alpine trails high on the slopes of Blackcomb Peak. In this guide, I’ve got details for all of the trails up there. To help you make the most of your trip, I’ve also got a step-by-step route that links together the best trails in one killer loop.

Note: There are also three trails lower on the mountain that are collectively called the Blackcomb Burn Ascent Trails. These are workout-style uphill trails like the Grouse Grind. I’m only going to focus on the alpine trails at the top of the mountain in this post since the ascent trails don’t have great views so I only recommend them for a workout.

Duration: 30 min to 4.5 hours

Distance: 1.5 to 9.9 km

Difficulty: Easy to moderate

Elevation Change: 70 to 560 m elevation gain

Cost: $85/adult for an all-day sightseeing lift ticket that also includes the Peak 2 Peak Gondola. (If you plan to go sightseeing for more than one day, it’s worth it to buy a season’s pass. That’s what I do.)

Best Time to Go: Late June/early July to late September. The trail is closed the rest of the year. I highly recommend picking a clear day so you can enjoy the views. It’s not worth your money if it’s cloudy.

Toilets: There are no toilets on the trail, but there are toilets at the Rendezvous Lodge where you start and end the hike.

Drinking Water: You can collect water at Blackcomb Lake and Decker Tarn, but you need to filter or treat it first.

Dogs: Only guide dogs and service dogs are allowed.

Caution: Keep an eye on the gondola hours – you don’t want to miss the last one off the mountain!

Indigenous Context: The Blackcomb Trails are in the traditional territory of the Lil’wat and Skwxwu7mesh (Squamish) Nations. Their oral tradition teaches us that before settlers arrived, the two Nations shared the Whistler Valley, using summer camps to harvest plants and animals. To learn more, visit the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre.

Are the Blackcomb Hiking Trails Worth It?

Unfortunately, the Whistler Blackcomb Gondola is pretty expensive. So you might be wondering, “Are the Blackcomb Hiking Trails worth it?” and “If I’m paying for the Whistler Blackcomb sightseeing gondola, which hike should I do?”

I’ve hiked all of the trails on both mountains several times. If you only have time for one trail and you’re a moderately fit hiker, I recommend the High Note Trail because it has by far the best views.

But if you want to see something different, have great opportunities for viewing marmots and pikas, and escape the crowds, I think the Blackcomb Alpine Trails are worth it.

My recommendation is to combine your hike on the Blackcomb trails with the Peak 2 Peak gondola and exploring Whistler Peak. That way you get the best bang for your buck.

My guide to visiting Whistler in summer has more tips for making the most of your trip on the Whistler Blackcomb Gondola and Peak2Peak Gondola.

Tips for Hiking for the Blackcomb Trails

• Check the weather before you go. City weather forecasts are useless in the mountains. Use an algorithmic spot forecast for Blackcomb Peak like Spotwx. (Read my guide to weather apps for hikers for more tips.)
• Check gondola hours and trail status. Make sure the trail is open and the gondola and chairlifts are running by checking hours of operation and trail status online.
• Bring a rain jacket and warm clothing just in case. It can be much colder and rainier in the mountains than in the valley.
• Wear trail running shoes or hiking boots. The trail is steep, rocky, and loose in places. Regular running shoes don’t have enough grip or ankle support.
• Bring water and snacks. It is not safe to drink the water from the lakes without boiling, filtering, or treating it because you never know if people or animals have pooped or died upstream. Gross! (I use a Katadyn BeFree to filter water.)
• Bring the 10 Essentials. These are key safety items you should have on every hike.
• Bring a camera – it’s gorgeous and you will want tons of pics! But leave the drone at home. Drones aren’t allowed in Whistler without a commercial filming permit.
• Pack out all your garbage. There are garbage cans at Rendezvous Lodge – please pack out your trash.
• Leave time for the Peak 2 Peak Gondola – it’s a spectacular ride and it’s included with your lift ticket. If you have extra time, it’s also worth taking the Peak Chair up to the top of Whistler Peak after you ride the Peak 2 Peak Gondola.

Blackcomb Hiking Trails Map

The Blackcomb trails are easy to follow with lots of signs and maps at every junction.

But it can be helpful to have a map to understand where you are once you leave the map stations. I made you a custom trail map using Gaia GPS, my favourite mapping app. It shows all the locations I mention in this post. Click through to zoom in and explore (and to download the GPX file).

You can also use Whistler Blackcomb’s Alpine Trails Map – they will give you a paper copy when you buy your lift ticket. It’s a beautiful hand-drawn map, and it gives you a vague idea of the terrain. But I don’t find it nearly as helpful as a proper topographic map… which is why I use All Trails+ or Gaia GPS instead.

How to Get to the Blackcomb Trails

Parking

Getting to Whistler is fairly straightforward: Drive Highway 99 north from Vancouver to Whistler. My Sea to Sky Highway Road Trip guide has lots of driving tips and suggestions for where to stop along the way.

Once you get to Whistler, head for the day-use parking lots on Backcomb Way. Here are Google Maps driving directions. From there, walk 5 minutes on the Valley Trail to the Blackcomb Gondola in the Upper Village.

Day-use lots 1 and 2 are the closest parking to the Blackcomb Gondola Base. My budget tip: Park in lots 4 or 5. They are an extra 5-10 minute walk and a bit cheaper. Here is info on current parking rates and hours.

