July 9th - 10th: Elfin Lakes Camp

Type of hike: Out and back | Time (approx): 2 hours 30 minutes up, 2 hours down

Distance: Around 20.3km | Elevation Gain: 812m

Elfin Lakes is truly a backcountry camping dream. It's definitely more manicured than some other backcountry spots in the sense that there's a lake for you to dip in, a few outhouses and a very safe and reliable drinking water source. The tent pads are also well-kept. The hike up to the lakes is relatively short (2 to 3 hours) and with both incline and decline sections and LOTS of views after the first hour and a bit. The views from the tent pads are unbeatable - you basically get to wake up facing the mountains and glaciers in the distance!

Quick FAQs:

Dog friendly? No

Transit friendly? No

Season? It is listed as Year-Round of BC Parks. Best time of the summer to visit is July to September.

Elevation gain? 600m

Distance from Vancouver? About an hour and 45 minutes by car

Trailhead? Diamond Head

Number of tent pads? 35

Important information:

Elfin Lakes now require a BC Parks Pass to visit so be sure to make book online here before you visit. If you are planning to visit for a day hike, remember to book ahead as well! The reservation opens up 48 hours prior so if you would like to visit on a Saturday for example, then you will need to book at 7am on Thursday. Day passes can be found here.

You can find more information about Garibaldi Park here.

What to expect:

1) First hour and a bit will be in the forest with gradual incline, a little boring

2) Second half of the trail will open up to stunning mountain views and of the Gargoyles, Mount Garibaldi etc.

3) It goes uphill for the first 2/3 and the last 1/3 is downhill

4) Quite a popular trail, especially on the weekend. There will be lots of passing and yielding

Some important info:

1) There's an outhouse at Red Heather Shelter

2) Spotted a few bear poops along the trail so be wary of your surroundings

3) Bring a hat or wear long sleeves if you don't want to be burnt by the sun

4) Campsites are first come first served! There is a total of 35 pads. Make sure you book in advance because they fill up fast.

5) There are three bear caches, enough to go around for everyone

6) Two outhouses at the camp ground

7) One lake is for swimming, the other is for drinking only

What to bring:

1) Poles as it helps with the way back down, or if you plan to hike in the area (they're all considered moderate to hard)

2) Water purifier tablets and/or water filter

3) Swimsuit to dip into the lake, a towel and probably flip flops

4) First aid kit in case of injuries

5) Flashlight for night time

6) A little portable stove top and mini propane tank to boil your water

7) All your camping gear!

The Hike

This was my second time going backcountry camping, and I remember the first time as being quite unpleasant. My shoulders were hurting, my legs were dying, and I had to take breaks every 15 minutes or so. Due to PTSD from that, I was nervous about the weight of the backpack and having to lug it for 10km straight. Surprisingly, it felt really different this time. I definitely didn't feel as winded as last time.

The first hour or so was not that interesting as the trail was shrouded in the trees. It was quite warm already at 8am, and the trail was already busy. We saw many hikers with day packs running up the trail as well. The ground was not as flat as I remembered it was unfortunately, but the incline is steady and mostly gradual so that felt nice. The trail was also wide so there was breathing space.

Once we got past Red Heather Shelter, the trees began to open up. For the next ten minutes or so, the trail became a tad steeper, which we felt immediately because of our heavy loads. The trail also forks off into a cyclist's trail and a hiker's trail, so we sure to watch for the sign and make a left.

The trees on the left hand side began to fall away, and we soon saw the plethora of mountains surrounding us. This part of the trail was along the ridge of Round Mountain, so we have unparalleled views of the Garibaldi Highlands. There were no shortage of views and it made the rest of the trail go by quickly.

The path dipped down for the last km or so, which was a relief for our legs. Before we knew it, we could see the lakes below us in the distance. I realized this year they roped off certain sections of the area, probably due to the fact that too many people were making their own paths and accidentally destroying plants and vegetation. Therefore, getting to the campground took an extra 5 - 10 minutes of walking around both lakes and the ranger station.

Fortunately, we got there early and was able to pick a pad that overlooked the valley the best. We were completely surrounded by mountains, valleys and forests - truly a sight to behold!

This campground was incredibly well-maintained - the pads were so clean and the paths leading to each pad was clearly marked. There were even rocks on each pad, courtesy of past campers no doubt. I think bringing flip flops would suffice because the trek between the pads and the two lakes is fairly short and not sketchy at all. I loved how I didn't have to walk 10 minutes just to get fresh water.

Many people like to camp at Elfin Lakes so they can explore the hikes nearby, which includes the Gargoyles, Opal Cone and Diamond Head. I headed up Opal Cone as soon as we finished setting up camp (you can read about it here:), and by the time I came back, I was SO ready to take a dip in the lake.

Maybe because I was suffering from a mild heat stroke from Opal Cone, but the water in the lake did not feel as icy as some people described it. It's definitely cold, but manageable. I swam from one end to the other, and back, without a problem. The surface of the water was warmer than the bottom part of the lake due to the bright sunlight, so if you want to avoid the cold, try to stay afloat as much as possible. The water is absolutely gorgeous, clear and, best of all, clean. There's a bit of sediment at the bottom, but that is to be expected. The use of shower/hair products is prohibited, so please do respect that rule! That's the only way we can preserve the beauty of this lake.

After the swim, I was ready to eat. It was my first time trying dehydrated food so I got the water portions wrong, but the meal still turned out to be quite tasty! It was the chili mac with beef from Mountain House (got it from MEC). We ate, chatted, laughed, swatted at the flies that were swarming us, and watched the sunlight fade. Due to the mountains we were unable to see the actual sunset, but the soft golden hour glow that was cast around the campground was already enough. The whole place felt almost surreal; it was that pretty.

The campground got pretty chilly at night, so bring thermals and long pants. It wasn't as cold as Taylor Meadows in Garibaldi though. And don't forget to hang up your food at the bear cache!

Each of the 35 tent pads are oriented in a way where everyone can see the sunrise. I, for one, was not about to miss this opportunity. So at 5:30am, we woke up and sat on the ledge of the pad as we waited for the sun to peak out from the mountains in front of us. I even had time to boil some water to make a hot coffee.