Garibaldi Provincial Park

Garibaldi Provincial Park, named after its towering 2,678 metre peak, Mount Garibaldi, was established March 7, 1927. In honour of the 19th century Italian patriot, Giuseppe Garibaldi, the park is known for its natural beauty and its endless hiking opportunities.

Garibaldi Provincial Park’s rich geological history, diverse vegetation, snow-capped mountain, iridescent waters, abundant wildlife and scenic vistas all contribute to the immense beauty. The park is located in the heart of the Coast Mountains just 70 km north of Vancouver.

Offering over 90 km of established hiking trails, Garibaldi Provincial Park is a favourite year-round destination for outdoor enthusiasts.

Established Date: March 7, 1927
Park Size: 194,676 ha

 

 

 

Dates of Operation All dates are subject to change without notice
Campground	Number of Reservable Sites	Main Camping Season (full services and fees)	Reservable Dates	Winter Camping Season (some services and/or fees may be reduced)
Garibaldi Lake Campground	35	year-round	year-round
Taylor Meadows Campground	25	year-round	year-round
Red Heather Campground	15	winter camping only	Dec. 1, 2019 – April 29, 2020	Dec. 1, 2019 – April 30, 2020
Elfin Lakes Campground	35	year-round	year-round
Elfin Lakes Shelter	33	year-round	year-round
Helm Creek Campground	30	year-round	year-round
Cheakamus Lake Campground	8	year-round	year-round
Singing Creek Campground	6	year-round	year-round
Russet Lake Campground	20	year-round	year-round
Wedgmount Lake Campground	20	year-round	year-round
Rampart Ponds Campground	12	year-round	year-round
Wilderness Camping	150	year-round	year-round

Special Notes

• Wilderness camping permits can only be used to camp in the wilderness camping area, and must follow specific guidelines. Please refer to the following information:
• Wilderness Camping Map [PDF]
• Wilderness Camping Information

• Reservations are required year-round for all camping in Garibaldi Provincial Park.

• Dogs and fires are prohibited in Garibaldi Provincial Park.

• Garbage facilities are not provided in Garibaldi Provincial Park. Pack out what you pack in.

Trail Information

• Trail Report [PDF] (November 17, 2020)
• Book a ride to Garibaldi Provincial Park with Parkbus.

• Whistler Blackcomb Mountain Operations requests all visitors skiing into their boundaries from the backcountry areas to call the number below and get the latest safety information. Mountain Operations continues to make all areas within their resort as safe as possible for all visitors. Calling this number will ensure you are not unknowingly entering into an unsafe area.

  Ski Area Boundary Status: (604) 905-2324. You will hear a voice mail tree; ‘1’ for the Whistler boundaries, ‘2’ for the Blackcomb boundaries, ‘3’ is for the weather forecast.

Stay Safe

• Be prepared for winter conditions in all of Garibaldi Park. Most hiking trails are covered in snow which will make route finding difficult.
• Do not underestimate the demands of the backcountry. Hikers must be in good physical condition, properly equipped, and prepared to be totally self sufficient. Take adequate clothing as mountain weather is subject to sudden change and Garibaldi Provincial Park can receive snow anytime of the year.
• Avalanche and glacier hazards exist in Garibaldi Provincial Park. Only experienced groups who are practiced in crevasse rescue and who are properly equipped, should venture onto snowfields and glaciers.
• Most of the park’s lakes and rivers are glacier fed and the water is extremely cold year-round.
• Snowshoes or skis and skins are required for winter travel in the park.
• Caution: Access roads in winter – Please be advised that most access roads for Garibaldi Provincial Park are not plowed in winter months. Check our trail report for more details. Access to the park requires winter tires and snow chains in the winter months. Those travelling the road must be equipped and prepared for a self-rescue in case of an emergency. Park access roads are subject to poor visibility. Please use caution and watch for other vehicles, cyclists and wildlife.
• Warning: Thieves have been known to operate in the Rubble Creek and Elfin Lakes parking lots, targeting vehicles and personal property of park users. Be sure you remove all valuables from your vehicle prior to leaving it unattended, and leave unnecessary belongings at home. If you have any information regarding these incidents, please contact Squamish RCMP at 604 892-6100.

Diamond Head/Elfin Lakes Area

• Starting January 2, 2018, reservations are required year-round for Elfin Lakes Shelter and Elfin Lakes campground.
• Mamquam Lake campground is permanently closed for overnight use. All overnight campers must use the new Rampart Ponds campground located 1.5 km before Mamquam Lake. Starting January 2, 2018, reservations are required year-round for Rampart Ponds Campground.
• The Red Heather area in Diamond Head experiences the highest concentration of black bears within Garibaldi Provincial Park. Be bear aware when traveling through the area.

Garibaldi Lake Area

• Black Tusk/Garibaldi Lake access: the Rubble Creek road is not plowed to the parking lot in the winter months. Please do not block the driveways on the main road.
• Reservations are required at Garibaldi Lake and Taylor Meadows campgrounds year-round starting January 2, 2018.
• Note: There are no huts for overnight use in this area.

Singing Pass Area

• Caution: The Singing Pass Trail is hazardous in many sections. Use caution when crossing Harmony Creek (as there is no bridge) and at the old road slump.
• Reservations are required year-round for Russet Lake Campground, starting January 2, 2018.
• Whistler Blackcomb Mountain Operations requests all visitors skiing into their boundaries from the backcountry areas to call the number below and get the latest safety information. Mountain Operations continues to make all areas within their resort as safe as possible for all visitors. Calling this number will ensure you are not unknowingly entering into an unsafe area.

  Ski Area Boundary Status: (604) 905-2324. You will hear a voice mail tree; ‘1’ for the Whistler boundaries, ‘2’ for the Blackcomb boundaries, ‘3’ is for the weather forecast.