Gondola Ride

The Blackcomb Alpine Trails starts at the top of Blackcomb Peak. To get there you, will need to ride the gondola from Upper Whistler Village. You need to pay to take the gondola, but they only check your ticket at the bottom when you get on the first gondola. They don’t check it again for the Peak 2 Peak Gondola or the Whistler Village Gondola.

Buy your lift tickets at Blackcomb Gondola Base in Upper Whistler Village. Then take the Blackcomb Gondola to its end at Rendezvous Lodge. The takes about 15 minutes. The Lodge has a coffee shop, restaurant, and bathrooms. The Peak 2 Peak Gondola to Whistler is next to Rendezvous Lodge.

Adding the Peak 2 Peak Gondola to Your Hike

If you’ve paid for a summer sightseeing lift ticket, you should make the most of it. And that means riding the Peak 2 Peak Gondola along with hiking on Blackcomb – it’s one of my recommendations for the best things to do in Whistler in summer.

If you want to ride the Peak 2 Peak before your hike, walk to Whistler Base and take the Whistler Village Gondola to Roundhouse Lodge. Then ride the Peak 2 Peak Gondola to Rendezvous Lodge on Blackcomb. If you have time, I recommend taking the Peak Chair to the top of Whistler Peak before getting on the Peak 2 Peak. It is a short walk from the Roundhouse and has incredible views. There’s also a cool suspension bridge up there.

To ride the Peak 2 Peak after hiking on Blackcomb, finish your hike at the Rendezvous Lodge, and then go next door and get on the Peak 2 Peak Gondola. Ride it to Roundhouse Lodge on Whistler, then ride the Whistler Village Gondola back down to Whistler Village. (And of course, add on the Peak Chair if you have time.)

Keep an eye on gondola opening hours to plan your hike and decide when to ride the Peak 2 Peak Gondola.

Hiking Up Via the Ascent Trails

If you don’t want to pay full price to take the gondola, you can hike up via the Blackcomb Ascent Trails instead. This option costs $45 instead of $85.

However, these are steep and challenging trails that take most hikers 3-4 hours. Unless you are a strong hiker, I don’t recommend hiking the Ascent Trails to access the Blackcomb Alpine Trails because you won’t have enough energy or time to complete both hikes.

Blackcomb Alpine Trails Hiking Directions (My Recommended Route)

There are several trails on Blackcomb. Below, I’ve got step-by-step directions for my recommended route which includes most of the trails.

The total stats for my route are below. But in each section, I’ll also give you the option to turn around and go back to the gondola, which will make your trip shorter.

Duration: 3.5-4.5 hours

Distance: 9.9 km loop

Difficulty: Moderate

Elevation Change: 560 m elevation gain

To help keep you on track, here is a brief overview of the key distances on this hike:

Alpine Loop

To start the hike, follow the path in front of the Rendezvous Lodge. This is often a good place to spot marmots eating grass or sunbathing on rocks. Marmots are one of my favourite animals and I can’t resist slowing down to watch them. These large rodents whistle when they are scared, which is how nearby Whistler Mountain got its name.

From the Rendezvous Lodge, take the path that goes left around the Peak 2 Peak Gondola to the entrance to the alpine trails. You are now on the Alpine Loop Trail. Go left to start the first part of the loop. (Your return route will take you through the other side of the loop.

Soon you leave the ski hill infrastructure behind. The wide path has great views of Whistler Mountain to your right. Keep your eyes peeled for more marmots here as well as pikas, a tiny round-eared member of the rabbit family.

Reach a junction about 0.9 m from the gondola. Go right onto a short loop to a great viewpoint. Back on the main trail, turn right and reach another junction 100 m later.

If you have had enough, go left to head back to the gondola. It is about 1 km away via the other side of the Alpine Loop Trail.

Overlord Trail (Part 1)

If you want to continue onwards, turn right onto the Overlord Trail. The next kilometre of trail is gradually downhill. It starts in more open and rocky terrain and transitions to patches of meadow. If you visit in late July and early August, you might spot some gorgeous alpine wildflowers here.

Just before you pass underneath the 7th Heaven Express chairlift (about 1.9 km from the gondola), reach a junction with the Lakeside Loop. There are some wide ski hill roads here, so pay attention to the signs to stay on the right track.

Lakeside Loop

From the junction, turn left to start the Lakeside Loop. This trail climbs gradually through meadows and patches of trees. It also crosses a wide ski and grassy ski run.

At the top, reach Blackcomb Lake 2.75 km from the gondola. The turquoise waters of this lake sit in a gravelly bowl right under Blackcomb Peak. This is a good place to take a break on some benches. There are also great views of Whistler Mountain across the valley.

You might also notice a large stone cairn with a plaque that commemorates a ski patroller who was responsible for developing the ski terrain in this area.

When you are ready to continue, follow the trail downhill through the meadows and gravel to another junction with the Overlord Trail 3.2 km from the gondola.

If you want to head back to the gondola it is 2.6 km away via the Overlord and Alpine Loop Trails.

Overlord Trail (Part 2)

But if you want to continue on the loop, turn left and follow the Overlord Trail for a few minutes as it heads downhill, first through the trees and then across a meadow. Reach the junction with the Decker Loop Trail 3.6 km from the gondola.

Decker Loop Trail

Turn left and start up the Decker Loop Trail. This is the only steep and challenging climb of the hike. You’ll gain about 200 m in just 1 kilometre. While the trail is steep, the views are great and it doesn’t take that long.

Stay on the trail as it zigzags up the slope at the edge of a ridge. The trail is often dusty and loose. You’ll want to pause often to catch your breath and to enjoy the views.

