| Garibaldi
Provincial Park - One of the larger parks
in the BC Parks system, with many trails to explore leading to panoramic
views, flowering meadows, towering cliffs, glacier lakes and volcanic
rock formations. The 194,650 hectare (480,000 acres) wilderness
park is a popular destination for adventure enthusiasts who like
to spend a day hiking or a week backpacking, snowshoeing or xc skiing
in pristine wilderness.
The trail network within the park is exciting,
challenging and requires some level of fitness as the routes are,
mostly, steep with big elevation gains involving many switchbacks
with loose boulders and rocks. Not all the trails are as challenging.
Some routes lead to alpine forests and flowering meadows.
All adventurers who plan to spend some time overnight
in the park at any of the wilderness camps or warming huts should
pick up a map of the area as there are many things to prepare for
and see. Be aware, weather conditions play a big part in when the
trails are accessible for hiking. The last two weeks of August and
through September are usually the best months for hiking as the
snow line is higher on the mountain.
The main trailhead access points into the park
are the Diamond Head Trail, The Black Tusk Trail, The
Cheakamus Trail, The Singing Pass Trail, and the Wedgemount
Lake Trail. The trails lead to some of the natural attractions in
the park such as the 300 metre deep Garibaldi Lake, the Black Tusk,
Helm Glacier, the Opal Cone, the Barrier, Castle Towers, the Gargoyles
and the Sphinx.
The park is what it is today mainly due to the
massive volcanic eruptions that occurred millions of years ago.
The Barrier, which is the natural rock formation acting like a dam
that forms Garibaldi Lake, was created from lava flowing from Clinker
Peak.
According to our unofficial survey (asking the
locals over a coffee) the two most popular trails in Garibaldi Provincial
Park are the Black Tusk Trail and the Singing Pass Trail.
Black Tusk Trail - Start hiking
from the Rubble Creek parking lot along a well groomed 9 Km (5.5
mi.) trail for about 2.5 - 4 hours to Garibaldi Lake. Time is dependant
on the amount of times the group stops for pictures and the level
of fitness. From the lake, the trail continues for another 7 Km
(4.3 mi.) to the bottom of the Black Tusk. The elevation gain is
915 metres and should take no longer than 3.5 hours to complete.
Do not climb the Tusk unless experienced and have the proper equipment.
Singing Pass Trail - One
of the easier grade trails with some of the best views of the region.
Start from the bus station in Whistler Village by the large free
parking lots. Continue down the Whistler
Mtn Access Rd for a few hundred metres taking a left onto the Old
Singing Pass Road. Continue along the path following Fitzsimmons
Creek until the park boundary. Total distance so far is about 4.8
Km. From the boundary veer off following Melody Creek through alpine
flowering meadows to Singing Pass. (21
Km "there and back" and should take 9 -11 hours to complete.)
|
Whistler
Garibaldi
Park 
Whistler 