Garibaldi Lake Hike in British Columbia
Discover an open-group hikingadventure to Garibaldi Lake in British Columbia’s Garibaldi Provincial Park, led by certified guides. This 19 km round-trip route with 904 m of elevation gain takes you past the Barrier lookout and through flower-filled meadows to a striking turquoise alpine lake. Join at the Rubble Creek Trailhead for a challenging, guide-led hike you won’t forget.
Group
1 Day
Jul - Nov
High
Intermediate
Highlights
- Conquer a thrilling 19 km hike with 904 meters of elevation gain to stunning Garibaldi Lake in British Columbia
- Prepare for a challenging full-day adventure
- Take in the incredible views of a turquoise alpine lake, fed by glaciers and snow-capped mountains.
Description
Come along and join us for a challenging yet rewarding 19-kilometer hike with 904 meters of elevation gain to Garibaldi Lake, a striking turquoise alpine lake fed by glaciers and framed by volcanic peaks and snow-capped mountains.
The trail climbs steadily through a series of steep switchbacks, taking you first to the Barrier lookout, where a dramatic lava rock wall helps contain the lake. You then continue across the Barrier Basin, where dense forest gives way to open meadows bright with rhododendron and lupine.
A short walk past Lesser Lake brings you to the main event: Garibaldi Lake itself, with its vivid green-blue water set in a deep basin. The scenery changes constantly, offering excellent photo opportunities from start to finish.
The group meets at 8:30 a.m. at the Rubble Creek Trailhead, the main access point for Garibaldi Provincial Park. Parking is available, but arriving early is strongly recommended, especially on weekends and during summer when the trail is busiest. This is a challenging hike requiring solid fitness and prior experience.
The round trip typically takes six to eight hours, with long switchbacks and varied terrain demanding a full day of effort. The reward at the end, however, makes the difficulty well worth it.
Reserve your spot today, and experience one of British Columbia's most spectacular alpine lakes.
Price includes
- Guiding fee
Price details
- Transportation is not included in this tour; however, it can be added during checkout for an additional fee.
Meeting point
Equipment you will need to bring
Prepare for a full day in the backcountry by bringing the following essentials:
- Daypack (18–35 L)
- Sturdy hiking boots and trekking poles
- Waterproof shell jacket and insulating layers
- 2–3.5 liters of water
- Packed lunch plus high-energy snacks (at least 1000–3000 calories)
- Sunglasses, sunscreen, insect repellent, and a hat
- Lightweight gloves, spare socks, and a headlamp or flashlight
- Personal medications, a whistle, and a camera
Our guides are fully trained in wilderness safety and carry the required group equipment, but each participant is expected to be self-reliant when it comes to food, water, and appropriate clothing.
About the guide
Mountain Skills
5.0
(4)
Guide Agency
Since 1991 we have been specialists in the mountain disciplines of Backcountry Skiing, Rock climbing, Ice Climbing, Mountaineering, Hiking, Mountain Safety and Mountain Adventures. We are proud of our good reputation and of the true expertise we provide.
Languages
French | English
Certificates
ACMG | IFMGA
What people are saying about Mountain Skills
Jennifer
Phil was an excellent climbing guide. He was safe, professional, and fun!
Adela
From start to finish of the climb Phil was super professional and friendly, made me feel really at ease despite my nerves on the day and explained every aspect of the climb in great detail. He assessed my capabilities and chose the route that was right for me and the most exciting, which was also very appreciated and took some great photos ;) I could not recommend spending a day with Phil more!
Winston
We got assigned Madison Bailey to be our guide up the multi pitch (star chek). Communication was easy and planning what to bring was simple. My girlfriend and came from Boston and flew into Vancouver, spent a few days in Squamish, and then spent a few more days in Vancouver city. We scheduled our multi pitch with Madison B on the first full day of our trip and it was great. He was on time and his personality was great. He did the lead climb first bringing up two ropes so he could belay my gf and I as we followed on lead after. We were able to climb at the same time (a few body lengths apart) and at no time did we feel unsafe. We were able to climb the multi pitch rather quickly without much fuss with rope management. What was even nicer was his recommendations for the rest of our time in Squamish. He was able to recommend good hikes and attractions for the other two days we spent in Squamish making our trip memorable and epic!
Doron
I have a full day of intro to sports climbing and mukty pitch with *Dane* . The day exceeded my expectations! Dane in a terrific guide, very professional and has a lot of patience to explain things over and over. In addition Dane planned a custom made day to meet my knowledge and skills which allowd me to me my goals. I gained a lot of knowledge and had a great experience on my first multi pitch! Thanks a lot Dane!!
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