Free day-use passes 

Day-use passes are required June 14 to October 9, 2023, for visitors to: 

• Diamond Head (Elfin Lakes) trailhead 
• Rubble Creek (Garibaldi Lake) trailhead 
• Cheakamus trailhead

If you have a valid reservation for overnight camping, you do not need a day-use pass. You must carry proof of your reservation while in the park. 

For details, visit the day-use passes page.

Backcountry camping reservations

Reservations are required for all overnight stays year-round.

All reservations must be made through the BC Parks reservation service. You can make a reservation online at camping.bcparks.ca or by calling 1-800-689-9025 (1-519-858-6161 internationally). There is no option to pay with cash.

Any school or youth group planning a trip into Garibaldi Park should register online well in advance of the trip, in addition to making a reservation.

For full details about making a reservation for Garibaldi Park, see the Garibaldi reservations page.

Kees and Claire Hut Memorial Hut reservations

Kees and Claire Memorial Hut is operated by The Spearhead Hut Society. To reserve, visit the Spearhead Huts website.

All backcountry camping in Garibaldi requires a reservation. For details, see the reservations section above.

Backcountry camping is allowed in the following areas:

• Diamond Head
  Elfin Lakes, Rampart Ponds, Red Heather (winter camping only)
• Black Tusk/Garibaldi Lake
  Garibaldi Lake, Taylor Meadows
• Cheakamus Lake
  Cheakamus Lake, Singing Creek, Helm Creek
• Singing Pass
  Russet Lake
• Wedgemount Lake

For campground locations, see park and activity maps.

Pit toilet and food storage facilities are located at all designated campsites. Food hangs at Russet Lake campground are available in summer only. In winter, they are taken down, so place food, toiletries, and other scented items in the black box instead.

Day-use cooking shelters are located at Red Heather, Elfin Lakes, Garibaldi Lake, and Taylor Meadows. Camping is not permitted in day-use shelters.

Check the trail conditions report before visiting.

When visiting the backcountry, always follow Leave No Trace outdoor ethics. To learn more about staying safe in the backcountry, please read our backcountry guide.

Fees

For shelter and hut locations, see park and activity maps.

Elfin Lakes shelter

Reservations are required year-round. For information about reservations, see the Garibaldi reservations page.

The shelter offers overnight use, equipped with bunks for 33 people (11 double bunks, 11 single bunks), four picnic tables, four propane burners, counters with two wash sinks, a propane heater, solar-powered lights, and pit toilet facilities. Propane is supplied by BC Parks. There are no garbage facilities, so please pack out what you pack in. Store all food on the hooks provided. 

Shelter etiquette 

• The shelter is user-maintained, so be mindful of the shared space
• Remove footwear to avoid tracking snow and dirt inside
• Remove belongings from the drying area once dry to leave room for the next party 
• Use the pit toilets beside the shelter as snow melt is used for drinking water during the winter
• Bag and securely store food on hooks provided and leave the food hangs in the campground for campers
• Clean up immediately after cooking and eating
• Pack out all food and garbage, sweep, and wipe tables before leaving 
• Leave facilities as you found them, or cleaner

Fees

Kees and Claire Memorial Hut

The Spearhead Hut Society offers access to the Kees and Claire Memorial Hut, located at Russet Lake in the Singing Pass area of Garibaldi Park. The Kees and Claire Memorial Hut is operated independently, and reservations are available on the Spearhead Huts website.

Wedgemount Lake

There is a small hut available as an emergency shelter and food cache only. There are no garbage facilities, so please pack out what you pack in.

Wilderness camping is only allowed in the Wilderness Camping Area and requires a reservation year-round. The Garibaldi Wilderness Camping Area is only accessible to mountaineers, climbers, ski tourers, and other visitors with advanced skills in wilderness travel and camping. No established campgrounds or other facilities are provided.

For Wilderness Camping Area boundaries, see park and activity maps.

For more details on how to prepare and reserve, visit the Garibaldi reservations page.

Fees

Winter camping is allowed by reservation in Garibaldi backcountry campgrounds, overnight shelters (Elfin Lakes shelter and Kees and Claire Memorial Hut), and in the Wilderness Camping Area.

For details on winter camping options, see the backcountry camping and cabins and huts sections, above. For more details on how to book, see reservations. To see campground locations, see park and activity maps.

Extreme winter conditions can occur at this park. Check the trail conditions report before heading out.

Water is available in lakes and streams. All drinking water must be filtered, boiled, or otherwise treated before drinking. Wash all dishes and conduct personal hygiene at least 30 m from the water source. Dispose of wastewater in a shelter sink or in campground pit toilets.

