30+ of the Best Lake Hikes near Vancouver
Table of Contents
Thanks to its proximity to the mountains Vancouver is blessed with an abundance of lakes that you can hike to. Whether it’s an easy hike around a lake in the forest, or a major outing to a beautiful turqoise alpine lake in the mountains, there’s something for everyone here in BC (and south of the border in Washington too!).
Below is a list of 30+ hikes to stunning lakes, all reachable from Vancouver. Some may require (and benefit from!) an overnight trip, but the majority are possible as day hikes. As is typically the case, the most beautiful lakes are generally the hardest ones to reach.
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Beginner Lake Hikes Near Vancouver
Beginner lake hikes are generally easily accessible (no off road driving), very popular and easy to navigate. You can usually hike these year-round and still see plenty of people around. Given the ease of these hikes, most of these lakes are not what I would consider the prettiest lakes, as they generally aren’t alpine lakes. There are definitely a couple of exceptions to that rule though!
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 10.50Km
Elevation Gain: 300m
Highest Elevation: 220m
Average Gradient: 5.70%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Low / Low
Time Needed:
– Slow: 3.5 – 4 Hours
– Moderate: 2.5 – 3.5 Hours
– Fast: 2 – 2.5 Hours
Buntzen Lake is a very popular recreation area situated north of Port Moody and maintained by BC Hydro thanks to a reservoir they operate there. There are a number of trails within the park, but the most popular is the Buntzen Lake loop. Other popular trails include the Diez Vistas trail (which generally includes half of the Buntzen Lake loop as well), Eagle Ridge and the Lakeview trail.
The Buntzen Lake loop is a very accessible hike for all abilities, with mostly flat and undulating terrain throughout, and few steep sections. The terrain is mostly made up of gravel, loose rock and compact dirt, with little in the way of technical challenge. Indeed this is a very popular hike for families, newcomers to the city, tourists, dog walkers, trail runners and every other recreationalist you can imagine. You can be sure you’ll see people along the trail each and every day, and in the peak season on a sunny weekend the park will generally be packed.
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 10.60Km
Elevation Gain: 680m
Highest Elevation: 677m
Average Gradient: 12.83%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Moderate / Moderate
Time Needed:
– Slow: 4 – 5 Hours
– Moderate: 3 – 4 Hours
– Fast: 2.5 – 3 Hours
Chadsey Lake is a picturesque lake situated in Sumas Mountain Regional Park, near Abbotsford in the Fraser Valley. This is a year-round hike, though the lake will usually be frozen over in the winter months, typically thawing again in April. The trail can often be muddy for much of the year and in the summer it should be expected for there to be lots of mosquitoes, so bug repellant is strongly recommended in late spring and early summer in particular.
There are a few different routes for getting to Chadsey Lake, but this one beginning on Sumas Mountain Road is the most popular option, as it’s accessible for all types of vehicle.
Difficulty: Very Easy
Distance: 7.5Km
Elevation Gain: 164m
Highest Elevation: 313m
Average Gradient: 4.37%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Low / Low
Time Needed:
– Slow: 2.5 – 3 Hours
– Moderate: 2 – 2.5 Hours
– Fast: 1.5 – 2 Hours
The Four Lakes trail is a short hike in Alice Lake Provincial Park near Squamish, hitting all of the main sights in the park within just a few hours. This is a very easy hike with minimal elevation. The entire trail is simple, well groomed, easy to follow and never steep.
The hike begins in a small parking lot on Alice Lake Road, and proceeds in a clockwise loop to four different lakes within the park, Stump Lake, Fawn Lake, Edith Lake and Alice Lake. The whole trail is a typical BC forest with lush green moss draped over trees throughout.
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 9.30Km
Elevation Gain: 220m
Highest Elevation: 138m
Average Gradient: 4.73%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Low / Low
Time Needed:
– Slow: 3 – 4 Hours
– Moderate: 2 – 3 Hours
– Fast: 1.50 – 2 Hours
Sasamat Lake is a popular spot in Belcarra Regional Park in Port Moody. Many people enjoy a leisurely stroll around the lake, as well as swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding and fishing in the lake’s waters. Sasamat Lake is known as one of the warmest lakes in Greater Vancouver, hence it’s a popular year-round swimming destination.
