Hiking Lindeman Lake near Chilliwack
Contents
Lindeman Lake Hike Information
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
Dogs Permitted?: Yes
Season: Year-Round
4×4 / High Clearance Required? No
Scrambling / Exposure: None
Lindeman Lake Trail
Trailhead Coordinates: 49°05’49.0″N 121°27’21.3″W
Lindeman Lake Overview
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. This is truly Chilliwack’s version of Joffre Lakes or Garibaldi Lake, both of which are besieged by hikers from the moment the lake thaws in spring, to the moment it freezes again in early winter.
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.
While the hike to Lindeman Lake is indeed short, it’s actually quite steep and a lot of people are surprised at just how steep the gradient gets. AllTrails actually considers this a “moderate” hike, presumably because of the gradient.
As much as this lake is overly busy, there is a good reason, it’s frankly a stunning lake. The vibrant teal/turquoise colours are pretty surreal and different from the blue hues you get at Garibaldi or Joffre Lakes. Camping is also available at the lake with a backcountry camping permit, with a few campgrounds dotted around.
Lindeman Lake is open year-round but most people opt not to bother going in winter as the lake will be frozen and covered over in snow, so there’s nothing really to see. The trail will also be very slippery and steep, so microspikes are usually required in winter and early spring. The lake tends to thaw in mid-spring and remains so until early winter.
A word of warning, while there is a lot of parking at Lindeman Lake, it can get so busy it overflows onto Chilliwack Lake Road for some distance. There are also a lot of vehicle break ins at this trailhead, so whatever you do, get there early and do not leave valuables in your vehicle! Leaving your vehicle overnight is also risky.
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Is Lindeman Lake worthwhile?
Lindeman Lake is undoubtedly a beautiful lake that you should visit at least once, but it’s such a short hike, and such a popular place that you may want to consider extending the hike further. You can optionally carry on to Greendrop Lake (moderate), Flora Lake or Flora Peak (very difficult). Parties are able to camp at both Greendrop Lake and Flora Lake, providing the ability to complete this loop hike as an overnight trip.
How difficult is the hike to Lindeman Lake?
With an average gradient of 13.70% this is actually a pretty steep hike, even though it’s a short one. Prepare to be huffing and puffing your way up some steep terrain. At times the trail gets so busy you may hit traffic and have to wait for it clear.
Technically the hike is as simple as it gets, a very well maintained trail.
Lindeman Lake Route Information
The trailhead for Lindeman Lake is at the very end of Chilliwack Lake Road, just before Chilliwack Lake. The road is paved, as is the parking lot, so any car can access this hike. After parking at the trailhead, emptying your car of all valuables and perhaps leaving your glove compartment open to show you don’t have anything worth stealing, it’s time to set off. There’s a bathroom at the trailhead should you need it and there’s also an information board highlighting all of the different trails in the area.
Immediately you will come to a junction where going right will head towards Flora Lake/Peak. Continuing straight you’ll soon be wandering next to Post Creek, which is cascading down from Lindeman Lake. The first 600m or so will stroll next to this creek with no elevation. You’ll soon cross over a wooden bridge, and soon after that the elevation starts to pick up.
The next 300m or so will be steep, with a gradient of around 25%. The trail will be easy to navigate the whole way to the lake, even without crowds of people to follow, as it is well marked and very obvious where to go. At around the 800m mark you will get a bit of a rest as the trail levels out for 200m or so, but soon enough the real grind will begin.
For the next 300m the gradient will increase significantly to a very steep 40%. The trail might also get quite slippery and muddy due to the runoff of the lake, so hopefully you have decent traction on your feet. When we went there were quite a few people in sneakers who probably struggled a lot during this steep, slippery section.
At the 1.2km mark you will have finished with the steep part of the trail and the remaining 500m to the lake will be a mellow stroll in the forest. As you approach the lake you will notice the tent pads and washrooms. There is a decent amount of space by the lakeside, but depending on when you arrive it could be incredibly busy with people taking selfies and Instagram shots.
The AllTrails route ends here, at the south end of the lake, but the best part of the lake is actually the north end. It’s much, much quieter and you get far better views of the lake than you do from the south end as you gain elevation. There is a boulder field at the very north of the lake that you can scramble up to get quite a bit of elevation for some nice photos. This is a pretty steep boulder field though, so be careful with children especially. If you want, feel free to try swimming in the lake, though it’s definitely frigid so I wouldn’t advise it unless it’s a hot day!
Assuming you’re not continuing on to Greendrop Lake, you stop here and simply go back the way you came. On the descent you are likely to hit quite a lot of traffic, so patience is key as parts of the trail are single file.
When should I hike Lindeman Lake?
Lindeman Lake is a year-round hike, but most people will hike it when the lake is thawed in mid-spring to early winter, usually May – November. In the summer Lindeman Lake is insanely busy on a sunny weekend, so if you plan to go at that time I strongly recommend a very early start! If you can midweek, even better.
Top Tip
Don’t make the mistake of assuming this is a simple trail that doesn’t require appropriate footwear. This can be a slippery and muddy hike, so hiking boots are worthwhile.
Extending the hike to Greendrop Lake is probably worthwhile for most people as Lindeman Lake alone is a very short outing after what is likely quite a long drive. Greendrop isn’t the most exciting lake, nowhere near as nice as Lindeman, but it is considerably quieter and at least extends your time in nature. Adventurous parties might want to consider doing the full loop to include Flora Lake, which will pass by Lindeman and Greendrop Lake, as well as summiting Flora Peak.
