elfin lakes camping

Since 1978 the lakes have been known as Elfin Lakes. Just 1.5 kilometres before Mamquam Lake, this new campground replaces the old one at Mamquam Lake that was closed recently. Don't approach bears and do your best to not surprise them. Not long after you pass the university the road narrows and turns from pavement to gravel. You have the option of camping on designated tent pads, or staying in the shelter on bunk beds. The campsite also has a pit toilet and a food cache where campers can place their food into so it is protected from bears. This area is very popular with skiers as well as snowshoers in the winter and deep snow covers the trail usually from November to June. Black bears, marmots, mountain goats and deer roam Garibaldi Park, though only occasionally seen. Elfin Lakes is probably BC’s most comprehensive backcountry camping area. A great two night stay at Elfin Lakes can include a hike to The Gargoyles (5 km) return and to Opal Cone (13 km return). As this trail is within Garibaldi Park, dogs are not allowed. You may be able to drive to the trailhead, then return from your hike a day or two later to a metre of snow on the access road. New in 2018, for the first time you can camp in the vast wilderness beyond the campgrounds. There are several jaw-dropping views along this final 6k stretch. On first glance this may seem like a poor substitute to Eflin Lakes, however, the short hike is quick and easy. Occasionally in the evening you will find a couple drinking wine by the fire, enjoying this rustic paradise. There’s a full-time ranger station, outhouses that usually have toilet paper, bear-proof food caches, a lovely cooking shelter with an amazing view, two There are several hiking options for campers who are staying overnight in the area. Camping at Elfin Lakes is an amazingly beautiful experience. Year-round the Elfin Lakes hut has bunk beds for 33 people(11 double bunks and 12 single bunks). 72 Reviews of Elfin Lakes "Went up on the 24th 25th to the shelter. It is located 10 kilometres from Elfin Lakes on the trail to Mamquam Lake. Once inside the warmth hits you. Hike to Elfin Lakes. Elfin Lakes trail The actual trail to Elfin lakes is really easy to follow. A fact you would have never believed from your approach view outside. The Elfin Lakes Cabin is just beyond the campground and is a fully equipped hut with cooking utensils, stove and can sleep up … The Elfin Lakes Shelter is a comfortable 33-bed hut that provides an excellent base for attempting the routes described in this guidebook and beyond. Elfin Lakes in Garibaldi Park is an absolutely phenomenal, though long, hiking, biking, snowshoeing and skiing trail that begins at the Diamond Head area in Squamish. All overnight visits to Garibaldi Park require reservations beforehand. Recent Trail Reports Along Route Getting to the trailhead can be difficult during periods of heavy snow. There is an amazing plateau near the hut that edges onto a sweeping view of the valley below. Increasingly steep sections lead to some downhill parts. This trail is so well marked with orange poles and tree markers that you can reliably find your way after dark or before sunrise with good lights to assist you. There are frequent animal sightings on the trail and beyond Elfin Lakes. Elfin Lake Shelter. The route is clearly marked with orange poles and very easy to follow. We thought this was a good place to try for our second trip because we’d The cabin is two floors, with bunks on top, and a kitchen and a recreation area on the bottom. The small trail winds through the meadows and eventually leads to … There are excellent signs directing you to the Elfin Lakes/Diamond Head trailhead parking. There are plenty of fresh water sources on the trail as well as at Elfin Lakes. There are over a dozen, wooden camping pads that overlook the valley beyond and once you see them, you’ll have wished you brought a tent. The small trail winds through the meadows and eventually leads to a saddle where you then cross a steep slope of rocks. This popular camping spot in the summer, turns into a winter wonderland for backcountry enthusiasts in the winter. The new campground has 12 tent platforms, an outhouse and food storage facilities. Carolyn and I spent a night outside in -10 degrees celsius to test out skills and our gear. There are no garbage facilities in the park and all garbage and supplies must be removed. For those seeking solitude, there are endless tent site possibilities further away. Wilderness camping permits are available for mountaineers, climbers, ski tourers, and other visitors with advanced skills in wilderness travel and camping … The trail to Elfin Lakes is 11km each way, it is not an after-work activity so please leave yourself a full day to complete the … The Elfin Lakes hike is located within Garibaldi Provincial Park, which is a great home base for accessing surrounding hiking destinations. You may get turned away if you don’t have chains with you. The Elfin Lakes hut fee includes your backcountry camping permit, so one adult staying in the Hut pays a total of $15. The wonderful Elfin Lakes hut is a huge draw to this hike in the winter as it is heated and has solar power as well as room for 33 people! Whistler has an absurd number of wonderful and free hiking trails and. The