Garibaldi Park — Attraction in Area C (Sasquatch Country)

Without any doubt one the best hikes in BC. Moderate hike in well marked and wide enough trail. Parking was an issue but parking area has been extended recently which makes it easier to find parking. Having said that parking is still the issue and sometime you see cars are parked for kilometres at the side of the access road due to lack of parking and hikers walk additional 30 min to get to base. The main attraction, Garibaldi Lake is amazingly beautiful and calming. Color of water is gorgeous and makes you wow. Water is generally cold as is sourced from adjacent glacier. Camping is permitted with advanced booking. There are about 50 camp sites/ pads available in the area in front of the lake. Depending when you go, you may not be able to use some of the camp pads as they maybe wet or covered with water from rain or melting snow. Most of the pads have wooden platform which makes it easier and convenient for setting up your tent. Came sites are first come first serve but even if you go early and find the best spot you will see some people who does not care and they just come and camp right beside your area or camp where is not permitted. In general very very busy trail and lots of people come to visit. You can have a round trip in one day but you will be tired at the end. Best thing is to stay for the night and have more adventure the day after. There are several other trials and camp sits in this massive park. You can also hike to higher elevations and mountains such as Black Tusk or Panorama Ridge in the same day. The best thing is to come to lake area, set up your tent, rest and have you snack or food and then discover the other areas. Setting up fire is prohibited and you must use your stove for boiling water or warming up your food. There are simple shelters/ cabins with tables that can be used for preparing your food and draining your wast water in their sinks. There are designated steel structures for hanging food away from bears reach them during the night. Enough toilets in area but smell from them really bothered me during my stay. You can boil or filter water from the lake for drinking. Doges are not permitted in this area. Please keep the area clean and be a responsible...

We did the round trip 18km hike to the lake. It's not as steep as grouse but it's alot longer and hence much more tiring. It's mostly slopes all the way (35 degree angles) so it's definitely recommended to use a hiking stick or pole of some sort to help with that. I picked up a rogue tree branch halfway and used that as a stick which was the best decision made and gift from nature. I am definitely making it a point to invest in an actual hiking stick from today on. I used it for balancing on narrow imbalanced paths on the second half.

Also things to take note: first 6km was plain and not much to see so u can consider bringing a friend to entertain you or listening to long audiobooks last 3km is cooler and full of fun things to see and do eg. Lakes, view point (best view on this hike imo), snow, streams 20% of parts were quite snowy with slope esp towards the end so better don't wear slippery flat shoes a couple of pretty strong streams to go across with no bridge so your feet will get wet if you're not wearing boots there was a bridge that had no railings (!) and rapid water bypassing under at 10000km/min which freaked me out. It's recommended to grab onto another humans hand while crossing this -- see photo. alot of annoying flying rather big sized bugs at second half they will fly around your face like it's the sweetest cheesecake on earth. My mosquito patches, citronella oil did nuts to help. Best cover your face with a net if you're squeamish like me.

Tldr: 1) use a pole, any pole, and 2) wear boots preferably waterproof + good on snow 3) best go with mate(s)

Other than that, the lake is magnificent. It felt like we were...

Washrooms are located at the start - 2hrs - Lake - Panorama Ridge (Not so clean and smells)

Any cars can be driven till the rubble creek parking lot.

Reservation is a must on the website.

The level of hiking is Easy ~ Moderate; but it’s a looooong way. When you feel like there is no end, you are eventually there. Be aware that the first 2hrs are ONLY CONTINUOUS ASCENDING (no flat or descending) ZIGZAG hiking, which was quite boring for me because there is no view point on the way up.

We left at 7:30am and came back down at 7:15pm. We stopped at the Garibaldi Lake and spent 1hr of break and lunch then continued till the Panorama Ridge spent more time there before coming back down. For this reason, arrive early if you are planning to Hike till the peak!

I was quite afriad of being around the ‘Bear Zone’ but didnt encounter any this day, but still, be alerted, stay around with your friends or have a bear bell hanging on your backpack.

Overall, great experience, great challenge, breathtaking scenery and freezing water. Yes, you can swim if you like the cold.

Advice: Take enough Water and light snacks (I regret so much having to bring a lot of snacks and food which made my backpack so heavy) For Beginners, Obviously its hot when you are hiking cuz you sweat; but when you are at the lake or peak you may be cold. Take extra...