As a standalone trail, the Lake Loop is a very simple stroll with practically no elevation gain, meaning it wouldn’t typically be considered a hike for the purposes of this blog. However, if you combine the loop with the nearby Woodhaven Swamp, this becomes a more involved outing, albeit still fairly straightforward.
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 7.40Km
Elevation Gain: 491m
Highest Elevation: 1,572m
Average Gradient: 13.27%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Low / Moderate
Time Needed:
– Slow: 4 – 5 Hours
– Moderate: 3 – 4 Hours
– Fast: 2 – 3 Hours
Joffre Lakes are a trio of glacier-fed lakes situated in Joffre Lakes Provincial Park near Pemberton. Thanks to its ease of access and relatively simple trail, Joffre Lakes has quickly become one of the most popular hikes in British Columbia, drawing in crowds of hikers, tourists and campers every day throughout the summer.
With the jaw-dropping, glaciated peak of Slalok Mountain as a backdrop, the turquoise lakes derive their colour from the enormous glaciers that cascade from the summit, with each lake spilling into the next. While all of the lakes are scenic, the middle and upper lakes are by far the most popular, with crowds of people lingering around their shores throughout the day.
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 4.80Km
Elevation Gain: 255m
Highest Elevation: 1,230m
Average Gradient: 10.62%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Low / Moderate
Time Needed:
– Slow: 3 – 4 Hours
– Moderate: 2 – 3 Hours
– Fast: 1.50 – 2 Hours
Mystery Lake is a popular swimming hole located in Mount Seymour Provincial Park, with the nearby Mystery Peak offering some decent views on a clear day. When combined, this makes for a short, relatively straightforward hike, albeit with some moderately steep sections throughout.
Mystery Lake is a very popular place to go swimming in the summer, with easy accessibility from the parking lot at the top of Mount Seymour Road. The lake is very scenic with crystal clear water, and has a few rocky islands in the middle that swimmers can swim to/from. Hikers could also optionally extend the hike to De Pencier Bluffs, which is likely more worthwhile than Mystery Peak.
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 6.70Km
Elevation Gain: 310m
Highest Elevation: 344m
Average Gradient: 9.25%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Low / Low
Time Needed:
– Slow: 3 – 4 Hours
– Moderate: 2 – 3 Hours
– Fast: 1.5 – 2Hours
Whyte Lake is a small and charming lake in West Vancouver which can be accessed from a few different trails. The lake itself isn’t the most inspiring of lakes, and perhaps the biggest draw of this hike is the incredible section of trail going through Nelson Creek. This is one of the finest examples of Pacific temperate rainforest anywhere near Vancouver.
This is a popular trail with a relatively small parking lot. In the summer it can get very busy with dog walkers and families all enjoying the mellow stroll to the lake, so I advise getting there early. You can swim in the lake itself, but it’s supposedly very chilly and doesn’t look the cleanest of lakes, so I’ll let you decide that one.
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 7.25Km
Elevation Gain: 200m
Highest Elevation: 213m
Average Gradient: 5.50%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Low / Low
Time Needed:
– Slow: 2.5 – 3 Hours
– Moderate: 2 – 2.5 Hours
– Fast: 1.5 – 2 Hours
Rice Lake is a scenic and tranquil lake in Lynn Headwaters Regional Park in North Vancouver that makes for an easy and pleasant hike for all abilities. Due to its well groomed gravel trail, it’s particularly popular with families looking to take their young ones for an easy stroll in nature. It’s also a popular dog walking and fishing spot, and you’ll likely find many anglers dotted around the lakes shore anytime you visit.
There are a few different trails leading to Rice Lake, with the easiest option approaching from a parking lot north of the Seymour-Capilano water treatment plant. From here this is basically a completely flat 2.5km stroll along a gravel trail. This is such an easy trail I would barely call it a hike, hence the trail I am suggesting is longer, beginning at Lynn Canyon.
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 3.5Km
Elevation Gain: 240m
Highest Elevation: 840m
Average Gradient: 13.70%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Low / Moderate
Time Needed:
– Slow: 3 – 4 Hours
– Moderate: 2 – 3 Hours
– Fast: 1 – 2 Hours
Lindeman Lake is an extremely popular and short hike based in Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park, and is quite possibly the busiest hike in the Fraser Valley. Due to the ease of access, family & pet friendliness, the stunning turquoise lake, and the fact this is an easy hike for all abilities, Lindeman Lake is actually less of a hike and more of a tourist destination nowadays.