trail head is at the end of the parking lot beside the trail map/info area. You can stay in the Elfin Lakes shelter at Elfin Lakes. Pretty amazing and surprisingly comfortable. If you can pull yourself away from the luxurious warmth of the Red Heather Hut you will find the trail quickly becomes more challenging. Camping at Elfin Lakes is an amazingly beautiful experience. The final 6k from this hut to Elfin Lakes takes you along a beautiful ridge with amazing views of snowy mountains all around. There is a wonderful and very inviting plateau of land above Wedgemount Lake close to the end of the lake where the pours out via Wedgemount Falls. In the south, this line roughly dissects The Fissile and Overlord Glacier east of the Russet Lake campground. It is stated on the Garibaldi Provincial Park BC Parks site that you should be an experienced mountaineer, climber, ski tourer or possess advanced wilderness skills. The Elfin Lakes hut has bunk beds for 33 people(11 double bunks and 12 single bunks). From the trailhead to the Red Heather hut is hard to stray from, even after dark, however, the Red Heather hut to the Elfin Lakes hut is well marked, but tricky to follow at night. It starts at 950m elevation and climbs to the ridge high point at 1,600m and then down to Elfin Lakes at 1,500m. Staying at the Elfin Lakes hut costs a bit more at $15 per adult, per night and kids 6-15 pay $10 per person, per night. Parking lot is accessibly by 2WD car! There are several great place to hike with your dog in and around Squamish and Whistler. Elfin Lakes has great facilities for overnight stay. From downtown Squamish, the trailhead is just a short drive away, located near the south end of Garibaldi Provincial Park. Go Pro. In 1973 the lodge was permanently closed and in 1974 the Elfin Lakes Hut was built to replace the deteriorating lodge. Open fires are prohibited in the park and camp stoves should be used for all cooking. The valley is huge with stunning mountain peaks all around. The hut also has 4 huge picnic tables inside as well as 2 propane stove-top burners, a washing sink as well as a giant propane stove and solar powered lights. It starts at 950m elevation and climbs to the ridge high point at 1,600m and then down to Elfin Lakes at 1,500m. Hardcore winter campers often shovel out snow caves to sleep in. Elfin Lakes has been a popular destination for hiking, snowshoeing and skiing for almost a century. There is also a shelter located at Red Heather, however camping is not allowed at this shelter. The two cute little lakes lay next to the amazing Elfin Lakes hut. There are four overnight-use shelters in the park: Elfin Lakes Shelter is located at Elfin Lakes and is reservable year round. This shelter can house 33 people and contains propane burners, which are supplied with propane by BC Parks.

Optional switch Show Map. All overnight campers must use the new Rampart Ponds campground located 1.5 km before Mamquam Lake. Explore the most popular trails in my list Elfin Lakes with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. The gravel road runs deep and high into the mountains to the trailhead parking lot. Elfin Lakes shelter and camping. Fees Per Night: $10 Adult - $5 Kids(6-15)  Campsite fees must be paid online in advance at the BC Parks Garibaldi Provincial Park reservations page. Day hiking is free and there is no charge for parking. There are several camping options around Elfin Lakes and in the Diamond Head area of Garibaldi Provincial Park. Staying at the Elfin Lakes hut costs a bit more at $15 per adult, per night and kids 6-15 pay $10 per person, per night. The section of trail from the Red Heather hut to Elfin Lakes is considerably more scenic than the first 5 kilometres of the trail. Year-round visitors enjoyed the breathtaking scenery and rugged hospitality. The trail is wide, and you are surrounded by big mountains all the way to the lakes. Elfin Lakes are two lakes in Garibaldi Provincial Park that are popular for hiking, snowshoeing ... which gains approximately 600 metres (2,000 ft) of elevation from the trailhead. The campsite area at Elfin Lakes is quite large and well organized. Pictures of Elfin Lakes hike shared here were all taken by me. Wilderness camping is prohibited west of this line. 35 tent platforms dot the landscape and on a typical summer weekend, you will find most of them occupied! Elfin Lakes is probably BC’s most comprehensive backcountry camping area. As you approach it in winter it looks quite small, buried as it invariably is in metres of snow. You need to start at the Diamond Head trailhead (on googlemaps, this is called the Elfin Lakes trailhead) From there, you follow a wide, easy to follow trail up through the forest towards Round Mountain.The 105 Hikes book said this first part would be a chore, so I was expecting something really steep like the Grouse Grind or the Chief. But, you will have to reserve in advance on Discover Camping. Elfin Lakes is a popular hiking destination located in Garibaldi Provincial Park near Squamish, B.C. What an great place Elfin Lakes is! It still looks quite empty, but we met quite a few hikers heading up, so I … The park is an outdoor adventurer's playground. Mamquam Road becomes Garibaldi Park Road as you continue ascending ever steeper to the trailhead parking area. There are