Wedgemount Lake is another jewel-toned alpine lake located in Garibaldi Provincial Park. This is known as one of the steepest and most difficult trails in Garibaldi Park but the burning legs are well worth the effort.
I completed this hike back in 2020 as a solo day hike, although I wished I could have stayed overnight, or even for two nights. There are many scrambling objectives around the lake that one could explore.
I’ve been lucky enough to have explored Elfin Lakes, Garibaldi Lake, and Russet Lake as well, all of which fall within the boundaries of Garibaldi Provincial Park. Due to the proximity to the Lower Mainland these can be some of the busiest and most well-trodden hikes in Southwestern BC, but if you pick your time wisely (i.e. mid-week) you may be able to find some solitude here.
Here is some beta for you to use while planning your hike to Wedgemount Lake.
Trail Stats
Distance: 14km return
Elevation: 1200m elevation gain
Route Type: Out and back
Difficulty: Hard
Hiking Season: July to September is the most popular time to complete this hike. If you have the appropriate avalanche gear and training it is possible to complete this hike in the winter as well.
Planning Resources
- 105 Hikes in Southwestern British Columbia is one of my favourite hiking guides for the area
- The BC Parks website has some maps of the area as well as trail reports
Preparing for the Trip
Itinerary
Wedgemount Lake can be done as a day trip, or as an overnight trip. I have not camped there overnight before but it looks like it would be worth staying for at least one night to enjoy the sunrise/sunset over the lake.
There are no BC Parks trails from Wedgemount Lake; however, there are multiple scrambling routes outlined in Matt Gunn’s Scrambles in Southwest British Columbia book to choose from.
Transportation to Trailhead
The Wedgemount Lake trailhead is located just north of Green Lake on Highway 99. You will cross an active railroad track and then drive up the gravel road for 2km before arriving at the trailhead.
The gravel road was in reasonable condition when I did this trail in August 2020 – my 2006 Subaru Forester made it to the trailhead without a problem.
Sleeping Options
All campsites in Garibaldi Provincial Park require reservations ahead of time, regardless of the time of year. At the time of writing it was $10 per person per night to camp anywhere in the park. A Day Use pass may also be required.
The Wedgemount Lake campsite has 20 tent pads in total, a pit toilet, and a food hanging tree to protect your food from bears. There are some wooden tent pads, and some compacted gravel tent pads to choose from
On the Trail
The trail to Wedgemount Lake starts fairly gradually as it traverses northwards towards Wedgemount Creek. After a few hundred metres, the leg burning fun begins!
You’ll begin to climb through an evergreen forest on a soft dirt trail. Be warned – this trail is very steep and does not relent in any way until you reach the summit. You may need to use your hands in certain sections to pull yourself up particularly thick roots. I did this with a day pack and certainly felt for those who were hauling their camping equipment up with them!
There are a few ominous notes and markings along the trail that cracked me up, such as this one:
There was a small section around halfway up where the trail flattened out for a few hundred metres, giving my legs an opportunity to walk off some of the lactic acid that was building up. This was a false sense of relief though, as soon after the trail began to climb steeply upwards.
At around 5km you will exit the forest and find yourself in a boulder-strewn alpine meadow. The trail continues to climb upwards through the meadow at a moderate grade, passing yellow and purple wildflowers and crossing small creeks. You will see the final climb approaching as you draw closer to the summit.
The final climb is almost straight up, over a dusty shallow scree slope. This was very slippery but I found it manageable.
Finally, after 2.5 hours of uphill effort, and completely drenched in my own sweat, I reached the summit and got my first glimpse of Wedgemount Lake.
Once you reach the crest of the trail, you will continue onwards for a few hundred more meters, where the emergency shelter and other campsite facilities will come into view.
From the emergency shelter you can descend towards the lake and traverse the shoreline to check out Hargreaves Glacier. I chose to sit by the lake with some lovely purple and red wildflowers and enjoy my lunch with a cool breeze and amazing views of the glacier, the lake, and the peaks surrounding the lake.
I enjoyed an hour or two on this fine summer day swimming, lying in the sun, and snacking on my lunch as I took in the world around me. The air smelled so fresh, and my mind felt so clear on this day. It was a reminder of the healing balm that nature, movement, and quiet reflection can bring us all.
That afternoon at Wedgemount Lake was one of the best days that I had during the tumultuous year that was 2020. I felt rejuvenated leaving the lake and retracing my steps back down the steep trail towards my car.
Summary
Wedgemount Lake is slightly less popular than Garibaldi Lake and Elfin Lakes due to its difficulty. Despite the challenge to access, it is an absolutely beautiful destination.
Have you checked out Wedgemount Lake before? Is it on your list?