At just 3.5km, Lindeman Lake is a short hike that can feasibly be completed in just an hour, and considering the long drive out from many regions, a hike ending at the lake might be a little short for many people. Thankfully there are a few different options for extending the hike to something a bit more worthwhile (and less crowded), so you may want to consider those if you want to make a full day of it.
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 14.70Km
Elevation Gain: 560m
Highest Elevation: 530m
Average Gradient: 7.62%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Moderate / Moderate
Time Needed:
– Slow: 5 – 6 Hours
– Moderate: 4 – 5 Hours
– Fast: 3 – 4 Hours
Hoover Lake is a scenic and tranquil spot in Mission that makes for a moderately challenging hike. The majority of the hike follows a wide logging road before entering the forest and looping around the lake. It’s also possible to continue hiking beyond the lake to the Hoover Lake viewpoint, which provides some nice views of Stave Lake and its surrounding mountains.
The stats and route provided here include both the lake loop and the viewpoint, but if you want to keep it simple and just go directly to the lake and back, it will be more like 8km and 375m elevation gain.
Other Beginner Lake Hikes Near Vancouver
There are plenty of other beginner lake hikes near Vancouver as well as the above that you may want to consider:
- Lightning Lakes Loop – This is a very popular trail in Manning Park, forming a loop around Lightning Lake. The full loop is around 8.5km, but hikers can go as far as they want before returning back to the parking lot. This is a good family option as the trail is so easy, and it also makes for an easy and popular snowshoeing trip in the winter.
- Rolley Lake – Rolley Lake is a small but scenic park located in Mission, BC. While being one of the smaller provincial parks, it’s very popular nonetheless, particularly with families, anglers and dog walkers. While Rolley Lake is a predominantly flat provincial park, and would barely register on many hikers radars, it is actually possible to get a short hike in the area if you combine the mostly flat loop around the lake with the optional extension of Rolley Falls.
- Killarney Lake – Killarney Lake is a scenic spot in Crippen Regional Park on Bowen Island that is a popular hike thanks to its easy and well maintained looped trail around the lake. This is a local favorite and is also popular with visitors to Bowen Island looking for a scenic and mellow stroll in nature. Bowen Island is easily accessible from the mainland thanks to the short 20 minute ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay.
- Falls Lake – This is a very short and easy hike in the Coquihalla to a lake between Nak Peak and Zoa Peak. There are a couple of campsites at the lake as well.
Intermediate Lake Hikes Near Vancouver
Intermediate lake hikes move beyond beginner trails, either because they’re more physically or technically challenging, they’re less popular or they might be more difficult to access (potentially requiring some off-road driving). These hikes may require an element of self-navigation as they aren’t always following a maintained trail, and planning may be necessary to ensure conditions are favorable for a successful outing.
Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 11.90Km
Elevation Gain: 969m
Highest Elevation: 1,053m
Average Gradient: 16.29%
Effort/Reward Ratio: High / Moderate
Time Needed:
– Slow: 5 – 6 Hours
– Moderate: 4 – 5 Hours
– Fast: 3 – 4 Hours
Deeks Lake is one of the many destinations along the Howe Sound Crest Trail in Cypress Provincial Park, and attracts a significant number of people in the summer to its shores.
Surrounded by the imposing Gotha, Coburg and Wettin Peak, this lake is nestled in a scenic area, with the imposing Brunswick Mountain off in the distance. Thanks to its proximity to Vancouver and the fact camping reservations are not required, many people opt to camp at Deeks Lake in the summer months, before either continuing along the Howe Sound Crest Trail, or returning back to the car. There are a couple of other lakes nearby, also along the HSCT, Hanover Lake and Brunswick Lake.
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 22Km
Elevation Gain: 821m
Highest Elevation: 1,602m
Average Gradient: 5.45%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Moderate / High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 7 – 9 Hours
– Moderate: 6 – 7 Hours
– Fast: 5 – 6 Hours
Elfin Lakes are a duo of lakes in Garibaldi Provincial Park that are very popular for hiking, snowshoeing, skiing and even mountain biking. Due to its gradual gradient, beautiful setting and relative ease of access, you can be sure Elfin Lakes will be well trafficked by all sorts of adventurers year-round and especially during the summer.
