To access all of the content on Yr, we recommend that you update your browser. One of the prominent peaks visible along the way will be Atwell Peak – the diamond-shaped peak off to the north. To get to the trail from Vancouver, take Highway 99 just north past Squamish. Hiking Trail Guides / Mar 13th, 2020 / 68 Comments. Deeper drifts on lee sides. All 5 Kms of it. Last night it showed 30cm at around -5.. Snow tires and tire chains are required along the road in. Becoming a Patron through Patreon unlocks all sorts of membership benefits and rewards. Elfin Lakes in Garibaldi Provincial Park is an absolutely phenomenal, though long, hiking, biking, snowshoeing and skiing trail that begins at the Diamond Head area in Squamish. Mt Garibaldi Weather (Days 0-3): The weather forecast for Mt Garibaldi is: A heavy fall of snow, heaviest during Sat afternoonTemperatures will be well below freezing (max -7°C on Sat afternoon, min -14°C on Mon afternoon)Winds decreasing (gales from the WSW on Sat night, calm by Mon afternoon). Camping at the Elfin Lakes shelter opens up the opportunity to other nearby hikes like Gargoyles, Opal Cone and Mamquam Lake. All Forecasts are meant for mid afternoon and are intended as a guideline for the level of bug activity. Pay camping fees and acquire day use permits at: https://discovercamping.ca/bccweb/ Trail Difficulty Rating Trail Type Rating E Easy Type I 1.5 to 2.5 m wide, paved, gravel or board walk, less than 10% grade. They are usually very close together, which is useful in the case of a snowstorm or low visibility conditions, and also for those caught outside after sunset. Snow forecast map for Appalachians and Great Lakes showing snow accumulation over the next 10 days and past 7 days, plus snow reports, live weather conditions and webcams. There are two lakes (one swimmable, one reserved for drinking water), a well-equipped shelter, and a campsite available in a beautiful, alpine area. I hike out to Elfin Lakes yesterday. It is about 16 km to reach the trailhead from Highway 99, mostly on a narrow, gravel road. Shortly after beginning the ascent, you’ll reach a switchback going to your left, and continue your uphill march. Lancer had no problems going up. From Whistler Village, the trailhead is just over an hours drive away, located near the south end of Garibaldi Park. It varies greatly depending on conditions and how many photos you take along the way (over 200 for me, putting us at turtle pace). This is Mamquam Road, right before the Canadian Tire. Be it rainy and cloudy monday morning we decided to hike in to elfin lakes. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser. ... avy conditions moderated and plenty of places to get some nice turns in. The route staked by BC Parks takes you through a safe route, but you should always be prepared with beacon, probe and shovel, the proper education, and check avalanche conditions prior to heading out into the snow. Estimated time to Elfin Lakes in winter is 3-5 hours. Always carry The Essentials and fill out a trip plan. Elfin Lakes Trip Reporter. Make sure you are online and try again. If you find our content helpful, please support us via PayPal or Patreon. On ridge top there was an average depth of 40-50cm. Overall, the cabin is comfortable and has gas stoves so you can melt some snow for water, and prepare your meals. A bit icy and not too slippery. Want to connect with other local hikers? Simply follow these orange poles and enjoy the views (provided you have good weather), until you finally reach the Elfin Lakes shelter. Located 11 km from the parking lot, the Elfin Lakes area offers an overnight shelter equipped with bunks for 33 people (11 double bunks, 12 single bunks), 4 picnic tables, 2 propane hot plates, a wash sink, a propane heater, propane lights and pit toilet facilities. Ski equipment - When carrying an overnight pack, descending steeper, longer slopes and skiing in ungroomed snow, heavier ski gear is required. Join us at patreon.com/outdoorvancouver. The times I’ve slept at the hut, it’s been a blast, meeting a group of friendly new people – playing board games and trading hiking stories. No need to register, buy now! A set of Yak Tracks or crampons would have been handy. All that being said the Elfin lakes area has relatively gentle slopes in most places, and since the trail to the cabin goes along the ridge top most of the way you're pretty