The Black Tusk Hike Review: Everything You Need to Know

Type of hike: Out and back. There is a small loop in the middle where you can go through Taylor Meadows first and come back passing through Garibaldi Lake, or the other way around. You can also just go through either of those paths out and back as well (Taylor Meadows is a shorter)

Length and time: 25.9km round trip (going through Garibaldi Lake and coming back through Taylor Meadows) and typically takes around 8 to 10 hours.

Difficulty: Hard

Elevation Gain: 1761m

Distance from Vancouver: 1 hour and 30 minutes (to Rubble Creek Trailhead)

Dog friendly? No

What to expect for this hike:

• Requires a day pass to access Garibaldi Lake, Panorama Ridge and Black Tusk. Reserve one per vehicle two days prior to your planned hike. They open at 7am and usually are gone in a few minutes. So for example, if you plan to go Sunday, book your pass Friday morning at 7am.

• The first 6.5km is going to be in the forest with lots of switchbacks and continuous incline - and super boring. Bring a podcast, an audio book, a chatty friend, anything you want to help make this part go faster. Unless, of course, you like the quiet and peace. Once you break out of the forested area, the views are INCREDIBLE. You'll get breathtaking views all the way through Taylor Meadows and to the peak.

• Pretty much any time you visit this trail in the height of summer, there will be plenty of flies and mosquitoes swarming you when you're passing by Taylor Meadows and all the way up to the bottom of the chimney.

• It is a very popular hike, and you will find yourself passing/letting people pass up until Garibaldi Lake, where half those groups will stop. Then some people will branch off the Panorama Ridge, and the rest will go to Black Tusk. Very well maintained trail, also well marked but I never found myself needing to look for them.

• There is a ( dangerous) rock climbing adventure at the end. People bring helmets, that's all I'm going to say.

• There are two to three outhouses on this trail.

• Always practice the Leave No Traces principle.

Suggestions on what to bring:

• Hydration pack with at least 3L of water because this trail is long and the last few kilometers are completely out in the open. There are a few water sources though, and obviously you can get water from Garibaldi Lake, but make sure you bring your filter system or purifier tablets.

• Sunscreen because otherwise you'll get burnt going up the scramble and chimney

• A first aid kit has never been more important than this trail, especially if you are a novice or beginning at rock climbing. The chimney part is no joke and I've seen people get minor injuries while going up and down it.

• Bring hiking poles!!! They'll help so much on the way down.

• Portable charger if you are someone who loves to take photos. You won't really need to use your map on this trail, but there are tons of photo opportunities, and the peak is absolutely picturesque.

Tips on tackling the chimney scramble:

• Make sure your hiking boots has an amazing grip. You can do it in trail runners if you're not new to rock climbing though.

• That being said, preferably have some knowledge of rock climbing or know what it entails. You don't need to be a pro to attempt this chimney, but you do need to know what you're getting yourself into.

• Leave lots of time to do this chimney portion, because even though not everyone going to Black Tusk will do it (they usually stop at the bottom of chimney), each person needs about 10 to 15 minutes going up and down. You will need to wait until each person is safely up/down before you follow, out of respect for everyone's safety.

• Know your limits. If you are truly terrified of heights, do not risk it. However, I will say thinking about the scramble is scarier than the actual scramble. If you want a challenge, this is it.

• If your day pack or backpack isn't compact enough, leave it at the bottom. The space between the rocks is extremely narrow.

  
  

September 4th, 2020

Time: 9 hours and 7 minutes

Distance: 28.4km

I originally had no intentions of doing any of the hikes in Garibaldi this summer due to the new day passes restrictions, which friends have told me were difficult to obtain as they sell out within seconds and only around 390 passes were given out each day. However, for some reasons, I decided at the last minute I wanted to give it a try anyways, despite it being a long weekend. I had already booked my stay at Whistler for three days and have other hikes planned as back ups in case - there was no harm in trying.

Surprisingly, I managed to get a pass and was elated. My legs were definitely a bit tired from Wedgemount Lake, but I quickly forgot about it when I reached Rubble Creek. Even though I started at 7am, I knew it was still considered late because many hikers say Black Tusk takes around 9 - 11 hours, and I did not want to hike in the dark at all.