As well as offering excellent day trip potential, Elfin Lakes is also a very popular camping destination, offering 35 campsites, with another 33 spaces available in Elfin Lakes Shelter. Many people choose to use Elfin Lakes as a base site for further adventures into Garibaldi Provincial Park, namely Opal Cones, the Gargoyles, Columnar Peak, Diamond Head and Mamquam Lake.
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 18Km
Elevation Gain: 850m
Highest Elevation: 1,501m
Average Gradient: 9.4%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Moderate / Moderate
Time Needed:
– Slow: 6 – 8 Hours
– Moderate: 5 – 6 Hours
– Fast: 4 – 5 Hours
Garibaldi Lake is a vibrant turquoise lake located in Garibaldi Provincial Park between Squamish and Whistler. It lies almost 1,500m above sea level and is over 250m deep. The turquoise color of the lake is thanks to two nearby glaciers feeding glacial flour into the lake as they melt, the Sphinx Glacier to the east and the Sentinel Glacier to the south.
The lake is surrounded almost entirely by mountains, many of which are scalable for the more adventurous, as well as alpine meadows and various other bodies of water and volcanic structures. Some popular extensions to this hike are the nearby Panorama Ridge and the Black Tusk, with more adventurous parties potentially summiting Mount Price.
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 16.20Km
Elevation Gain: 1,044m
Highest Elevation: 2,117m
Average Gradient: 12.89%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Moderate / High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 7 – 8 Hours
– Moderate: 5 – 7 Hours
– Fast: 4 – 5 Hours
Blanca Lake is a stunning alpine lake located west of Whistler, deep in the Squamish River Valley between the Squamish and Elaho River. Blanca Peak is an easily hiked summit located northeast of the lake, offering panoramic views in a truly remote region.
While Blanca Lake is located closer to Whistler than Squamish, access is from the Squamish Valley Road and indeed is the most challenging part of this trip. You will be driving a full 40km along forest service roads in order to access the trailhead, taking around 3 hours from Vancouver. As such a 4×4 / high clearance vehicle is strongly recommended, particularly towards the end where there are deep cross ditches to navigate. For those willing to make the drive out, there are a number of alpine lakes within the area, all offering stunning views.
Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 14.30Km (8.9 Miles)
Elevation Gain: 1,150m (3,775ft)
Highest Elevation: 2,140m (7,020ft)
Average Gradient: 16.10%
Effort/Reward Ratio: High / High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 7 – 8 Hours
– Moderate: 6 – 7 Hours
– Fast: 5 – 6 Hours
Hidden Lake Lookout is a well trafficked hike in North Cascades National Park in Washington, and the nearby Hidden Lake is a popular backcountry camping destination, making this a very busy spot for outdoor recreationalists on a sunny summer weekend. Most hikers will simply visit the lookout and head back, but you are also able to summit the nearby Hidden Lakes Peaks via a relatively straightforward scramble along the southwest ridge.
You can also hike down to the lakes shore, however this will add around 230m elevation gain to the stats above.
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 6.00Km
Elevation Gain: 410m
Highest Elevation: 1,692m
Average Gradient: 13.67%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Low / Moderate
Time Needed:
– Slow: 2.5 – 3 Hours
– Moderate: 2 – 2.5 Hours
– Fast: 1.5 – 2 Hours
Semaphore Lakes is a popular destination thanks to being an easy hike to a series of serene alpine lakes and dramatic mountain views. After just a few kilometers on the trail, hikers will find themselves in a beautiful alpine basin bespeckled with turquoise lakes, all the while enjoying the glacier clad peaks as a backdrop.
Semaphore Lakes is very popular with campers thanks to its ease of access, excellent views and the ability to camp without the need for a reservation. All campsites are first come, first served, though it certainly does get popular on a sunny summer weekend, so an early start is recommended if you intend to camp. This is also a very ecologically sensitive environment, with signage indicating where people should camp. Make sure to respect the flora and fauna, and camp in properly designated spots. There are pit toilets and bear caches at the lakes as well.