Reach the top of the climb at the best viewpoint on Blackcomb 4.6 km from the gondola. From this rocky vantage point, you can look south to Overlord Mountain in Garibaldi Provincial Park. The spectacular Overlord and Fitzsimmons Glaciers spill down its slopes. You can also look back north to Blackcomb Lake and the rocky slopes below Blackcomb Peak.

When you are done enjoying the view, follow the trail through small trees and rocks as it starts to head downhill towards Decker Tarn.

Reach the tarn 5.4 km from the gondola. It sits in a pretty little meadow and is surrounded by a jumble of boulders.

This is my favourite spot on the whole trail. Find a boulder to lounge on and enjoy the scenery. You can also explore the shoreline a bit, but tread lightly as this is a fragile ecosystem with a short growing season.

When you are ready to carry on, follow the trail downhill along the creek from the lake outlet – it can be slightly confusing to locate the trail here – look for signs and trail markers.

The trail continues to head gradually downhill as it works its way through patches of meadow and clumps of trees. Arrive back at the junction with the Overlord Trail 6.8 km from the gondola.

Back to the Gondola via the Overlord and Alpine Loop Trails

From here your route back to the gondola is fairly straightforward and mostly uses trails you’ve hiked already. Go straight onto the Overlord Trail and follow it through a meadow and up a small hill to the southern junction with the Lakeside Loop 7.2 km from the gondola.

Continue straight onto a section of the Overlord Trail that you haven’t hiked yet. It climbs gradually and crosses several grassy ski runs as well as a few patches of dense forest.

Arrive at the northern junction with the Lakeside Loop 8.1 km from the gondola. Go straight onto the Overlord Trail. While you have hiked this section of the trail already, now you have to hike it in the uphill direction, which might be a little tiring at the end of the day. Thankfully, it’s fairly short.

Reach the junction with the Alpine Loop Trail 9 km from the gondola. Turn right to hike the other side of the loop. The trail weaves through rocky terrain. It’s a good place to spot pikas and marmots.

Towards the end, it crosses a rocky slope before joining a ski area access road to head downhill to the Peak 2 Peak gondola, the Rendezvous Lodge, and the Blackcomb Gondola.

Finish your hike back at the Rendezvous Lodge. Head out to their patio to have a drink on their patio – I love the views there! Or jump on the Peak 2 Peak gondola and ride over to Whistler to relax at the Umbrella Bar on the patio at the Roundhouse Lodge.

I hope you enjoy your hike on the Blackcomb Alpine Hiking Trails. I love the contrast of the gravel alpine moonscape with the lush wildflower meadows. And don’t forget those cute marmots! If you’ve got questions about the trail, ask them in the comments and I’ll help you out.

READ NEXT:

• The Best Hikes in Whistler: A Guide to All the Trails
• Visiting Whistler, BC in Summer (By a Local)
• 80+ Things to Do in Whistler (By a Local)
• High Note Trail in Whistler Hiking Guide (By a Season’s Pass Holder)
• Joffre Lakes Hike (By a Local)
• Whistler Train Wreck Hike

The post Blackcomb Hiking Trails in Whistler (By a Season’s Pass Holder) appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

I first hiked to Semaphore Lakes back in 2014. (In fact, an earlier version of this trail guide was the very first post on this blog!) I’ve returned a few more times over the years to enjoy the incredible scenery and easily accessible backcountry camping.

For years the area was in danger of being loved to death since it didn’t have any facilities, but that changed a few years ago. Now the area is an official BC Recreation Area and has outhouses, food caches, designated camping areas, and trail signs to protect the fragile ecosystem.

If you visit Semaphore Lakes, please tread lightly and treat this beautiful place with respect.

In this guide, I’ve got everything you need to know to visit Semaphore Lakes. It includes:

• Trail stats including how long it takes, difficulty, best time to go, and more
• Tips for hiking to Semaphore Lakes including what to pack and how to prep
• Trail map that shows all the key locations I mention in this post
• How to get to the Semaphore Lakes trail – detailed logging road driving directions
• Step-by-step hiking directions so you know what to expect
• Extending your trip – my picks for hikes you can do from Semaphore Lakes
• Backcountry camping – info on where to camp and what to expect at each campground

This is a sensitive wilderness area. Learn how to Leave No Trace to keep the wilderness wild. Make sure you are prepared by bringing the 10 Essentials. Get ready for adventure with this checklist of things to do before every hike.

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

Semaphore Lakes Trail Stats

Here are the basic stats that you need to know about hiking the Semaphore Lakes Trail near Pemberton, BC:

Location: The Semaphore Lakes Trail is located off the Hurley Forest Service Road northwest of Pemberton.

Duration: 2 to 3.5 hours

Distance: 6 km round-trip

Difficulty: Moderate

Elevation Change: 385 m of elevation gain

Backcountry Camping: There is free first-come, first-served camping at each of the three lakes. (See the Backcountry Camping section below for more info.)

Best Time to Go: July to late September when the lakes and approach road are snow-free.

Toilets: There are toilets at all three lakes.

Drinking Water: You can fill your bottles at the creek on the hike up, at all three Semaphore Lakes, or at the creek near the third lake. Since people swim in the lakes, and you don’t know if humans or animals have pooped or died upstream, you need to filter or treat all water before you drink it. (I use a Katadyn BeFree.)

Dogs: Allowed on leash.

