Hiking Seagram Peak & Lake in the Squamish River Valley
Contents
Seagram Peak & Lake Hike Information
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
Dogs Permitted?: Yes
Season: ~July – October
4×4 / High Clearance Required? Yes
Scrambling / Exposure: None
Seagram Peak & Lake Trail
Trailhead Coordinates: 49°58’43.3″N 123°14’26.4″W
Note that Google Maps does not direct all the way to the parking lot at 1,200m, you will need to continue on the FSR to the very end where there is an obvious parking area.
Seagram Peak & Lake Overview
Seagram Peak is a summit situated between Squamish and Whistler, typically accessed from Squamish Valley via the Tricouni Peak trailhead at the end of the Branch 200 FSR. Seagram lies almost directly between the more popular Tricouni Peak and Cypress Peak, and it’s actually feasible to traverse over all of these peaks in one very long day.
As a standalone peak, Seagram Peak is a fairly moderate outing assuming hikers are able to reach the Tricouni Peak trailhead at the end of the Branch 200 Forest Service Road. This is a very rough road that is only suitable for high clearance 4×4 vehicles with all terrain tires, however SUV’s with reasonable ground clearance can often get to within ~3.5km of the trailhead and hike in from there. This will obviously increase the stats of the hike by ~7km and a few hundred meters of elevation gain, which is still a reasonable, albeit longer day hike.
For those that can park at the end of Branch 200, Seagram Peak makes for a moderate trip with very rewarding views. There are a plethora of turquoise lakes along this hike, with the crown jewel of Seagram Lake making for a very nice way to end the day. Hikers may also camp at Seagram Lake and make this a full weekend outing, perhaps summiting a variety of peaks in the process. Sunrise Lake also deserves a mention as an extremely scenic lake that is well worth stopping at on the way.
Much of the hike to Seagram Peak / Lake follows an established trail, however beyond Tricouni Lake the trail dissipates, with hikers left to navigate themselves to both the summit and any other lakes they wish to visit. The terrain here is mostly forgiving and easy to navigate without getting into any difficult spots, but an offline map is recommended to reach the summit. You shouldn’t really need to scramble to reach Seagram Peak and there isn’t any exposure.
Seagram Peak / Lake is a summer only option, typically hiked between July and October. Many people opt to camp at one of the incredible lakes along the trail, but really this is more than possible as a day hike, especially if you can drive to the upper parking lot.
Dogs are welcome in the area, and it should be noted that bear activity can often be high in this region, including grizzly bears, so all precautions should be taken, especially if camping.
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Is Seagram Peak & Lake worthwhile?
This whole basin between Tricouni Peak and Cypress Peak is a stunning area dotted with beautiful turquoise lakes. Given the moderate effort it takes to get here and the fact a hike to Seagram Peak passes by many of these lakes, this is a high bang for your buck hike. It’s also a great place to spend a night camping with plenty of options to explore further if you want to.
How difficult is the hike to Seagram Peak & Lake?
Assuming that you are able to park at the actual trailhead, this is a fairly moderate hike with an average gradient of just under 12%. Unfortunately only those with high clearance 4×4 with all terrain tires are likely able to reach the trailhead, so most people will have to hike in from further down the FSR. Even so, this will usually add around 7km round trip, and a mere 300m elevation gain or so, which still makes this a moderately difficult, albeit longer hike.
Technically speaking a hike to Seagram Peak and Lake is fairly straightforward. There is an obvious trail to follow to the shores of Tricouni Lake, and from then on an offline map will be helpful to navigate to Seagram Peak and Lake. The terrain is open and simple, at no point should you be required to scramble, though there is certainly an element of route finding to the peak. Still, with a map it’s easy and there are endless route options given the straightforward terrain.
Seagram Peak & Lake Route Information
With the right vehicle you are able to reach the 1,200m mark along the Branch 200 FSR. As noted, getting to this elevation requires a very capable vehicle (and driver), typically a 4×4 with high clearance and all terrain tires. An SUV with good clearance can perhaps drive to around 920m elevation before the FSR deteriorates even further. Obviously this will add a few kilometers to your trip each way.
From the trailhead you will follow a narrow trail into the trees, and almost immediately reach a junction where you need to decide whether to take the mud route or the dry route. The mud route is more direct and has less elevation, but it’s unpleasant and you are almost certain to get muddy. Finally, it is damaging the sensitive ecological environment with people going off trail to avoid the mud.
The dry route is more pleasant in some regards, it is indeed dry, but it’s a bit longer and crosses several boulder fields, adding to an already very bouldery day. Due to the higher elevation you actually get some views along the boulder fields, unlike the mud below. You will also need to cross the creek twice, at the very beginning and end of the trail, which might be challenging if it’s high flowing. This does avoid damaging the sensitive wetland environment though.
