Before every park visit, check the main Garibaldi park page for up-to-date alerts and advisories.
Glacier-fed Cheakamus Lake lies at elevation 915 metres surrounded by mountains that tower to 1,600 metres above its thickly forested shoreline.
All campers must make a reservation through the BC Parks reservations system year-round and must produce proof of reservation; failure to do so can result in an eviction and fines.
Reservations are required for Cheakamus Lake and Helm Creek year-round.
There are no garbage facilities, so always pack out what you pack in!
Located 3km from the parking lot, the Cheakamus Lake campground offers 10 cleared shoreline tent sites, pit toilet facilities and food hang facilities. Located 7km from the parking lot, the Singing Creek campground offers seven cleared tent sites, pit toilet facilities, and food hang facilities. Be aware food hanging facilities sometimes fill up so be prepared to hang your food.
Located 8.5km from the Cheakamus Lake parking lot, and 18km from the Garibaldi Lake parking lot. The Helm Creek campground offers 30 tent platforms, pit toilet facilities, and food hang facilities. Be aware food hanging facilities sometimes fill up so be prepared to hang your food.
An easy, pleasant trail that winds through old growth forest. It is possible to portage a kayak or canoe on this trail.
Located 1.5km along the Cheakamus Lake trail, the trail drops down to a bridge across the Cheakamus River. On the other side of the river the trail switchbacks upward, following Helm Creek past the Helm Creek campground, through the Cinder Flats, to the Upper Lakes and the meadows.
Located 1.5km along the Cheakamus Lake trail, the trail drops down to a bridge across the Cheakamus River. On the other side of the river, the trail switchbacks upward, following Helm Creek to the Helm Creek camping area at 8.5km. Continue through the Cinder Flats and Black Tusk meadows to Taylor Meadows and onto the Garibaldi Lake parking lot. Side trips can be made to the Black Tusk, Panorama Ridge, or Garibaldi Lake.
Mountain biking is permitted on the trail as far as the Cheakamus Lake campsites but may not be taken across the Cheakamus River bridge on the Helm Creek trail.
The Cheakamus Lake area experiences increased black bear activity in the spring season. Please use caution while travelling through the area and respect their environment. Stay on the trail and never approach or feed the wildlife. Remember, “A fed bear is a dead bear.”
Learn more about bear safety
Turn right off Hwy 99, 48km north of Squamish or 2.5km south of Whistler at Function Junction. The logging road to the trailhead is on the left-hand side after 500 metres. It is 7.5km from the highway to the parking lot.
Topographical map 92-J-2 1:50,000