The only really challenge for Semaphore Lakes is the long drive out, with a good stretch on an FSR.
Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 12.60Km
Elevation Gain: 1,350m
Highest Elevation: 1,977m
Average Gradient: 21.43%
Effort/Reward Ratio: High / High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 8 – 10 Hours
– Moderate: 6 – 8 Hours
– Fast: 4 – 6 Hours
Wedgemount Lake is a glacier fed, turquoise lake situated in the northern reaches of Garibaldi Provincial Park, northeast of Whistler and south of Pemberton. Set amongst some of the highest mountains in SWBC, Wedgemount Lake offers stunning views of peaks and glaciers, and thanks to a number of campsites and the Wedgemount Lake Hut, recreationalists can spend plenty of time here soaking in their surroundings. Campsites for the lake are reservable through BC Parks.
While many people choose to camp at the lake, lots of hikers are also content with hiking in and out on the same day. The trailhead is accessible for all vehicles, though it does involve 2km of driving along a logging road, and the trail to the lake is well maintained and easy to follow.
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 15.10Km (9.4 miles)
Elevation Gain: 960m (3,150ft)
Highest Elevation: 1,600m (5,250ft)
Average Gradient: 12.70%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Moderate / High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 7 – 8 Hours
– Moderate: 6 – 7 Hours
– Fast: 5 – 6 Hours
Gothic Basin lies within the specially designated, ecologically sensitive Morning Star Natural Resources Conservation Area, managed by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. This is a very popular hike for both day hikers and campers, with crowds of people flocking to the region on a sunny summer weekend thanks to its stunning views, myriad of lakes/tarns, and moderate difficulty.
While the hike stats for Gothic Basin aren’t that significant, the trail is very rugged and steep in sections. The miners that first constructed this trail did not follow the usual WA mantra of manicured, well graded switchbacks up the mountain, instead preferring a steep, direct and rocky climb. The first 3km of the hike are a practically flat walk along the Sauk River, meaning the 960m elevation gain is really spread out over the remaining 4.5km of hiking to Foggy Lake, for an average gradient of over 20%.
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 24.70Km
Elevation Gain: 1,365m
Highest Elevation: 1,807m
Average Gradient: 11.05%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Moderate / Moderate
Time Needed:
– Slow: 7 – 8 Hours
– Moderate: 8 – 10 Hours
– Fast: 10 – 12 Hours
Mount Brew and Keg Peak are a duo of peaks located between Squamish and Whistler, slightly east of Cypress Peak and south of Brandywine Mountain. The nearby Brew Lake is a mildly popular summer hike with plenty of space to camp around the lakes shores. The stats above are for summiting Mount Brew and Keg Peak, if you only plan to go to the lake these will reduce dramatically.
While Brew Lake isn’t the most scenic lake when compared to others in the region, it’s a very straightforward, albeit fairly long hike, especially if you add on the nearby peaks.
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 8.70Km
Elevation Gain: 542m
Highest Elevation: 1,800m
Average Gradient: 12.45%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Moderate / Moderate
Time Needed:
– Slow: 4 – 5 Hours
– Moderate: 3 – 4 Hours
– Fast: 2 – 3 Hours
Rohr Lake is an alpine lake situated beneath Mount Rohr along Duffey Lake Road, near Pemberton. With its stunning turquoise colors and relatively modest hiking stats it makes for a popular camping and hiking spot. With the nearby Mount Rohr trail a relatively easy addition, this area becomes quite popular in the summer for those looking for something a bit more adventurous, and quieter, than the nearby Joffre Lakes.
At 1,800m elevation Rohr Lake is actually quite a lot higher than the highest of Joffre’s three lakes, which sits at around 1,560m, and as such it remains snow covered deeper into the summer. Usually it will only fully thaw out in mid-July, so any ascent in June or earlier will almost certainly be to a snow covered lake, and by most people’s standards will be pointless.
Other Intermediate Lake Hikes Near Vancouver
There are plenty of other intermediate lake hikes near Vancouver as well as the above that you may want to consider:
- Watersprite Lake – Watersprite Lake is one of the more popular lake hikes near Vancouver thanks to it’s beautiful turquoise colour and incredibly instagrammable backdrops. There is also a hut you can reserve at the lake for larger parties. Unfortunately the drive to reach it can be a bit rough, and is only suitable for higher clearance vehicles.
