Elfin Lakes Digital

Garibaldi Provincial Park is one huge park.  The two most popular hikes are Garibaldi Lake and Elfin Lakes.  While both of these are excelent day hikes, they also can be the first day of a longer stay in the park.  The trail to Elfin Lakes (actually a 4x4 road that is gated closed) is the easier hike (less elevation gain) and closer to Vancouver.  The hike is particularly rewarding because a good portion of the hike is along a ridge giving you great views both into the park and of the Tantalus range.

  The hike up to Red Heather (roughly the half way point) is in the trees.  After Red Heather you open up into long views and scree slopes.   The lack of trees changes the plant life but you often don't notice because the views take your breath away.

  One of the things I've learned over the year is to be careful how you frame your pictures of mountains.  Any idiot can point their camera at a mountain and go click.  Assuming the view isn't a keyhole view, your challenge as a photographer is to find a way to make that mountain shot yours.  If you have forever you can wait for sunset, or a bear to walk in front of it, or an eclipse.  Assuming you have friends that aren't thrilled with the prospect of a multi hour wait in the hot sun, perhaps you need a plan B.

The day we picked was a scorcher, but given the choice between that and rain, I'll take sun.  We eventually made it down to the lodges and stopped for food.

While the picnick tables have some of the best views you will ever see from a man made structure, it's exposed to the sun and we desperatly needed shade for a break.  After lunch we found a good spot in the trees with a view of the people swimming in the lake.  I really wished I brought a bathing suit and towel.

Give that is was such a hot day, I was quite glad when this hike was done.  (I was even more glad when we got to the 7-11).  Even though it was super hot, we still had a great time and if a friend ever asks for company going up to Elfin lakes, I'm game.