🇨🇦 Revisiting Garibaldi Lake
Spent a day during the long weekend conquering Garibaldi Lake again! 🏔️ Garibaldi Lake is probably the closest alpine meadow & lake scenery near Vancouver. The trail starts at Rubble Creek Trailhead, just 1.5 hours drive from the city. Though the elevation gain is 800m, the round trip stretches 18km—prepare those legs! ⚠️ Summer weekends require a FREE Day-Use Pass (bookable 2 days in advance on BC Parks website). Choose Rubble Creek Trailhead for the main lake view. Long weekend passes sell out FAST—set your alarm for 7AM sharp! 🚗 At the parking lot, staff checked our QR code (no ID needed). Save a screenshot—cell service is spotty up there! 🌲 The first 6km winds through dense fir forests with little scenery. Though not steep, it’s endless. Took us 3 hours with breaks. At the 6km mark, you’ll hit a fork: ⬅️ Left to Taylor Meadow → Leads to Black Tusk/Panorama Ridge (epic lake overlooks, but start at dawn for a day hike). ➡️ We went straight to the main lake. After passing two stunning turquoise mini-lakes, a short descent reveals… 💎 THE BIG REVEAL: Emerald-green Garibaldi Lake, framed by snow-capped peaks! Cross a wooden bridge, turn the corner, and—BAM—nature’s masterpiece. Totally worth the grind! 📌 Must-Know Tips: ✅ Hydrate: Bring 2-3L water or a filter (streams available). 🥾 Gear up: Hiking boots (gravelly descents!), bug spray (mosquito war zone!), and poles (knee savers!). 🍏 Pack lunch/snacks: No trash bins—pack everything out! 📵 No service: Download maps/plans offline. 🚻 Toilets: Only at parking lot, 6km point, and lakeside (BYO toilet paper). 🐻 Wildlife: No dogs allowed. Recently, cougar sightings closed some trails—but ours was safe. We carried bear spray (10m range!). Most hikers had bear bells jingling. Groups = safer. ⏱️ Our timeline: 11AM start → 18km hike + 1hr lakeside chill → 7PM return (8hrs total). #GaribaldiLake #VancouverHikes #SummerAdventures #MustVisitBC #HikingTips
