A Guide to Garibaldi Lake and Panorama Ridge Hike
Panorama Ridge hike via Garibaldi Lake in Whistler, British Columbia, is a worthwhile trail in Canada offering stunning views of the lake and surrounding mountains. Garibaldi Lake is also the best day trip from Vancouver. Our hiking guide includes how to get to the trailhead, difficulty, what to pack, or where to stay.
Garibaldi Lake and Panorama Ridge hike in Garibaldi Provincial Park near Whistler is one of our all-time favorite hikes in Canada.
If you've just started planning your itinerary, consider if it would be possible to take a road trip to this part of Canada, not only because of this day hike but also because of other top attractions in the vicinity of Vancouver.
Sitting at an altitude of almost 1500 meters above sea level, Garibaldi Lake is a glacial lake with breathtaking turquoise waters, plus the area offers great hiking trails.
Although the main purpose of visiting the western part of this country was to explore the Canadian Rockies, this area near Vancouver proved to be similar, if not even more beautiful.
We landed in the USA and then crossed borders to Canada because flight tickets from Europe were quite expensive to either Calgary or Edmonton, which are the traditional gateway cities for the Canadian Rockies journey.
So we started our trip in Vancouver. At first, we thought it would be a bit of waste of time, but thanks to it, absolutely new possibilities opened up to us.
Garibaldi Lake hike was, therefore, our first hike after we landed in Canada, and we couldn't choose a better start for exploring this incredible country.
Overall, the Whistler area and British Columbia have all aspects of how we imagined the maple leaf's land, and we could not hope for a better introduction.
Beautiful forests, crystal clear lakes, glaciers, meadows, wildlife, and snow-capped peaks, and the best part is that we could see all of it in one day and didn't even need to get that deep into the wild.
Although Garibaldi Lake is one of the most popular trails in the area, we did not know much about the possible extension, Panorama Ridge Trail.
However, we decided to give it a try as we arrived by the lake's shore early and still had time.
In the end, it was the other half of the hike that made all this day unforgettable.
It is only up to you if you decide to walk to Garibaldi Lake and back, or if you push hard and add the Panorama Ridge section, but if you're averagely fit, we would like to inspire you to go for the latter option.
This travel guide includes everything you need to know before hiking Garibaldi Lake and Panorama Ridge, tips on how to get to the trailhead, where to stay, what to pack, or when is the best time for exploring the area.
GARIBALDI LAKE DIRECTIONS
How do you get to Garibaldi Lake? Unlike other famous lakes in the Rockies such as Lake Louise or Moraine Lake, the parking lot is not that close to the shore, and you need to use the power of your feet, so how do you get to the parking lot that also works as a trailhead?
Garibaldi Provincial Park is 'only' an hour and a half drive from Vancouver and 30 minutes drive from Whistler.
The place is not remote, but your best alternative is to drive because public transport is not very reliable in this part of the country, and it also does not run all-year-round.
Check out your rental car options before you land in Canada.
To get to Garibaldi Provincial Park from Vancouver, take Highway 99, alias Sea-to-Sky Highway.
The very name of the road suggests that you'll enjoy panoramic views of the sea, blue sky above, green islands in the water, and towering mountains along the way.
To stretch our legs, we also briefly stopped near Shannon Falls and Brandywine Falls.
The perfect location and accessibility are the main advantages of the Garibaldi Lake and the reason why these trails are so popular among people visiting the area. But the location, unfortunately, has its downsides as well.
We did the hike in late August and arrived in the Rubble Creek Parking lot around 9 AM when all parking spots were already taken, so we had to drive back and park our rental car at the side of the road.
Because of that, we had to walk an extra kilometer only to get to the beginning of the trail, so arrive early to secure your place and don't waste your energy.
As we know, not all travelers want or can get around by car; we also looked for other alternatives to get to the Rubble Creek Parking lot.
Unfortunately, according to us, having a car is by far the best option because it gives you flexibility and enough time for hiking. But anyway.
In the summer season, roughly from June to September, several companies offer a tour, from either Vancouver or Whistler.
Another way to get to the Garibaldi Lake is to hire a taxi, which is by far the most expensive option.
A company called Parkbus irregularly arranges trips to the park, the round ticket costs $53 from Vancouver, but you need to ask for departure dates directly.
GARIBALDI LAKE TRAIL LENGTH
Hike to Panorama Ridge shares its first half with Garibaldi Lake's trail, a favorite half-day hike that also starts at Rubble Creek Parking Lot.