Fires: Not permitted. Please do not light campfires in this fragile alpine ecosystem.

Bears: This area has both black bears and grizzly bears. Hike in a group, make noise, and carry bear spray. If you camp, cook well away from your tent and store all food and toiletries in the food caches.

Indigenous Context: The Semaphore Lakes are in the traditional territory of the Lil’wat Nation and the Bridge River Indian Band (Xwísten), both of which are members of the St’át’imc Nation. To learn more about local Indigenous culture and history, visit the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre in Whistler.

What’s With the Name? The nearby pass is called Railroad Pass because according to local legend, it was once surveyed to see if the railroad between Pemberton and Lillooet should go through this pass. (The route that was built goes through D’Arcy instead.) In the 1970s, mountaineers named several geographic features near the pass using railroad theme: Locomotive, Tender, and Caboose Mountains, and the Train Glacier rise above Semaphore Lake. (If you didn’t know, railway semaphore signals were coloured and patterned metal arms that were raised and lowered along railway lines to give instructions to train drivers.)

Tips for Hiking Semaphore Lakes

• Check the weather before you go. City weather forecasts are useless in the mountains. Use an algorithmic spot forecast for Semaphore Lakes like Spotwx. (Read my guide to weather apps for hikers for more tips.)
• Check trail conditions online using AllTrails or Instagram. This is especially important in the spring or fall when the trail can be icy or snowy.
• Check road conditions at I Survived the Hurley to make sure the Hurley Forest Service Road is open and in 2WD condition. The road is usually closed due to snow (it is not plowed) between November and late May/early June. It is usually fine for 2WD vehicles unless it has recently washed out in a storm or is being graded.
• Bring a rain jacket and warm clothing just in case. It can be much colder, windier, and rainier in the mountains than in the city.
• Wear trail running shoes or hiking boots. The trail is rocky and loose in places. It can also be quite muddy early in the summer. Regular running shoes don’t have enough grip or ankle support.
• Pack bug spray or a head net. The mosquitos and black flies can be bad when the wind dies down, especially in early July.

• Bring water and snacks. It is not safe to drink the water from the lakes or streams without boiling, filtering, or treating it as you never know if people or animals have pooped or died upstream. Gross! (And people definitely swim in the lakes – I don’t want to drink that unfiltered.) (I use a Katadyn BeFree.)
• Bring the 10 Essentials. These are key safety items you should have on every hike.
• Pack out all your garbage. There are no garbage cans here so you must take your garbage home with you. Leaving it on the trails attracts animals.
• Be Bear aware: There are black bears and grizzly bears in this area, especially in late summer and fall. Hike in a group, make noise, and carry bear spray. If you camp, cook well away from your tent and store all food and toiletries in the food cache. Read my bear safety tips for more info.
• Learn Leave No Trace skills: This is a fragile alpine ecosystem. While it is protected now, years of irresponsible use have scarred the area. Stick to trails, use the outhouses, and don’t light fires. Try your best to keep this area beautiful.

Semaphore Lakes Trail Map

I made a map of the Semaphore Lakes Trail for you using Gaia GPS, my favourite GPS and mapping app. Click through to zoom in (and download the GPX track).

Semaphore Lakes Driving Directions

The trailhead is about 3.5 hours from Vancouver and about 1 hour from Pemberton. There is no public transportation to the trailhead so you will need to drive yourself.

The last section of the drive is on a gravel road that is steep and bumpy, but usually suitable for all vehicles. I recommend an AWD or 4WD vehicle, but I think 2WD vehicles will be fine most of the time if you go slow. (I once went up in a Toyota Matrix.) Check road conditions on I Survived the Hurley before your trip.

Here are step-by-step driving directions to Semaphore Lakes: From Vancouver, take Highway 1 West and then Highway 99 north to Pemberton. Turn left off Highway 99 onto Pemberton Portage Road at the traffic light in Pemberton (at the intersection with the Petrocan and the McDonald’s).

Follow Pemberton Portage Road for a few minutes to a roundabout, then go left across the train tracks. Two blocks later, go right at the T-junction onto Pemberton Meadows Road. Stay on this road for 23.5 km as it winds through farmland.

Turn right onto Lillooet Forest Service Road and reset your odometer. The road quickly turns to gravel and crosses the river. About 9 km later, veer right at the fork (uphill) onto the signed Hurley Forest Service Road and reset your odometer again. Stay on the Hurley FSR for 14.3 km, ignoring all side branches.

Look for a small parking area on your left 14.3 km after you begin the Hurley. This is the trailhead. There is room for 4 or 5 cars here and room for another 2 or 3 a pull-out just to the south. If they are both full, parallel park, being careful to get as far off the road as possible.

Here are Google Maps driving directions. However, you will lose cell service in the farmlands outside Pemberton. I recommend using All Trails+ or Gaia GPS for navigation.

Semaphore Lakes Hiking Directions

The trailhead is near the parking area on Hurley FSR. There is no sign at the start of the trail, but the footbed is wide and obvious. The first minute of the trail is downhill to a bridge over a small creek. From there the path climbs steeply in the forest.

In a few places, you’ll have to scramble up over tree roots and rock slabs. The trail is often muddy and is sometimes slightly overgrown. You can hear the creek downhill to your left, but you are usually far above it.

About 1.2 km from the trailhead the grade eases a bit and the trail comes down beside the creek. The forest starts to thin out here as the vegetation begins to transition to sub-alpine meadows. A few minutes later about 1.7 km from the trailhead, cross the creek on rocks and a log.