The trail is incredibly well maintained. It is easy to see why this is one of BC's most famous hikes. The first 6.5km are switchbacks. Incline is very steady and gradual. It is a nice way to warm your legs up for the path up ahead.

At 6.5km, there is an option to go through Taylor Meadows or pass through Garibaldi Lake to get to Black Tusk. Taylor Meadows would be the quickest way but I wanted to make it a loop to keep the hike interesting, so I went down the path towards Garibaldi Lake. I passed by Barrier Viewpoint:

Barrier Lake on the left.

Lesser Garibaldi Lake pictured here on the right.

I reached Garibaldi Lake pretty quickly, and since I was one of the few hikers who started early, the lake was very peaceful and calm. I had been here last year but did not fully appreciate it. This time, I took my time in admiring the beautiful clear turquoise waters, the surrounding mountains, and the Sphinx Glacier across the lake.

A park ranger was patrolling the area and I asked her about Black Tusk, and that was when I found out about the chimney scramble at the top. I clearly did not do thorough research because I had no idea there was rock climbing involved in reaching the very top. I asked if the scramble was similar to Wedgemount Lake, to which she chuckled and said Wedgemount was "not a scramble". She also told me the climb was dangerous and there could be loose rocks. Needless to say, I got a bit worried.

Anyways, I continued on to Black Tusk Meadows. The wildflowers were still in full bloom, painting the landscape with vibrant colors, while the lush green grass and towering trees created a stunning backdrop against the brilliant sunlight. By that point, I was about 10.5 km in, and this stretch offered the last bit of flat ground before the terrain changed again.

About 13km in, I got a gorgeous view of Garibaldi Lake to my right. This was also the part where the trail forks, and you can either head to Panorama Ridge or Black Tusk. From here, it was an uphill battle of steep incline, loose soil and rocks everywhere. The path was still easy to follow though.

I also caught a glimpse of Panorama Ridge!

When I hit 14.3 kilometers, I came across a sign that warned it was the end of the maintained trail. From there on, including the chimney scramble, it’s really not recommended for anyone who isn’t an experienced hiker or is not mentally prepared. Honestly, the terrain was all rocks—kind of like those chunky playground rocks, but way more treacherous. If you slipped and fell on a playground, you’d just land on the ground. Here, if you lost your footing, you’d likely roll down the mountain (and this was not even the hardest part).

For the first time, I found myself stopping every few seconds to catch my breath. It was incredibly hot and sunny, my water supply was dangerously low, and the air was dry. When I finally made it to the bottom of the chimney and looked up at the actual structure, it finally dawned on me what the park ranger meant. Oh, this is what she meant. Oops.

A few hikers who actually made it up here decided this was it and that they did not want to risk the chimney scramble. I seriously considered stopping as well. The view was beautiful enough...but I knew I would regret it if I did not at least try. I have a fear of falling and even just looking over the edge at the jutting rocks was enough to make me lightheaded.

Two guys who were coming up behind me also debated whether or not to go up the scramble. They eventually went ahead, and I followed soon afterwards. It did not feel right to say I completed the Black Tusk if I stopped at the bottom of the chimney, even though only about 10% of hikers actually go up.

Describing the chimney scramble is tough, so I recommend checking out some videos on YouTube. It's essentially a one-way route where you have to wait for the path to be clear before you can go up or down. If someone ahead of you slips, loose rocks can come crashing down—it's rock climbing without safety harnesses, and the risk of falling off the mountain is all too real. We even saw large rocks tumble down, which was pretty demoralizing to witness.

The first part of the scramble is a steep 90-degree climb, and that’s definitely the hardest section. Once you get past that, the rest of the way to the top of the Tusk feels like a breeze in comparison to what you just did.

The view from the top of Black Tusk was so surreal that I found myself questioning whether I was dreaming. It was a sight unlike anything I had ever experienced. The landscape was a stunning tapestry, offering the most breathtaking 360-degree panorama I could imagine. The skies were crystal clear and blue, framed by majestic mountains adorned with brilliant patches of snow. Dazzling glaciers sparkled in the sunlight, while Garibaldi Lake shimmered a brilliant blue in the distance. Sprawling meadows and winding creeks completed this view, leaving me stunned and breathless.