Garibaldi Lake hike is 9 km each way with a 900 meters elevation gain. It should take 4-6 hours depending on your level of fitness and pace.
This hike is well-known among Canadians and foreign travelers as well, especially during the high season from June to October, so do not expect to have it just for yourself.
It gets much better after you reach Garibaldi Lake, where most of the travelers turn around, and if you carry on further, the crowds thin out.
The popularity often hides the fact that it is a serious uphill climb, and you should be well prepared, but more about it later.
PANORAMA RIDGE TRAIL LENGTH
Round trip to the top of Panorama Ridge and back is about 30 km long (so it is extra 6 kilometers one way from Garibaldi Lake) and should take approximately 9-12 hours, making it a very long and demanding day.
If you don't want to rush, there are campgrounds on the way so you can split the hike into two days and add up, for example, the trek to Black Tusk, 2319 meters high stratovolcano.
The peak of Black Tusk with its unmistakable shape can be seen from the highway when you're getting closer to the park.
If you want to stay overnight, you can camp right at the Garibaldi Lake Campground or at Taylor Meadows Campground; reservations are required year-round to prevent overtourism.
GARIBALDI LAKE HIKE
After leaving a car in the parking lot, the well-maintained and well-marked gravel trail gradually climbs through the forest of Western Red Cedar and Douglas Fir trees.
We didn't count how many switchbacks we had to go through in the first section of this walk, but let's say a lot, at least more than we would've appreciated.
Most travelers are under the impression that reaching Garibaldi Lake is super-easy, but it is not, and you need to deserve the views, to put it mildly.
But that's nothing that should put you off, it is just important to say that the first six kilometers include walking in the forest, and you should not expect any miracles.
After approximately 6 km, you'll reach the Barrier Viewpoint with the first open view of the valley below.
It is also a convenient place for a snack and restoring energy. Shortly before reaching Garibaldi Lake, you'll pass a smaller Barrier Lake, ushering in you are getting closer to today's point of interest.
After a 9 km long hike from the starting point, you'll finally reach the shore of Garibaldi Lake with an azure-colored water surface that is created by glacier melting.
Garibaldi Lake's shore is often quite busy, but you won't even notice, thanks to the photogenic location and the combination of blue waters, a forest that lines the shore, and mountains towering above.
You can sit here for a while and decide what will be your next move. It is possible to either carry on to Panorama Ridge, return via the same trail to the parking lot, or stay at the campground (reservation is required in advance).
PANORAMA RIDGE TRAIL
Garibaldi Lake is a great relaxing spot and a place to contemplate, but to make it to Panorama Ridge viewpoint in one day, you must carry on six kilometers further after a short break on the shore.
The positive thing is that most of the day-trippers finish at Garibaldi Lake, and from here, the trail is almost abandoned.
Once you leave the lake, the path again snakes up through several switchbacks but only for a short while, and after about 30 minutes, you'll get on the flat route.
From here, the views open up; you'll walk through beautiful meadows and will be able to see the ridge, Mimulus Lake, and towering Black Tusk Peak.
Slowly carry on to Panorama Junction from where is a stunning view towards Helm Lake, Cinder Flats, and the top of Cinder Cone.
Continue another 1 km or so, and you'll get to the Black Tusk Lake area. This spot undoubtedly belongs among the best we've seen in British Columbia.
To get a view of Garibaldi Lake from above, you must climb the last part of the trail on an unsteady rock path; only beware of falling stones.
It is the hardest part - for every step you take forward, you slide half a step back, so it requires some strength, and if you took trekking poles with you, this is the place where you really appreciate them.
Once you reach the top, nothing can keep you away from amazing vistas combining turquoise water, surrounding mountains, and, when lucky, a barrier of white clouds.
We could've enjoyed the view much longer, but firstly, it was too windy up there, and secondly, the journey back was considerably long, and we wanted to arrive before it gets dark.
Although the way from Panorama Ridge to Rubble Creek Parking Lot is mostly downhill, we still had about 15 kilometers ahead of us, and we knew this time we'll go slower because of tiredness.
The fact that the Panorama Ridge hike is in and out trail and not a loop is probably the only fly in the ointment.
It is necessary to have at least an average level of fitness to appreciate this hike and not to suffer on the way.
The hike back to the parking lot feels long, but try to walk at a steady pace and enjoy the last views of the scenery you're leaving behind.