On the other side, follow the trail as it climbs up a steep slope and you leave the forest behind. Reach a junction about 200 m after the creek crossing. The trail forks here. Going straight ahead is the most direct route to the second and third lakes, but is a bit steeper since it goes up and over a little knoll.

I prefer to go right to contour around the knoll. This route also takes you to the first lake (2 km from the trailhead). The camping area on the other side of the pond at the end of the lake. Turn left once you reach the first lake and follow the trail along the eastern shore. From the end of the first lake, follow the trail south and slightly uphill to the second lake (2.5 km from the trailhead).

There are tons of small social trails amongst the lakes. Some are roped off to allow the sensitive ecosystem to revegetate. Please stick to official trails and avoid less travelled trails as it just leads to more erosion. If you are in doubt about which trail to take, pick the wider one. Or consult a trail app like All Trails+ or Gaia GPS to see if you are on the official trail.

You will start to get views of the Train Glacier and waterfalls spilling down from the melting ice. Locomotive Mountain, Tender Mountain, Caboose Peak, Faceless Mountain, and Face Mountain dominate the skyline. (More details on those peaks in the Extending Your Trip section below.)

At the far end of the second lake near the camping area there is another junction. The route straight ahead leads to Locomotive Mountain. Instead, go right and slightly downhill. Follow the trail past lots of small ponds, most of which dry up by mid-summer.

Reach the third lake 3 km from the trailhead. There are several routes down to the shoreline and the camping area. This is the official end of the trail. The third lake is fed by the train glacier, so it has the classic turquoise glacial lake colour. Gorgeous!

Find a spot on the shoreline of any of the three lakes to sit and have lunch. You may even want to go for a swim in the chilly water. But please wipe off any sunscreen or bug spray first as these tiny lakes are an important drinking water source for campers!

When you are done admiring the scenery, retrace your steps back to the trailhead. Or see the Extending Your Trip section below for more hiking options.

Extending Your Trip

Since the hike to Semaphore Lakes is so short, many visitors backcountry camp and use it as a base for longer trips. A few trails lead away from the lakes but they all disappear into nothing quite quickly. While they are shown on some maps as trails, they are actually just informal routes – not real trails. Sometimes there are cairns (stacks of rocks) to show you the way, but not always.

You need good off-trail navigation skills to follow any of the routes I mention below. That means that you will need to know both how to use a GPS to follow the route and how to read landmarks to find the best way through micro-terrain.

I met a lot of hikers on the lower slopes of Locomotive Mountain who were unprepared for off-trail navigation. They thought that since the route was shown on All Trails, it would be an easy-to-follow trail. That’s definitely not the case.

Locomotive Mountain

The Scramble to Locomotive Mountain is the most common objective from Semaphore Lakes. It’s about 7 or 8 km round trip from the third lake with about 700 m of elevation gain over very rough terrain.

There are several routes to get there. The route on All Trails starting from the third lake is the most direct, but it is not the easiest or the fastest. Instead, I recommend taking the eastern route starting from the second lake (which is shown as a discontinuous trail on All Trails and Gaia GPS). The first part is a trail through meadows that is easier to walk than the other route, which is very rocky.

The trail disappears and reappears. In between, look for cairns to find the route. It passes several pretty tarns and scrambles over lots of rocks and short cliffs on the way up Locomotive Mountain.

From the shoulder of Locomotive Mountain, you get great views down to the Pemberton Valley below. For some people, this is a worthy objective. You may wish to turn around here.

If you want to continue, it’s another 1.5 km to the summit across rocks and lots of micro-terrain to the 2340 meter-tall summit.

Train Glacier Waterfall

If you want to get a close-up look at the waterfall, there is a rough cairned route across the gravel flats to the waterfall base. It’s about 1 km each way and starts by crossing the creek near the third lake. You can scramble up beside the waterfall for a closer look, but the terrain gets really steep and scrambly fairly quickly.

On your way back from the waterfall you can also explore the Donnelly Creek basin between the waterfall and the third Semaphore Lake. There are lots of beautiful wildflowers in the wet spots. Patches of bright magenta dwarf fireweed, also known as river beauty are the most prominent.

Other Scrambles

Experienced scramblers and mountaineers come to Semaphore Lakes to climb Face Mountain or to complete the Train Glacier Traverse. This route makes a loop from Face Mountain, around to the summits of Faceless, Caboose, and Tender, finishing with Locomotive Mountain and then descending back to the lakes.

These are very challenging routes with lots of navigation, some exposure, and a little bit of glacier travel.

Backcountry Camping at Semaphore Lakes

While it is a short hike from the highway, Semaphore Lakes is a popular backcountry camping location since it has great views and makes a good base camp for scrambles to Locomotive Mountain and other peaks.

Historically, this area had no protection and no facilities. Unfortunately, that meant that people camped and pooped all over the place. Recently, the site became a formal BC Recreation area managed in partnership with Tourism Pemberton.

They created designated camping areas at each of the three lakes. They also installed urine-diversion outhouses and food caches at each camping area. The third lake seems to be the most popular place to camp, mostly because it is at the end of the trail. But the second lake has better views since its a bit more uphill.

All camping is first-come, first-served and there are no fees. It’s free!

The food caches are a little strange – they are homemade using road culverts. Each one has a front and a back compartment. Your stuff will get jumbled with other people’s stuff inside, so I recommend using a lightweight dry bag or stuff sack to keep your food contained and organized.