All picnic areas in the park are accessible by hiking in, and they have pit toilets. Day-use cooking shelters are available at Red Heather, Garibaldi Lake, and Taylor Meadows. Camping is not allowed in the shelters.

Diamond Head

Red Heather day-use shelter offers two picnic tables, counters with a wash sink, two propane burners, a wood stove (winter only), and pit toilet facilities. Elfin Lakes offers two outdoor picnic tables, a day-use shelter with two picnic tables, counters with two wash sinks, and pit toilet facilities.

Learn more

Black Tusk/Garibaldi Lake

Garibaldi Lake offers four day-use shelters with two picnic tables each, counters, wash sinks, and pit toilet facilities. Taylor Meadows offers two day-use shelters, each with two picnic tables, counters, a wash sink, and pit toilet facilities.

Learn more

Cheakamus Lake

You can use various scenic spots around the lake to picnic in a natural setting. Pit toilet facilities are provided. There are no picnic tables.

Learn more

Singing Pass

This area offers plenty of room to picnic in a beautiful alpine setting. Pit toilet facilities are provided. There are no picnic tables.

Learn more

Wedgemount Lake

There is a small shelter at Wedgemount Lake with limited seating. Although this shelter is not recommended for picnicking, there is plenty of room outside to picnic in a beautiful alpine setting. Pit toilet facilities are provided. There are no picnic tables.    

Learn more

Pit toilets are located at all designated camping areas, day-use sites, and trailheads. Please bring your own toilet paper.

Do not place garbage in the toilets. There are no garbage facilities, so please pack out what you pack in.
 

You may need to register for a free day-use pass to visit Garibaldi Park visit. For details, see the reservations section, above.

Check the trail conditions report before heading out.

Access to the park is by developed trail systems along the western boundary of the park. Signs along Highway 99 lead to trailheads for the five most popular areas of the park, as listed below. Parking is available at the trailheads. It is also possible to access the park from the lift systems at the Whistler and Blackcomb ski areas.

For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure which leads to erosion.

For trail maps see park and activity maps.

Trail details:

• Diamond Head: Elfin Lakes, Rampart Ponds
• Black Tusk/Garibaldi Lake: Red Heather, Garibaldi Lake (Rubble Creek), Taylor Meadows
• Cheakamus Lake: Cheakamus Lake, Singing Creek, Helm Creek
• Singing Pass: Russet Lake
• Wedgemount Lake

There is swimming at Elfin Lakes (permitted in the swimming lake only), Garibaldi Lake, Cheakamus Lake, Russet Lake, Wedgemount Lake, and Glacier Lake. Most of the lakes are glacier fed and extremely cold.

Canoeing and kayaking on Cheakamus Lake, Garibaldi Lake, and Glacier Lake only. Do not store boats in the park. Camping is permitted in designated sites only.

Canoeing and kayaking on Cheakamus Lake, Garibaldi Lake, and Glacier Lake only. Do not store boats in the park. Camping is permitted in designated sites only.

There are fishing opportunities in many lakes in the park, including Garibaldi Lake, Cheakamus Lake and Mamquam Lake.

Bicycles must keep to designated roadways and trails. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.

Bicycles are only permitted on the following two trails:

• Diamond Head: From the parking lot to the Elfin Lakes shelter. Bicycles are not permitted beyond this point and must stay on the main trail. Rock and gravel trail surface.
• Cheakamus Lake: From the parking lot to Singing Creek. Bicycles are not permitted past the bridge on the Helm Creek Trail. Dirt trail surface.

For details on e-biking within Garibaldi Provincial Park, see the e-biking section.
 

Class 1 e-bikes (pedal assist only) are permitted in Garibaldi Park in areas where bicycles are permitted, such as Diamond Head and Cheakamus Lake. For trail details see the Cycling section. Bikes with electric assist motors in other classes are not permitted on the trails within Garibaldi Park. These other e-bikes are restricted to park roads and areas where motorized use is permitted as outlined in the Biking in BC Parks guidelines. The only exception is authorized and identified trail maintenance bikes conducting work on behalf of BC Parks.

There are several excellent, granite alpine climbing locations throughout the park. Use the most current guidebook(s) for the area or contact the Alpine Club of Canada or BC Federation of Mountain Clubs for detailed information. 

Climbing the Black Tusk is not recommended due to loose, unstable rock.

Snowmobiles are not permitted in Garibaldi Park.

Diamond Head is the main area of winter recreation in Garibaldi Park, offering skiing, boarding and snowshoeing opportunities. For more detail about the area, visit the Diamond Head area page.