A hard out-and-back hike to a big view, with water along the way. A real workout, with about 700 m of climbing over 22 km. Plan on 6–8 hours and pack the Ten Essentials.
Challenging · 22 km out-and-back · +600–700 m climb · 6–8 hours · Dogs: no dogs
Verified on October 24, 2026 against the official park page: dogs, passes. Other figures are approximate. · Sources · Cite this page
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Sea-to-Sky · ~75 min from downtown
Figures approximate. The suggested start helps you finish in daylight. Check BC Parks before you go.
Schematic: an illustrative shape drawn from total distance and gain, not a GPS trace. Real ups and downs will differ.
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| Region | Sea-to-Sky |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Challenging |
| Season | Summer and fall; winter is avalanche terrain |
| Trailhead | Diamond Head trailhead, Garibaldi Park |
| Parking & transit | Little or no transit; plan to drive. |
| Permits & passes | BC Parks summer day-use vehicle pass at Diamond Head in peak season. |
| Dogs | No dogs |
| Kid-friendly | Better for older, fit kids or adults |
| Highlights | Views, Lakes & water |
| Crowds | Moderate |
| Managed by | BC Parks |
Gravel access road needs care. In winter the route crosses avalanche terrain; check Avalanche Canada.
Numbers are approximate. Check BC Parks for closures and the AdventureSmart trip plan and Ten Essentials before you go. Tell someone your plan.
About 22 km (out-and-back) with roughly 600–700 m of elevation gain. Most people take 6–8 hours. Figures are approximate; check BC Parks before you go.
No. Dogs are not allowed on this trail.
BC Parks summer day-use vehicle pass at Diamond Head in peak season.
Not easily. Plan to drive or carpool.
See also: Hikes with the best views · Lake hikes · Hikes for July · Hikes for August · Hikes for September · Hikes for October · Sea-to-Sky hikes · Guides
Hike Vancouver. "Elfin Lakes." Updated October 24, 2026. https://hikevancouver.ca/trails/elfin-lakes/
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Hi, I'm Cam Appleton. I love Vancouver and I love getting out on its trails. When I went looking for a simple, easy hiking guide for around here, I couldn't find one I liked. I also really like helping people, so I built this one.
My day job is real estate. I help people buy, sell and lease. I hope you're enjoying the start of Hike Vancouver. If you're thinking about living closer to trails like this one, I'm happy to talk.
Cam Appleton