Garibaldi Provincial Park

At over 1,950 square kilometres in size, Garibaldi Provincial Park is a limitless backcountry playground. Spanning from Squamish to beyond Whistler, it is named after the iconic, 2,678-metre peak, Mount Garibaldi and is also known as Nch'kaý to the indigenous Squamish people.

The Diamond Head region within the Park offers Squamish locals and adventurers an abundance of year-round recreation and easy access to some of the area's most spectacular hiking trails. In the summer, expect to find immensely beautiful scenery along a well-maintained hiking trail leading up to the Red Heather Hut and through the meadows to Elfin Lakes. In the winter, the park’s vast terrain becomes a dream destination for ski mountaineers, snowshoers and backcountry skiers. With so much to see, many visitors plan to spend a night at one of the backcountry campsites or inside the Elfin Lakes Hut.

As part of the Coast Mountains, the terrain is located on a dormant volcanic belt showcasing snowcapped mountains and pinnacles, alpine lakes, and abundant flora and fauna. One of the most well-known pinnacles is the Black Tusk, which can be accessed by the Rubble Creek Parking lot. Camping in the alpine on the shores of the crystalline Garibaldi Lake allows those eager to get a closer look at the Black Tusk, Panorama Ridge or the surrounding glaciers an easier approach.

2025 day-use pass changes for Garibaldi Park:

For the 2025 season, day-use passes will be required during the following times:

Friday through Monday and holidays from June 13 to October 13 at Rubble Creek and Diamond Head.
Each day from June 13 to September 1 and Friday through Monday from September 2 until October 13 at Cheakamus.

Day passes must be booked for each individual person, per day. A maximum of 4 passes may be booked per reservation. Children 12 and under accompanied by an adult do not require a pass.

For more information or to get your pass, please visit the BC Parks website.

How to get here

Garibaldi Park has two points of entry: Diamond Head Parking Lot to Elfin Lakes and Rubble Creek Parking Lot to Garibaldi Lake.

Diamond Head Parking Lot:

Heading northbound, turn east off of the Sea to Sky Highway onto Mamquam Road. Then turn North onto Highland Way S, at the roundabout turn East and head past Quest University. Turn left onto Mamquam Road, which becomes Garibaldi Park Road.

Note the area is accessible to low-clearance, 2-wheel drive vehicles in the summer months. Chains and 4-wheel drive are required during the winter months.

Rubble Creek Parking Lot:

Approximately 37 kilometres north of Squamish on the Sea to Sky Highway, take the Rubble Creek exit (Garibaldi Lake Road) on your right. Follow the paved road for approximately 2.5 kilometres where you’ll find the parking lot for the area.