Difficulty: literally vertical
Distance: 12 km round-trip, 1200 m elevation gain
When I first read up that Wedgemount Lake was the most difficult hike in Garibaldi Provincial Park, I thought there was no way that could be true. Not at only 12 km, making it one of the shorter alpine lake hikes. So, I set out to find out for myself, and as I’m writing this now my friends have just assured me it was a one and done. Interpret that as you wish.
The trailhead for Wedgemount Lake is past Whistler’s Green Lake, which also makes this hike the furthest from Vancouver. Once you turn right at the BC Parks sign, it’s only 2 km along a gravel road to the parking lot at the base of the trail. That’s the easy part of this journey. The lake is so high up, the landscape is scrubby and void of vegetation. The lake, however, is a stunning teal blue and well worth the climb.
My friends and I set out early. Finding parking at the base of a popular trail in Garibaldi Provincial Park is no easy feat, so we hit the road early and only stopped in Squamish for an extra shot of caffeine. Luckily, we snagged one of the last parking spots and craned our necks up at the almighty Wedge Mountain.
The trail climbs slowly at first, and you’ll enjoy plenty of shade from the forest canopy. About halfway up the trail, you’ll cross a boulder field before slipping back into the cover of the forest. Despite being only 6 km each way, the first 5 km will be relentlessly uphill. Just when you think it can’t get any worse, it does. The final push is even more gruelling. I strongly advise bringing hiking poles. I used to be one of those people who thought they were lame, but I’ve come to realize that they’re a real lifesaver on the downhill when your knees are knocking.
