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Trail: Elfin Lakes        Reads: 3399   Edit place
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Place Details
Distance: 22.0Km   Elevation: 600m   High Point: 1410m  
Location: Squamish, BC, Canada
Directions: Take Hwy #1. Drive West towards Horseshoe Bay. Take sea-to-sky Hwy to Squamish. It is about 65Km drive. Turn right on Mamquam Road where there is Canadian Tires on north-east corner. Drive about 1.7Km. The road becomes a gravel road. It is well graded with some occasional post holes. Most 2WD cars can handle it without a problem. Drive on this gravel road for 7.8Km. Look then for a turn-off on the left side with a big Garibaldi Park Rd sign. It is likely that you can drive to that turn off in Winter as the altitude there is 600m. Garibaldi Park Road is another 4.7Km to the parking and is a rougher road. It is somehow hard on 2WD but still doable. In winter, you should have chains for the tires. The snow situation can sometimes be even tough on 4x4 vehicles with chains or snowtires. There is a small overflow parking on the side at 2.7Km from the beginning of Garibaldi Park Road which can park and walk the 2Km to the trailhead. The altitude at the parking lot is 950m. There is $3 parking fee in effect and $10 per person if camping.
21 Posts
hiked Elfin Lakes
Mood and date: Oct 02, 2011
Finally snow free (mostly)  
Votes:1   Reads:148  
hiked Elfin Lakes
Mood and date: Jul 29, 2011
There was so much snow at this time of year which was surprising. We were ill-equipped which made for soggy shoes most of the way.  
Votes:2   Reads:96  
hiked Elfin Lakes
 
 
 
Mood and date: Jul 09, 2011
Solitude at Elfin Lakes on a sunny(ish) day in summer? Yup. The reason: snow, lots and lots of snow. It starts about 2-3 km from the trailhead   continue reading →

Photo votes:7   Votes:3   Reads:662  
 
 
 
Mood and date: Jun 05, 2011
Ah, finally, the summer is here! Bright blue skies and snow-clad mountains are calling :) Our group of nine started off at 8:50am from the Elfin   continue reading →

Comments:4   Photo votes:9   Votes:3   Reads:1081  
snowshoed Elfin Lakes
 
 
 
Mood and date: Apr 30, 2011
Snowshoed to the Elfin Lakes hut on Saturday and then out on Sunday. Road to the parking lot was snow free so we had no problems getting to the   continue reading →

Photo votes:6   Votes:3   Reads:1354  
hiked Elfin Lakes
Mood and date: Dec 18, 2010
Saturday morning began as a cloudy, overcast day. It didn’t get better. Three of us met the fourth in Squamish and proceeded up to the Elfin   continue reading →
Reads:459  
snowshoed Elfin Lakes GPS
Mood and date: Nov 03, 2010
Woho..Snowshoeing season is on. There is plenty of snow that I was even sinking with the snowshoes on. It was the first time that I had Elfin   continue reading →

Comments:2   Photo votes:23   Votes:1   Reads:2268  
hiked Elfin Lakes
Date: Apr 11, 2010
Good snow conditions. Almost 400 cm at the shelter - which means there will still be snow there in June. Took an alternate route before Red   continue reading →
Reads:998  
hiked Elfin Lakes
Date: Jan 24, 2010
I made this trip as part of a field session of an ACC avalanche course. We made some snowstability tests above Red Heather shelter and practiced   continue reading →
Votes:1   Reads:701  
Date: Jan 03, 2010
We did this one as a side trip from the Elfin Lakes shelter. We left the shelter at 8:30 am with great weather. It had snowed most of the last   continue reading →
Reads:1369  
hiked Elfin Lakes
Date: Jan 02, 2010
The drive up to the trailhead was quite slippery and icy. There was a ranger at the first parking lot who made sure that everybody driving up   continue reading →
Votes:2   Reads:578  
hiked Elfin Lakes
Date: Nov 29, 2009
We arrived at about 9am at the trailhead after an easy drive up the forest service road. The road was almost snow free, only a little slush on   continue reading →
Comments:1   Votes:1   Reads:661  
hiked Elfin Lakes
 
 
 
Mood and date: Sep 16, 2009
One of my favourites. Must go back for an overnighter.  
Photo votes:2   Votes:2   Reads:386  
hiked Elfin Lakes
Date: Aug 23, 2009
A very nice weekend trip, topped off with a great dip into Elfin Lake.  
Votes:3   Reads:476  
Date: Aug 23, 2009
A nice half day trip from Elfin lakes cabin. There is a section that traverses an area very prone to slides that is somewhat exposed but is passable.   continue reading →
Reads:437  
hiked Elfin Lakes
Date: Jun 17, 2009
It felt like winter. There was fog, wind, rain, and no views. Shortly after Red Heather, there was continuous snow. I followed the Summer   continue reading →

Photo votes:1   Votes:1   Reads:1982  
hiked Elfin Lakes
Date: Mar 07, 2009
Very tricky road, 4x4 with good tires, or 4x4 with chains.  
Votes:2   Reads:343  
hiked Elfin Lakes
 
 
 
Date: Aug 16, 2008
So many mosquitoes....  
Photo votes:15   Votes:2   Reads:1946  
 
 
 
Mood and date: Sep 27, 2007
A hike past Elfin Lakes to the extinct volcano.  
Reads:352  
hiked Elfin Lakes
 
 
 
Mood and date: Sep 23, 2006
Nature Vancover hike to Elfin Lakes, Garibaldi Park BC  
Reads:251  

2 GPS File Downloads
Contributor: Irina   Place name: Gargoyles (From parking lot)   Downloads: 5   Uploaded: Jun 07, 2011
Contributor: Ahmad   Place name: Elfin Lakes   Downloads: 17   Uploaded: Nov 03, 2010
elfin_lakes Movies
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