While the maps on the trail signs make it look like there are individual campsites, in reality, there are no campsites. Perhaps they plan to install tent platforms or clear areas for tents in the future. But right now, you just need to find a flat spot to put your tent. Try to put your tent on gravel or bare dirt – avoid camping on the fragile alpine vegetation.

Please don’t have a campfire here – fires are not allowed. The trees here may look small but they are very old since the growing season is so short. Using them for firewood depletes a rare resource. And the soil here is also fragile since it is a sensitive alpine ecosystem. Fire scars will take decades to revegetate.

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Fingers crossed you get nice weather for your hike to Semaphore Lakes. It’s such a special place! If you have questions about the trail, ask them in the comments. I’d love to help.

READ NEXT:

• The Best Hikes in Whistler: A Guide to All the Trails
• 32 Best Backpacking Trips in BC
• Joffre Lakes Hike (By a Local)

The post Semaphore Lakes Hike in Pemberton, BC appeared first on Dawn Outdoors.

I live in Squamish and have a Sea to Sky Gondola annual pass so I’ve hiked the Al’s Habrich Ridge Trail more times than I can count. I often take visiting friends here since we have a great hike and enjoy the views but still have time to sit on the patio at the Summit Lodge afterward and enjoy the sunshine while eating poutine!

In this post, I’ve got everything you need to know about the Al’s Habrich Trail hike. This guide includes:

• Trail stats including how long it takes, difficulty, best time to go, and more
• Tips for the Al’s Habrich Ridge hike including what to pack and how to prep
• Trail map that shows all the key locations I mention in this post
• How to get to the Al’s Habrich Ridge Trail – driving directions plus tips for going without a car
• Step-by-step hiking directions so you know what to expect
• Extending your trip – my picks for hikes you can add on
• Snowshoeing and winter hiking – info on the Al’s Habrich hike when it’s snowy

This is a sensitive wilderness area. Learn how to Leave No Trace to keep the wilderness wild. Make sure you are prepared by bringing the 10 Essentials. Get ready for adventure with this checklist of things to do before every hike.

Hey there: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support. -Taryn

Al’s Habrich Trail Stats

Here are the basic stats that you need to know about hiking the Al’s Habrich Ridge Trail at the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish:

Location: The trail starts at the top of the Sea to Sky Gondola. You can ride the gondola to get to the trailhead or hike the Sea to Summit Trail first. More details about that in the Getting There section below.

Duration: 3 to 4.5 hours

Distance: 7 km return

Difficulty: Moderate

Elevation Change: 545 m

Cost: $65.95 to $72.95 per adult (depending on day of the week)

Best Time to Go: July to early October when the trail is snow-free. I also recommend picking a clear day so you can enjoy the views.

Caution: Check gondola opening hours so you don’t get stuck without a ride down.

Toilets: There are toilets at the top of the Sea to Sky Gondola. There are no toilets on the trail.

Drinking Water: You can fill your bottles at Neverland Lake at the end of the trail. Pack plenty of drinking water. Since you don’t know if humans or animals have pooped or died upstream, you need to filter or treat all water before you drink it.

Dogs: Dogs are not allowed to upload on the Sea to Sky Gondola. However, you can hike the Sea to Summit Trail with your dog, and then hike the Al’s Habrich Trail. Dogs may struggle on both of these trails due to steep sections with fixed ropes. Dogs are allowed to download on the gondola for $20 each.

Indigenous Context: The Al’s Habrich Ridge Trail is in the traditional territory of the Skwxwu7mesh (Squamish) Nation. To learn more about Skwxwu7mesh history and culture, visit the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre.

Al’s Habrich Ridge Hiking Tips

• Check the weather before you go. City weather forecasts are useless in the mountains. Use an algorithmic spot forecast for Al’s Habrich Trail like Spotwx. (Read my guide to weather apps for hikers for more tips.)
• Check trail conditions on the Sea to Sky Gondola Daily Conditions page. This is especially important in the spring or fall when the trail can be icy or snowy.
• Check gondola hours on the Sea to Sky Gondola hours page. You don’t want to miss the last ride down!
• Buy tickets online – you’ll save $4! Local’s tip: If you plan to go up the gondola 3 or more times in a year, it’s worth buying an annual pass.
• Bring a rain jacket and warm clothing just in case. It can be much colder and rainier in the mountains than in the city.
• Wear trail running shoes or hiking boots. The trail is steep and loose in places. And there are sections of travel on slick granite slabs. Regular running shoes don’t have enough grip or ankle support.
• Bring water and snacks. It is not safe to drink the water from the creeks or ponds without boiling, filtering, or treating it as you never know if people or animals have pooped or died upstream. Gross! (I use a Katadyn BeFree.)
• Bring the 10 Essentials. These are key safety items you should have on every hike.
• Pack out all your garbage. There are no garbage cans here so you must take your garbage back to the gondola with you. Leaving it in on the trails attracts animals.
• Be Bear aware: It is common to encounter black bears on this trail in late summer and fall especially near Neverland Lake, Neverland Loop, and Yuko’s Ponds. Hike in a group, make noise, and carry bear spray. Read my bear safety tips for more info.
• Leave some time for the patio: The patio at the Summit Lodge is incredible and you don’t want to miss it. Allow enough time after your hike to sit awhile and have a drink. Or a huge plate of poutine.