Wedgemount Area

• October 29, 2018

  Current Trail Conditions

  Be prepared for winter conditions. Hiking poles and micro-spikes/yaktrax recommended.

  Please note: The outhouse near the lakeshore campground has been removed for the winter as this area is prone to avalanches. During the winter season please camp in the upper campground near the hut.

• Please follow the reroute for the first 1.5 km of trail. Please follow the signs at the parking lot. The old trail routing is unsafe.
• Reservations are required year-round for Wedgemount Lake Campground, starting January 2, 2018.

Prohibited Activities

• Use of motorized vehicles including snowmobiles, motorcycles, ATVs, trail bikes and similar conveyances are restricted to park roads and parking lots.
• Domestic animals (dogs/pets);
• Fires;
• Arriving or departing from the park by aircraft - View the Voluntary Flight Guidelines [PDF] (1990);
• Harvesting of natural resources; this includes mushrooms.

Camping

• Please note that due to high use levels in Garibaldi and damage to small trees, camping hammocks are not permitted in the park.

Youth and Large Groups

• In addition to making the required reservation, large groups (10 or more) planning a trip into Garibaldi Provincial Park are requested to register online well in advance of their trip. Large groups must ensure the appropriate number of tentpads are booked for the group.
• For youth and school groups, please review this Youth Group information document for information on making your reservation and planning your group trip to the park.

Barrier Civil Defence Zone

The area below and adjacent to the Barrier, a geological feature upholding Garibaldi Lake is considered hazardous. Although imminent danger is unlikely, special regulations are in effect to make you aware of the potential danger and to minimize the risk to life and property in the event of a landslide. Posted signs identify the Civil Defence Zone. Do not camp, stop or linger while traveling through the zone. Camping or remaining overnight at or near the Garibaldi Lake parking lot is prohibited. Developed campgrounds are located nearby at Alice Lake and Nairn Falls Provincial Parks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions [PDF]

Reserve or purchase a backcountry camping permit:

• Questions and answers about reservations
• More details about making a reservation at Garibaldi Provincial Park
• Attention Campers: Overnight fees are in effect in Garibaldi Provincial Park year-round.
• Reservations are required for all campgrounds in Garibaldi Provincial Park year-round via the Discover Camping Reservation Service.
• Russet Lake Campground now offers 20 campsites which are reservable year round.

Important changes to the payment system:

• There is no option to pay with cash – pre-pay online or through the call-center by credit card only.
• All reservations must be purchased in advance by 5:00 PM on the day of arrival.
• Camping fees apply in all areas of Garibaldi Provincial Park.

Revenue from camping and shelter fees go directly into providing park recreation services, such as maintaining trails, park roads (snow removal), and park buildings. This system ensures that members of the public are more involved in paying for the recreation services they use.

Please note: Any maps listed are for information only; they may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation.

• Location Map

Five park access points are located along Highway 99, Sea to Sky Highway, between Squamish and Pemberton. Vehicle access is recommended as the five trailheads are located anywhere from 2 km to 16 km off Highway 99. Other nearby communities include Whistler and Brackendale.

To simplify finding information, the five Garibaldi Provincial Park access points are listed as they are found traveling along Highway 99, Sea to Sky Highway, south to north.

• Diamond Head
• Black Tusk/Garibaldi Lake
• Cheakamus Lake
• Singing Pass
• Wedgemount Lake

 

Any maps listed are for information only; they may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation.

• Park Map [PDF] (updated June 2008)
• Campground Maps:
  • Garibaldi Lake Campground [PDF]
  • Taylor Meadows Campground [PDF]
  • Brochure [PDF]
• Wilderness Camping Area [PDF 8.48MB]

To access more maps for B.C., see Geographic Data & Services.

• History: In 1860, while carrying out a survey of Howe Sound on board the Royal Navy survey ship H.M.S. Plumper, Captain George Henry was impressed by a towering mountain dominating the view to the northeast. Captain Richards chose to name the 2,678 metre mountain Mount Garibaldi, after the great 19th century Italian patriot and soldier, Giuseppe Garibaldi, a guerrilla general whose exploits and valour were held in high esteem. In 1907, a party of six Vancouver climbers reached the summit of Mount Garibaldi. The views from the peak inspired the establishment of summer climbing camps at Garibaldi Lake. This early interest led to the creation in 1920 of a park reserve. Garibaldi Provincial Park was legislated as a Class A park in 1927, a 195,000 hectare mountain wilderness just 64 kilometres north of Vancouver.
• Conservation: During July and August the alpine areas of Garibaldi Provincial Park offer hikers an opportunity to view alpine flowers in bloom, a beautiful display of nature. Please keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure in fragile alpine meadows. Trail erosion by rain and melting snow occurs rapidly as a result. BC Parks asks for your cooperation as we help to repair damaged areas. Please help by obeying posted signs.
• Wildlife: Small mammals and birds such as squirrels, chipmunks, grey jays, and flickers can often be seen. Large mammals such as mountain goats, deer, cougars, wolverines, grizzly and black bears, also call the park home, although are seen less frequently.

• Management Planning Information
• The management plan for Garibaldi Provincial Park was approved in 1990. In Feb 2014 a management plan amendment was approved to provide more specific management direction to the Spearhead area of the park.
  • Garibaldi Provincial Park Management Plan (1990) [PDF 3.3MB]
  • Garibaldi Provincial Park Management Plan (Spearhead Area Amendment) (2014) [PDF 1.7MB]

Canoeing

Climbing

Cycling

Fishing

Hiking

Swimming

Winter Recreation

Cabins / Huts

Drinking Water

Picnic Areas

Pit or Flush Toilets

Walk-In/Wilderness Camping

Winter Camping