READ MORE:
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Mount Assiniboine: Hiking to the Matterhorn of the Canadian Rockies
Lake O'Hara Guide: Hiking in Yoho National Park
Wells Gray Provincial Park - The Land of Waterfalls
Most Beautiful Lakes in the Canadian Rockies
Plain of Six Glaciers: Hiking Guide
SAFETY
The point of every adventure is to enjoy it and return safely back. To do that, you need to follow a few simple but important rules.
First, you should never overestimate your level of fitness and skills. The shorter version of this hike is 18 kilometers long, while the longer alternative is 30 kilometers, which is quite a lot for an untrained body.
There are many easier trails in the region if you're not sure you can cover this distance in one day or consider camping in the area.
Another factor is the ever-changing weather.
We've already talked about it, but if you prefer trails without crowds or more challenging conditions, it means you must hike in the winter season.
Hiking the Garibaldi Lake in winter is doable, but you need to pack carefully and do not forget winter gear.
Always check current snow conditions before you go.
Microspikes and snowshoes are essential for Garibaldi Lake hike in winter, you might even need crampons for Panorama Ridge trail.
Also, some areas in Garibaldi Provincial Park might be prone to avalanche hazard.
Bringing a proper avalanche gear such as avalanche transceiver, avalanche probe, snow shovel and ice axe gear might be a good idea, especially for backcountry skiing.
Last but not least, bears are active in the area, especially on the meadows above the tree line, and the activity increase in the summer (berry season) that coincides with the tourist season.
Make a noise, and keep your eyes wide open to avoid an encounter with bears. For more information, read our post on hiking in the bear country.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
BEST TIME TO VISIT BRITISH COLUMBIA
Hiking in British Columbia is fun, but even though the trail to Garibaldi Lake and Panorama Ridge is opened all-year-round, it is good to know that only experienced hikers can be flexible when choosing the best time for trekking.
The rest of us should plan the visit for the warmer months between late May till October. During this time, the trail should be easily accessible and not blocked by the snow.
That's being said, weather in the Canadian mountains changes often, and you should be well-prepared for all types of conditions.
If you want to hike outside the touristy season, you should be experienced and have quality gear because winter in this area is pretty harsh.
WHAT TO PACK
We feel that the biggest problem with popular spots is that travelers often underestimate the packing part.
Weather in the mountains is unpredictable, and seeing a girl in a pretty dress posing on the top of the mountain on Instagram is not reality.
You should always remember that even if you plan on hiking only to the shore's of Garibaldi Lake without continuing any further, this is at least a half-day hike, and you should prepare like for any other treks in the great outdoors.
The same applies to the Panorama Ridge part, which is a full-day hike that takes more than eight hours.
Especially the second half of the Panorama Ridge trek is exposed, which means you should have a few essentials packed in your backpack.
What should you pack for Garibaldi Lake?
For your safety and peace in mind, carry a bear spray. You're in a bear country, and we would never set off for a hike in this part of the country without the spray.
It is better to buy it in advance because this item is often overpriced in the parks.
A comfortable daypack with a back support and waist strap should go without saying.
Because the climate is here in general colder, pack a down jacket, fleece jacket, and a t-shirt with long sleeves.
Even when it is warm, we always have with us leggings or hiking pants, just in case. Rain pants are another must-have item.
Proper hiking boots and a rain jacket are also gear you should have with you, like a rain poncho.
Bring a snack and reusable water bottle; you should have at least two liters per person if you want to attempt the extended hike.
WHERE TO STAY IN BRITISH COLUMBIA
Garibaldi Lake Hike is a fantastic one-day hike accessible from Vancouver, where you can find plenty of accommodation options.
You can also travel further and stay in Whistler, but consider that this village is one of the most prominent mountain resorts and prices are high throughout the year.
We've hand-selected the best hotels in the area, but you need to consider that accommodation needs to be booked well in advance because demand exceeds supply in the summer months.
Vancouver | Best Western Plus Sands - Situated right in the heart of Vancouver, this hotel offers modern, clean, and reasonably priced rooms.
Vancouver | Blue Horizon Hotel - Central location, big rooms, fast wi-fi service, and indoor pool and sauna belong to this hotel's main features.
Whistler | Summit Lodge Boutique Hotel Whistler - Beautifully appointed rooms, short walking distance from Blackcomb Excalibur Gondola, outdoor pool, and hot tub are the main reasons to stay here.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