Photos really don't do it justice. This is something you need to actually do yourself to experience the euphoria and adrenaline rush. But here are some I felt best represented the view:

The climb down was just as terrifying as the climb up, but luckily a very nice stranger spotted me at the bottom and even hugged me afterwards despite everything. Honestly, I was very close to slipping (and got quite a few cuts) so I was grateful for her help. All the strangers I've met who did the chimney scramble were also incredibly kind-hearted.

After the chimney scramble down, the next difficult task was to make it back to the 14.3km point where the trail becomes maintained again. The two guys decided to freestyle it and "skated" down as if snowboarding. It definitely was easier than trying to crawl down so I followed their example. I got plenty of loose rocks, dust and debris in my shoes and legs, but at least I made it down safely and rather quickly.

As you can probably imagine, the rest of the hike was a breeze. I was glad to be walking on dirt and soil again. I took Taylor Meadows back to the Rubble Creek parking lot because it was the fastest way. It was also significantly easier because it was relatively more flat and some sections had wooden planks.

---

July 24th, 2021

Time: 9 hours

Distance: 28.4km

Ever since I hiked Black Tusk for the first time in 2020, I promised myself I’d make it an annual tradition. So, here I am in 2021, tackling this trail for the second time—well, technically the third. A couple of weeks ago, I tried to hike it with my brother, but we had to turn back at the base of the chimney due to rain and clouds, so we never made it to the top.

As usual, the first 6.5 kilometers were just like I remembered—well-maintained and with a steady incline. It can get a bit boring since I've done this section so many times, but it’s a great excuse to listen to an audiobook.

At the 6.5-kilometer mark, you have the choice of going through Taylor Meadows or passing by Garibaldi Lake to reach Black Tusk. Since I didn’t feel like seeing Garibaldi Lake again, I opted for Taylor Meadows, which turned out to be a great choice. The wildflowers were in full bloom, and the meadows were absolutely stunning. The only downside were the pesky mosquitoes and flies that swarmed around me the entire time. I don't think my bug spray did its job at all. Still, the views along the Taylor Meadows Trail were gorgeous throughout.

The last stretch of the trail leading to the base of the chimney was just as tough as last year—it's definitely one step forward and three steps back (just kidding. But also not really. The loose pebbly rocks make everything quite slippery). The sun was blazing, and I was sweating buckets, but I was so pumped to reach the top that I hardly noticed.

At the top, I met a really interesting guy. He was an older gentleman, probably in his 70s, full of energy and enthusiasm. Honestly, it was impressive to see him up there! Later, I watched him "ski" down the mountain on the rocks and pebbles—definitely a quicker way to descend, but also pretty risky. He shared some wild stories, including how he knew people who had died attempting the chimney scramble, as well as tales of hikers who faced tragic outcomes because they were unprepared. I didn’t know whether to be horrified or completely fascinated by this adventurous old man.

---

August 20th, 2023

Time: 9 hours

Distance: 28.4km

Probably would be my fourth and final time ascending this chimney for the time being...

We kicked off our hike on a somewhat smoky day, though thankfully the haze began to lift as we progressed. We could still catch a whiff of it in the air, though. The air quality index that morning wasn’t terrible, but we definitely started feeling it in our throats not long after we hit the trail. As you can see in the photo, the sky was hazy and visibility wasn't great.

The only significant difference this time was that I took a pretty bad fall while climbing down the chimney. It served as a stark reminder not to underestimate the power of Mother Nature and highlighted just how crucial it is to be prepared for anything. It was especially unsettling considering that just two weeks before our hike, a girl around my age tragically slipped off the chimney and lost her life.

It kind of puts everything into perspective a little bit, how easily things can take a turn for the worst when you least expect it. One moment, you’re enjoying the beauty of the hike, and the next, you’re reminded of the risks involved. It reinforced the importance of caution and being fully equipped for the challenges that nature can throw your way.