Located in the heart of the Coast Mountains just 70 km north of Vancouver, Garibaldi is known for its natural beauty and numerous hiking trails. Here, you’ll find rich geological history, diverse vegetation, snow-capped mountains, iridescent waters, abundant wildlife, and scenic vistas.
The towering 2,678 m peak of Mount Garibaldi is the park’s centrepiece. Offering over 90 km of established hiking trails, Garibaldi Park is a favourite year-round destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
Trail conditions report (September 7, 2023) [PDF]
Voluntary flight guidelines (designated no-flight and minimum altitude pathways) are in place to minimize negative interactions between wildlife, people, and aircraft. Aircraft operators should familiarize themselves with the geo-referenced flight zone map [PDF]. Contact parkinfo@gov.bc.ca to view the voluntary flight guidelines or to get additional shapefiles for navigation.
Day-use passes are required June 14 to October 9, 2023, for visitors to:
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.
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 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:
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.
Backcountry camping fees (per night) | $10 per adult (16+) $5 per youth (6 to 15) Free for children under 6 |
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For shelter and hut locations, see park and activity maps.
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.
Camping fees (per night) | $15 per adult (16+) $10 per youth (6 to 15) Free for children under 6 |
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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.
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.
Wilderness camping area camping fees (per night) | $10 per adult (16+) $5 per youth (6 to 15) Free for children under 6 |
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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.
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.
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.
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.
This area offers plenty of room to picnic in a beautiful alpine setting. Pit toilet facilities are provided. There are no picnic tables.
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.
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:
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:
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.
There are five park access points along Highway 99, Sea to Sky Highway, between Squamish and Pemberton. Vehicle access is recommended as the five trailheads are located anywhere from 2km to 16km off Highway 99. Nearby communities include Whistler and Brackendale.
Park access points (north to south):
Transportation to the park provided by Parkbus.
Sea to Sky Park Services Ltd.
604-986-9371
info@seatoskyparks.com
seatoskyparks.com
BC Parks Rangers
STSRangers@gov.bc.ca
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 call the 2,678 metre mountain Mount Garibaldi, after the 19th century Italian general, Giuseppe Garibaldi. 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 interest led to the creation of a park reserve in 1920. Garibaldi Park was legislated as a Class A park in 1927, a mountainous 195,000 hectare just 64 kilometres north of Vancouver.
During July and August the alpine areas of Garibaldi 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.
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.
BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories. This park webpage may not adequately represent the full history of this park and the connection of Indigenous Peoples to this land. We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to update our websites so that they better reflect the history and cultures of these special places.