Al’s Habrich Trail Map

In most places, the Al’s Habrich Ridge Trail is easy to follow with lots of markers. The trail has coloured markers that are numbered so you can stay on track. But it has a few areas where it gets indistinct.

I made you a custom trail map using Gaia GPS, my favourite mapping app. It shows all the locations I mention in this post. Click through to zoom in and explore (and to download the GPX file).

You can also use the Sea to Sky Gondola Trails Map. It’s available via their app. It’s a beautiful artist-rendered map, and the GPS locating feature on the app tells you where you are. But since it only gives you a vague idea of the terrain and doesn’t show the other unofficial trails (more on those below), I don’t find it nearly as helpful as a proper topographic map… which is why I use All Trails+ or Gaia GPS instead.

How to Get to the Al’s Habrich Trail

Driving Directions

Al’s Habrich Ridge Trail starts at the top of the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish. To get there, drive Highway 1 west from Vancouver, then switch to Highway 99 north. Drive through the communities of Lions Bay, Furry Creek, and Britannia Beach. Just after the traffic light at Shannon Falls, turn right into the signed Sea to Sky Gondola parking lot. Here are Google Maps driving directions.

Getting There By Bus

If you don’t have a car, you can also get to the Sea to Sky Gondola by using the Squamish Connector bus. They offer service from downtown Vancouver to the Sea to Sky Gondola several times a day.

Sea to Sky Gondola

The easiest way to get to the start of Al’s Habrich Trail is to ride the Sea to Sky Gondola. Check opening hours before you go. It’s incredibly scenic and takes about 10 minutes. My tip: Choose the seats that face backwards for the best view.

Gondola tickets are not cheap (About $68 per adult as of 2024) but I think it’s worth it since the views are so good. Once you are at the top you can hike (of course), sit on their gorgeous patio, and walk across the suspension bridge.

Sea to Summit Trail

If you don’t want to pay for the gondola, you can also hike up via the Sea to Summit Trail. This is a steep and challenging trail that takes most hikers 3-4 hours. Unless you are a strong hiker, I don’t recommend hiking the Sea to Summit Trail to access Al’s Habrich Ridge because you won’t have enough energy or time to complete both hikes.

If you hike up the Sea to Summit Trail you can ride the gondola down for just $20.

Al’s Habrich Trail Hiking Directions

To start the hike, get off the gondola and head down the stairs from the lodge. Walk left through the plaza, then follow the gravel road downhill to the east. About 2 minutes from the gondola, arrive at a junction. The service road down to the valley goes hard left, the Wonderland Lake Loop trail goes right and your route goes to the left up the hill on the road.

Walk up the hill on the road passing the gondola generator (which you can hear humming behind the fence). Just as the road starts to curve right, look for the trailhead for Al’s Habrich Ridge Trail on the left next to an open area.

Follow the trail into the trees. The path descends slightly and passes below some cliffs as it curls around a bluff. About 10-15 minutes after leaving the gondola, arrive on the banks of Olesen Creek. (The winter route joins from the right here, but it is roped off in the summertime.)

Cross the creek by hopping across on rocks. There is a rope to hang on to for balance if you need it. In the spring or after heavy rains the creek may be deep enough that your feet might get wet, but usually, there is just a trickle of water.

On the other side of the creek follow the trail uphill through the trees and across rock slabs. There are a few places where you will need to use fixed ropes to help you up slopes. But the ropes are short and fairly easy to navigate.

The trail braids a few times in this section, but if you stay on the widest trail and look for the diamond markers, you will go the right way.

About 30-40 minutes from the gondola you will begin to break out of the forest. The route takes you up along the spine of a wide granite ridge. The route is indistinct here so again, follow the markers and keep to the middle of the ridge to stay on course.

A few minutes later, the views really start to open up to your left. You can look down to Howe Sound below you.

Keep hiking along the ridge. As the granite slabs come to an end, look for cairns showing you the way to your right down into the forest. But before you go into the forest, follow a path across the granite to a small knoll with a great view of Mount Garibaldi/Nch’kay to the north.

When you are ready, follow the cairns into the forest and slightly downhill. Stay on the main trail and follow the markers as the path makes a hard left (and older faint trail goes straight).

From here, you have a short but steep climb up through the forest on a very rooty and rocky trail. Watch for diamond trail markers to stay on track.

When the trail begins to level out, you have almost reached the viewpoints. There will be a large granite bluff to your right and a barely marked side trail for Yuko’s Ponds to your right (more on that below). Go straight towards the main viewpoint on the big granite slab.

This is the best view on the whole trail. You can look down to the waters of Howe Sound and the Sea to Sky Highway snaking its way south.

If you want more views, scramble up the granite bluff behind you. The first part of the ascent is very steep, but the granite provides lots of friction on your boots so it’s doable. You can wander around the top of the bluff to get views down to the town of Squamish and the Squamish River Valley. Take care on the descent as it is steep!

You might choose to make the viewpoints your turn around, and honestly, I think that’s not a bad idea since you have already seen the most spectacular part of the trail. But if you want, you can continue for another 0.8 km to the official end of the trail.

To head to the end of the trail, follow the markers to the right across the rock slabs, then down into the meadows. The trail undulates through pockets of forest and blueberry bushes and past two junction with the Neverland Loop Trail before ending at Neverland Lake.

While Neverland Lake may sound like a picturesque destination and maybe even a place to swim, it’s actually a seasonal pond that dries up into a puddle by late summer. Unfortunately, it’s a bit underwhelming. When you are done at the lake, retrace your steps back to the gondola. Or see the Extending Your Trip section below for more options.

