Elfin Lakes Trail

Hike Details

Location: Garibaldi Provincial Park, BC, Canada
Hike Quality (1-5): 5
Hike Difficulty (1-5): 4
Round Trip Distance: 22 km
Max Elevation: 1590 m
Elevation Gain: 600 m

Trailhead Directions

There are excellent signs directing you to the Elfin Lakes/Diamond Head trailhead parking. From the Sea to Sky Highway follow the signs to "Garibaldi Park Diamond Head." You will want to turn onto Mamquam Road at the Canadian Tire store in Squamish(left if coming from Whistler, right if coming from Vancouver). Continue following the signs for 16k as they go up a gravel road ending at the parking lot at the trailhead. This road is potentially dangerous to drive in the winter months if you don't have proper tire chains. Even though the road is plowed occasionally it is usually hard packed with snow.

Hike Directions

Follow the wide road like trail from the parking lot until you reach the Red Heather hut at the 5km mark. From there you will follow the orange pole markers that indicate the winter route. This trail slowly climbs until you reach the top of the ridge, where you may even be able to see the hut at the high point. Then you slowly descend a little as you make your way to the hut.

Camera Details

Camera: Canon 5D Mk IV

Trip Details

Date: June 2, 2017
Start Time: 5:00pm
Total Time: 48 hours
Participants: Patrick Latter, Paige Sorger’

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Unfortunately both the heat and stoves were out, so we had to carry a fair bit extra gear.

Snow was visible with in the first 10 minutes of the trail. Amazing to see in June.

Already 2 feet of snow just 1hr in.

The red heather cook shelter roughly marks the halfway point at 5km in.

Paige dehydrated all of our meals for the entire trip, including these apples.

We approached the high point of the trail just as the sun was setting.

We came across this funny little bird running along the trail with us. I believe it was a Ptarmigan.

We arrived at the hut with the last little bit of light remaining.

The hut has ample seating and tables for cooking and playing games.

The boot storage and drying area is fantastic but did not work so well without the heat functioning.

The hut is lined with bunk beds, with the bottoms being doubles and the tops being singles.

The hut even had a large washroom with 4 stalls.

There was so much snow that it almost covered the bear food hangers that are used in the summer.

A small ring of light blue water was all that could be seen of the lakes.

Our angry snowman creation.

One of our many Whiskey Jack friends.

Two of the people staying in the hut can be seen here at the top of nearby peak ready to ski down.

A nearby hut used by rangers.