The GPX above takes the dry route on the approach in and the mud route on the exit, so take your pick. I found taking the dry route in and mud route out was a good compromise as many parties will be sick of boulders by the end of their hike.
Whichever route you end up taking there isn’t a whole lot to say or see on this hike until you reach Pendant Heart Lake. It’s only around 2.5km away from the trailhead, but getting there will likely take longer than you’d expect given the tricky terrain on each route.
Passing through the annoying terrain will be worth it from here on out though, with the stunning Pendant Heart Lake providing a taste of what’s to come for the remainder of the hike. Once you reach this lake you’ll want to go counterclockwise around the lake, crossing a sizable creek and continuing to follow a trail on the other side.
The trail will now pass through some alpine meadows as you climb gradually to a high point above Tricouni Lake, after which you’ll drop down to the northern shores of this lake, where any trail ceases to exist. From here the route continues northwards up a boulder field to an obvious notch between two cliffs. There should be cairns through here, but it’s fairly obvious where to go either way.
You’ll top out here at another basin where Seagram Lake resides, though it’s still a ways ahead. If you are aiming for the lake you can now simply continue hiking through this basin and the southern shores of the lake will be just 500m or so ahead. It’s easy to hike around the shores of the lake and find somewhere to set up camp if that’s your intent.
Otherwise, if you’re heading to Seagram Peak first you’ll want to start gaining some elevation by hiking up the slopes to the east. There’s some forest to navigate around lower down, and some steep sections initially, but for the most part travel should be open. After ~150m of steep climbing you’ll reach the shores of the stunning Sunrise Lake with Cleat Peak behind. If you arrive in the morning the reflection on the lake should be impressive, and the views behind you will now be opening up, only improving as you continue to climb.
Work your way to the northern end of Sunrise Lake and cross over a small outflow from the lake. You’ll then begin a steep climb away from the lake, avoiding any of the patches of tree that are around. Remember to look behind you as you gain elevation as the view of Sunrise Lake from here is very nice.
After around 120m of climbing you’ll reach another lake, Moonrise Lake. This isn’t quite as nice as Sunrise, but it’s still a very nice lake in its own right, with very clear water. You’re not far from the summit now, and which way you decide to go from here is really up to you. Going counterclockwise around the lake will gain the ridge a little earlier, and going clockwise will take a more direct approach to the summit. Either way is straightforward.
Assuming you go clockwise as we did, you’ll gain the ridge after a short climb up, with fantastic views now of Tricouni Peak, Cypress Peak and all the lakes below. The constant backdrop of glaciated peaks in the distance will only add to the spectacle. Once on the ridge you simply follow it north to the summit, which will be indicated by a large cairn on a high point before a steeper drop. If you continue following the ridge you’ll end up on Cyhorn Peak, which is an optionally extension if you want more.
The summit views will be fantastic, but not much different than the ridge ramble you just enjoyed. You will now also get to Mount Cayley and Mount Fee to the north, which are always dramatic peaks.
From the summit, if your intent is to just head back to the trailhead you can simply follow the same route back, however if you plan to also go to Seagram Lake you can take a more direct descent down. Most of the descent is mellow, however there is a stretch between 1,650m – 1,800m which is quite steep and will involve some simple route finding to avoid any cliffs or bluffs. It should be fairly easy to avoid anything spicy, though it does drag on a little as the lake always looks closer than it really is.
Eventually you’ll reach the shores of Seagram Lake, which is a rich reward for an excellent day out as this lake has to be up there as one of the bluest lakes you’ll ever see. It makes for a great place to rest, go for a swim and enjoy the scenery before hiking back out. The hike out from here is straightforward, you just follow the lakes shore south which will bring you back to the boulder field that you ascended from Tricouni Lake, at which point the remainder of the hike back to the trailhead is straightforward.
When should I hike Seagram Peak & Lake?
Seagram Peak is a summer only option, with most people hiking it from July to October. Any earlier and the lakes will be frozen and the approach quite snowy. Some people might not mind this but for most people the whole point of this region are the lakes. Mid to late summer might be best to avoid the worst of the mosquitoes, as is always the case in the Sea to Sky.
Top Tip
We chose to hike the dry route in and the mud route out, which we found to be a good balance. You likely won’t want to do the same route in each direction as they both come with challenges that are hard to face twice. The mud route is slightly faster, perhaps around 10 – 15 minutes.
Bugs can be quite bad here, so insect repellent is also recommended, especially in the early season. Bears are also not uncommon so prepare accordingly.
