Garibaldi Park: Black Tusk/Garibaldi Lake area

Highlights in this site

Before every park visit, check the main Garibaldi park page for up-to-date alerts and advisories.

This scenic area surrounding Garibaldi Lake is the heart of Garibaldi Park. Within a small radius are such outstanding natural attractions as the Black Tusk, Panorama Ridge, Helm Glacier, the Sphinx, Guard Mountain, Garibaldi Lake, the Table, Sentinel Glacier, Sphinx Glacier, and Castle Towers. Alpine meadows come alive with wild flowers. Mountaineers will find challenging peaks to climb. Hikers may choose from trails that are easy to difficult.

Book a ride to Garibaldi Park with Parkbus

The Black Tusk is a stratovolcano and pinnacle of volcanic rock in Garibaldi Park. At 2,319 m (7,608 ft) above sea level, the upper spire is visible from a great distance in all directions.

The Black Tusk is a popular backcountry hiking destination in Garibaldi Park. BC Parks maintains a trail up to an established viewpoint with a kiosk which has interpretive information about the area. Any trails or scrambles beyond this viewpoint are not part of the recognized BC Parks trail system within Garibaldi Park. Travel beyond the viewpoint is not recommended as it may result in serious injury or death due to exposure to treacherous terrain with significant fall hazards including loose and falling rock.

Camping

All campers and overnight shelter users must make a reservation through the BC Parks reservations system year-round and must produce proof of reservation, failure to do so can result in an eviction and fines.

Reservations are required for Garibaldi Lake, Taylor Meadows, and Helm Creek campgrounds year-round.

There are no garbage facilities, so always pack out what you pack in!

Garibaldi Lake Campground

Located 9km from the parking lot, the Garibaldi Lake area offers four day-use cooking shelters, each equipped with two picnic tables, a wash sink with grey water disposal cooking counters and pit toilet facilities. Camping is not permitted in the shelters. We no longer provide cooking stoves, please bring your own.

Four outdoor picnic tables are located at Garibaldi Lake.

Garibaldi Lake Campground offers 50 tent sites, pit toilet facilities, and food hang facilities (located in the shelters). See Garibaldi Lake campground map [PDF].

Taylor Meadows Campground

Located 7.5km from the parking lot, Taylor Meadows Campground offers two day-use cooking shelters, each equipped with two picnic tables, a wash sink with grey water disposal cooking counters and pit toilet facilities. Camping is not permitted in the shelter. We no longer provide cooking stoves, please bring your own.

Taylor Meadows Campground offers 40 tent platforms, pit toilet facilities, and food hang facilities. See the Taylor Meadows campground map [PDF].

Helm Campground

Located 8.5km from the Cheakamus Lake parking lot, and 18km from the Garibaldi Lake parking lot, the Helm Creek campground offers 9 tent platforms, pit toilet facilities, and food hang facilities.

Know before you go

Advisories

Safety information

Check the main Garibaldi Park page for the latest trail conditions report.

Topographical Map 92-G-14 & 15. 1:50,000

Rubble Creek road, with access to Black Tusk and Garibaldi Lake, is not plowed to the parking lot. Do not block driveways on the main road.

There are no huts for overnight use in this area.

Black Tusk/Garibaldi Lake is an advanced intermediate to advanced backcountry ski touring area. Many people ski across Garibaldi Lake during January and February to the huts on the other side. These huts are open year-round but are only accessible during the winter months as there is no trail to them around the lake. The day use shelters at Garibaldi Lake are not designed or built for use as sleeping shelters. Winter visitors should come equipped for winter camping.

If you need assistance while in the area, the nearest emergency help is the R.C.M.P. in Squamish (call 911). Cell phone coverage is very limited.

The road to the Garibaldi Lake parking lot is not ploughed during the winter just off highway 99 between the turn-off and the gate to the Daisy Lake Dam. Be careful with where you park your vehicle as this is a snowplow route. Please don’t block the gate or the plowed part of the road going to private property.

Other areas in the park for backcountry ski touring are the Garibaldi Neve Traverse, Singing Pass and the Spearhead-Fitzsimmons Traverse. These trips require advanced skills, advanced planning and good weather conditions.

Barrier civil defence zone

The area below and adjacent to the Barrier, a geological feature upholding Garibaldi Lake is considered hazardous. Although imminent danger is unlikely, special regulations are in effect to make you aware of the potential danger and to minimize the risk to life and property in the event of a slide. Posted signs identify the civil defence zone. Do not camp, stop or linger while travelling through the zone. Camping or remaining overnight at or near the Garibaldi Lake parking lot is prohibited. Developed campgrounds are located nearby at Alice Lake, Brandywine Falls and Nairn Falls Parks.

Review the detailed guides under visit responsibly for more information on staying safe and preserving our natural spaces.

Visit responsibly

Follow these guides to ensure your activities are safe, respectful, and ecologically friendly:

Maps and location

Getting there

Turn right off Hwy 99 just after you cross the Rubble Creek Bridge, 37km north of Squamish or 19km south of Whistler onto a paved road that leads 2.5km to the Garibaldi Lake parking lot.

Topographical map 92-G-14 & 15 1:50,000