Long, steady switchbacks through forest open up to Garibaldi Lake, a huge blue-green lake under the glaciers. Most of the day is the climb; the lake makes it worth it.
Challenging · 18 km out-and-back · +820–900 m climb · 5–7 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 · ~85 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 to early fall |
| Trailhead | Rubble Creek trailhead, Garibaldi Park |
| Parking & transit | Little or no transit; plan to drive. |
| Permits & passes | BC Parks summer day-use vehicle pass at Rubble Creek on Fri–Mon and holidays in peak season. |
| Dogs | No dogs |
| Kid-friendly | Better for older, fit kids or adults |
| Highlights | Lakes & water, Views |
| Crowds | Busy, especially weekends |
| Managed by | BC Parks |
Long steady switchbacks. Dogs are not allowed in Garibaldi Park.
Numbers are approximate. Check BC Parks for closures and the AdventureSmart trip plan and Ten Essentials before you go. Tell someone your plan.
About 18 km (out-and-back) with roughly 820–900 m of elevation gain. Most people take 5–7 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 Rubble Creek on Fri–Mon and holidays 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 · Sea-to-Sky hikes · Guides
Hike Vancouver. "Garibaldi Lake." Updated October 24, 2026. https://hikevancouver.ca/trails/garibaldi-lake/
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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