Elfin Lakes

Distance: 20km round-trip

Elevation gain: 816m

Time required: 5-6 hours total

Elfin Lakes is a very popular hiking, trail-running, mountain biking, and backpacking destination within Garibaldi Provincial Park. It is well-suited for hikers of all abilities, including novice hikers. I have been four times in total, with my first time being in 2019.

Garibaldi Park has a reservation system during the summer (mid-June to the beginning of September). If you are coming for a day hike, you need to reserve a parking pass on the BC Parks website (you can book starting at 7am the day before). Spots fill up incredibly quickly. If you are planning on staying overnight, regardless of the time of year, you need to book and pay for a tent pad ($10 per night). This also serves as your parking pass so there is no need for any additional day passes during the summer months.

The trailhead starts at the Diamond Head parking lot. It's about a 1.5 hour drive from Vancouver.

The hike begins with a 5km ascent on the wide, road-like trail. The elevation gain is steady but fairly gradual. At 4.5km, the trail passes by the Red Heather Shelter. This a day-use cooking shelter that also serves as a winter campground from January 1 - April 30. There is a pit toilet beside it.

After the gradual ascent, the trail opens up into beautiful alpine meadow. Here, you traverse through the meadows and around small ridges. The alpine views are stunning on a clear day.

A look at the trail as it traverses around small peaks and through meadows

View of the Tantalus ranges from the trail

Stunning view of Atwell Peak that I captured in 2022

After 5km of meadow travel, you've reached Elfin Lakes. It takes about 2.5 hours to reach the lakes from the trailhead.

Looking down on Elfin Lakes. This was in the summer of 2019.

One of two lakes. One lake is for drinking and the other is for washing/swimming.

The campground is quite big - it has 35 tent pads and a day-use shelter equipped with propane hot plates and picnic tables. It also has an overnight shelter with bunks for 33 people (11 double bunks, 12 single bunks). The bunks are first-come-first-serve. There are also several pit toilets and hanging equipment for food.

Day-use shelter, food hangs, and picnic tables

Tent pads with stunning mountain views

My camping trip in 2021. It rained the entire time.

In front of one of the lakes in 2021

I met up with my new friends while on the trail in 2021. We sheltered from the rain the entire two days.

Elfin Lakes is a great home-base for many other hikes in the area. Popular destinations include The Gargoyles/Columnar Peak, Diamond Head, Opal Cone, and Mamquam Lake. The backcountry is stunningly beautiful. I highly recommend staying for a few days and exploring the area.

Columnar Peak (left) and The Gargoyles (centre) from Elfin Lakes. Atwell and Mount Garibaldi can be seen behind The Gargoyles on the right.

It only takes about 2 hours to get back to the parking lot. Given the stunning views and great facilities for such a short hike, it's not hard to see why Elfin Lakes is so popular.