Garibaldi Lake: Beautiful at the Top, Repetitive to Get There

We got to the Rubble Creek trailhead at 7:45 on a Sunday morning, half-expecting the lot to be full. It wasn't — there was plenty of parking. We'd already talked ourselves out of it and parked further down the road as a precaution, which in hindsight was unnecessary.

Permits & access

A BC Parks day-use pass is required for the Rubble Creek trailhead on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays, and holidays from June 12 to October 12 each year — passes are free but capped (around 200 vehicles at Rubble Creek), and become bookable online two days ahead, starting at 7 a.m. PT, at reserve.bcparks.ca/dayuse. Cell service in the park is limited, so get your pass before you arrive rather than counting on booking from the lot.

The route

The trail climbs right from the parking lot and doesn't really stop — a steady, gradual grade through forest for the first stretch. It's not steep at any point, but it's sustained, and the scenery doesn't change much: trees, switchbacks, more trees. Around the 7 km mark it opens up a bit — the grade eases, small lakes start appearing through the trees, and you get glimpses of the surrounding mountains. It took us close to three hours to cover the roughly 10 km to the lake; some parties do it in about two, but we stopped a few times along the way.

The payoff

The lake itself is worth it. The colour is exactly what the photos promise, and with the mountains around it on a clear day, it's a genuinely beautiful spot. We spent about 40 minutes at the lakeshore — snacks, taking it in. There were people camped at the lake, and more hikers arriving as we were getting ready to head back.

I thought about going for a swim and didn't. Still regret that — it was a warm, clear day and the water looked incredible. If you're on the fence when you get there, just get in.

Trail notes

• We arrived at 7:45 a.m. on a Sunday and had no trouble finding a spot in the trailhead lot itself — worry less about the lot filling and more about locking in your day-use pass in advance (see Permits & access above), since that's the part that actually gates entry on weekends in season.
• The climb is a steady, moderate grade the whole way — not technical, not steep — but mentally repetitive. If you like a hike with changing terrain or clear milestones, the forest switchbacks up to Garibaldi Lake will test your patience more than your legs.
• Camping is available at the lakeshore if you want to split the hike over two days.
• The way down covers the same 10 km of unchanging forest in reverse — expect it to feel longer than the climb up, mentally if not physically.

Overall: the view at the top is everything it's built up to be. Getting there is the trade-off — plan for a long, steady, repetitive climb, and know that going in.