This is a personal favorite for many because of its well-marked route and spectacular views. Great writeup! All that being said the Elfin lakes area has relatively gentle slopes in most places, and since the trail to the cabin goes along the ridge top most of the way you're pretty safe. Huge collection, amazing choice, 100+ million high quality, affordable RF and RM images. the snow started about 2 or 3 km up the trail (1200 m). The elfin shelter/hut can now be reserved in advance; no idea what happens if you show up without one. Is there avalanche terrain enroute to Elfin Lakes Hut? The winter route to elfin lakes traverses some snow slopes, Bring your HIKING POLES Red Heather shelter Karl trees from the shelter trees from the shelter Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser. We planned to show them the first view of Mount Atwell, and then keep going if the conditions were good, or call it a day if it didn’t look safe. Avoid steep south facing slopes if possible. Still, enjoyed the hike although we were greeted by two completely frozen lakes in the end. I did not bring my hiking poles, big mistake. After the trek, it’s time to build your accommodations for the night. How often is the weather forecast updated. To access all of the content on Yr, we recommend that you update your browser. Another draw for this hike is the ability to sleep in the heated Elfin Lakes shelter. It varies greatly depending on conditions and how many photos you take along the way (over 200 for me, putting us at turtle pace). I would also recommend bringing earplugs, as it can get pretty loud when you are trying to sleep if there are night owls and the inevitable snorers. We are committed to keeping Outdoor Vancouver free and independent, but we need to find other ways to continue operating this site.If you like our hiking guides, and would like to help, please consider making a contribution – any amount helps! Great trail conditions for ski touring, almost completely snow covered from trail head. There are restrooms here as well. peterm. We all donned microspikes and hiked up to Heather Meadows. Find the perfect elfin lakes stock photo. Snow tires and tire chains are required along the road in. You will use the Diamond Head parking lots to access the Elfin Lakes Trailhead, there are … Join us at patreon.com/outdoorvancouver. Deeper drifts on lee sides. For full functionality of this site, it is necessary to enable JavaScript. Elfin Lakes trail is a beautiful hike, but if we were going to repeat it, we would do it in the summer, when the trail is clear of snow and the actual lakes emerge from beneath few feet of snow! We’d like to rely on loyal readers, rather than erratic ads to keep this site going. One of the prominent peaks visible along the way will be Atwell Peak – the diamond-shaped peak off to the north. Always carry The Essentials and fill out a trip plan. Be it rainy and cloudy monday morning we decided to hike in to elfin lakes. The trail itself is a steady uphill climb of 11 km to reach the hut at Elfin Lakes, and will take around 3 – 5 hours, each way (with great variability depending on weather and snow conditions). It is about 16 km to reach the trailhead from Highway 99, mostly on a narrow, gravel road. There are also outhouses just adjacent to the shelter. The trail itself is a steady uphill climb of 11 km to reach the hut at Elfin Lakes, and will take around 3 – 5 hours, each way (with great variability depending on weather and snow conditions). It looks like you're using an old browser. Elfin Lakes Hut. 6. eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'outdoorvancouver_ca-banner-1','ezslot_10',104,'0','0']));Once you’ve reached the hut, you can go inside to warm up, eat, and hopefully grab a bunk to sleep in. A set of Yak Tracks or crampons would have been handy. Enter your email to receive free PDF version of this guide. Heading down from the main parking lot on the snow covered road. The Elfin Lakes hike is one of the more moderate hikes in the park, but still spectacular. Sorry, Yr seems to be offline. Elfin Lakes . To see if the winter route is in place, and the latest trail conditions, see here. ... avy conditions moderated and plenty of places to get some nice turns in. You can check conditions of the trail on the BC Provincial Parks website under trail report or try typing Eflin Lakes into the search bar of Instagram to see recent posts. Located 11 km from the parking lot, the Elfin Lakes area offers an overnight shelter equipped with bunks for 33 people (11 double bunks, 12 single bunks), 4 picnic tables, 2 propane hot plates, a wash sink, a propane heater, propane lights and pit toilet facilities. Hiking Trail Guides / Mar 13th, 2020 / 68 Comments. On ridge top there was an average depth of 40-50cm. 72 Reviews of Elfin Lakes "Went up on the 24th 25th to the shelter. Shortly after beginning the ascent, you’ll reach a switchback going to your left, and continue your uphill march. If you find our content helpful, please support us via PayPal or Patreon. The first challenge of … Make sure you are online and try again. After the fork from where the trail separates into biking and hiking lakes, it's all snow till the Elfin Lakes. The times I’ve slept at the hut, it’s been a blast, meeting a group of friendly new