Panorama Ridge, Garibaldi Park                                        Whistler Hiking Trails

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Panorama Ridge is remarkable in its grandeur. It lies so wonderfully close to the massive Garibaldi Lake far below. With its unbelievable blue colour filling your view and the endless snowy mountains, the reasons for this destinations popularity are obvious. Despite the long distance, 30k round trip, which is exhausting, the views are magical. Often cited as the one hike to do, if you can only do one in Whistler.

The trail is not so much difficult, except for the last 3k, as it is long.  30k makes for a long 8-10 hour hike.  Staying overnight, therefore is a great idea.  There are several options for this.  The beautiful though always crowded Garibaldi Lake campsite, the less crowded and also beautiful Taylor Meadows campsite, the seldom crowded and serene Helm Creek campsite (located on the Cheakamus Lake side of Black Tusk).

The more adventurous drop their tents on the ridge itself, though officially prohibited. At the far end of Panorama Ridge there is quite a large, flat and level grassy area with (obviously) breathtaking views.

Panorama Ridge stretches for 1.5k, then drops into an expansive meadow down to Garibaldi Lake and access to the Burton Hut at the far end of the lake.  The hut is little used in the summer due to its remoteness.  This route, via Panorama Ridge, is the best way to reach this difficult to reach hut in the summer.

Camping Options in the Vicinity of Panorama Ridge in Garibaldi Park

Garibaldi Lake Campsites: The most busy camping option in the area is at Garibaldi Lake with 50 campsites with full service (water, security, etc) and fees (May 1 - Nov 15).  The campsites are well laid out and disappear into the forest.  All are steps from the amazing Garibaldi Lake with great, though very cold swimming.  There is good fishing here for rainbow trout, which were introduced back in the 1920's.

Taylor Meadows Campsite: gets very busy at times as well with 40 campsites with full service (water, security, etc) and fees (May 1 - Nov 15).  There are some small rivers close by but no swimming.  The draw for Taylor Meadows camping is the wonderful location.  It lays in a beautiful forested meadow full of hills and flowers and views of the towering Black Tusk.  It has a less crowded feel than Garibaldi Lake does, though bear in mind that even when crowded these campsites don't feel crowded - they are just that organized and thick with trees and hills.  Also, if you were to feel crowded, you could easily wander in any of several directions and become immersed in the wonderful forest and beautiful desolation in these vast meadows.

The Helm Creek Campground is smaller than the others at 9 campsites, however it is in a beautiful setting on the quiet side of Black Tusk, though 1.5 hours away from the approaches to Black Tusk.  Helm Creek is another beautiful campground.  Most of the 9 campsites are next to the beautiful Helm Creek.  The main draw of this campsite is that it is on the quieter side of this area and can be approached from Cheakamus Lake.

The trails through Garibaldi Park are in such a vast area that suitable places far into the wilderness away from anyone, to put up a tent are limitless.  People bivy on top of Black Tusk, put up a tent on the far slopes of Panorama Ridge, or tent in any number of other places.  Being located in British Columbia means that you are never far from a creek, river or lake wherever you hike in Garibaldi Park.

Trail reports here for all of these campgrounds as well as all of Garibaldi Park.

Panorama Ridge Trailheads:

Panorama Ridge can be reached from the Garibaldi Lake (Rubble Creek) trailhead or the Cheakamus Lake trailhead. It is hard to say which is better. Rubble Creek is preferable if you are keen to stop at the beautiful Garibaldi Lake on the way. Certainly wonderful for a swim if you can take the glacial cold water. The Cheakamus trailhead is similarly scenic minus the beautiful lake, but it is incredibly free of people. If you seek serenity, this is the way. Certainly, if you plan to overnight, this is the better way as well. The Taylor Meadows Campground (Rubble Creek side) is often overrun on the weekends, while Helm Creek (Cheakamus side) is not.

Cheakamus Lake Trailhead/Parking:

From Village Gate Boulevard, drive south, toward Vancouver for 8km. At the lights at Function Junction, turn left, about 700 metres ahead you will see a sign on your left for Cheakamus Lake. Follow the unpaved road for 8km to the Cheakamus trailhead.

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Garibaldi Lake Trailhead/Parking:

From Village Gate Boulevard, drive south, toward Vancouver. The well marked turn off to Black Tusk trailhead is 25km south of Whistler on your left.

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