various excellent spots overlooking the vast valley just a few dozen metres from the hut. This is the Elfin Lakes trail that is used by hikers and bikers in summer and skiers and snowshoers in the winter. You don’t need to make reservations for these smaller huts, but you do need a camping … You get amazingly dramatic mountain views in all directions and on a sunny day in the summer it is paradise. On cold and snowy days, the wonderful wood stove and stack of wood outside makes it a very enticing pit-stop on the way to Elfin Lakes. Though black bears are potentially dangerous, there has never been an unprovoked bear attack in Garibaldi Provincial Park, Squamish or Whistler. The mountainous terrain is home to many trails, high alpine passes, and lakes. Overall, the cabin is comfortable and has gas stoves so you can melt some snow for water, and prepare your meals. Fees Per Night: $10 Adult - $5 Kids(6-15). The cabin at Elfin Lakes is a beautiful well maintained shelter in the heart of the Garibaldi Provincial Park. until you reach the trailhead parking at 18.7 kilometres. However, due to … 10 Things to Expect on a Trip to Elfin Lakes If you plan on heading up to Elfin Lakes in Garibaldi Provincial Park there are a few things you should know before you go.To help, we created a top 10 list of useful information. But one day we took a trip to Elfin Lakes, and yes… it was a great choice. Cell phone reception is usually good along the trail and at Elfin Lakes. Bald eagles and ptarmigans are sometimes spotted on the trail to Elfin Lakes. Questions or comments can The Elfin Lakes hut is solar powered. This trailhead is fairly popular year-round. Your camp must be at least 30 metres from water sources such as a lake, stream or wetland. From Cleveland Avenue in Squamish, zero your odometer and drive north on Highway 99, at 4.6 kilometres turn right onto Mamquam Road just before Canadian Tire. For more camping information in Garibaldi Provincial Park, visit the BC Parks website at: Elfin Lakes Snowshoeing Whistler 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. Elfin Lakes trail – the start. Hiking (snowshoeing) to Elfin Lake in winter is spectacular. Snow is slippery and hard, you start seeing it 30 mins or so… There is another parking lot before the main parking lot at the trailhead. If you don't know what you are doing, you can easily lose the trail and get into big trouble. Emil, Ottar and Joan built Diamond Head Lodge by hand using the forest surrounding what would become known as Elfin Lakes. Wilderness camping reservations/fees cost the same as for the campgrounds. This is mainly out of respect for the wildlife that frequent the area. Mamquam Lake campground is permanently closed for overnight use. Atwell Peak above the Elfin Lakes Campground. On the Sea to Sky Highway you will see signs to "Garibaldi Park Diamond Head." Lancer had no problems going up. The Elfin Lakes Cabin is one of the best in the region because it is heated by propane and has propane stoves for cooking. The Elfin Lakes campground is located in an incredibly beautiful area of distant, enormous, jagged mountains and beautiful rolling hills and valleys. Year-round the Elfin Lakes hut has bunk beds for 33 people(11 double bunks and 12 single bunks). From the outside, buried in snow it looks tiny. The sign at the trailhead shows the distances to the Red Heather Shelter(5k), Elfin Lakes(11k) and Mamquam Lake(22k). For thirty years, beginning in the late 1940's the Diamond Head Lodge hosted visitors from around the world. The Elfin Lakes Trail starts near Squamish close to the spectacular Sea to Sky Highway. Beautifully organized, solid looking, wooden bunk beds built right into the structure make the hut look like some characteristically beautiful, European ski lodge. March 5, 2019 March 5, 2019 / Maria. Our Elfin Lakes Back-country Trek is a great challenge for those looking to step up into longer mountain adventures. gear, and other outdoor related updates. If you want to stay in the Wedgemount Lake hut or the Russet Lake hut, you simply buy a campsite pass and if the hut has an empty bed when you arrive, you take it. Camping at the Elfin Lakes shelter opens up the opportunity to other nearby hikes like Gargoyles, Opal Cone and Mamquam Lake. The sheer distance of this snowshoeing trail ranks it as difficult, though overall you will just be doing a moderately steady ascending trail. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Expect to take four hours to reach the Elfin Lakes Hut as you are almost constantly ascending a gradual, though consistently uphill trail. Garibaldi Provincial Park stretches from the Diamond Head area above Squamish all the way past Wedgemount Lakes north of Whistler. Garibaldi Provincial Park wraps around Squamish and is home to some amazing hiking trails. Just like the Red Heather hut, almost entirely buried in snow much of the year, you have to slide down an icy slope to reach the front door. Six hours will easily get you to the two small lakes, time for a brief swim and then six hours or less back to the parking lot. This amazing hut sleeps 33 and is solar powered and propane heated. It is nuzzled between two lakes (one for drinking water, and the other a swimming hole), and the Gargoyle Peaks.

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