Hiking Elfin Lakes and Gargoyles
Length: 26 km (21 km round trip to and from Elfin Lakes)
Elevation Gain: 1,230 m (800 m to Elfin Lakes)
Difficulty Level: Hard
Garibaldi Provincial Park offers some beautiful (but often long and challenging) hiking trails, like Garibaldi Lake, Panorama Ridge, Mount Price Hiking Trail, The Black Tusk, and Wedgemount Lake.
Elfin Lakes and the The Gargoyles can be done as a day hike as long as you start early, because it’s a long hike. The trailhead starts at Diamond Head Trailhead. The last few kilometers driving to the trailhead on the service road can be bumpy and dusty. During the summer hiking season, you will need a day pass (unless you have a camping pass) to hike this trail.
The first half of the trail to Elfin Lakes is primarily a wide service road with a steady incline. The first 5 km is mostly through the woods. After 5 km, the views open up. The beautiful scenery continues all the way to Elfin Lakes.
The trail from Elfin Lakes to the Gargoyles is a different story. First of all, it doesn’t have any trail markers, so bring an offline map. It’s also narrow and wet. The last 200 meters ascending to the peak are steep and slippery. But it’s a short stretch, so push through. You will be rewarded with 360-degree views at the top.
Elfin Lakes in Spring
