Whistler · Hard · There and back

Garibaldi Lake from Rubble Creek

A long, steady climb through forest from Rubble Creek, past Barrier Lake, to the outflow bridge at turquoise Garibaldi Lake.

Distance
17.2 km (10.7 mi)
Ascent
903 m
Time
About 7 h
High point
1,509 m
Grade
Hard

Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), checked by Global Adventurer.

0 km5 km10 km15 km1,505 m592 m
Move along the height chart to see each point on the map.
Garibaldi Lake from Rubble Creek
Gopi.Perumal · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

The walk

From the Rubble Creek car park, the Garibaldi Lake Trail climbs east through forest by long, even switchbacks for about 6 km. At the signed junction keep right for Garibaldi Lake, leaving the Taylor Meadows trail to the left. The path follows the north shore of Barrier Lake, then runs above Lesser Garibaldi Lake to the bridge over the outflow of Garibaldi Lake. The walk turns here, because of BC Parks' high-water advisory for the day-use and campground area beyond. Return the same way.

It is 17.2 km there and back with 903 m of ascent; allow about 7 hours. The grade is Hard: a good forest path, long and steady rather than rough.

BC Parks requires a free day-use vehicle pass on Fridays to Mondays and holidays until 12 October 2026, released online at 7 am Pacific two days ahead. The ground below the Barrier, car park included, is a hazard zone: do not linger there or stay overnight. Past the bridge, high water can mean wading over slippery rocks. Snow can fall in any month. Dogs are not allowed in the park.

Parking is free. Daisy Lake Road leaves Highway 99 just north of the Rubble Creek bridge, 37 km north of Squamish; winter tyres or chains are required on the highway from 1 October. There is no public transport.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.

Good to know

  • Garibaldi Lake is held back by the Barrier, a lava dam more than 300 m thick that formed where lava met the valley glacier
  • Collapses of the Barrier in 1855-56 left the boulder field that gives Rubble Creek its name
  • The lake's turquoise colour comes from glacial flour washed down from the Sphinx and Sentinel glaciers
  • Daisy Lake Road leaves Highway 99 just north of the Rubble Creek bridge, 37 km north of Squamish and 19 km south of Whistler

Getting there

Start: Rubble Creek car park, Daisy Lake Road. 49.95775, -123.12026

Directions to the start

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Paths change, and the weather decides the day. The line and figures come from OpenStreetMap and our own checks; take a map, check the forecast, and turn back if it isn't right.