Last updated on April 14th, 2025 at 09:10 pm
When I first hiked out to Lillian Lake I knew I’d be back for an overnight backcountry trip at some point. It’s a perfect overnight trip for those short on time or new to backpacking. The site and trail suffered a lot of damage due to flooding in 2013 and to avoid damage to the trail and its surroundings a closure is in place until late June annually with the trailhead car park gate being shut and locked until opening.
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Lillian Lake Trail Head
Located in Kananaskis, the Lillian Lake trail starts at the Galatea parking area, located 42km along Highway 40 from Highway 1. This makes it an ideal location for those visiting from Calgary or the mountain parks. From the Highway, the parking lot is signposted for Galatea, the lot is large but can get full on busy days in summer so arrive early to avoid disappointment.
You’ll need a Kananaskis Conservation Pass in order to park at the trailhead and backpack to Lillian Lake. You can purchase this ahead of time online or stop in at the Barrier Lake Visitor Centre and purchase one there since it is on the way to the trailhead.
The Lillian Lake Hike
Distance: 6.3km one way
Elevation: 475m
The trail to the Lillian Lake campground is varied which makes it quite interesting! It passes through lush green forested areas, avalanche paths where you look down into huge valleys from high above, you’ll cross numerous creeks either by modern bridges or rock hoping (especially in the early season) and walk through washed out river beds.
To get to Lillian Lake the trail is undulating however the general trend is upwards! Finished with one last bridge crossing before a really steep hill section before reaching the lake. The trail at times can be uneven, soil packed with big rocks and tree stumps crossing the way are regularly encountered but all that helps the time speed past as you are distracted from the weight of the pack and focused on where to step!
You also don’t realise it but you follow creeks the whole way back to the lake so you are almost never walking in silence but more with the roar of water in the background.
After the big snow winter we just had and a wet start to summer the trail at the end of June was really wet in places. Some parts even had running water down the trail itself…..needless to say waterproof boots and gators in the early season came in super handy for us!
Lillian Lake Backcountry Campground
The Lillian Lake campground is located at the far end of the lake, keep right at the first junction and tents will be visible from here. The 17 tent pads are pretty clear to find, some offer more privacy than others! A number of them are raised wooden pads with beautiful lake views, others are situated within the forest, some offering mountain views.
There is a decent sized cooking area near the lake shore which includes 4 picnic benches as well as two fire pits. There was an axe and plenty of firewood when we went, however according to the Alberta Parks website they will no longer be stocking the campsite with wood.
There is a clear signposted area for the water source as well as a designated grey water area near the cooking location. Ample bear lockers are provided to store your food and toiletries in as well as two composting toilets towards the back of the site, one for men and one for women. Don’t forget to pack in your toilet paper though!
How To Book Your Spot At Lillian Lake
You need a reservation to camp at Lillian Lake, it is a popular spot to stay, so make sure to get your reservation sorted ahead of time. You can book a spot at Lillian Lake by reserving 90 days in advance on the Alberta Parks reservation site.
An overnight permit to camp at Lillian Lake in 2025 costs $12 per person per night plus a $12 reservation fee. Each tent pad can have a maximum of six people and one tent on it.
The camping season at Lillian Lake backcountry campground is from June 26th to November 29th 2025.
Other Hikes From Lillian Lake
Galatea Lakes
We were lucky and the weather cleared right out on our first evening in camp, this gave us the perfect opportunity to head on up to Galatea Lakes. A short but steep hike from Lillian Lake. There are two lakes and a trail connects the pair of them along and above the first lakes shoreline.
Guinn’s Pass to Ribbon Lake
Our original plan and what we were booked to do at the end of June was a thru hike. With one night at Lillian Lake and then a second night at Ribbon Lake. So we woke early on day two, packed up and headed up towards Galatea Lakes turning right at the sign just before the lakes. We followed the Guinn’s Pass trail up and across a few bits of snow, sections were steep and covered with loose rock.
Just before we reached the pass summit we encountered a huge snow field almost as deep as I am tall. The most confident member of our crew went up ahead and managed to get to the edge of the snow but couldn’t see the trail. We made a group decision to turn around and head back out. It was disappointing but with poor visibility, deep snow and a lack of trail to follow it was the safest and only option. We returned the following year later in the summer and completed the trip from Lillian Lake to Ribbon Lake and it was amazing.
Lillian Lake to Guinn’s Pass
Distance: 2.5km
Elevation: 444m
Lillian Lake is a fantastic trail for backpacking or day hiking, especially when tied in with a visit to Galatea Lakes and/or Guinn’s Pass. It’s a perfect spot for some fishing and relaxation in the sun as well.
Things You Might Want To Pack
Tent – A great tent is a must have for backpacking. The Copper Spur line is loved by backpackers due to its livability space compared to its fairly low weight. Its a free standing tent which holds up any weather.
Water Filter – The water source when backpacking Lillian Lake is the lake, you’ll want something to make the water safe to drink. I love the Gravityworks filter as it is perfect for filtering a large amount of water at camp with minimal effort.
Poles – When I’m backpacking, I always take a good pair of hiking poles to help me balance when hiking in uneven terrain with a loaded backpack on.
Bear Spray – Lillian Lake is in bear country, take bear spray, keep it accessible and know how to use it before you hit the trail.