people – playing board games and trading hiking stories. An overnight snowshoeing trip to Elfin Lakes (Garibaldi Provincial Park), British Columbia in December 2010. See the forecast as a table or graph. The route staked by BC Parks takes you through a safe route, but you should always be prepared with beacon, probe and shovel, the proper education, and check avalanche conditions prior to heading out into the snow. You will eventually see another sign pointing you left, for Garibaldi Park Diamond Head. I was determined to get up to Elfin Lakes this autumn. We weren't prepared at all hiking in our runners and no hiking poles. (If you are looking for the guide to the Elfin Lakes summer route – click here), Rating: DifficultDistance: 22 kmNet Elevation Change*: 700 mHighest Point: 1,660 m (Paul Ridge)Time Needed: 7 to 10 hours (or overnight)Type: Out and Back, Season: November to JulyDogs Allowed: NoEst. Becoming a Patron through Patreon unlocks all sorts of membership benefits and rewards. Plenty of snow on the ridge. Didn't expect so much snow. Outdoor Vancouver © 2020Disclaimer: The information in this website should not be taken as accurate, complete or up-to-date. – Guides for 10 amazing hikes near Vancouver– Hiking safety and trail etiquette– Resources, hiking gear overview, and more! Todays weather forecast, by the hour and long term. They are usually very close together, which is useful in the case of a snowstorm or low visibility conditions, and also for those caught outside after sunset. Last night it showed 30cm at around -5.. Michelle at Elfin Lakes: “Five of us headed to Elfin Lakes on Good Friday with beautiful weather all the way up from Vancouver to Squamish. Backcountry camping in Garibaldi Provincial Park requires reservation. Elfin Lakes / Red Heather / Paul Ridge Hike, Snowshoe, Backcountry Ski trails near Squamish, British Columbia. Skier's Plaza is the part of Whistler Village where the two mountains meet. Pay camping fees and acquire day use permits at: https://discovercamping.ca/bccweb/ Trail Difficulty Rating Trail Type Rating E Easy Type I 1.5 to 2.5 m wide, paved, gravel or board walk, less than 10% grade. I hike out to Elfin Lakes yesterday. Recent Trail Reports Along Route The trailhead is only about a 30 minute drive from downtown Squamish, although tire chains are mandatory to access the Elfin Lakes/Diamond Head trailhead parking lot. The final curve before the parking lot is particularly sketchy (steep and often icy), and you may walk in the final few kilometers from an overflow parking/ turnaround area instead of navigating this final part of the road. All Forecasts are meant for mid afternoon and are intended as a guideline for the level of bug activity. I found the trail condition looks OK... We plan to hike to Elfin Lakes on Oct 25,2020. Your email address will not be published. The best, or depending on your luck, worst part of staying at the shelter may be your company. The reader is warned that it is unreasonable to rely solely upon the above information. Sundial Boutique Hotel Livestream Webcams: The Sundial Boutique Hotel has a livestream camera with an excellent view of Skier's Plaza. Estimated time to Elfin Lakes in winter is 3-5 hours. These may or may not be marked for winter routes, but regardless, you will need to take all the requisite snow travel safety precautions if you carry on to any of these other destinations from Elfin Lakes. Elfin Lakes Trip Reporter. I am going to Elfin lake on 26th(Monday). There is a large, heated, shelter at Elfin Lakes that sleeps about 33. Pushing on from the Red Heather hut, the next 6 km provide a few steep sections, but also some flat and downhill relief. The 7 day weather forecast summary for Elfin Lakes: For Elfin Lakes in the coming week the average daytime maximum temperature will be around 2°C, with a high for the week of 3°C expected on the afternoon of Sunday 20th. No need to register, buy now! The road is narrow, and it’s not worth taking chances if your car is not winter-ready, as more than a few cars have fallen off this road before. Went there July 6, 2013. I have done it in as short as 2.5 hours and as long as 7 hours. You should check this information yourself. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/british-columbia/elfin-lakes-diamondhead The warmer the day, the deeper you'll sink in the less consolidated snow. Get our exclusive Patrons sticker, a free copy of Hiking Vancouver (our 500+ page hiking eBook), discounts on our apparel, and more! Required fields are marked *. Round Mountain (volcano) Weather (Days 0-3): The weather forecast for Round Mountain (volcano) is: A heavy fall of snow, heaviest during Mon nightTemperatures will be below freezing (max -3°C on Sun night, min -5°C on Mon afternoon)Wind will be generally light. Snow is slippery and hard, you start seeing it 30 mins or so… Featuring over 110 hiking trails around Vancouver, this eBook produced by Outdoor Vancouver is your guide to the best hikes in southwest British Columbia. Mt Garibaldi Weather (Days 0-3): The weather forecast for Mt Garibaldi is: A heavy fall of snow, heaviest during Sat afternoonTemperatures will be well below freezing (max -7°C on Sat afternoon, min -14°C on Mon afternoon)Winds decreasing (gales from the WSW on Sat night, calm by Mon