- Iceberg Lake – Situated slightly east of Rainbow Mountain at the base of a small, receding glacier, Iceberg Lake is another popular trail thanks to its ease of access from Whistler.
- Rainbow Lake – Slightly south of the above mentioned Rainbow Mountain, and north of Gin Peak, sits Rainbow Lake, another popular lake trail near Whistler.
Advanced Lake Hikes Near Vancouver
Advanced lake hikes will typically either be very difficult hikes on maintained trails, or hikes that require an element of self-navigation following low/no traffic routes through potentially complex terrain. Some of these may require some off road driving as well.
Difficulty: Very Difficult
Distance: 15.80Km
Elevation Gain: 1,568m
Highest Elevation: 1,800m
Average Gradient: 19.85%
Effort/Reward Ratio: High / High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 8 – 10 Hours
– Moderate: 7 – 8 Hours
– Fast: 6 – 7 Hours
The Pierce Lakes are a duo of turquoise lakes located in Chilliwack, making for a challenging but rewarding hike from the bottom of the Chilliwack River Valley.
Upper Pierce Lake is the more scenic of the two lakes, with stunning alpine views and crystal clear waters. A stream flows from the upper lake to the far less scenic, but still worthy Lower Pierce Lake, almost 400m below. The lower lake sits within a dense forested area and doesn’t offer a lot in terms of views, though the waters are still a beautiful blue, albeit muddied from their journey down the mountain.
The hike to both of these lakes is relentlessly steep though manageable as a day trip for fit parties. It’s also possible to extend the hike further to Mount MacFarlane, which offers incredible views from the summit.
Difficulty: Very Difficult
Distance: 18.50Km
Elevation Gain: 1,800m
Highest Elevation: 1,953m
Average Gradient: 19.46%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Very High / High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 9 – 10 Hours
– Moderate: 7 – 9 Hours
– Fast: 6 – 7 Hours
Flora Lake is located in Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park in the Chilliwack River Valley. Near the incredibly popular Lindeman Lake and Greendrop Lake, Flora Lake sees far less traffic than these two due to the significantly more challenging hike to get there.
There are two routes that most people will take to Flora Lake, either completing this as a looped hike including Lindeman Lake and Greendrop Lake, or as an out and back hike. Both hikes come with difficulties, with the loop being longer and covering multiple boulder fields, and the out and back being shorter, but with more elevation and far steeper overall.
If you do make the effort to reach Flora Lake you would be remiss not to add on Flora Peak, which offers stunning views from the summit.
Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 16.80Km
Elevation Gain: 1,208m
Highest Elevation: 1,959m
Average Gradient: 14.38%
Effort/Reward Ratio: High / High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 8 – 10 Hours
– Moderate: 6 – 8 Hours
– Fast: 5 – 6 Hours
Darling Lake is a beautiful alpine lake that parties will pass by on the way to Mamquam Mountain. The lake is often used as a campground for those wanting to break up the hike over two days, and offers stunning views from its shores.
While Mamquam Mountain is more of a mountaineering objective (including glacier travel), the nearby unofficially named Manic Peak is a great option for hikers who want to summit something in the vicinity, and the stats above include summiting Manic. The hike begins from the same trailhead as Watersprite Lake, and as such involves significant off road driving. The entire trail is unofficial and unmaintained, seeing very little traffic, so self navigation confidence is required for this one.
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 19.8Km
Elevation Gain: 760m
Highest Elevation: 1,705m
Average Gradient: 7.68%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Moderate / Moderate
Time Needed:
– Slow: 8 – 10 Hours
– Moderate: 6 – 7 Hours
– Fast: 5 – 6 Hours
Ring Lake is a peaceful and serene trail in the Callaghan Conservancy that goes largely unnoticed by the majority of hikers. The hike to Ring Lake covers a variety of terrain, beginning in the forest, passing through beautiful alpine meadows speckled with ponds, as well as another lake, Conflict Lake, all with the backdrop of distant mountains, before finally ascending a steep slope to a glistening glacier lake.
