elfin lakes camping

The Elfin Lakes Shelter There is a large, heated, shelter at Elfin Lakes that sleeps about 33. The sign at the trailhead shows the distances to the Red Heather Shelter(5k), Elfin Lakes(11k) and Mamquam Lake(22k). Camping at Elfin Lakes is an amazingly beautiful experience. Accessing this park is done via several main trailheads along the Sea to Sky Highway, but to access the Elfin Lakes backcountry hut, the Diamond Head Trailhead is the shortest and most widely used. For those seeking solitude, there are endless tent site possibilities further away. From the outside, buried in snow it looks tiny. T he scenic alpine trail at Elfin Lakes presents a full day of hiking, or less by bike, without being too strenuous.. 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. Or worse, you may get up to the parking lot without chains, then get snowed in and unable to drive out. 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. Writers in need of images for blog posts or web articles can instantly download them and use them in their writings (‘Right-click’ and save the image). 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 Elfin Lakes Trail requires a free Day Use Pass to be reserved the day of starting at 6am from the Discover Camping reservation system. One of them is off limit because it is a water reserve and the second one is there for hiker's pleasure, if you don't mind swimming in cold water. Campsite fees must be paid online in advance at the BC Parks Garibaldi Provincial Park's reservations page. Tackle the hike to two stunning lakes, one of which you can take a refreshing dip in, and enjoy I must say that the Elfin Lakes campground was one of the most quiet and peaceful campgrounds I’ve ever been to. Near Russet Lake where the north-south running UTM 511E forms the boundary for both the south and north sections of the Spearhead Traverse. On snow camping is allowed in the vicinity of the Red Heather hut in the winter months. In the south, this line roughly dissects The Fissile and Overlord Glacier east of the Russet Lake campground. Garibaldi Park is the massive wilderness park of nearly two thousand square kilometres that stretches from Squamish to Pemberton. That afternoon, we decided to do a day hike to the Gargoyles, which are rock formations about 2.5km from the campground up a steep mountain. The trailhead parking lot is high above Squamish up a long, rapidly ascending road. Parking lot is accessibly by 2WD car! Earlier in the week a mouse had somehow gotten into my Ursack food bag while up on the line, so I switched to a dry bag. 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. However, due to … The Elfin Lakes hike is located within Garibaldi Provincial Park, which is a great home base for accessing surrounding hiking destinations. From downtown Squamish, the trailhead is just a short drive away, located near the south end of Garibaldi Provincial Park. Information about how to access the Diamond Head trailhead and facilities at the campground and shelter is available on the BC Parks Diamond Head Area page. 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. Though it is rare, it does happen as Elfin Lakes is regularly staffed with rangers and even has a separate ranger station near the Elfin Lakes hut. Or there’s the option of camping with 35 reservable spots not far from the lakes. 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 trail to Elfin lakes is marked with poles, so look ahead for the next orange poll to make sure you are on the correct path. The valley is huge with stunning mountain peaks all around. 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 Just up the Sea-to-Sky Highway from Vancouver is Squamish and Garibaldi Provincial Park. It still looks quite empty, but we met quite a few hikers heading up, so I … It is located before the last steep and if snow covered, potentially dangerous final section of road. Hardcore winter campers often shovel out snow caves to sleep in. The lower lake is reserved for drinking water and the upper lake is for swimming. Elfin Lakes has been a popular destination for hiking, snowshoeing and skiing for almost a century. Squamish sits in the midst of some amazing places to hike. From Whistler Village, the trailhead is just over an hours drive away, located near the south end of Garibaldi Park. Beautifully organized, solid looking, wooden bunk beds built right into the structure make the hut look like some characteristically beautiful, European ski lodge. The 11 kilometre(7 mile) hike to Eflin Lakes is a constant and steady ascent that begins with several switchbacks. be sent by Email through the Contact Us This is the Elfin Lakes trail that is used by hikers and bikers in summer and skiers and snowshoers in the winter. It's a 22km return hike to the Elfin shelter and it's not too arduous if you decide to split it over 2 days like we did. All overnight campers must use the new Rampart Ponds campground located 1.5 km before Mamquam Lake. There is also a campsite located at Mamquam Lake with 3 camping spaces available. The trail to Elfin Lakes starts out ascending through deep forest, reaching the Red Heather hut after 5 kilometres. Campsite reservations are now required at the Elfin Lakes campground year-round and must be reserved through BC Parks before camping at the sites. This is the Elfin Lakes trail that is used by hikers and bikers in summer and skiers and snowshoers in the winter. 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). In the winter months, these tent platforms with be hidden under metres of snow and you can put up a tent nearly anywhere you want. It is nuzzled between two lakes (one for drinking water, and the other a swimming hole), and the Gargoyle Peaks. The propane is supplied by BC Parks. Russet Lake Hut was originally built in 1968, and is also known as the Himmelsbach Hut. The campsite area at Elfin Lakes is quite large and well organized. The trail is 21km return. The fact that there is a shelter after only 5 kilometres indicates that the 11k distance to the lakes is a bit of a journey. Often you will find them in the slopes adjacent to the hut. Located 90 minutes north of Vancouver, off of the Sea to Sky Highway, Elfin Lakes offer amazing vistas, along the 11 km it takes to get there and an incredible reward once you get to the lakes. Elfin Lakes is probably BC’s most comprehensive backcountry camping area. Your camp must be at least 30 metres from water sources such as a lake, stream or wetland. The Elfin Lakes hut has bunk beds for 33 people(11 double bunks and 12 single bunks). The areas you can wilderness camp is quite restricted in an effort to not overrun the park and maintain some control over the massive numbers of hikers in the park. Snow is slippery and hard, you start seeing it 30 mins or so… For the 2020 camping season, reservations can be made up to 2 weeks in advance of your arrival date. The hiking/snowshoeing possibilities seem endless. The park is an outdoor adventurer's playground. It's slightly different to the summer route, so don't rely on online trail descriptions. The Elfin Lakes campground is located in an incredibly beautiful area of distant, enormous, jagged mountains and beautiful rolling hills and valleys. 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. Elfin Lakes has great facilities for overnight stay. To quickly compare two of them, the main difference is that Garibaldi Lake hike is approximately 80% in the forest and Elfin Lakes is quite the opposite. The hiking/snowshoeing possibilities seem endless. Not long after you pass the university the road narrows and turns from pavement to gravel. 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