safe. As you are driving through Squamish, exit right at the BC Parks sign for Garibaldi Park Diamond Head. If anyone is hiking it... Did the hike today, Aug. 28/20 Stunning views make all the uphill worthwhile. You will eventually see another sign pointing you left, for Garibaldi Park Diamond Head. Great trail conditions for ski touring, almost completely snow covered from trail head. The best, or depending on your luck, worst part of staying at the shelter may be your company. How often is the weather forecast updated. Sundial Boutique Hotel Livestream Webcams: The Sundial Boutique Hotel has a livestream camera with an excellent view of Skier's Plaza. Elfin Lakes / Red Heather / Paul Ridge Hike, Snowshoe, Backcountry Ski trails near Squamish, British Columbia. After the trek, it’s time to build your accommodations for the night. Advertising revenue is falling quickly across the internet, and independently-run sites like Outdoor Vancouver are hit hardest by it. 72 Reviews of Elfin Lakes "Went up on the 24th 25th to the shelter. From Skier's Plaza you have the Whistler Gondola, Fitzsimmons Express Chair and Blackcomb Excalibur Gondola and the focus of much of the excitement in Whistler. The Scoop on Parking. Skier's Plaza is the part of Whistler Village where the two mountains meet. The Elfin Lakes hike is one of the more moderate hikes in the park, but still spectacular. Find the most current and reliable 7 day weather forecasts, storm alerts, reports and information for [city] with The Weather Network. See the forecast as a table or graph. eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'outdoorvancouver_ca-banner-1','ezslot_10',104,'0','0']));Once you’ve reached the hut, you can go inside to warm up, eat, and hopefully grab a bunk to sleep in. The reader is warned that it is unreasonable to rely solely upon the above information. Join the Outdoor Vancouver Slack Channel to chat about trail suggestions, current hiking conditions, and all things related to hiking around Vancouver and B.C. You will use the Diamond Head parking lots to access the Elfin Lakes Trailhead, there are … Beacon, Probe, Shovel? Winter camping is permitted here outside the hut. I was determined to get up to Elfin Lakes this autumn. Plenty of snow on the ridge. By providing this information, Bottletop Media does not assume any liability for the use of this information by our readers. Photos. The trail to Elfin Lakes is a steady 11 km (7 mile) climb from the parking lot onto a gently sloping ridge that provides far-reaching views for the last hour of the day before finding its way to the two small alpine lakes that give the trail its name. The trailhead is only about a 30 minute drive from downtown Squamish, although tire chains are mandatory to access the Elfin Lakes/Diamond Head trailhead parking lot. There are also outhouses just adjacent to the shelter. Not likely you’ll be carrying a ‘shelter/hut’ on your back – unless you know something I don’t.^^. It looks like you're using an old browser. I am going to Elfin lake on 26th(Monday). You should check this information yourself. To see if the winter route is in place, and the latest trail conditions, see here. The winter route to elfin lakes traverses some snow slopes, Bring your HIKING POLES Red Heather shelter Karl trees from the shelter trees from the shelter There will be a few quick views to the west through the trees if you keep your eyes peeled, but most of the trail to the Red Heather shelter is within the forest. Get our exclusive Patrons sticker, a free copy of Hiking Vancouver (our 500+ page hiking eBook), discounts on our apparel, and more! The road will steepen and you will pass Quest University. The reader is warned that it is unreasonable to rely solely upon the above information. Featuring over 110 hiking trails around Vancouver, this eBook produced by Outdoor Vancouver is your guide to the best hikes in southwest British Columbia. I have done it in as short as 2.5 hours and as long as 7 hours. Find the perfect elfin lakes stock photo. I would also recommend bringing earplugs, as it can get pretty loud when you are trying to sleep if there are night owls and the inevitable snorers. Michelle at Elfin Lakes: “Five of us headed to Elfin Lakes on Good Friday with beautiful weather all the way up from Vancouver to Squamish. Your email address will not be published. Hi, Here is a snapshot of what I've seen so