Are you looking for a hike you will never forget? A hike which can be done within a day or can be extended to a few days. Garibaldi Lake hike is one of my the most amazing adventures in Canada. The story you will share is about to be written if you decide to visit Garibaldi Lake.
Great about this hike is it can be done in a day but you have to start early in the morning. It's better to have a car as it takes only 90 minutes drive from Vancouver (towards Whistler, turn at Daisy Lake Road) and you will not be in the rush in the evening when coming back. If you are considering to go by a car I can recommend to go as early as possible because popularity of this hike exceeds car park capacity so you will find a spot. If you don't have a car (and going for a day only) you can buy a return ticket from Vancouver tour operators (Parkbus, Livvadventures, or others for about 55$ from Vancouver) or buy more expensive guided tours. Either option is better to arrange as soon as possible in advance as the hike is veeery popular in order to avoid disappointment.
Be well prepared
Take enough water as there is no official water source available (I found several water streams on a way so might be handy to pack water purifying tablets), no bins are available (not even in campgrounds) so the rule what you bring you take back applies and if the ground is dry take something to cover your mouth and/or nose otherwise you will be breathing a lot of dust along the way. In the late afternoon/evening will make you also mosquitos company.
2 nights and no car
As you could guess I chose something more challenging and had to try an alternative way. I went by bus from Vancouver to Whistler (about 2 hours) and from Whistler to the end of Daisy Lake Road (Rubble Creek Trailhead - beginning of Garibaldi Lake hike) by taxi. If you want to stay overnight you have to make a reservation through Garibaldi Provincial Park website. There are available several campgrounds around Garibaldi Lake but each of them has limited number of tent sites. Camping without reservation or out of the campground/tent site is prohibited under a fine.
Campgrounds and reservation
Make your reservation as in advance as possible so you can choose a better campground (I made my reservation 2 weeks in advance and could't get campground next to the lake and had to take the one in the Meadows - photo below). Most campgrounds have a shelter and toilet available. You will not find there showers, official water source, bins and WiFi. Your reservation is por the specific campground and not the tent site which works on first come first serve. When you come to the campground and you see a nice tent spot available it's yours, don't be late :-) (Write down reservation number on the piece of paper and leave it on a little wooden board at the edge of your camp spot as rangers are checking reservations and whether you are allowed to be there or not).
The Hike
I started next to the car park at Rubble Creek Trailhead where is the official beginning of the Garibaldi Lake hike. I took a quick look at the map provided in order not to get lost but it wasn't necessary at all as it works almost like an airport, just follow others. As I was mentioning before this hike is very popular and I met at least a hundred people on my way to the lake. I just started to walk up to the hill on a nice wide flat path which wasn't very steep. I would suggest the level of this hike is easy. Path is enjoyable and in the middle of woods so you don't take much heat from the sun but don't have nice views either. It was a dry day and dust from the path started to be annoying. On a way to the top (did I mention Garibaldi Lake is on the top surrounded by even higher mountains?) you are just passing signs with how much kilometres left. Other than that the way up is quite boring so don't forget to bring a company as it will take you a few hours to get there. The only change are randomly appearing chipmunks, unfortunately they don't sing or maybe are just too shy :-) After a few hours (I was a bit slower than others as I was carrying almost 20kg backpack) I got to the Meadows which was the sign I am getting closer.
Don't miss Meadows
I finally had some nice views on the mountains and beautiful meadows. I had to decide which way to go as there was a crossroad with two ways leading to Garibaldi Lake. I am glad I decided to go through meadows as other way would lead me again through the forest with no views eventhough a bit shorter way. I can highly recommend the same to you.
Garibaldi Lake, here I come
It didn't take long and I started to go downhill with an amazing feeling. I will finally see Garibaldi Lake. I was dreaming about this moment since I arrived to Canada (5 months ago) and always wanted to see breathtaking blue lake surrounded by mountains with a snow on their tops. I simply couldn't leave Canada without seeing this. I will always remember the moment when the dream came true. Garibaldi Lake's first view
One day, one dream
I spent a few hours by the lake just enjoying the views. At the time of sunset I went to the campground (at Meadows) about 30 minutes away and started to plan the next day as I had one more day and night here. Are you curious what did I visit the next day? The very first photo in this blog post can be a hint. I will share with you the rest of Garibaldi Lake adventure in other blog post :-)
Visit meanwhile my gallery from Garibaldi Lake with more photos
Hozzászólások