Adventurous parties can continue on to summit Mount Callaghan should they desire, though this is a very steep, off trail route that will make for a massive day.
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 26.20Km
Elevation Gain: 800m
Highest Elevation: 2,181m
Average Gradient: 6.11%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Moderate / High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 10+ Hours
– Moderate: 8 – 10 Hours
– Fast: 7 – 8 Hours
Russet Lake is a beautiful alpine lake set in a stunning valley in Garibaldi Provincial Park near Whistler, offering impressive views of Fissile Peak, Overlord Glacier and the Spearhead range.
Russet Lake is a popular overnight spot with reservable campsites through BC Parks, making for a great backpacking trip and an excellent base camp for exploring deeper into the backcountry, with notable scrambles up Fissile Peak, Whirlwind Peak and Overlord Mountain all easily accessible from the lake. That being said, most people simply opt to hike to the lake and camp in the stunning alpine setting before returning. There is also a newly built alpine hut with reservable bunk beds, the Kees and Claire hut, for those that want a little more comfort.
Thanks to multiple different routes to access Russet Lake, many of which are incredibly scenic, some people opt to hike to Russet Lake as a day trip. The most popular routes to the lake are either along the Singing Pass trail, the Musical Bumps trail or the High Note trail, each of which has their own selling point. It’s also possible to take one route in and a different route out.
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 15.60Km
Elevation Gain: 915m
Highest Elevation: 1,986m
Average Gradient: 11.73%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Moderate / High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 8 – 9 Hours
– Moderate: 7 – 8 Hours
– Fast: 6 – 7 Hours
Seagram Lake is an absolutely breathtaking alpine lake situated near Tricouni Meadows and accessed via the Tricouni Peak trailhead. This trailhead requires significant off-road driving, however the actual hike (assuming you can drive to the trailhead) is a shorter one. Not only will you get to see Seagram Lake on this trail, there are several other beautiful alpine lakes along the way, including Pendent Heart Lake, Tricouni Lake and Sunrise Lake (above). You will only see Sunrise Lake if you also continue to Seagram Peak, which the stats above assume you do.
If lakes are your thing then this is perhaps the best hike in SWBC to see them. You can easily complete this as a day hike or camp at Seagram Lake (or Pendant Heart, or Reflection Lake) and spend a weekend exploring the area, perhaps summiting Tricouni Peak or Seagram Peak while there.
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 20Km
Elevation Gain: 1,050m
Highest Elevation: 2,107m
Average Gradient: 10.50%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Moderate / High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 8 – 10 Hours
– Moderate: 7 – 8 Hours
– Fast: 6 – 7 Hours
Illal Meadows is a beautiful alpine meadow in the Coquihalla Recreation Area with a few small lakes and tarns dotted around. This area is semi-popular in the summer with people looking for a beautiful place to camp and a few different peaks to climb in the process. None of the lakes/tarns here really have names, but the biggest lake and perhaps the best camping spot is at a lake below Illal Mountain, as pictured above. There is another smaller tarn below Jim Kelly Peak that is also quite popular with campers.
Many people choose to camp here and hike to the nearby summits, of which there are three popular ones. The hike stats above include summiting Jim Kelly Peak and Illal Mountain, however Coquihalla Mountain is another potential option in the area. It’s technically feasible to complete all three peaks in one day hike, though it makes for a huge and tiring day, so many parties prefer to camp and hit all three over a weekend.
Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 16Km
Elevation Gain: 1,400m
Highest Elevation: 2,312m
Average Gradient: 17.50%
Effort/Reward Ratio: High / Very High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 8 – 10 Hours
– Moderate: 7 – 8 Hours
– Fast: 6 – 7 Hours
While the stats above are for summiting Mount Lindeman, on the way you will pass near to Upper Hanging Lake. It does involve a brief descent down from a col beneath the peak, but it’s absolutely worth it to reach one of the most beautiful and remote alpine lakes on this list.
Due to its high elevation the lake can remain snow covered until well into summer, so if you want to ensure it’s thawed you may want to wait until mid-summer. There are a few spots around the lake to camp for anybody looking to spend somewhere beautiful for a night. Most parties will also summit the nearby Mount Lindeman, which is a scramble.
The FSR to reach the trailhead for this hike tends to require high clearance, and the route itself requires self navigation, so this is best left for experienced parties.
Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 14Km
Elevation Gain: 1,385m
Highest Elevation: 2,421m
Average Gradient: 19.79%
Effort/Reward Ratio: High / Very High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 9 – 10 Hours
– Moderate: 8 – 9 Hours
– Fast: 7 – 8 Hours
Sun God and Seven O’ Clock Mountains are a duo of peaks located north of Pemberton, accessed via Tenas Creek FSR off of the well groomed Birkenhead Lake FSR. The latter FSR is driveable in any vehicle, but Tenas Creek FSR requires at least an SUV with reasonable clearance to navigate some cross ditches. Many peak enthusiasts make the drive out here to bag both of these peaks during the summer, some as a day trip and some as an overnight.
Directly between the two peaks is a small alpine lake that offers some beautiful views and a great place to setup camp. Some people even opt to hike up just to the lake and spend a warm afternoon there. The stats above assume you are summiting both mountains, however just reaching the lake will be significantly easier.
Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 32.50Km (20.2 Miles)
Elevation Gain: 1,520m (4,987 Ft)
Highest Elevation: 2,390m (7,841 Ft)
Average Gradient: 9.35%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Very High / Very High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 12 – 16 Hours
– Moderate: 10 – 12 Hours
– Fast: 8 – 10 Hours
The Enchantments is a fitting name for an alpine region in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in Washington, bespeckled with pristine lakes, jaw-dropping peaks, roaming mountain goats, piercing glaciers, smooth granite and endless vistas. As one of the crown jewels of Washington, the Enchantments can only be described with superlatives like “paradise” or “fairytale”.
While this is around a 4.5 hour drive away from Vancouver, it would be remiss not to mention the Enchantments on a list of lake hikes as this is one of the best hikes you could complete if alpine lakes is your jam. The entire trail is filled with stunning lakes at every turn, with plenty of peaks to summit along the way, too. While you can camp in the Enchantments, obtaining a reservation is typically unlikely, with an annual lottery taking place and ~2% chance of winning a spot. As such, most people complete this hike in a (very) long day, which involves some logistics as the start and finish are at different trailheads. Still, it’s all worth it in the end as the Enchantments are absolutely worth the effort to see.
Other Advanced Lake Hikes Near Vancouver
There are plenty of other advanced lakes hikes near Vancouver as well as the above that you may want to consider:
- Tenquille Lake – This is a fairly popular lake to visit in the summer, with a number of reservable campsites dotted around the lake. There are numerous peaks to climb in the vicinity (of varying difficulty, many of them scrambles), so most parties will stay a couple of nights and explore the area. With a 4×4 HC vehicle you can reduce the hike stats, but it’s doable in 2WD with a longer hike in.
- Circle & Decker Lake – The linked hike goes to Blackcomb Peak and the Spearhead (well worth the effort), but just beneath them are a duo of lakes in Circle and Decker Lake. You can readily drop down to these lakes should you choose to do so. The entire route is self navigated and mostly boulders.
- Valentine Lake – The linked trail goes to Saxifrage Peak, however below this peak (and Cassiope) lies Valentine Lake, another semi-popular spot for camping at the weekend in the summer. Many parties will camp here and summit both Saxifrage and Cassiope over a weekend.
- Lake Lovely Water – This is another relatively popular lake for camping at in the summer, with a few peaks around to scramble up as well. Accessing the trail is the challenging part as it involves crossing over Squamish River. Some people opt to kayak across, others hire a boat to shuttle across, and there is also a hand cable as well.
- Williamson Lake – This is a semi-popular spot for camping in the summer and offers beautiful alpine views. Many parties camp here while summiting the nearby Welch Peak / Foley Peak (Class 4+ scrambles)
- Sootip Peak – This route again passes by several alpine lakes/tarns, a few of which would make for a nice campsite. Sootip in generally is a great day hike if you are able to drive to the trailhead.
The possibilities are pretty abundant once you move onto advanced trails as many of the big peaks around the region have lakes around them, most of which you can camp at. There’s no doubt that I’ve missed some great lake options on this list! You will often need to be comfortable self-navigating in the backcountry to reach some of these lakes though, and if you plan on camping you of course need to be prepared for bear encounters on all of these trails.