Elevation: 4,900 ft

Country: Canada

High in the Coastal Mountains near the resort town of Whistler is an impossibly blue turquoise lake. It’s one of the area’s most challenging but rewarding hikes.

The trail begins in the forest and follows a well beaten down path up eight kilometres of steep relentless switchbacks. When I did this hike in the summer of 2013 it was close to 30 degrees – it was a slog.

Thankfully the switchbacks do end and you come to a cross roads. One way goes to Taylor Meadows Campground and another to Garibaldi Lake. Take the latter and you are rewarded with a view over the valley. The outlook, known as the “barrier” comes courtesy of a rock fall that happened many years ago due to an unstable lava formation. Keep your eye peeled for hawks and bald headed eagles. The Barrier is aptly named as it is a natural lava dam that is 1,000 ft thick and 2km wide, and is the only thing stopping the whole contents of Garibaldi Lake spilling into the valley.

Carrying on from the outlook you come to the small nondescript Barrier lake. Fortunately this is not the lake you have come to see. Onwards and up-wards!

As you climb  the landscape becomes more varied with cascading streams and bare rock. Through the thinning trees you begin to see the turquoise water.

You round a corner and you come to a bridge to cross Rubble Creek and the lake opens out before you.

In the clear waters you can see many a fallen tree.

Follow the rocky path around the lake and keep a look out for the fish that can be seen jumping out of the water. the You can fish up here if you’ve bought a fishing licence and hauled your fishing gear up.

Now that you have arrived sit back and enjoy the view.


Garibaldi Lake is 800 ft deep and is surrounded on three sides by volcanoes. These ‘battleship’ islands (above) are what remains of long ago eruptions.

If you have lugged up your camping gear enjoy the sunset.

On your way back down go via Taylor Meadows at certain times of year the wild flowers are spectacular and on a clear day you will be able to see the towering peak of Black Tusk.(below)

Camping on Garibaldi: there are camp pitches around the lake but they will fill up fast on a sunny weekend. If the site is full there is another campground a couple of kilometers away in Taylor Meadows.  There is a small cabin in both camps in which you must store food and it can be used to wash dishes You are permitted to use a camping stove inside the cabins. Camp fires are not allowed in Garibaldi Provincial Park. To camp in Garibaldi or Taylor Meadows you must obtain a camping permit. You can hire camping equipment at Mountain Equipment Co-op in Vancouver.

Fishing: if you want to lug up your fishing gear you can as long as you get a permit either online or from a vendor.

Photos: Cat Hughes