afternoon). Become a Patron! Looking for the most amazing hikes near Vancouver? Join the Outdoor Vancouver Slack Channel to chat about trail suggestions, current hiking conditions, and all things related to hiking around Vancouver and B.C. Louise, Susan, and Gloria decided to brave the so-so weather forecast, which changed at the last minute to give us mostly sunny skies for the day. We had done an overnight trip up there in early October a few years ago and the fall colours in the meadows were amazing! You should check this information yourself. Find the best snow conditions in Appalachians and Great Lakes for skiing and snowboarding. The trail to Elfin Lakes is a steady 11 km (7 mile) climb from the parking lot onto a gently sloping ridge that provides far-reaching views for the last hour of the day before finding its way to the two small alpine lakes that give the trail its name. Red Heather Hut. The cabin is two floors, with bunks on top, and a kitchen and a recreation area on the bottom. Camping at the Elfin Lakes shelter opens up the opportunity to other nearby hikes like Gargoyles, Opal Cone and Mamquam Lake. There are two lakes (one swimmable, one reserved for drinking water), a well-equipped shelter, and a campsite available in a beautiful, alpine area. The Scoop on Parking. The mean minimum temperature will be -4°C, dipping to its lowest on the morning of Wednesday 23rd at -9°C. As you are driving through Squamish, exit right at the BC Parks sign for Garibaldi Park Diamond Head. You’ll team up to construct your own quinzee, or Canadian snow shelter. Disclaimer: The information in this website should not be taken as accurate, complete or up-to-date. Simply follow these orange poles and enjoy the views (provided you have good weather), until you finally reach the Elfin Lakes shelter. If anyone is hiking it... Did the hike today, Aug. 28/20 Stunning views make all the uphill worthwhile. The main problem was that Elfin Lakes stays covered in snow well into June. Elfin Lakes in Garibaldi Provincial Park is an absolutely phenomenal, though long, hiking, biking, snowshoeing and skiing trail that begins at the Diamond Head area in Squamish. Lancer had no problems going up. Well the title of this post is Elfin Lakes in fall, but really what I think I mean is Elfin Lakes in almost winter. You will receive the file immediately in your email, and will also receive the free monthly Outdoor Vancouver newsletter. The elevation gain is 600 m, with the highest point of the hike reaching about 1,660 m along Paul Ridge before you descend to the Elfin Lakes hut at 1,470 m. There are spectacular views of nearby mountain peaks along the way to the lakes as you make your way along the marked snowshoe trail. The trail to Elfin Lakes is 11 km (7 miles) one way with an elevation gain of 600 m (1969 ft). The road will steepen and you will pass Quest University. The Elfin Lakes Cabin is one of the best in the region because it is heated by propane and has propane stoves for cooking. Any snowshoers or ski tourers around Vancouver will likely be familiar with the Elfin Lakes winter trail. From the Diamond Head parking lot, the first 5 km of the trail are the steepest of the day. At the 5 km mark (roughly 1.5 hours), you will reach the Red Heather shelter and this is a great place to eat, rest, and warm up using the wood furnace before pushing the final 6 km of your hike. Elfin Lakes is a very popular hiking destination located in Garibaldi Provincial Park near Squamish, B.C. Learn More. Sleeping in the hut is only allowed in emergency. Forecasts are also relative to an area's normal amount of bugs for the current time of year. Your email address will not be published. There will be a few quick views to the west through the trees if you keep your eyes peeled, but most of the trail to the Red Heather shelter is within the forest. From here, once the snow is deep enough, a winter route marked by orange poles will be set up. The snowpack was below avalanche threshold then with many ground features visible. Beacon, Probe, Shovel? Photos. 4 trails with 128 photos Want to connect with other local hikers? From Skier's Plaza you have the Whistler Gondola, Fitzsimmons Express Chair and Blackcomb Excalibur Gondola and the focus of much of the excitement in Whistler. All 5 Kms of it. Driving Time from Vancouver: 1 hour 30 minutesTrailhead Coordinates: 49.750175, -123.053186. eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'outdoorvancouver_ca-medrectangle-4','ezslot_8',107,'0','0']));*For a better understanding of the stats and difficulty rating, check out the Hiking Guides page for details. Advertising revenue is falling quickly across the internet, and independently-run sites like Outdoor Vancouver are hit hardest by it. Hiking the Elfin Lakes Trail in Winter & Spring - know before you go By providing this information, Bottletop Media does not assume any liability for the use of this information by our readers. - Elfin Lakes (Diamondhead), Garibaldi Lake (Rubble Creek), Cheakamus Lake . Thank you! Squamish - We’ll snowshoe two hours in the winter paradise of Vancouver's coastal mountains. Snowshoeing Dog Mountain in North Vancouver. A one-time donation through PayPal helps with monthly website hosting costs. 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