far. The first challenge of … Pushing on from the Red Heather hut, the next 6 km provide a few steep sections, but also some flat and downhill relief. Many people day hike to the Red Heather shelter, and enjoy some backcountry snowboarding and skiing along Paul Ridge before heading back to the parking lot. the snow started about 2 or 3 km up the trail (1200 m). The road is narrow, and it’s not worth taking chances if your car is not winter-ready, as more than a few cars have fallen off this road before. From here, once the snow is deep enough, a winter route marked by orange poles will be set up. The main problem was that Elfin Lakes stays covered in snow well into June. Learn More. peterm. By providing this information, Bottletop Media does not assume any liability for the use of this information by our readers.Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions. Sleeping in the hut is only allowed in emergency. An overnight snowshoeing trip to Elfin Lakes (Garibaldi Provincial Park), British Columbia in December 2010. The final curve before the parking lot is particularly sketchy (steep and often icy), and you may walk in the final few kilometers from an overflow parking/ turnaround area instead of navigating this final part of the road. We had done an overnight trip up there in early October a few years ago and the fall colours in the meadows were amazing! The cabin is two floors, with bunks on top, and a kitchen and a recreation area on the bottom. Find the best snow conditions in Appalachians and Great Lakes for skiing and snowboarding. From the Diamond Head parking lot, the first 5 km of the trail are the steepest of the day. You will receive the file immediately in your email, and will also receive the free monthly Outdoor Vancouver newsletter. Your email address will not be published. Sorry, Yr seems to be offline. The trail itself is a steady uphill climb of 11 km to reach the hut at Elfin Lakes, and will take around 3 – 5 hours, each way (with great variability depending on weather and snow conditions). Great writeup! The elevation gain is 600 m, with the highest point of the hike reaching about 1,660 m along Paul Ridge before you descend to the Elfin Lakes hut at 1,470 m. There are spectacular views of nearby mountain peaks along the way to the lakes as you make your way along the marked snowshoe trail. Driving Time from Vancouver: 1 hour 30 minutesTrailhead Coordinates: 49.750175, -123.053186. eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'outdoorvancouver_ca-medrectangle-4','ezslot_8',107,'0','0']));*For a better understanding of the stats and difficulty rating, check out the Hiking Guides page for details. Enter your email to receive free PDF version of this guide. (If you are looking for the guide to the Elfin Lakes summer route – click here), Rating: DifficultDistance: 22 kmNet Elevation Change*: 700 mHighest Point: 1,660 m (Paul Ridge)Time Needed: 7 to 10 hours (or overnight)Type: Out and Back, Season: November to JulyDogs Allowed: NoEst. The mean minimum temperature will be -4°C, dipping to its lowest on the morning of Wednesday 23rd at -9°C. I found the trail condition looks OK... We plan to hike to Elfin Lakes on Oct 25,2020. We all donned microspikes and hiked up to Heather Meadows. Travel time to the Elfin Lakes Shelter can vary greatly depending on snow conditions and group abilities. Didn't expect so much snow. – Guides for 10 amazing hikes near Vancouver– Hiking safety and trail etiquette– Resources, hiking gear overview, and more! You should check this information yourself. - Elfin Lakes (Diamondhead), Garibaldi Lake (Rubble Creek), Cheakamus Lake . Squamish - We’ll snowshoe two hours in the winter paradise of Vancouver's coastal mountains. There are restrooms here as well. At the 5 km mark (roughly 1.5 hours), you will reach the Red Heather shelter and this is a great place to eat, rest, and warm up using the wood furnace before pushing the final 6 km of your hike. Andy G. at Elfin Lakes: “Well I wanted a smaller group to return to Elfin Lakes 12 years after my first Wanderung hike, and I got it! The trail itself is a steady uphill climb of 11 km to reach the hut at Elfin Lakes, and will take around 3 – 5 hours, each way (with great variability depending on weather and snow conditions). We weren't prepared at all hiking in our runners and no hiking poles. 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