Extending Your Trip

If you have extra time and energy, it’s worth adding some extra distance on to your hike. Here are the best options.

Neverland Loop and Neverland Falls

The Neverland Loop and Neverland Falls Trail makes a great add-on to the Al’s Habrich Ridge Trail since it visits a waterfall and some interesting rock slab areas. It adds about 1 km and 150 m of elevation gain to your trip. But it is a much rougher trail so expect it to take 30 min to an hour.

From Neverland Lake, backtrack to the Neverland Loop junction. Head steeply uphill through the forest. A rope helps you climb up a steep section just below a cliff. At the top of the rope, reach a junction. Go right to get to Neverland Falls.

The trail to Neverland Falls goes through thickets of blueberry bushes as it trends slightly uphill. Reach the base of Neverland Falls about 300 m from the junction.

In early summer the falls will have lots of water and a small pool underneath that you can swim in. But for most of the summer, the falls dry up to a trickle and the pool is too small to be inviting.

If you want to explore further, follow a rough unofficial trail uphill to the right of the falls for about 100 m. It scrambles over rocks and is quite steep. At the top, you can check out Upper Neverland Falls.

After you are finished at the falls, retrace your steps back to the junction with the rope, then go straight. The trail rambles through more forest and blueberry bushes with a cliff on your right. At one point, the path takes you under the overhang of a huge boulder.

After the boulder, the path begins to head downhill on some granite slabs. There is a rope to assist you on the steep part. As you approach a creek (which looks like a rock water slide), the trail switchbacks to the left and heads down to meet back up with the Al’s Habrich Trail. A faint trail goes right up the creek to Yuko’s Ponds (see below).

Yuko’s Ponds

This short trail visits a few small ponds and heads through some pretty patches of sub-alpine meadows. Since it is not on the list of official Sea to Sky Gondola trails, it’s a bit quieter up here, which I like.

The Yuko’s Ponds route adds 0.6 km and 50 m of elevation gain to your trip. Allow an extra 20-30 minutes for this add-on. Since this is an unofficial trail, it isn’t marked with big diamond markers. But it isn’t that hard to follow (there are occasional square orange markers). It’s also easy to stay on track if you use All Trails+ or Gaia GPS.

My preferred route is to pick up the Yuko’s Ponds trail from the north end of the Neverland Loop. Where that trail comes close to a creek flowing across a granite slab, turn uphill and follow sporadic markers and flagging tape up the creek.

At the top where it flattens out next to a pond, go left and slightly uphill. (If you continue straight the trail deadends at a marsh.) Stay on the trail past another tiny pond and through more meadows. The trail curls left and heads downhill.

Follow markers carefully as the path drops down a granite bluff, turn makes a hard right. The terrain gets steep and a bit scrambly for a few moves as you work your way downhill to meet up with the main trail in the forest just before the viewpoints.

Further Along the Ridge and Robin’s Connector

The official Al’s Habrich Trail doesn’t go anywhere near the top of Al’s Habrich Ridge. However, several unofficial and poorly marked trails do go higher on the ridge.

A rough trail continues uphill from Neverland Lake through the forest higher on the ridge. Another trail, called Robin’s Connector, branches off from Yuko’s Ponds and the north part of Neverland Loop. It heads east through the forest, then curls back south through some bluffs to head up the ridge.

Both trails join partway along the ridge, then continue southeast to a high point. These trails are poorly marked and unmaintained. In places they seem to disappear. There have been lots of Search and Rescue incidents here due to lost hikers. Please don’t attempt these trails without good fitness and off-trail navigation skills.

It’s also worth noting that there are no trails to the top of Mount Habrich. The summit is a shear rocky cliff that can only be scaled by rock climbers.

Snowshoeing and Winter Hiking the Al’s Habrich Trail

With easy access via the Sea to Sky Gondola, Al’s Habrich Ridge Trail is one of the best places to snowshoe in Squamish. However, it is a much more challenging and potentially dangerous trip in winter. The trail markers are harder to see, so it is easy to get off track. You will need to be comfortable with navigation. I use the Gaia GPS app.

The steep terrain can also make travel very challenging with a mix of both snow and ice. Depending on trail conditions, you will need snowshoes and/or microspikes. I recommend microspikes in May and November and both snowshoes and microspikes between December and April – you may need to switch to microspikes on the steeper stuff because your snowshoes won’t have enough grip. (Read my guide for tips on how to choose snowshoes and my guide to the differences between snowshoes and microspikes).

For the most part, the trail stays out of avalanche terrain since it doesn’t cross or travel below steep slopes. The exception is the steep ascent in the trees just before the main viewpoint and the Neverland Loop Trail, both of which travel on or below avalanche-prone slopes. In any case, you should still have avalanche training and rescue gear. Check the avalanche forecast before your trip.

It’s worth noting that the winter route is slightly different than the summer route. Instead of turning off the access road near the generator, you stay on the road to a fork where you go left. Then you follow that road for another 0.2 km to its end where you join the regular route at the creek crossing. As well, the Sea to Sky Gondola recommends doing only the first half of the trail in winter (the part along the granite ridge) since it is the easiest to follow, isn’t as steep, and avoids all avalanche terrain.

If you do just one hike at the Sea to Sky Gondola, it should definitely be Al’s Habrich Trail. It’s one of my favourite trails that I return to over and over. Do you have questions about this hike? Ask them in the comments.

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